f their mayor, he would be personally gratified if their choice
fell upon the outgoing mayor. At first Northampton declined re-election,
but he afterwards consented to serve another year on receiving a written
request from the king.(649) His hesitation was probably due to the
factious state of the city. Brembre and Philipot were not his only
enemies. Another alderman, Nicholas Exton, of Queenhithe Ward, had
recently been removed from his aldermancy for opprobrious words used to
Northampton during his first mayoralty. A petition had been laid before
the Court of Common Council in August, 1382, when Exton himself being
present, and seeing the turn affairs were taking, endeavoured to
anticipate the judgment of the court, by himself asking to be exonerated
from his office, declaring at the same time that he had offered a large
sum of money to be released at his election in the first instance. The
court wishing for further time to consider the matter adjourned. At its
next meeting a similar petition was again presented, but the court
hesitated to pronounce judgment in the absence of Exton, who was summoned
to appear at the next Common Council. When the court met again, it was
found that Exton had ignored the summons. Judgment was, therefore,
pronounced in his absence and he was deprived of his aldermancy.(650)

(M351)

At the close of Northampton's second mayoralty (Oct., 1383), his place was
taken by his rival, Nicholas Brembre,(651) and a general reversal of the
order of things took place. The free-fishmongers recovered their ancient
privileges,(652) and the judgment passed upon Exton as well as a similar
judgment passed upon another alderman, Adam Carlile, were reversed.(653)

(M352)

Soon after Brembre's election the king confirmed the City's liberties by
charter,(654) which had the assent of parliament. Two years previously the
citizens had besought the newly-married queen to use her interest with
Richard to that end.(655) Her good offices, as well as the fact that the
City had recently advanced to the king the sum of 4,000 marks, on the
security of the royal crown and other things,(656) may have been
instrumental in obtaining for the citizens this fresh confirmation of
their rights.

(M353)

In January (1384) Northampton was bound over to keep the peace in the sum
of L5,000;(657) but in the following month he was put under arrest
(together with his brother, known as Robert "Cumberton," and another), for
raising