Commoners were to be content with five yards of cloth and
33_s._ 4_d._ for fur. Each alderman, moreover, was to be allowed eight
yards of cloth at 28 pence a yard for two personal attendants, and each
commoner four yards of the same for one attendant, if the parliament was
sitting in London or the neighbourhood, and eight yards for two attendants
if parliament was sitting in some more remote place, "as was formerly
ordained during the mayoralty of John Michell" (1424-5).(818)

(M435)

The condition of France necessitated the early coronation of the young
king, whose right to the French crown had been established by the Treaty
of Troyes. At his accession to the throne of England Henry VI was but a
child of nine months. He was now eight years old. Before he could be
crowned King of France, it was necessary that he should first be crowned
King of England. Proclamation was accordingly made that he would be
crowned on the 6th November following, and that all claims to services
should be forthwith laid before the lord steward.(819) Gregory, to whose
chronicle we have had frequent occasion to refer, writing as an
eye-witness, gives a full account(820) of what took place at the ceremony
of coronation in Westminster Abbey, and of the banquet that followed; but
omits to mention that the citizens put in their usual claim, in accordance
with the above proclamation, to serve the king at the banquet as butler.
That the claim was actually made we learn from other sources.(821) We also
know that William Estfeld, the recently-elected mayor, received the
customary gold cup and ewer used on the occasion, which he afterwards
bequeathed to his grandson.(822)

(M436) (M437)

In April, 1430, the young king left England for France, and remained
abroad for nearly two years. On the 10th November he wrote to the mayor
and citizens, urging them to advance him the sum of 10,000 marks, as that
sum might do him more ease and service at that particular time than double
the amount at another. The letter was dated from Rouen, where the court
afterwards established itself for a considerable time.(823) On Sunday, the
12th December, 1431, he made his entry into Paris with great ceremony, and
was duly crowned.(824)

(M438)

On his return to England early in the following year, he was met by John
Welles, the mayor, the aldermen, the sheriffs, and more than 12,000
citizens of London, who rode out on Thursday, the 20th February, as far as
Blackheath, an