ead of the baronial party, to take up
arms against the king. The citizens professed loyalty to Henry, who was
residing in the Tower, and bound themselves by oath to acknowledge his son
Edward as heir to the crown.(239) At Whitsuntide, the barons sent a letter
to the king requiring him to observe the Provisions of Oxford, and shortly
afterwards, addressed another letter to the citizens "desiring to be
certified by them whether they would observe the said ordinances and
statutes made to the honour of God in fealty to his lordship the king, and
to his advantage of all the realm, or would, in preference, adhere to
those who wished to infringe the same."(240)

(M150)

Before sending a reply, the citizens had an interview with the king in the
Tower, to whom they showed the barons' letter. The result was, that Henry
availed himself of their services to mediate between him and the barons. A
deputation of citizens accordingly travelled to Dover, where an
understanding was arrived at between the hostile parties. The citizens
were prepared to support the barons, subject to their fealty to the king
and saving their own liberties; whilst the king promised to dismiss his
foreign supporters--the real cause of all the mischief. Hugh le Despenser,
whom Henry had deposed, was again installed justiciar of all England in
the Tower; and the king and his family left the city for Westminster, the
day after the barons entered it. "Thus was a league made between the
barons and the citizens with this reservation--'saving fealty to his
lordship the king.'"(241)

(M151)

Whilst the commons of England were thus winning their way to liberty, the
commons of the city were engaged in a similar struggle with the
aristocratic element of the municipal government. The craft guilds cried
out against the exclusiveness of the more wealthy and aristocratic trade
guilds, the members of which monopolized the city's rule. They found an
able champion of their cause in the person of Thomas Fitz-Thomas, the
mayor for the time being (1261-1265). The mayor's action in the matter
disgusted Fitz-Thedmar, the city alderman and chronicler, who complains
that he "so pampered the city populace," that they styled themselves the
"commons of the city," and had obtained the first voice in the city. The
mayor would ask them their will as to whether this or that thing should be
done; and if they answered "ya" "ya," it was done, without consulting the
aldermen or chief citize