friend only held the Beam for little more than six months, and then,
at the urgent request of the queen herself, it was given to another.(346)

(M216)

The barons were especially irritated at being supplanted by the king's
favourites, and in 1308 succeeded in getting Edward to send Gaveston out
of England. In the following year, however, he was recalled, and the
barons became so exasperated that in 1310, when the king summoned an
assembly of bishops and barons, the latter appeared, contrary to orders,
in full military array. The king could not do otherwise than submit to
their dictation. Ordainers were appointed from among the barons for the
purpose of drawing up ordinances for the government of the kingdom. These
ordinances were promulgated in their complete form in 1311, when they
received the sanction of a parliament assembled at the House of the Black
Friars, in the month of August, and were afterwards publicly proclaimed in
St. Paul's Churchyard,(347) special precautions being taken at the time to
safeguard the gates of the city by night and day.(348) Gaveston was
condemned to banishment for life.

(M217)

In the meantime, whilst the Ordainers were engaged on their work, Edward
had put himself at the head of his army and marched against the Scots, who
were rapidly gaining ground under Bruce. He remained on the border until
July, 1311, trying every means to raise money. In March of that year the
city sent him one thousand marks, by the hands of Roger le Palmere and
William de Flete, the mayor, Richer de Refham, contributing no less than
one hundred pounds of the whole sum. The money was despatched on
horseback, tied up in baskets covered with matting and bound with cords,
and the cost of every particular is set out in the city's records.(349)

(M218)

Refham was a mayor of the popular type. He had already suffered
deprivation of his aldermanry for some reason or another, but was
reinstated in 13O2.(350) No sooner was he chosen mayor than he caused a
collection to be made of the ancient liberties and customs of the city,
from the books and rolls preserved in the city's Chamber, and having
assembled the aldermen and best men of the city, he caused them to be
publicly read. This having been done, he next proceeded to ask the
assembly if it was their will that these ancient customs and liberties,
which had so often been infringed by the removal of mayors and sheriffs,
should be for the future maintained. Their ans