t he had to
say in defence, postponed the further hearing until after Trinity Sunday
(14th June). In the meantime, the citizens had the gratification of seeing
the constable removed from office, for allowing the Tower to fall into
such a dilapidated state, that the rain came in upon the queen's bed,
while giving birth to a daughter, afterwards known as Joanna of the
Tower,(388) and destined to become the wife of David the Second, King of
Scotland.

(M237)

On the judges resuming their sittings after Trinity Sunday, they sat no
longer in the Great Hall or the Lesser Hall, "as well by reason of the
queen being in childbed there, as already mentioned, as of the fortifying
of the Tower, through fear of the Earl of Hereford and his accomplices,
who were in insurrection on every side." Temporary buildings had to be
found for them. A fortnight later there were signs of the Iter being
brought to an abrupt termination, the citizens having represented that
they could not possibly keep proper watch and ward owing to disturbances
consequent to the holding of the Iter;(389) and within a week, viz., on
4th July, it was actually closed.

(M238)

It was the bursting of the storm which had long been gathering against the
king's new favourites, the Despensers, father and son, that caused the
sudden termination of the Iter, and it was the fear lest he should lose
the support of the city against Lancaster and his allies that caused the
king quickly to restore to the citizens their Mayor. Hamo de Chigwell took
the place of the deposed Farndon.(390)

(M239)

Within a few hours of the closing of the Iter Chigwell and the aldermen
were summoned to Westminster to say whether they would be willing to
support the king and to preserve the city of London to his use in his
contest with the barons. Edward and his council received for answer that
the mayor and his brethren "were unwilling to refuse the safe keeping of
the city," but would keep it for the king and his heirs. They were
thereupon enjoined to prepare a scheme for its defence for submission to
the king's council, and this was accordingly done.(391)

(M240)

The city was, however, wavering in its support; Chigwell did his best to
hold the balance between king and baron, and to hold a middle course,
avoiding offence as far as was possible to one side and the other. After
the lapse of a few days, a letter came from the Earl of Hereford,
addressed to the mayor, sheriffs, aldermen an