fwick, nor is it mentioned in the first charter
granted by John. When it was restored to the citizens (A.D. 1199), by
John's second charter, the office of sheriff of London had lost much of
its importance owing to the introduction of the communal system of
municipal government under a mayor.

(M96)

In the meantime the sheriffs of the counties, who had by reason of Henry's
administrative reforms, risen to be officers of greater importance and
wider jurisdiction, and who had taken advantage of their positions to
oppress the people during the king's prolonged absence abroad, were also
made to feel the power of the crown. A blow struck at the sheriffs was
calculated to weaken the nobility and the larger landowners--the class from
which it had been the custom hitherto to select these officers. Henry saw
the advantage to be gained, and on his return to England in 1170 deposed
most of the sheriffs and ordered a strict enquiry to be made, as to the
extortions they had committed in his absence. Their places were filled for
the most part by men of lower rank, and therefore likely to be more
submissive. Some, however, were reinstated and became more cruel and
extortionate than ever.(140)

(M97)

The last fifteen years of Henry's life were full of domestic trouble. He
had always found it an easier matter to rule his kingdom than his
household. His sons were for ever thwarting his will and quarrelling with
each other. It was his desire to secure the succession to the crown for
his eldest son Henry, and to this end he had caused him to be crowned by
the Archbishop of York (14th June, 1170), who was thereupon declared
excommunicated by his brother of Canterbury. The son began to clamour for
his inheritance whilst his father still lived, and appealed in 1173 to the
French king, whose daughter he had married, to assist him in his unholy
enterprise. Whilst Henry was engaged in defending his crown against his
own son on the continent, the great barons of England rose in
insurrection, and the king was obliged to hasten home, where he arrived in
July, 1174. The rebellion was quickly put down, and the strife between
king and nobles for a time ceased.

(M98)

In the city there were occasional disturbances caused by the younger
nobility--the young bloods of the city(141)--who infested the streets at
night, broke into the houses of the rich and committed every kind of
excess. In 1177 the brother of the Earl of Ferrers was waylaid and ki