Page:American Historical Review vol. 6.djvu/665

 The Risings in tJie English Jlfonastic Towns 655 controversies, both parties consented to an indenture, or agreement, of the following nature. Twenty-four of the more faithful towns- men of St. Albans were to be chosen to make a perambulation of the town limits, and after considering and noting the ancient boundaries they were to report the result to the abbot and convent. These, on their part, agreed to confirm, by their common seal, such boundaries, having first given seisin of them, to the burgesses of the town.' The perambulation was accordingly made, and the indenture between the abbot and the burgesses drawn up. The royal assent and confirmation were given on April 19, the burgesses making fine of forty shillings,^ and it only remained to get the abbot and con- vent to set their seal to the agreement. The burgesses brought to bear every possible pressure, but the monks delayed and were un- willing. A royal mandate came to them ordering them to confirm the agreement,'' yet they were bitterly opposed to any concession, and at a meeting in the church of St. Albans there was great oppo- sition to sealing the document. Headed by their archdeacon the monks drew up a solemn protest against the conventual seal being used. It was in vain that the timid and terrified old abbot, Hugh of Everisdene, displayed the royal mandate. The monks, though greatly alarmed, still maintained their resolute attitude and left the chapter-house without yielding. It was only through the urgent entreaties of their abbot, and the imminent danger in which they were placed, that they at length gave in and allowed the convent seal to be used. A protest was, indeed, drawn up and recorded before two notaries public, which declared that this concession was made through fear of violence and not of their own free will.'' The indenture, thus won from the abbot and convent, and con- firmed by the King, was a document of great importance to the burgesses of St. Albans. It set forth the metes and bounds of the borough in detail. St. Albans was henceforth to be a borough, without dispute ; all tenements were to be burgage tenements ; and all the inhabitants, their heirs and successors, were declared to be burgesses. Two burgesses were to be elected to represent the town in parliament, and twelve before the itinerant justices. The townsmen were, however, bound to appear at the abbot's hundred court, when summoned by writ, as formerly. The assize of bread and ale, and all articles having to do with the assize, were hence- 1 Gesta Ahbatum, II. 165. aPat. Roll. I Edw. III., II, m. 28; Gesia Abbattwi, II. 170. ' Gesta Abbatum, II. 174, where the royal letter is given in full. vidual burgesses were attached to this document. St. Albans did not yet possess a cor- porate seal.
 * Gesta Abbatum, II. 170-175. Both the seal of the convent and the seals of indi-