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 The Risings in the English Alonastic Toivns 657 the town, and under each constable two capital pledges were to act. At the same time other regulations tending to consolidate the abbot's judicial power in the town were settled. He also showed his power by forcing several of the townsmen, who held from him by such service, to supply horses for his journey to the cell at Tynemouth. ' The burgesses of St. Albans were, meanwhile, making the most of the liberties they had won. A common seal for the borough, of silver throughout, was procured. Representatives were sent to Parliament, and to pay their expenses, and to support their newly won liberties, heavy contributions had to be levied in the town. Such expense was cheerfully borne now that they were free from the abbot's control, however, and they were prepared to stoutly re- sist any claims to jurisdiction over them on the part of the eccle- siastics. On his part the abbot was secretly planning to reassert his authority, and after three years of quietness the opportunity came ; the two parties were again in conflict, but this time the ecclesiastics emerged triumphant from the fray. A disturbance, caused by the abbot's attempting to exert his spiritual authority over the townsmen, took place in the spring of 133 1. Two lives were lost and the royal coroner took cognizance of the matter." An inquisition was ordered at the request of the abbot, who preferred charges against the burgesses for the many wrongs he had suffered at their hands.' The verdict was entirely in the abbot's favor and reviewed the whole cause of the trouble since 1326, showing how the townsmen had made a con- federation against the abbot ; how they had extorted money and lands from various persons friendly to the convent ; and how they had committed many outrages and acts of violence.* Sixty-nine of the chief burgesses being arrested, thirty of them were adjudged guilty and thrown into prison. From thence they were released, on promising to pay a fine to the abbot. Those burgesses who had set up hand-mills, contrary to the abbot's rights, were prosecuted,^ and altogether Abbot Richard made life unpleasant for his tenants. It was no wonder, therefore, that the burgesses became weary of the struggle, and resolved to submit and effect a reconciliation with the abbot on the best terms possible. These terms were hard ones for them to offer: — the indenture of liberties gained in 1327 was to be surrendered and destroyed ; there were to be no more hand-mills set up in the town ; a large sum of money was to be paid as an indem- > Gesta Abbalum, II. 205-208. < Gesta Abbatum, II. 229-233. •^ Ibid., II. 216-219. ^Ilnd., 233-236. ^Jbid., 221-222.