Two years after, the city refusing to lend the King a sum of money, and some of the citizens beating and abusing a Lombard merchant, for offering to advance the sum required, the King was so exasperated, that he sent for the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and twenty four of the principal commoners of the city, to attend him at Nottingham, which having done, the Mayor was committed prisoner to Windsor castle, and the rest to other prisons. A commission, under the great seal, was then granted to the Dukes of York and Gloucester, the King’s uncles, to enquire into that and other offences, of which the above persons being found guilty, they were not only fined 3000 marks, but the liberties of the city were seized; the Mayor was degraded from his office, and a Custos appointed in his room; the Sheriffs were also degraded, and others chosen; and, by the King’s precept, seventeen persons were appointed Aldermen, during the royal pleasure. As a farther mortification to the city, the King not only withdrew, with the nobility, to York, but removed the courts of justice to that city.
However, upon payment of the fine of 3000 marks, all the city liberties were restored, except the privilege of chusing her own Mayor. And the King, returning to London, was met at Shene, or Richmond Heath, by four hundred citizens on horseback, dressed in a rich uniform, with the Recorder at their head, who made a speech, in which he humbly begged pardon for their past offences, and earnestly entreated his Majesty to honour the Chamber of London with his presence; to which he consenting, they attended him to St. George’s church in Southwark, where he was received by a solemn procession of the clergy, and five hundred boys in surplices, with the Bishop of London at their head. At London bridge he was presented with a fine horse, adorned with trappings of gold brocade, and his Queen with a fine pad, and very noble furniture.
Never was the city more richly embellished than on this occasion, for the citizens of all ranks strove to outvie each other, in honour of their reconciled Sovereign; the streets were lined with the city companies in their formalities, and the conduits all the while ran with variety of wines.