TJic Risings in the English Monastic Toivns 653 prived of them ; and, finally, they demanded that the town -bailiff should make all executions in the town without being interfered with by the bailiff of the abbot's liberty or any other person.' The abbot would not immediately concede what the townsmen demanded, but requested a delay of four days in which to consider the matter. The townsmen were, however, so impatient that they would allow him but one day, and as soon as that had expired they appeared with the articles again and demanded an immediate answer. A verbal consent to the articles was all that they could extort from the abbot, and the deputies retired in great indignation. With a wise foresight the abbot had retained the services of two hundred armed men, as a garrison for the monastery. Then when the even- ing came and the townsmen attacked the abbey at one of the chief gates they were repulsed by the forces within. Then followed a ten daj's' siege ; but the inmates being well supplied with water and provisions, and all attempts to assault being met and repulsed, the townsmen got little satisfaction. Finally a royal writ was procured to be issued to the sheriff of Hertfordshire bidding him, if neces- sary, to levy the posse coutitatus and relieve the abbey and its in- mates. The king's peace was to be proclaimed in the town, and all who afterwards resisted were to be arrested and imprisoned. The townsmen dared not resist the royal proclamation, and quietly dispersed to their homes. They still held to their purpose of ob- taining borough liberties, however, and their sworn confederation was maintained, as in London and other towns." Legal measures were next resorted to by the townsmen to gain recognition of their liberties, and they engaged lawyers to urge, in the royal court, their grievances against the abbot, who for his part took similar action. It looked as if the matters in dispute would be peaceably settled by the royal justices. The townsmen evi- dently feared the outcome of such a suit, and arranged instead to have a conference, to settle the differences, held in St. Paul's Churchyard some weeks later. Such dilatory proceedings did not appeal to the rabble of St. Albans, however, and while negotiations were pending between the abbot and the better class of burgesses, a fresh outbreak occurred in the town. The abbey was attacked but the rioters were again repulsed, and one of their number cap- tured and thrown into prison. In London, meanwhile, things ' The full text of this interesting petition from the burgesses can be seen in the Gesta Ahbatuvi S. Albaiti, K. S., II. 157-15S. These do not seem to have been excessive demands on the part of the townsmen, but they had never enjoyed them in the past, as they claimed to have done. 2 Gesta Abbatum, II. 159-160, where the royal writs to the sheriff are given in full.
