to the general interests of the nation, or betray them into a corrupt acquiescence with the absolute tendencies of the Crown.  At that time, as at all others, while duly reverencing the royal prerogatives, they resolutely opposed themselves to the undue aggrandizement of the kingly power at the expense of the other estates of the realm.  It was within the precincts of the City, at the metropolitan church of St. Paul’s, that the articles of Magma Charta were first proposed and accepted by acclamation, the citizens binding themselves by oath to defend and enforce them with their lives.  Nor was it for themselves alone that they were prepared to shed their blood.  Their solicitude extended to all other cities and towns throughout the kingdom, for the preservation of whose free customs and immunities they expressly stipulated.  During the long feeble reign of Henry III., no fewer than ten charters were granted to the citizens of London.  In the thirty-first year of that monarch, the mayor and commonalty of the City of London are mentioned for the first time as a corporate body, possessing a common seal.

The reign of Edward I. was rendered memorable for the convocation of the first parliament of the freely-elected representatives of the people, for the purpose of voting the supplies necessary for the conduct of public affairs.  Previously to this, grants of money were usually obtained through the personal influence of the barons over the cities and towns held in demesne.  The burgesses, however, did not sit with the knights of shires, but apart by themselves, and, through loyalty or obsequiousness, assessed themselves in a contribution nearly one third greater than that granted by the barons and knights.  The convenient precedent was not overlooked, and it became henceforth customary to expect the like liberality from subsequent parliaments.  At this period, also, the principal divisions of the city were first denominated wards; these wards were presided over by an alderman, assisted by a council chosen by the inhabitants of each division.  In the twelfth year of his reign, Edward, incensed by what he considered the disrespectful conduct of the civic magistrates, disfranchised the city, and governed it for twelve years through means of a custos.  The experiment, however, did not answer, and the king was glad to restore the liberties of the City on payment of a heavy fine.  At a later period, the mayor and sheriffs successfully resisted a second attempt to infringe on the privileges of the citizens.  Under the second Edward, London continued to maintain its ascendancy over all the other cities in the kingdom, and it was now for the first time authentically ordained, that no person should be held to enjoy civic freedom unless he were a member of some trade or “mystery,” or admitted by full assent of the commonalty assembled.