62 THE ANNALS OF BURTON ABBEY 
military service at the King’s command when the sheriffs and bailiffs had no 
order from the King for that purpose.” 
“Concerning sheriffs aud bailifis who take from one side and from the 
other.” 
“Concerning sheriffs and baillifs who twice or oftener had received 
money from anyone for one fine when he had been fined once.” 
“Concerning those who distrain several having one name, at the summons 
of the exchequer, that each should pay his due when one only of them had 
been mulcted.” 
There are also a lot of very interesting articles of enquiry 
throughout England into the life and conversation of the clergy and 
laity. It is much to be doubted whether these were ever put in 
force. Here are a few out of a multitude :— 
“Whether any laymen are drunken or habitually frequent the tavern or 
are usurers in any kind of usury.” 
“Whether any layman is remarkably proud or remarkably envious or 
remarkably avaricious or remarkably nourishes rancour cr is remarkably 
gluttonous or voluptuous.” 
“ Whether the laymen are obstinate so that they stand in the chancel with 
the clergy.” 
‘““ Whether any clergy are drunken or frequent taverns or are traders or 
usurers or fighters or wrestlers or noted for any vice.” 
‘‘ Whether any rectors or vicars or priests are exceedingly (enormiter) 
illiterate.” 
The most valuable part of this chronicle is that which deals 
with the Provisions of Oxford, and in this matter it is, I believe, the 
leading English authority. At the end of the reign the storm, 
which had long been brewing, burst, and a council of twenty-four 
was appointed to assist the king in reforming the realm. Of these 
twenty-four twelve were appointed by the king and twelve by the 
barons, and it is interesting to note that one of the twelve appointed 
by the barons was Thomas de Gresley. An epoch-making reform was 
immediately introduced—the meeting of the First Representative 
Parliament in England in 1258—in which, for the first time, repre- 
sentatives from the towns were to sit with bishops, barons, and 
knights. 
NQyxe” 
