KING'S RIGHT TO COMMANDEER 119 



amusing, we are told that " In the reign of King 

 Edward I. Walter Marescullus paid at the crucem 

 lapideam six horseshoes with nails for a certain 

 building which he held of the king in capite 

 opposite the stone cross." 



This recalls to mind that in the reign of Henry 

 III., and even later, horseshoes and horseshoe 

 nails were frequently taken in lieu of rent. 

 Whether or no horseshoes were of exceptional 

 value does not appear, but we are led to suppose 

 that they must have been from the fact that in 

 1251 a farrier named Walter le Brun, who lived 

 in the Strand, in London, was granted a plot of 

 land in the parish of St Clements "to place there 

 a forge, six horseshoes to be paid to the parish 

 every year for the privilege." 



In after years the same plot was granted to 

 the Mayor and citizens of London, who, it is said, 

 still render six horseshoes to the Exchequer 

 annually. 



According to the Statutes, 25, Edward I., c. 

 21 ; and 36, Edward III. cc. 4, 5, the king could 

 commandeer from his subjects as many horses as 

 he might need for his own service. By the nobles 

 and barons this was deemed a harsh measure, and 

 frequently they rebelled against it. Some of the 

 more spirited even refused to acknowledge its 

 validity, with the result that a number were slain 

 whilst attempting to retain their horses by force ; 

 others were imprisoned ; and a few were put to 



