668 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences , Arts , and Letters. 
been “headstrong, partial, and imprudent.” And, as a 
consequence, “damages, dissensions, and perils . . . had often¬ 
times happened in divers Wards” by reason of such elec¬ 
tions. 1 Though this complaint came ten years after the 
General Prologue was written, it is not without significance. 
As a matter of fact, between 1376 and 1384 there had been a 
great deal of discussion as to the tenure of office for an Aider- 
man. In 1376 a Charter was issued by Edward III setting 
forth that no Alderman should hold office for more than a 
year. 2 In the following year, the Common Council of the 
City passed a resolution that “Aldermen who had misbe¬ 
haved themselves and been removed from office should on 
no account be re-elected, but that an Alderman who had 
conducted himself well might be re-elected after the lapse 
of a year.” 3 In 1384 Mayor Brembre issued a “precept” 
for the election of an alderman as follows: “Either one who 
is already or has been an Alderman, or some one else.” 4 
He thereby ignored the year’s interval, and by what au¬ 
thority is not known. The King assented to this particular 
election “and is willing that the same mode . . . shall con¬ 
tinue, provided it appear to the members of the next Parlia¬ 
ment for the better government of the City.” 5 Parliament 
sanctioned the change 6 later in the year(1384). 7 Though we 
do not know Brembre’s motives, they undoubtedly were 
selfish. At any rate the very fact that a victualling mayor 
of his own motion disregarded an existing law and issued 
his own precept which was condoned by the King would not 
reduce friction among the guilds. Chaucer’s non-victuallers 
may have chafed more, and probably did chafe more, than 
the records reveal. 
Moreover, it is interesting to note that no new aldermen 
had been elected between 1383 and 1388, save one in 1387. 8 
1 Letter-Book , H, p. 436, 
8 Letter-Book , H, p. 58 n. 2. Cf. Beaven, II. p. XIX; also Birch, His¬ 
torical Charters of the City of London, London, 1884, pp. 65, 66. 
3 Letter-Book , H, p. 60. 
4 Ibid., p. 228. 
5 Ibid., p. 231. 
6 Letter-Book, H, p. IX. 
7 Beaven, II. p. XIX. In 1394 annual elections ceased and an alderman 
henceforth could not be removed without just cause ( Letter-Book, H, 
pp. 409-410). This law is still operative (Beaven, II. p. XIX). 
8 Beaven, I. p. 400. Cf. pp. 398-400. This was in March. In 1388 
two new aldermen were elected, and but one in 1389. It is interesting 
to note that all four were members of non-victualling guilds. 
