654 N. M. Tr en holme seemed to be going in favor of the townsmen. A writ was issued in their favor, in which the abbot and his baihffs were blamed for depriving the burgesses of their hberties, contrary to Magna Charta/ and were forbidden to further molest them in the enjoyment of their rights." Another writ was issued to the Treasurer and Chamberlain directing them to inspect the Domesday Book to find whether or not the town of St. Albans should be a free borough and the men of the town free burgesses. The result of such an inspection showed clearly and conclusively that the town belonged to the abbey, for the forty-six burgesses mentioned therein all held from the abbot, and owned but half a hide collectively. This was a decided set- back to the claims of the townsmen.^ The next step was the conference in St. Paul's Churchyard, where, after some discussion, twelve arbitrators were agreed on : knights, lawyers and men from the country around St. Albans. These undertook to consider the demands of the townsmen for grea:ter liberties, and were aided in their deliberation by three nobles from the royal council. After long debate an indenture was drawn up by the arbitrators, which was more favorable to the townsmen than to the abbot, but the final composition was put off until later. The events up to this point had occupied the first three months of 1327 and now, on the sixth of March, the parties met in the Abbey Church at St. Albans to agree to a final composition. The abbot and convent solemnly produced the charter granted to them by Henry II., which confirmed them in possession of the town of St. Albans, with a market and every liberty which a borough ought to have.* The word biirgns in the charter roused the interest of all the townsmen present, and they immediately demanded to have the status of burgesses confirmed to them under the sign and seal of the convent. The monks hesitated and held back, and the matter was postponed for four days, so that it could be discussed before the royal council and the wiser heads of the realm at Westminster.^ At this important conference the abbot and convent were represented by three monks and a professor of civil law. After many disputes and 'Magna Charta, section 13 : " Praeterea volumus et concedimus quod omnes aliae civitates, et burgi, et villae, et portus, habeant omnes libertates et liberas consuetudines suas." 2 Gtsta Abbahim, II. 161. ^ Ibid., II. 162-163; for the entrj- in Domesday Book co-D.ctxxim% St. Albans see D. B., p. 132.
- Gfsta Abbalum, II. 164. This charter of Henry II.' s seems to have been the
only one ofimportance possessed by the abbot and convent who, no doubt, relied largely on prescriptive right. 'Ibid., II. 165.
