A story told by Madox[469] brings out the contrast. A dispute had arisen between the king and the Londoners. To Henry’s demand for 3000 marks of “tallage” they at first replied by offering 2000 marks of “aid,” which the king refused. The citizens then denied liability to tallage altogether, but were confronted with entries in Exchequer and Chancery Rolls which entirely contradicted their audacious contention. On the morrow the mayor and citizens acknowledged that they were talliable, and gave the king the sum he demanded. ----- Footnote 469: I. 712, citing Mem. Roll 39 Henry III. ----- (4) _Effects of the omission of the word “tallage” from Magna Carta._ As the two words appearing in the Articles of the Barons had well-recognized differences of meaning, it is unlikely that the omission of one of them from the Charter was regarded as a purely verbal change. John would readily enough dispense with the right to exact “aids” from the wealthy traders of his capital, if he still preserved his privilege of tallaging them at pleasure. The omission was perhaps deliberately made in deference to John’s strong feeling on a point which did not personally affect the barons.[470] Another omission should be noted. The Articles had extended protection not only to Londoners, but also “to citizens of other places who thence have their liberties,” meaning the towns whose chartered privileges had been modelled on those of the metropolis. Magna Carta completely ignored, in this connection, all towns except London.[471] ----- Footnote 470: Alternative explanations are possible, _e.g._ that the prelates, accustomed to tallage their own dependants, used their influence successfully to combat this innovation as “the thin end of the wedge.” Footnote 471: It might possibly be argued that the last clause of chapter 13 extending to all towns a confirmation of liberties and customs, was intended to embrace this provision as to aids. If so, the draftsman has expressed himself clumsily. ----- (5) _The nature of the protection afforded by Magna Carta._ The arrangement of the present chapter is peculiar. After treating fully of the abuses of Crown tenants, the case of the Londoners is thrown in carelessly in a few words: “In like manner it shall be done concerning aids from the citizens of London.” Various interpretations of the words “_simili modo_” are possible. High authorities suggest that the clause means no more than that aids taken from London, like ordinary aids taken from Crown tenants, must be “reasonable.”[472] If this is so, a criterion of reasonableness different from that applicable to knights’ fees became necessary; and this would have been hard to find.[473] ----- Footnote 472: Such is the opinion expressed in the _Lords’ Report on the Dignity of a Peer_, I. 65. Footnote 473: