The great feud between the victualling and clothing trades of London was one of the most remarkable features of the fourteenth century. Some allusion has been made to this in chapter viii. on the governors of the city, but a reference must also be made here in connection with the history of the London companies. After the Peasants' Revolt, London was the battlefield of rival factions. The friends of the King (Richard II.) were found among the great merchants of the victualling trades. In one year sixteen of the twenty-five aldermen were grocers, and Nicholas Brembre was chief of them. The fishmongers, of whom Sir William Walworth was the leader, were scarcely less powerful. The victuallers were very unpopular, and the public have always specially resented any advance in the price of food. Complaints were rife in the chief cities of the country of the abuses of the victuallers, and an Act (12 Edw. II. cap. 6) was passed to the effect that "no officer of a city or borough shall sell wine or victuals during his office." This Act was frequently evaded, and another Act was passed in 1382 (see _ante_, p. 236). In the end the Act of Edward II. was repealed (3 Hen. VIII. cap. 8, 1511-1512).[327] John of Northampton, when he became Mayor, took advantage of this Act, and began a policy of aggression directed against the victualling interest. He turned all his enemies off the governing body, and victuallers were forbidden to hold office in the city. These feuds were very serious, and the two leaders were unfortunate in their ends. Brembre was executed in 1388, and John of Northampton was sent to the Tower and imprisoned in Tintagel Castle. A few words may be said here about the classes of trades represented by the gilds and companies commencing with-- _The Bakers._--The price of bread was regulated by law, according to the price of wheat, and the Mayor had the right to levy a 1/2d. for every quarter of corn sent to the mill. This tax was called pesage from pisa, a corruption of mediæval Latin _pensa_, a weight. The right was called in question at the _Iter_ held in the Tower in 1321, but the matter was adjourned for the consideration of the King and his Council.[328]