William felled with an axe the first soldier who advanced to seize him, and taking refuge with a few adherents in the tower of St.Mary-le-Bow summoned his adherents to rise.

Hubert however, who had already flooded the city with troops, with bold contempt of the right of sanctuary set fire to the tower.

William was forced to surrender, and a burgher's son, whose father he had slain, stabbed him as he came forth.

With his death the quarrel slumbered for more than fifty years.

But the movement towards equality went steadily on.