Following the rebellion, the reputations of Wentworth and the incumbent common council had been tarnished, and this allowed the election of a radical,  John Northampton.
Northampton was Mayor between 1381 and 1382 and had very much a populist agenda.
He was particularly vocal in his desire to break the monopoly of the Fishmongers.
This was also a popular policy, as it would bring down the price of fish for the citizens of London and open London's markets up to the less-prosperous.
Exton, on the other hand, wanted to preserve the City's existing price controls.
He and his fellow fishmongers took the view that other victuals (bread, wine and beer, for example) were also monopolies, and so failed to see why their particular practices—restrictive or not—should be removed from solely themselves.
Exton's party has been called the "capitalist party" of London politics of the time.
The smaller misteries on the other hand, for instance, those of craftsmanship and manufacturing, stood for free trade.
The victualling guilds' desire to maintain their monopoly made them antagonistic towards foreign traders, to the extent that the fishmongers were in the habit of seizing fresh fish from alien fishermen, selling at a heightened price, and only repaying when and what they liked.
 Northampton's mayoralty was beset by violence, with riots and running street battles being commonplace, as members and apprentices of the clothing and manufacturing guilds clashed with those of the victuallers on a regular basis.
 But Northampton was eventually able to introduce free trade in London fish in the parliament of 1382.
Exton appealed to the King on behalf of his guild: Northampton immediately denounced the fishmongers for being the only thing in London that was stopping the city from existing in "unnitee amour and concorde".
Exton claimed that Northampton and his party were prejudiced against them, as did Walter Sybyll; in turn the fishmongers generally and Sybill specifically was then accused of taking part in the Peasants Revolt in London in 1381 and of assisting the rebels.w
Northampton's mayoralty has been described as a disaster for the fishmongers: the new Mayor deprived them of their retailing rights, and revoked their eligibility to hold civic office in the city.
Exton and Northampton were by now bitterest enemies.
Naturally, Exton joined Northampton's political opponents, chief of whom was Nicholas Brembre, who had earlier accompanied William Walworth against the rebels.
Exton's advocacy for the Guild appears to have led him to make robust and vigorous comments regarding his opponents, to the extent that it was noted in the 1382 Letter-Book that Exton had made "opprobrious words used to the aforesaid Mayor [Northampton]".
For this, it seems that Exton was removed from his aldermanry less than a week later.
He may, however, have actually requested his own removal, as he had already previously offered a "grosse somme" of money towards doing so.
This was not his whole punishment though.
He was also deprived of his city citizenship, sentenced to a year's imprisonment (although this was immediately cancelled), heavily fined, and forced to leave the city.
This last was also only of a short duration.
All of these punishments may have been at the direct order of Northampton himself.
In all, he both lost his office of Alderman and had to leave the City for a period, even if he had also escaped lengthy imprisonment- all for having spoken-ill of the Mayor and aldermen in parliament.
The same year, 1382, he appointed one John Wroth as his mainpernor, and his need for a bondsman was probably a reflection on his troubled circumstances during this time.

Only a month later, though, in September 1382, Exton was back, and reiterating the same points in parliament.
 The fishmongers (and by extension the other victualling guilds), argued Exton, were entitled to the same rights of exclusivity as other companies: "If the retail in fish was to be thrown open to foreigners for the common Dukinfield," paraphrases one commentator on Exton's remarks, "then so should
Following the rebellion, the reputations of Wentworth and the incumbent common council had been tarnished, and this allowed the election of a radical,  John Northampton. Northampton was Mayor between 1381 and 1382 and had very much a populist agenda. He was particularly vocal in his desire to break the monopoly of the Fishmongers. This was also a popular policy, as it would bring down the price of fish for the citizens of London and open London's markets up to the less-prosperous. Exton, on the other hand, wanted to preserve the City's existing price controls. He and his fellow fishmongers took the view that other victuals (bread, wine and beer, for example) were also monopolies, and so failed to see why their particular practices—restrictive or not—should be removed from solely themselves. Exton's party has been called the "capitalist party" of London politics of the time. The smaller misteries on the other hand, for instance, those of craftsmanship and manufacturing, stood for free trade. The victualling guilds' desire to maintain their monopoly made them antagonistic towards foreign traders, to the extent that the fishmongers were in the habit of seizing fresh fish from alien fishermen, selling at a heightened price, and only repaying when and what they liked.  Northampton's mayoralty was beset by violence, with riots and running street battles being commonplace, as members and apprentices of the clothing and manufacturing guilds clashed with those of the victuallers on a regular basis.  But Northampton was eventually able to introduce free trade in London fish in the parliament of 1382. Exton appealed to the King on behalf of his guild: Northampton immediately denounced the fishmongers for being the only thing in London that was stopping the city from existing in "unnitee amour and concorde". Exton claimed that Northampton and his party were prejudiced against them, as did Walter Sybyll; in turn the fishmongers generally and Sybill specifically was then accused of taking part in the Peasants Revolt in London in 1381 and of assisting the rebels.w
Northampton's mayoralty has been described as a disaster for the fishmongers: the new Mayor deprived them of their retailing rights, and revoked their eligibility to hold civic office in the city. Exton and Northampton were by now bitterest enemies. Naturally, Exton joined Northampton's political opponents, chief of whom was Nicholas Brembre, who had earlier accompanied William Walworth against the rebels. Exton's advocacy for the Guild appears to have led him to make robust and vigorous comments regarding his opponents, to the extent that it was noted in the 1382 Letter-Book that Exton had made "opprobrious words used to the aforesaid Mayor [Northampton]". For this, it seems that Exton was removed from his aldermanry less than a week later. He may, however, have actually requested his own removal, as he had already previously offered a "grosse somme" of money towards doing so. This was not his whole punishment though. He was also deprived of his city citizenship, sentenced to a year's imprisonment (although this was immediately cancelled), heavily fined, and forced to leave the city. This last was also only of a short duration. All of these punishments may have been at the direct order of Northampton himself. In all, he both lost his office of Alderman and had to leave the City for a period, even if he had also escaped lengthy imprisonment- all for having spoken-ill of the Mayor and aldermen in parliament. The same year, 1382, he appointed one John Wroth as his mainpernor, and his need for a bondsman was probably a reflection on his troubled circumstances during this time.
Only a month later, though, in September 1382, Exton was back, and reiterating the same points in parliament.  The fishmongers (and by extension the other victualling guilds), argued Exton, were entitled to the same rights of exclusivity as other companies: "If the retail in fish was to be thrown open to foreigners for the common Dukinfield," paraphrases one commentator on Exton's remarks, "then so should 
Nicholas Exton