s, be justly termed a member of the
political system. This great city, so admirably situated, was rich and
populous long before the Conquest. Bede, at the beginning of the eighth
century, speaks of London as a great market, which traders frequented by
land and sea.[51] It paid 15,000_l._ out of 82,000_l._, raised by Canute
upon the kingdom.[52] If we believe Roger Hoveden, the citizens of
London, on the death of Ethelred II., joined with part of the nobility
in raising Edmund Ironside to the throne.[53] Harold I., according to
better authority, the Saxon Chronicle and William of Malmsbury, was
elected by their concurrence.[54] Descending to later history, we find
them active in the civil war of Stephen and Matilda. The famous bishop
of Winchester tells the Londoners that they are almost accounted as
noblemen on account of the greatness of their city; into the community
of which it appears that some barons had been received.[55] Indeed, the
citizens themselves, or at least the principal of them, were called
barons. It was certainly by far the greatest city in England. There have
been different estimates of its population, some of which are
extravagant; but I think it could hardly have contained less than thirty
or forty thousand souls within its walls; and the suburbs were very
populous.[56] These numbers, the enjoyment of privileges, and the
consciousness of strength, infused a free and even a mutinous spirit
into their conduct.[57] The Londoners were always on the barons' side in
their contests with the crown. They bore a part in deposing William
Longchamp, the chancellor and justiciary of Richard I.[58] They were
distinguished in the great struggle for Magna Charta; the privileges of
their city are expressly confirmed in it; and the mayor of London was
one of the twenty-five barons to whom the maintenance of its provisions
was delegated. In the subsequent reign the citizens of London were
regarded with much dislike and jealousy by the court, and sometimes
suffered pretty severely at its hands, especially after the battle of
Evesham.[59]

Notwithstanding the influence of London in these seasons of disturbance,
we do not perceive that it was distinguished from the most insignificant
town by greater participation in national councils. Rich, powerful,
honourable, and high-spirited as its citizens had become, it was very
long before they found a regular place in parliament. The prerogative of
imposing tallages at pleasure,