probably did
not make a long stay, and, on their departure, the former inhabitants
returned and the city slowly recovered its wonted appearance, as the
country around became more settled.

(M12)

Christianity in the country had revived, and London was now to receive its
first bishop. It is the year 604. "This year," writes the chronicler,
"Augustine hallowed two bishops, Mellitus and Justus; Mellitus he sent to
preach baptism to the East Saxons, whose king was called Seberht, son of
Ricula, the sister of Ethelbert whom Ethelbert had there set as king. And
Ethelbert gave to Mellitus a bishop's see at London." This passage is
remarkable for two reasons:--(1) as shewing us that London was at this time
situate in Essex, the kingdom of the East Saxons, and (2) that Seberht was
but a _roi faineant_, enjoying no real independence in spite of his
dignity as ruler of the East Saxons and nominal master of London, his
uncle Ethelbert, king of the Cantii, exercising a hegemony over "all the
nations of the English as far as the Humber." (14)

Hence it is that London is spoken of by some as being the _metropolis_ of
the East Saxons,(15) and by others as being the principal city of the
Cantii;(16) the fact being that, though locally situate in Essex, it was
deemed the political capital of that kingdom which for the time being
happened to be paramount.

(M13)

After the death of Seberht, the Londoners became dissatisfied with their
bishop and drove him out. Mellitus became in course of time Archbishop of
Canterbury, whilst the Londoners again relapsed into paganism.(17) Not
only was the erection of a cathedral in the city due to Ethelbert, but it
was also at his instigation, if not with his treasure, that Seberht, the
"wealthy sub-king of London," was, as is believed, induced to found the
Abbey of Westminster.(18)

(M14)

When the Saxon kingdoms became united under Egbert and he became _rex
totius Britanniae_ (A.D. 827), London began to take a more prominent place
among the cities of the kingdom, notwithstanding its having been three
times destroyed by fire between 674 and 801.(19) It became more often the
seat of the royal residence, and the scene of witena-gemots; nevertheless
it was not the seat of government, much less the capital. Then and for a
long time to come it had a formidable rival in Winchester, the chief town
of Egbert's own kingdom of Wessex. To Winchester that king proceeded in
triumph after completing the uni