han mere watermen, such as we shall see joining with
the apprentices of London at important political crises, and that they
were acting more or less as representatives of the Londoners who had
already acquired a predominant voice in such matters, seems beyond doubt.

(M43)

During the next thirty years London took no prominent part in the affairs
of the country, content if only allowed to have leisure to mind its own
business. The desire for peace is the key-note to the action of the
citizens of London at every important crisis. Without peace, commerce
became paralyzed. Peace could be best secured by a strong government, and
such a government, whether in the person of a king or protector could
count upon their support. "For it they were ready to devote their money
and their lives, for commerce, the child of opportunity, brought wealth;
wealth power; and power led independence in its train." The quarrels of
the half-brothers, Harold and Harthacnut, the attempt by one or both of
the sons of Ethelred and Emma to recover their father's kingdom, and the
question of the innocence or guilt of Earl Godwine in connection with the
murder of one of them, affected the citizens of London only so far as such
disturbances were likely to impede the traffic of the Thames or to make it
dangerous for them to convey their merchandise along the highways of the
country.

(M44)

The payment of Danegelt at the accession of Harthacnut (A.D. 1040),(67)
probably touched the feelings, as it certainly did the pockets, of the
Londoners, more than any other event which happened during this period.

(M45)

Upon the sudden death of Harthacnut (A.D. 1042), who died in a fit "as he
stood at his drink,"(68) the choice of the whole nation fell on Edward,
his half-brother--"before the king buried were, all folk chose Edward to
king at London."(69) The share that the Londoners took in this particular
election is not so clear as in other cases. Nevertheless, the importance
of the citizens was daily growing, and by the time of the accession of
Edward the Confessor, the City was recognised as the capital of the
kingdom, the chief seat for the administration of the law, and the place
where the king usually resided.(70)

(M46)

In early Saxon times the witan had met in any town where the king happened
at the time to be; and although theoretically every freeman had a right to
attend its meetings, practically the citizens of the town wherein the
gemot hap