:
forging title deeds; stealing--all were punished in the same way. The
offender was carried or led through the City--sometimes mounted with his
head to the horse's tail--always with something about his neck to show
the nature of his offence, and placed in pillory for a certain time.

There was one punishment always in reserve--the worst of all. This was
deprivation of the privileges of a freeman and banishment from the City.
'Go,' said the Mayor. 'Thou shalt dwell with us; trade with us;
converse with us; no more. Go.' And so that source of trouble was
removed.

We have seen how the trades formed companies--every trade having its own
company. It must not, however, be understood that the working man gained
much power by their unions. They were organised: they had to obey:
obedience was very good for them as it is for all of us, always; but it
must be obedience to a corporate body, not to a master. This they did
not understand and they tried to form 'covins' or trades unions of their
own. The City put down these attempts with a stern hand. The trade
companies ruled hours of work, wages, and standard of work. Lastly,
though there was no City police to guard the streets, there were certain
laws for the maintenance of order. Nobody under the rank of knight was
to carry arms in the streets: no one was to walk about the street after
nine at night: houses were not to be built over streets. In a word,
there were not many laws; but the people were law abiding. And this,
perhaps, as much as anything else, explains the greatness of London.

[Illustration: THE EMBARKATION OF HENRY VIII. FROM DOVER, 1520.

(_From the original painting at Hampton Court._)]

39. THE POLITICAL POWER OF LONDON.

Until the rapid growth of the manufacturing interests created immense
cities in the North, the wealth and prosperity and population of London
gave it a consideration and power in the political situation which was
unequalled by that of any other mediaeval city. Even Paris, for instance,
has never held an equal importance in the history of France. This power
has been especially, and significantly, employed in the election and
proclamation of Kings. It is not only that London has been the place
of proclamation: it is that the Londoners themselves have repeatedly
said, 'This shall be our King': and, as repeatedly, by that very act,
have given him to understand that if he would not reign well he should,
like some of his predecessors, be