A story in the _Heimskringla_ shows how London was early celebrated for its number of churches and London Bridge for its crowds.[191] A French cripple dreamt that an angel appeared to him and said, "Fare thou to Olaf's church, the one that is in London." Thereafter he awoke and fared to seek Olaf's church, and at last he came to London Bridge and there asked the folk of the city to tell him where was Olaf's church. But they answered and said that there were many more churches there than they might wot to what man they were hallowed. But a little thereafter came a man to him who asked whither he was bound, and the cripple told him, and sithence said that man, "We twain shall fare both to the church of Olaf, for I know the way thither." Therewith they fared over the Bridge, and went along the street which led to Olaf's church. But when they came to the lich-gate then strode that one over the threshold of the gate, but the cripple rolled in over it and straightway rose up a whole man. But when he looked around him his fellow-farer was vanished. CHAPTER VIII THE GUILDHALL--LONDON STONE--TOWN BELL AND FOLKMOTE It is so sure a Stone that that is upon sette, For though some have it thrette With menases grym and greette Yet hurt had it none. FABYAN. The Guildhall is frequently spoken of in the thirteenth century; for instance, the Assise of Buildings of 1212 was given from "Gilde Hall." Mr. Price, its historian, shows that at this time it must have stood near the west end of the present hall. This agrees with Stow, who says that it "of old time" stood on the east side of Aldermansbury, and adds that the latter was so named from the "court there kept in their bury or court hall now called the Guildhall." Guildhall Yard was in 1294, as now, to the east of St. Laurence.[192] Giraldus Cambrensis tells us under 1191 how a multitude of the citizens met in Aula Publica, which takes its name from the custom of drinking there. This burgmote at the Guildhall in 1191 was probably the greatest event in London's history, resulting in the removal of Longchamp and the establishment of the mayor and commune.[193] "Aldermanesbury" may be traced back to early in the twelfth century, and the name carries the Guildhall with it. Mr. Round points out that the _Terra Gialle_ mentioned in the St. Paul's document, _c._ 1130, refers to the Guildhall,[194] and when further we find that a _Gildhalla burgensium_ at Dover appears in Domesday we can hardly doubt that the foundation of the London hall dates from the time of the Frith Gilds. In the laws of Athelstane it was ordained by the "bishops and reeves of London" that the people should be numbered in _hyndens_ (tens), and that "every month the hynden men and those who directed the tithings should gather together for bytt filling, ... and let those twelve men have their refection together and deal the remains for the love of God."[195]