Some dispute has arisen respecting the position of the lithsmen, who appear at the election in Oxford of Cnut's successor, and subsequently. Freeman (_Norman Conquest_, vol. i. p. 538) describes them as 'seafaring' men of London, while Gross (_The Gild Merchant_, vol. i. p. 186) writes: 'The lithsmen (shipowners) of London, who, with others, raised Harold to the throne, were doubtless such "burg-thegns."' Another important point to be noted is the prominent political position of the bishop. As early as A.D. 900 'the bishop and the reeves who belong to London' are recorded as making in the name of the citizens laws which were confirmed by the King, because they had reference to the whole kingdom. Edward the Confessor greeted William Bishop, Harold Earl, and Esgar Staller. So that William the Conqueror followed precedent when he addressed his charter to Bishop and Portreeve. Foreigners in early times occupied an important position in London, but there were serious complaints when Edward the Confessor enlarged the numbers of the Normans. The Englishman always had a hatred of the foreigner, and this dislike grew as time went on, and the English tried to obtain the first place and succeeded in the attempt. Other points, such as government by folkmoots and gilds, which will be discussed in the following chapters, find their origin in the Saxon period. The government of London under the Saxons was of a simple character, approximating to that of the shire, and so it continued until some years after the Conquest. When the Commune was extorted from the Crown a fuller system of government was inaugurated, which will be discussed in a later chapter. [Illustration] CHAPTER II _The Walled Town and its Streets_ In the mediæval city the proper protection of the municipality and the citizens largely depended upon the condition of the walls and gates. The government of town life was specially congenial to the Norman, and the laws he made for the purpose were stringent; while the Saxon, who never appreciated town life, preferred the county organisation. Thus it will be found that, as the laws of the latter were too lax, those of the former were too rigorous.