THE COMMUNE OF LONDON

AND OTHER STUDIES

BY J. H. ROUND M.A.

AUTHOR OF ‘GEOFFREY DE MANDEVILLE’,
‘FEUDAL ENGLAND,’ ETC.

With a Prefatory Letter by Sir Walter Besant

WESTMINSTER

ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND CO.

2 WHITEHALL GARDENS

1899

Butler & Tanner,
The Selwood Printing Works,
Frome, and London.

DEAR MR. ROUND,

I have to thank you for kindly letting me see the advance proofsof your new book. It is difficult for me to explain the very greatadvantage which the study of your books has been to me in my endeavourto get at the facts, especially those of the 12th century, connectedwith the history of London. For instance, I have found in your pagesfor the first time a working theory of the very difficult questionsconnected with the creation of the municipality. I have adopted yourconclusions to the best of my ability with, I hope, an adequateexpression of thanks to the source from which they are derived.

I would also point out the great service which you have rendered tothe history of the City by giving, for the first time, the exact truthregarding the conveyance of the Portsoken to the Priory of the HolyTrinity, an event which has been hitherto totally misunderstood.

Thirdly, I must acknowledge that it is only from your pages, especiallya certain appendix to ‘Geoffrey de Mandeville,’ that one can understandthe ordinary[vi] position of the clergy of the City of London in the 12thcentury.

It is unnecessary for me to enumerate many other obligations which Iowe to your pages.

I remain, dear Mr. Round,

Very faithfully yours,

WALTER BESANT.

Office of the Survey of London,

July 6th, 1899.