Stranica 156 [156]
OCR
134 COMMERCE Tower. From the Nore westward the Conservancy extends to Staines. We see somewhat similar jurisdictions on the Elbe, the Scheldt, and other large rivers leading to great cities. The port of London was defined in 665 to extend from London Bridge eastward to the Naze in Essex and the North Foreland in Kent. The passage by the Wantsum and the Stour to the open channel at Sandwich was for centuries of great importance to London. In some very ancient Kentish laws, generally attributed to Hlothzre and Eadric, who lived toward the close of the seventh century, mention is made of Lundenwic. I have, in agi former volumes on London history, assumed with some hesitation that this means London. But though the name undoubtedly points to London as a great commercial centre, it is probable that it was actually borne by a quay or harbour on the Stour immediately opposite Sandwich, a_ place where the Kentish men came over to buy chattels from the London merchants who were on
