Note 50 — PART II HISTORICAL STUDIES

Mr Freeman held that Domesday hinted it might be classed with London, York, and Winchester (Norm. Conq., iv. 147; Exeter, 45), and quotes William of Malmesbury's description of its wealth and importance. Even in earlier days, he wrote, 'both the commercial and the military importance of the city were of the first rank' (i. 308).