Note 50 — PART II HISTORICAL STUDIES

The essence of the whole matter is that the 'burdens' to which Exeter was subject were not raised at all, but remained precisely the same as had been paid to former kings. And this fact is the more notable, because, as Mr Freeman had to admit, 'even the tribute imposed by William' [on his own hypothesis] 'was not large for so great a city', and, one may add, a rich one.50 Indeed, it was so small as to fairly call for increase.51 Even Lincoln, which, according to Mr Freeman, received 'favourable' treatment from William, had its 'tribute largely raised'52 in fact, more than trebled.53 What we have to account for, therefore, is the fact that a city which had defied, insulted, and outraged William, received not only 'a free pardon',54 but peculiar favour at his hands.