HANSE MERCHANTS' GRIEVANCES a.d. 



1407. 



other subsidies contrary to the liberties of their charter. 

 Whereupon the saide marchants prosecuted the matter 

 before the Councel of our soveraign lord the king, 

 insomuch that they were released from paying afterward 

 any such tallages, fifteenths, and subsidies. Which 

 marchants, a while after, of their owne accord and free 

 will, gave unto the gild-hall of London an hundreth 

 markes sterling, conditionally, that they of the citie 

 aforesaide should not at any time after exact or demaund 

 of the said marchants, or of their successors, any tallages, 

 fifteenths, or subsidies, contrary to the tenor of their 

 charter, as by records in the foresaid gild-hall, it doth 

 more plainly appeare. Howbeit of late the officers of 

 our lord the king, in the foresaid ward of Dove-gate, 

 constrained the marchants aforesaid to pay tallages, 

 fifteenths, & other subsidies. And because the saide 

 marchants murmured and refused to pay any such con- 

 tributions, alleaging their privileges, the foresaid officers 

 arrested the goods of those said marchants (which are as 

 yet detained upon the arrest) notwithstanding that they 

 were released before the councel of our soveraigne lord 

 the king, & also that they gave unto the said gild-hall 

 one hundreth marks to be released, as it is aforesaid. 

 And also the foresaid marchants were constrained to pay 

 I2.d. in the pound, and of late 6.d. and other subsidies, 

 more then their ancient customes, to the great damage 

 of those marchants. 



Item, the foresaid marchants are privileged as touching The ancient 

 customs of wols by them bought within the realm of customes °f 

 England, y l they are not bound to pay, over & besides 

 their ancient customs, but onely xl.d. more then the 

 homeborn marchants of England were wont to pay. 

 But now ye foresaid marchants are compelled to pay 

 for every sack of wool (besides ye ancient custom & the 

 40. d. aforesaid) a certain imposition called Pence for the Pence for the 

 town of Cales, namely for every sack of wool I9.d. more JJ"J* °f 

 then the marchants of England doe pay, to their great 

 losse, & against the liberty of their charter. 



73 



