KING HENRY IV.'S CHARTER a.d. 



1404. 



tofore have bene moved and committed among the 

 Marchants of our kingdome of England remaining in the 

 parties of Prussia, Denmarke, Norway, the Hans steeds, 

 and Sweden, and greater hereafter, which God forbid, are 

 feared to be like to fall out, unlesse we put to our 

 helping hands for the procuring of better governement to 

 be maintained among the said Marchants: wee heartily 

 desiring to prevent the perrils and dangers which are like 

 to fall out in this case, and that the sayde Marchants and 

 others which shall travaile out of our said Realme into 

 the partes aforesaid may justly and faithfully be ruled 

 and intreated, we will and graunt by the tenour of these 

 presents to the said Marchants, that they may freely and 

 without danger assemble and meete together as often 

 and whensoever they please in some convenient and 

 honest place where they shall thinke good, and that they 

 may choose among themselves certaine sufficient and fit 

 persons for their governours in those parts at their good 

 liking. And furthermore we give and graunt to the 

 said Governours which are in such sort to be chosen 

 by the aforesaid Marchants, as much as in us lieth, 

 speciall power and authoritie to rule and governe all 

 and singular the English Marchants which hereafter 

 shall come or repayre to the parts aforesaid by them- 

 selves or their sufficient Deputies, and to minister unto 

 them and every of them in their causes and quarels 

 whatsoever, which are sprung up or shall hereafter 

 fall out among them in the parts aforesaid full and 

 speedie justice, and to reforme all maner of questions, 

 contentious discords, and debates moved or to be 

 moved betweene the English Marchants remayning in 

 those parts, and to seeke reformation, to redresse, 

 appease, and compound the same. And further to 

 redresse, restore, repayre and satisfie all transgressions, 

 damages, misprisions, outrages, violences, and injuries 

 done or to be done by the aforesaid English Mar- 

 chants against the Marchants of those parts : And to 

 require, demaund and receive the like restitutions, 



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