A, D. 1203. 



Z7^ 



have alfo had fome commercial intercourfe with England ; for we find 

 a letter addrefTed to them by King John, wherein, after requefting their 

 good offices in fupport of his nephew Otho's pretenfions to the imperial 

 crown, he offers them the freedom of reforting to his dominions with 

 their merchandize, on paying the cuftomary duties paid by their an- 

 ceftors. {Fcedera, V. \,p. 133-] In the enfuing reign we (hall fee, that 

 they availed themlelves of this offer. 



1204, June 6"' — He alfo gave a licence, or invitation, to the merchants 

 of Flanders, and other foreign countries, to trade in England, provided 

 they duely paid him the fifteenth part (the quinzieme) of their merch- 

 andize, together with fuch other cuftoms as might be laid on according 

 to his pleafure (' ad placitum regis'). The merchants of France had 

 alfo a fimilar invitation addreffed to themfelves by King John at the 

 fame time. \Rot. pat. 6 Jo. m. 11.] It thence appears, that the Flem- 

 ings (whofe licences were often renewed) were the chief foreign traders 

 who came to England in thofe days, the Englifli wool, for the fupply of 

 their great clothing trade, being no doubt their principal objed ; and 

 that the French were next to them. 



1205 — The quinzieme was a duty payable by every merchant (an 

 appellation then given to all perfons who made a bufineis of buying and 

 felling, however trifling their dealings might be) whether natives or 

 foreigners. The amount of it colleded in each town may therefor be 

 confidered as a good comparative ftandard of the diftribution of the 

 commerce of England, which was not then near fo much engroffed by 

 the metropolis as it is in the prefent age. Before the year 1205 the 

 quinzieme of all England appears to have been farmed for one thoufand. 

 marks. In this year we find the following towns paying that duty, viz.. 



712 3 j: 



836 12 10 



A2 



