480 A. D. 1314. 



pell them, to frequent the fairs as formerly. So important an objedt 

 was the acquifition of Englifh wool. King Edward in return wrote him 

 (from Berwick, July 16''') that, as the matter concerned all the merch- 

 ants of his kingdom and many others of his fubjecSs, he could give no 

 final anfwer, till he fliould take advice upon it. [F^dera, V. \\\,pp. 482, 

 488.] 



July 26'!' — Peace being concluded between the king of France and 

 the earl of Flanders, the later informed King Edward, that he had pro- 

 claimed throughout his dominions, that all merchants of France, Eng- 

 land, and other countries, with their merchandize, fhould be protedled 

 in his territories, and have abfolute liberty of returning to their own 

 coimtries, without their perfons or properties being fubjedl to arreft or 

 hinderance, and that the merchants of England might have their ftaple 

 for wool and other goods at his city of Bruges. In return he requefled 

 King Edward to give orders that the Flemifh merchants rnight enjoy 

 fimilar privileges in England agreeable to the grants made by his an- 

 ceflors and himfelf. {Yoedera, V. iii, p. 490.] 



1 31 5, March 14''' — In a lift of orders addrefled to the prelates, nobles, 

 and communities, of Ireland, the only towns mentioned are Dublin, 

 Waterford, Cork, Rofs, Drogheda, Trim, and Kilkenny, \Fcedera, V. iii, 

 p. 511] which may thence be prefumed to have been at this time the 

 chief towns of the ifland. 



September i" — The king of France, being again at war with Flan- 

 ders, required King Edward, according to treaty, to banifh the Flem- 

 ings out of his territories, and to affift him with a fleet againft them. 

 Edward thereupon ilTued orders to the fhirrcfs of London, and of every 

 ihire in the kingdom, for obliging all the Flemings, except thofe who 

 were married and fettled in the country, to depart from the kingdom ; 

 and he commanded that none of his fubjedts fliould give them any af- 

 fiftance *. He alfo ordered two of the admirals of the fleet fent againft 

 the Scots to draw off their divifions in order to adl: againft the Flemings, 

 and apologized to his brother of France, that he could not fend the 

 whole fleet to his affiftance, becaufe he was very hard prefled by his 

 enemies of Scotland, who, not content with driving his people out of 

 their own country and invading the northern parts of England, had 

 lately made a formidable attack upon Ireland. \F(xdera, V. iii, pp. 525, 

 53 ^> S^iZ'' S'^Si S?fi-\ Thus it was fo ordered, that the exertions of the 

 Scots, in defence of their own independence, were alfo inftrumental in 

 fupporting the Hberty and independence of other nations, and particu- 



* The orders were probably not very rigoroiif- tlicm to leave t)ic country. \Fa:P.cra,V.'\\\,p.l^\.'\ 



Iv enforced ; for we find new orders in November Both tlie Englidi and the I'lemings knew how in- 



for Uriel ftarch to be made for thofe Flemings, difpenfibly necclTary their commerce was to each 



who had remained beyond ihe time appointed for other. 



