502 A. D. 1328. 



ard, without any charge upon the merchants : and the meafurer was 

 dire6led to feize thole which were deficient in the prefence of the ma- 

 giftrates, and to accoant for the vaUie of them to the exchequer. \^A6i. 

 2 Edzv. Ill, c. 14.] This law appears to have been produdive of much 

 delay and trouble to the importers. \¥(edera, V. v, p. 79.] 



Auguft 8'" — ^The merchants of Aragon, Catalonia, and Majorca, hav- 

 ing petitioned the king that they might partake of the privileges be- 

 flowed upon foreign merchants by King Edward I, he granted that they 

 fliould for ever enjoy all the liberties, immunities, and accommodations, 

 conferred by his grandfather upon other foreign merchants *. [Fcedera, 

 F. iv,/. 364.] 



The merchants of Dantzik appear to have had fome trade with Eng- 

 land before this time, for this year the king granted them a confirmation 

 of their liberties. [^Rot. pat. prim. 3 Edw. Ill, m. 18,] 



1329, May 9"" — The king, underflanding that John of Rous and 

 Mafter William of Dalby had made filver by the art of alchymy (• al- 

 ' kemonia;'), and thinking, if they really pofreffed fuch an art, that it 

 would be of great benefit to him and the kingdom, gave orders to bring 

 them, with all their inflruments, to his prefence. \Fcedera, V. iv, p. 

 384.] We do not hear of any creation of filver by thofe artifts. 



December 12'^h — At the requefl of his mother, the king gave the 

 merchants and burgefles of Deeft (or Dieft, an inland town of Brabant) 

 a charter, permitting them to come, remain, and depart, and to trade 

 freely with their merchandize, provided they paid the due and ufual 

 cuftoms, and had no communication with his enemies. He exempted 

 them and their property from being feized for any debts or crimes but 

 their own, or on account of any war, unlefs the lord of their town ftiould 

 be at war with him, in which cafe they fhould be allowed forty days 

 to depart from the kingdom with their property. Neither fhould their 

 property be feized for any tranfgreflions of their fervants entrufled with 

 it, nor upon the death of fuch fervants. They fliould be exempted from 

 paying pontage, pavage, or murage, for their goods, provided they did 

 not pafs the goods of any others for their own, and did nothing con- 

 trary to his father's ordinance for keeping the fi:aple in England f. 

 {Yadera, V. iv, p. 408.] This charter, except that it was to be in force 

 only during the king's pleafure, breathes fomewhat of a more liberal 

 fpirit than had hitherto appeared in any fuch grants, though far ftiort 

 of the liberality wherewith all commercial intercourfe ought to be con- 

 duced. 



The merchants of Byerflete in Flanders, who appear to have already 

 had a grant of liberties in trading to England, had thofe liberties now 



* Why they applied to the king, I do not fee, f As the ordinance of the flaple was annulled 

 as the charter of Edward I was to all foreign in the preceding year, this claufe muft have been 

 merchants without exception. inferted by millake. 



