A. D. 1354. S53 



ticularly the objeds oif plunder. The king, confidering the advantage 

 derived from the refort of thofe merchants, therefor ordained, that the 

 inhabitants of the county, wherein the robbery was committed, fliould 

 be bound to produce the robber, or make compenfation to the party in- 

 jured, within forty days. [Stat. 28 Edw. Ill, c. 11.] 



In cafe of a veflel being driven into any port of England by ftrefs of 

 weather or other neceflity, the mafter or merchants were permitted to 

 fell a part of the cargo without being compelled to land, or pay cuflom 

 for, any more than the goods fold. [Stat. 28 Edw. Ill, c. 13.] 

 A record, preferved in the exchequer, contains the following 

 Account of the exports and imports of England in the year 1354, together 

 with the amount of the cujloms paid upon them. 

 There were exported 



Value. Caftoms. 



31,651-3- facks of wool - at ;(^6 ;^i 89,909 o o 



3,036 cwt(i2o lb each) of wool 40/" 6,072 o o 



t^ wool-fells - - 118 



Total value of wool and cuftoms upon it 195,982 i 8 ;i(^8 1,624 ^ i 



Hides __. » _ 89 50 6176 



4,774| pieces of cloth - 40/" 9,549 o 



8,061^ pieces of worfted Huff 16/8 6,717 i8 



:} 



215 13 7 



Total value of exports and cufloms ;i^2i2,338 5 o ;i('8i,846 12 2 



There were imported 

 1, 83 r pieces of fine cloth ffi £io,g^6 o o £gy 12 o 

 3971 cwt of wax - 40/" 795 10 o 19 17 5 

 1,8297 tuns of wine - 40/" 3^^ 59 00 182 19 o 

 Linens, mercery, groceries, 8cc. amount- 

 ing to - _ _ 22,943 6 10 285 18 3 



Total value of imports and cufloms ;^38,383 16 10 £5^6 6 8 



The balance in favour of England thus appears to have been ;^i73, 954:8:2. 

 But as tin, and lead, which have been flandard articles of exportation 

 from the earliefl times, befides feveral other fmaller articles, are entire- 

 ly omitted in this record, there can be no doubt that the real balance 

 was confide rably larger. 



* Mr. Aiiderfon, and, before him. Sir William /"8l, 260: 5:6 above the real amount refulting 



Temple, [^Obfervations on the Netherlands, p. 235, from the p?.rticulars. 



ed. 1693] Dodfley, {^Preceptor, V. W, p. 41 4] and 1 have not found the particulars of this account 



othcis, though li ey give only the totals, have publilhed by any wiitcr befides Andnfon, who, 



iirangely flumped the cuftoms along with the however, fays it is ' publiihed in almoft all the 



value of the merchandize, as if they wifhed to ' general hiftories of England;' a common way 



ftiike a deluiive balance, which is tliereby raifed of evading accurate quotation. 



Vol. I. . 4 A 



