A. D. 1454. 671 



1454, April — The parliament having granted a fubfidy of twelve 

 pennies in the pound of the value of all merchandize exported, whether 

 by denizens, aliens, or merchants of the Hanfe, and railed the duty on 

 wool and wool-fells from 337*4 to 43/4, it was reprefented, that the im- 

 pofitlon of twelve pennies per pound would diminifli the fale of woollen 

 cloth *, and the augmentation of the other duties would lower the value 

 of wool. It was therefor enaded, that the exporters of wool and wool- 

 fells to the ftaple at Calais, or by licence to the Mediterranean, fhould 

 be exempted from paying the additional ten Ihillings. [j^Sis 31 Hen. 

 VI, c. 8.] 



1455, March 15'" — It has already been obferved, that the northern 

 nations built large velTels in the tenth century, when even the Italian 

 ftates !iad probably none equal to them ; and they ftill excelled in the 

 conftrudion of Hups. The king of Sweden at this time owned a trad- 

 ing fhip of near 1,000 tuns burthen, called the King's barge, which he 

 fent to England with a requeft, that fhe might be permitted to trade, 

 and to reload with lawful merchandize, which was granted, provided the 

 due cuftoms were paid. [Foedera, V. xi, p. 364.] 



July — The filk-women of London complained to parliament, that the 

 Lombards and other foreigners, feeking to deprive women of their honefl 

 employments, imported the articles made by them, inflead of bringing 

 unwrought filk as formerly. To prevent the ruin of thofe induftrious 

 women, it was enaded, that during the five enfuing years no perfon 

 whatever fhould import any wrought filk, twined ribands or chains, 

 girdles, or any other article interfering with the manufadures of the 

 filk-women, except girdles of Genoa. \^Acis ;^^ Hen. VI, c. 5. J 



The lords, to whom the guard of the fea had been entrufted, refigned 

 their charge ; and it appears to have been afterwards put into the. hands 

 of the mayor and merchants of the flaple, to whom we find the tunnage 

 and poundage, duties exprefsly appropriated to that objed, ordered to 

 be paidf. [Cation's abridgement, pp. 652, 657. — Rot. pal. prim. ^^ Hen. 

 VI, m. 14.] 



1456, March 5"' — The mifunderflanding with Lubeck feems to have 

 proceeded to an open maritime war, which, at the interceflion of the 

 other Hanfe towns, was now terminated, or fufpended, by a truce of 

 eight years, during which both parties fliould have liberty of com- 

 m^erce, and the differences, it was hoped, might be amicably adjufted X- 

 [Fcedera^ V. xi, p. 374.] 



* I am here obliged to notice an overfight of f I am obliged to omit fome matters concerning 

 Mr. Anderfon, who i'uppofcs this the firft fubiidy the merchants of the ftapk and the merchant-ad- 

 on woollen cloth. I fee no reafon to believe, that venturers, mentioned by Malynes and Wheeler, be- 

 lt was exempted from paying duty on the very firll caufe their afleitions are fometimes found contra- 

 exportation of it : and, not to multiply proofs, I dictoiy to record, and 1 dare not truft to fuch zealous 

 may only refer to the aft of parliament in 1348 ai/W<-fl/fj, when unfupported by better authority, 

 for new (apparently additional) duties on the ex- J Notwithflanding this truce there was an en- 

 portation of woollen cloth, and that of 1353 for gagement between the Lubeckers and the fhips of 

 other duties, whicii were to be paid by Englidi the earl of Warwick in the year 1458. [_Fadera, 

 confnmersias well as exporters. V. xi, />. 415.] 



