yi6 A. D. 1490. 



The Englifli merchants engaged in the trade to Italy, of which Pifa 

 was the ftaple, appear to have been a regulated company, like the 

 merchants of the ftaple, and perhaps the merchant adventurers : but how 

 long they exifted as fuch, I fuppofe, is utterly unknown *. 



1491, May — Notwith {landing the treaty fo formally concluded with 

 the Hanfe confederacy in the year 1475, the jealoufies and coUilions, 

 which became more frequent, as the Englifh came more and more into 

 the fituation of rivals in trade, had again broken out in hoftilities, cap- 

 tures, and flaughters. A meeting of deputies from both fides was now 

 held at Antwerp in order to adjuft pretenfions and compenfate damages. 

 But the aflembly broke up without coming to any accommodation. 

 [Fcedera, V. xii,/>. 441.. — Werdenhagen, V. n, part iv, c. 10.] 



October — King Henry, intending to invade his antient enemies of 

 France, granted feveral exemptions from the oppreffive burthens of the 

 feudal conftitution to thofe who fhould accompany him, particularly a 

 right to alienate their honours, caftles, manors, lands, and other heredi- 

 tary pofTeflions, by licence from the king, without paying any fine or 

 fee. [Ads 7 Hen. VII, cc. 2, 3.] Thefe, and fome other ads of fimilar 

 tendency, laid the foundation of a moil important change in the cir- 

 cumftances of all the people in the kingdom. The great nobles being 

 permitted, as a favour, to iquander away their enormous eftates, gradu- 

 ally declined from that dangerous fuperiority, which had made them 

 the terror of the kings, and the opprefTors of the people, ever fince the 

 Norman conqueft : and an opportunity was offered to the fuccefsful 

 merchant and manufacturer to acquire the refpedtability and influence 

 annexed to the property of land ; a kind of property more particularly 

 defirable in an age, wherein the greateft and moll opulent imlanded 

 merchant was eftecmed inferior to the fmalleft land-holder. 



The Venetians, for the maintenance of their own maritime power, 

 having impofed a new duty of four golden ducats (iS/flerling) on every 

 butt of malmfey fhippcd at Candia onboard Englilh veflels, an equaliz- 

 ing additional duty of 18/ was impofed by parliament on every butt im- 

 ported into England by any foreign merchant, to continue as long as 

 the Venetians Ihould perfift in demanding their new duty. It was more- 

 over ordained, that no malmfey fliould be fold above ^^4 per butt of 

 126 gallons with abatement for any deficient mealuref. [c. 8.] 



1492, March 1" — King Henry gave two French merchants a licence to 

 import wines, woollen and linen cloths made in France or elfcwhere, and 

 any other merchandize, excepting wine of Gafcoygne and woad, in a veiTcl 

 of 140 tuns and 64 men ; and to export tin and other merchandize, not 



• Though the public have been formerly ftunned -f This aft begins wilh felting forth the great 



With the fierce contefts of thofe two companies, 'trade of I'ltiglilh (hips to Candui time out of miniL 



vie hear nothing at all of the company of mejehaiiis But we know not liow to tnilt to tlic chronology 



trading to Italy. of fuch icpiefentatioiis. 



