A. D. 1552. 109 



Another monopolizing atT: was now pafTed relating to the manufac- 

 ture of felt-hats and thrummed hats, coverlets, and dornecks (diaper li- 

 nen), though fomewhat inore moderate than that in favour of the city 

 of York in the year 1544; for this law only confines the making of 

 thofe goods to the city of Norwich, and to all other corporate or mar- 

 ket-towns of that county. [5, 6 Edw. VI, c. 24.] 



The time was now at length come that the eyes of the Englifh were 

 to be opened to difcover the immenfe damage fuftained by fuffering the 

 German merchants of the houfe or college in London, called the Steel- 

 yard, fo long to enjoy advantages in the duty or cuflom of exported 

 Englifh cloths, far beyond what the native Englifh enjoyed ; which fu- 

 perior advantage enjoyed by thofe foreigners began about this time to 

 be more evidently feen and felt, as the foreign commerce of England 

 became more diflufed. 



The cities of Antwerp and Hamburgh pofleiTed at this time the prin- 

 cipal commerce of the northern and middle parts of Europe ; and their 

 fad:ors at the Steelyard ufually fet what prices they pleafed both on their 

 imports and exports ; and having the command of all the markets in 

 England, v»uth joint or united flocks, they broke all other merchants. 

 Upon thefe conliderations, the Englifli company of merchants-adven- 

 turers made predlng remonftrances to the privy council. Thefe Han- 

 featics were, moreover, accufed (and particularly the Uantzickers) of 

 defrauding the cufloms, by colouring (/'. c. taking under their own 

 names, as they paid little or no cuflom) great quantities of the mer- 

 chandize, of ocher foreigners not entitled to their immunities. They 

 v.-ere alio accufed of hiving frequently exceeded the bounds of even the 

 great privileges granted to them ; yet, by the force of great prefents, 

 liiey had purchaied new grants. They traded in a body, and thereby 

 underfold and ruined others *. And having for the Lifl forty-five years 

 liad the fole coamiand of our commerce, they had reduced the price of 

 Englifh wool to 1/6 per ftonc. In the preceding year they had ex- 

 ported no fewer than 4;,coo woollen cloths of all ibrts, whilfl all the 

 Englifh merchants together liad in the flmie year exported but iioa 

 clochs. The Steelyard merchants were aUb exempted from, aliens' du- 

 ties, and yet all their exports and imports were made in foreign bot- 

 toms ; a very conflderable lofs to the nation. 



Upon mature confideration of thefe and fuch like reafons and argu- 

 ments, as well as of the aafwer thereto by the Steelyard or Hanfeatic 

 merchants, and of records, charters, treaties, depofitions of v.'itnefles, 

 and other proofs, it was made apparent to the king's privy councilj 

 ]) That all the liberties and privileges claimed by, or pretended to be 

 granted tO the merchcmts of the Hanfe, are void by the laws of this 



* This, though in fome cafes improbable, maj' in other rcfpecls be prafticable. 



