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Downgate Ward. Styleyard. | 203 |
Downgate Ward. Styleyard.
and Sheriffs, to destrain the said Merchants to make the Reparations, namely,
Gerard
Marbod, Alderman of the Haunce, Ralph de Cussarde, a Citizen of Colen, Ludero de
Denevar, a Burgess of Trivar, John of Aràs, a Burgess of Trivon, Bartram
of
Hamburgh, Godestalke of Hundondale, a Burgess of Trivon, John de Dele, a Burgess
of Munstar, then remaining in the said City of London, for themselves, and all
other
Merchants of the Haunce: And so they granted 210 Marks sterling to the Maior and
Citizens, and undertook that they and their Successors should (from Time to
Time)
repair the said Gate, and bear the third Part of the Charges in Money, and Men
to
defend it when need were.
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The Steeleyard Merchants.
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And for this Agreement, the said Maior and Citizens granted to the said
Merchants their
Liberties, which, till of late, they have enjoyed; as namely, amongst other,
that they
might lay up their Grain, which they brought into this Realm, in Inns, and sell
it in their
Garners, by the Space of forty Days after they had lain it up; except by the
Maior and
Citizens they were expressly forbidden, because of Dearth, or other reasonable
Occasions. Also they might have their Alderman, as they had been accustomed,
foreseen always, that he were of the City, and presented to the Maior and
Aldermen of
the City, so oft as any should be chosen, and should take an Oath before them to
maintain Justice in their Courts, and to behave themselves in their Office
according to
Law, and as it stood with the Customs of the City.
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Their Privileges.
Merchants of the Haunce, of Almaine, licensed to lay up their Corn in Garners, but to sell it within 40 days after.
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This whole Matter between the City and the Merchants of the Haunce is thus
related in
an authentick Book in the Chamber of London, which I only translate into English
out
of Latin.
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A Contest of the Hance adjudged by the Barons.
Lib. Horn.
J. S.
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An Agreement betweem the Citizens of London and the Teutonics. Ann. 10. Edw.
Son
of King Henry. Henry le Galeis Maior of London. Ann. 1282.
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"THEN by reason of the decay of certain Gate of the
said City, which was called Bishopsgate, a Contention arose between the said
Maior
and the Citizens of London on the one part, and the Merchants of the Haunce of
the
Almains then abiding in the said City, on the other, upon the Reparation of the
said
Gate, which threatned ruin. To the building and repair of which, the said
Merchants
and others of the beforesaid Haunce of the Parts of Almain resorting to the same
City,
were obliged, for certain Liberties which the said Merchants have in the said
City, and
which they have long used, upon account of such building and repairing; as the
same
Maior and Citizens asserted, &c. The said Merchants denied it.
"
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"
In the mean time, the Contention depending, the King at the Suggestion of the
said
Maior and Citizens, wrote to the Treasurer and Barons of his Exchequer, that if
they
should find the said Merchants were bound to the repair of the said Gate, they
should
distrain upon them. At length the Parties, coming before the said Treasurer and
Barons, when nothing was propounded in their Parts which might excuse them from
this Reparation; especially when it apppeared concerning the Liberty which they
had in
the said City; and for this Cause, it was commanded by the same Treasurer and
Barons,
that the Maior
and Sheriffs should distrain them to this Repair: The aforesaid Merchants, viz.
Gerard
Marbodi, Alderman of the said Haunce, Ludulphus de Cussa of the City of Colon,
Luderus de Linnenare, a Burges of Trevir, Bertram of Hamburgh, Godeschale de
Hudendale, Burger of Trevir, John de Dole, Burges of Munster, then being in the
same
City; for themselves and all other Merchants and their Fellows of the Haunce
aforesaid,
whosoever and whensoever resorting thither for the future, for the good of
Peace,
yielded and promised to the said Maior and Citizens of London, to the repair of
the said
Gate for the present, 240 Mark Sterling to be paid: And that then their
Successors
Merchants of the Haunce, for all time hereafter, will repair it, as often as
there shall be
need: And in defence of the said Gate, as often as there shall be need to keep
it, shall
bear the third part of the Custody thereof, at their Cost, and Men above; and
the Maior
and Citizens two parts of the said Custody below. And in Consideration of this
Peace,
Fine and Concord, the Maior and Citizens have granted their Liberties which they
have
hitherto reasonably used; to have to them and their Successors, the Merchants of
the
Haunce for ever.
"
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"
And moreover for the aforesaid Reparation and Custody, that they be quit for
ever of
Murage, [i.e. the Charge of repairing the City Walls] as much as in them is.
And that
they may house and sell their Corn, which shall be brought in by them to be
sold, in
their Houses and Granaries for forty Days, for the time of their foresaid
housing:
Unless the said housing be expresly forbidden by the Lord the King, or the Maior
and
Citizens, by reason of the Dearth of Corn, or some other necessary Matter.
"
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"
They granted also to them, that they might have their Alderman, as they had in
former
times: Yet so, that that Alderman be of the Freedom of the said City: And as
often as he
shall be chosen of the said Merchants, he be presented to the Maior and Aldermen
of the
City, and take an Oath before them to do Right and Justice in all his Courts,
and to
behave himself in his Office, as he ought, and hath been accustomed, saving to
the City
its Right and Custom.
"
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"
And the said Merchants promised, that they and their Successors, as often as
there
should be need, would be distrained for Reparation and Custody of the said Gate,
to be
performed in the form aforesaid by the same Merchants and Citizens. All these
things
the Parties aforesaid yielded and promised faithfully to keep: And for the
greater
Security to be made upon these things by the Parties, together with the Seals
appendent
to this Writing between themselves, have procured the Seal of the Illustrious
Lord King
of England to be hung to it, for perpetual Memory of the Matter aforesaid.
Dated at
London in the Month of June the year abovesaid.]"
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Thus much for their Priviledges: Whereby it appeareth, that they were great
Merchants
of Corn, brought out of the East parts hither, insomuch, that the Occupiers of
Husbandry in this Land were enforced to complain of them, for bringing in such
abundance, when the Corn of this Realm was at an easie price. Whereupon it was
ordained by Parliament, That no Person should bring into any part of this Realm,
by
way of Merchandise, Wheat, Rye, or Barley, growing out of the said Realm at any
time, when the
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Act of Parliament forbidding Corn to be brought from beyond Seas.
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The Stuart London Project, Humanities Research Institute, The University of Sheffield,
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