1199] first yeere of his reigne, as appeareth in the
Records of the Tower, Anno 1. Regis Ioannis.
Ioannes Dei gratij &c. Maiori & Communitati Londinensi salutam. Sciatis
voluntatem esse nostram, quod omnes Mercatores de quicunque fuerunt terra
saluum habeant conductum ire & redire cum mercibus suis in Angliam.
[Sidenote: Solita mercatorum consuetudines.] Volumus etiam quod eandem
habeant pacem in Anglia, quam Mercatores de Anglia habent in terris illis
vnde fuerunt egressi. Et ideo vobis pracipimus, quod hoc faciatis
denunciari in Balliua vestra, & firmiter teneri; permittentes eos ire &
redire sine impedimento per debitas & rectas & solitas consuetudines in
Balliua vestra. Teste Galfredo filio Petri comite Essexia apud Kinefard 5.
die Aprilis.
In eadem forma scribitur vicecomiti Sudsex, Maiori & commumtati Ciuitatis
Winton, Balliuo de Southampton, Balliuo de Lenne, Balliuo Kent, Vicecomiti
Norffolcia & Suffolcia, Vicecomiti dorset & Sommerset, Baronibus de quinque
portubus, Vicecomiti de Southampton sire, Vicecomiti de Herttford & Essex,
Vicecomiti Cornubia & Deuon.
The same in English.
Iohn by the grace of God &c. to the Maior and communaltie of London,
greeting. You are to vnderstand, that it is our pleasure, that all
Marchants of what nation soeuer shall haue safe conduct to passe and
repasse with their Marchandize into England. It is our will also, that they
be vouchsafed the same fauour in England, which is granted vnto the English
Marchants in those places from whence they come. [Sidenote: The ancient
customes of Marchaunts.] And therefore we giue you in charge, that you
cause this to be published, and proclaimed in your bailiwicke, & firmely to
be obserued, permitting them to goe & come, without impediment, according
to the due, right and ancient customes vsed in your said Bailiwucke.
Witnesse Geofry Fitz-Peter Earle of Essex at Kinefard the 5.
