Trade of
Marchandize yet so, as that vnto you (who excell in dignitie) authoritie in
commanding may bee ascribed, and diligence in obeying shall not want in vs.
And as the liberalitie of your rewards doeth often put vs in remembrance of
your Maiestie euen so in like maner sending vnto your Highnesse the most
rare things in our custodie and which we thought should be most acceptable
vnto you, wee doe most heartily wish that your selfe also would not
altogether bee vnmindefull of vs. Haue respect therefore not vnto the
gifts, but vnto the affection of the giuer, and accept of them with that
minde, wherewith they are offered vnto you.
Concerning the hand of S Iames, [Footnote: According to the legend, the
relics of this saint were miraculously conveyed to Spain in a ship of
marble from Jerusalem, where he was bishop.] about which you wrote vnto vs,
we haue sent you word by M Herbert, and by William the Clerke. Witnes
Thomas our Chancelour at Northanton.
* * * * *
A generall safe conduct graunted to all forreine Marchants by king Iohn in
the [Marginal note: 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. day of April.
The same forme of writing was sent to the sherife of Sudsex, to the Maior
and communaltie of the Citie of Winchester, to the Baily of Southampton,
the Baily of Lenne, the Baily of Kent, the sherife of Norfolke and
Suffolke, the sherife of Dorset and Sommerset, the Barons of the
Cinque-ports, the sherife of Souththampton shire the sherife of Hertford
and Essex the sherife of Cornewal and Deuon.
* * * * *
Litera regis Henrici tertij ad Haquinum Regem Norwegia de pacis foedere &
intercursu mercandisandi Anno 1 Henrici 3. [Marginal note: 1216.]
Henricus Dei gratia &c. Haquino eadem gratia Regi Norwegia salutem.
Immensas nobilitati vestra referimus gratiarum actiones de his qua per
literas vestris prudentem virum. Abbatem de Lisa nobis significastis
volentes & desiderantes foedus pacis & dilectionis libenter nobiscum inire
& nobiscum confoederari. Bene autem placet & placebit nobis quod terra
nostra comunes sint, & Mercatores & homines qui sunt de potestate vestra
libere & sine impedimento terram nostrum adire possint, & homines &
Mercatores nostri similiter terri vestram. Dum tamen literas vestras
patentes super hoc nobis destinctis & nos vobis nostras transmittemus.
Interim autem bene volumus & concedimus, quod Mercatores tam de terra
vestra quam nostra eant veniant, & recedant per terras nostras Et si quid
vestra sederit voluntati quod facere valeamus id secure nobis significetis.
Detinuimus autem adhuc Abbatem pralictum, vt de naui vestra & rebus in ea
contentis pro posse nostro restitutionem fieri faceremus: per quem de statu
nostro & Regni nostri vos certificare curabimus & quam citius &c. Teste me
ipso apud Lamhithe decimo die Octobris.
Eodem modo scribitur S. Duci Norwegia ibidem & eodem die.
The letters of King Henry the third vnto Haquinus [Footnote: Haco IV.,
bastard of the able adventurer Swerro. His invasion of Scotland in 1263
forms a striking episode of medaval history.] King of Norway concerning a
treatie of peace and mutuall traffique of marchandize, &c.
Henry by the grace of God, &c. vnto Haquinus by the same grace King of
Norway sendeth greeting. Wee render vnto your highnesse vnspeakeable thanks
for those things which by your letters, and by your discreete subiect the
Abbat of Lisa, you haue signified vnto vs, and also for that you are right
willing and desirous to begin and to conclude betweene vs both, a league of
peace and amitie. And wee for our part both nowe are, and hereafter shalbe
well contented that both our lands be common to the ende that the Marchants
and people of your dominions may freely and without impediment resort vnto
our land, and our people and Marchants may likewise haue recourse vnto your
territories. Prouided, that for the confirmation of this matter, you send
vnto vs your letters patents, and wee will send ours also vnto you. Howbeit
in the meane while wee doe will and freely graunt, that the Marchants both
of our and your lands, may goe, come, and returne to and from both our
Dominions.
