The principal nauigations, voyages, traffiques and discoueries of the English nation. [vols. 1-3] made by sea or ouer-land, to the remote and farthest distant quarters of the earth, at any time within the compasse of these 1600. yeres: deuided into three seuerall volumes, according to the positions of the regions, whereunto they were directed. The first volume containeth the worthy discoueries, &c. of the English ... The second volume comprehendeth the principall nauigations ... to the south and south-east parts of the world ... By Richard Hakluyt preacher, and sometime student of Christ-Church in Oxford.

These be the grieuances and offences, whereat the marchants of the Hans of Almaine, comming vnto, and residing in the Realme of England, doe finde themselues aggrieued, contrarie to the Articles and priuileges of the Charter graunted vnto them by the worthy Progeni∣tors of the king of England that now is, and also by the saide soueraigne Lord the King, ratified, and confirmed.

IMprimis, whereas the foresaide marchants haue a priuilege graunted vn∣to them by Charter, that they may, in cities, boroughs, and in other towns and villages throughout the whole realme of England, exercise traffique in grosse, as wel with the natural inhabitants of the kingdome, ••s with stran∣gers, and priuate person••: of late, those that are free de••izens in the cities, boroughs, and villages within the foresaid kingdome, do hinder and restrain all others that be strangers, foreners, and aliens, that they neither c••n, nor dare buy and sel with the marchants of the Hans aforesaid, to their great hinderance and losse.

Item, the foresaid marchants by vertue of their charter were wont to haue and to hold Innes and mansions, for the reposing of themselues and of their goods, wheresoeuer they pleased in any cities, boroughs, or villages, throughout the whole kingdome: howbeit of late the foresaide mar∣chants are not suffered to take vp their mansions, contrary to the teno••r of their charter.

Item, the foresaid marchants are priuileged not to vndergoe any other burthens or impositi∣ons, but onely to pay certaine customs, as it doeth by their charter manifestly appeare. Notwith∣standing at y^e same time when Simon de Moreden was maior of London, the foresaid marchants were constrained, in the ward of Doue-gate at London, to pay fifteenths, tallages, and other sub∣sidies contrary to the liberties of their charter. Whereupon the saide marchants prosecu••ed the matter before the Councel of our soueraign lord the king, insomuch that they were released from paying afterward any such tallages, fifteenths, and subsidies. Which marchants, a while after, of their owne accord and free will, gaue vnto the gild-hall of London an hundreth markes sterling, conditionally, that they of the citie aforesaide should not at any time after exact or demaund of the said marchants, or of their successors, any tallages, fifteenths, or subsidies, contrary to the t••nor of their charter, as by records in the foresaid gild-hall, it doth more plainly appeare. Howbeit of late the officers of our lord the king, in the foresaid ward of Doue-gate, constrained the marchants a∣foresaid to pay tallages, fifteenths, & other subsidies. And because the saide marchants murmured and refused to pay any such contributions, alleaging their priuileges, the foresaid officers arre∣sted the goods of those said marchants (which are as yet detained vpon the ar••est) notwithstanding that they were released before the councel of our soueraigne lord the king, & also that they gaue vnto the said gild-hall one hundreth marks to be released, as it is aforesaid. And also the foresaid marchants were constrained to pay 12.d. in the pound, and of late 6.d. and other subsidies, more then their ancient customes, to the great damage of those marchants.

Item, the foresaid marchants are priuileged as touching customs of wols by thē bought within* 1.1 the realm of England, y^t they are not bound to pay, ouer & besides their ancient cus••oms, but onely xl.d. more then the homeborn marchants of England were wont to pay. But now y^e foresaid mar∣chants are compelled to pay for euery sack of wool (besides y^e ancient custom & the 40.d. aforesaid) a certain impositiō called Pence for the town of Cales, namely for euery sack of wool 19.d. more* 1.2 then the marchants of England doe pay, to their great losse, & against the liberty of their charter.

Item, the foresaid marchants are priuileged by their charter, that concerning the quantity of their marchandize brought into the realme of England (in regard whereof they are bound to pay 3.d. for the worth of euery pound of siluer) credit is to be giuen vnto them for the letters of their masters and of their companies, if they were able to shew them. And if so be they had no letters in this behalfe to shew, that then credite should bee giuen vnto themselues, and that their othe, or the othe of their atturney should be taken, without any other proof, as touching the value of their marchandize so brought in, & that thereupon they should be bound to pay customs, namely the cu∣stomes of 3.d. iustly for that cause to be paid. But nowe the customers of our soueraigne lorde the king put their goods to an higher rate then they ought or were woont to be: and heereupon they compell them to pay custome for their goods, at their pleasure, scanning about their fraight and expenses particularly disbursed in regard of the said goods and marchandize, to the great hinde∣rance of the said marchants, and against the te••or of their charter.

Item, the foresaid marchants by way of pitiful complaint do alleage, that whereas the worthy* 1.3 progenitors of our Lord the king that now is, by vertue of the saide great charter, g••aunted liber∣tie vnto them to pay the customes of certain clothes, namely of skarlet, and cloth died in grayne,

and of other clothes of assise, which were by them to be caried out of the realme of England, euen as by their foresaid Charter in doeth more plainly appeare: and whereas our soueraigne lord the king that now is (ratifying and confirming the saide charter, and being willing that they shoulde haue more especiall fauour shewed vnto them) granted vnto them by their Charter, that the said marchants should be exempted and freed from all custome and imposition of small clothes, as in pie••es and in narrow clothes which were not of assise, and in such other clothes of like qualitie: yet of late the Customers of our Lorde the King that nowe is, not allowing their saide speciall* 1.4 Charter so graunted vnto the marchants aforesaid, do compel them to pay for straight clothes and for pieces of clothes which are not of assise, (together with other demands particularly & seueral∣ly made) as great custome as if the clothes were full ou•• of assise. Moreouer also of late, the custo∣mers* 1.5 of the smal or pety custome & of the subsidie doe demand of them custome for kersey-clothes equal vnto the custome of those clothes, that be of ful assise, whereas the foresaid marchants were no•• wont to pay for those kerseys by vertue of their Charter, but onely according to the worth of ech pound of siluer, as namely for other goods which are of golde weight: to the great hinderance of the foresaid parties, and against the manifest graunt of our soueraigne Lord the king, as it ap∣peareth in the said speciall Charter.

Item, the said marchants alleage, that they are priuiledged by their Charter, if they pay cu∣stome and subsidy for their goods in the behalfe of our lord the king, at any port of England where those goods haue arriued, and afterward would transport the saide goods or any part of them vn∣to any other port within the realme aforesaid: that then they should be quite released from paying of any other custome for the same goods, if they bring a warrant that they haue paide the saide cu∣stome, as is aforesaide. Of late it fortuned, that a certaine man of their socie••••e named Nicholas Crossehaire, being a marchant of the lande of Prussia, immediatly after the concord was conclu∣ded betwene the English and the Prussians, brought vnto the towne of Sandwich a shippe laden* 1.6 with bow-s••aues and other marchandize, and there well and truely paide the custome of our lord the king, for all his wares: and selling there part of the same goods, he afterward transported par∣cel thereof in a small barke vnto London, there to be solde, and caried a warrant also with him, that he had at Sandwich paid the custome due vnto our lord the king: & yet (the said warrant not∣withstanding) the customers of the pety custome & subsidy of London came & demanded custome of him at another time cōtrary to reason, & against the tenor of their charter: and the said Nicholas offred pledges vnto them, yea, euen ready m••ney downe into their hands, vntil the question were discussed and determined, whether he should pay new custome or no: but this they would not do••. Then the said Nicholas brought a brief from our lord the king, to get himselfe discharged from paying the said custome: and for all that, the foresaid customers would not as yet haue regard vnto him, but kept the said goods within shipboord, vpō the riuer of Thames, for the space of 15. dayes, vntil he had paid another custom, to the great losse of the said Nicholas, for that which he sold first at Sandwich to be deliuered at London for seuen nobles, he could not afterward haue for it aboue foure nobles, and yet so was it solde, by reason of the harme which his wares had taken by ly∣ing so long vpon the water, contrary to the tenor of their Charter.

Itē, the said marchants do alleage, that another of their company called Peter Hertson bought at Bristow certain clothes, & laded the same in a ship, to be transported for Prussia, for the which he truely paide at Bristow, the customs & subsidies due vnto our soueraign lord the king: which ship with the foresaid goods arriuing at London: the customers of the pety-custome and of the subsidie there would not permit the said ship with the goods to passe vnto the parts aforesaid, vntil the said Peter had paid another custome for the same goods (the warrant, which he brought with him not∣withstanding) to his great hinderance, and contrary to the tenour of their Charter.

Itē, pitifully complaining the foresaid marchants alleage, that wheras euery marchant, bring∣ing wares into the realm, was wont to haue a schedule wherein his name was written, for a speci∣fication & certificat of the quantity of his goods in the said schedule to be found at the arriual of the ship, without paying therfore ought at all, of late the customers of the pety custome do compel thē to pay for ech mans name written a peny, at y^e arriual of their goods out of euery ship wherein the said goods are found, what commodities & marchandize soeuer they be: whenas notwithstanding, if there be a chest or any other smal matter, there should not therfore be any custome due vnto our lord the king, nor any receiued vnto his Maiesties vse. In like maner do the customers of the sub∣sidy deale. Wheras also the foresaid marchants were not wont to pay for a cocket for the conuey∣ance* 1.7 & transportation of their goods out of the realme (albeit many names were written therein) more then 4.d. of late the customers of the pety custom do compel them to pay for euery name con∣tained in the same cocket, 4.d. and in like sort do the customers of the saide subsidy deale. Which contribution in a yere extendeth it self vnto a great summe, to the vnknown preiudice of our lord

the king, more then any man could suppose (for the customers enioy their tees and commodities from his Maiestie that they may doe him faithfull seruice) and likewise to the great damage of the said marchants.

Itē, pitifully complaining the said marchants do alleage that they are constrained to pay for subsidy, sometime 12.d. and somtime 6.d. in the pound, contrary to the tenor of their charter: and yet notwithstanding when their marchandize commeth to the wharf, the customers prolong & de∣lay the time 3. or 4. weeks before they wil take custome for their goods, in the which space other marchants sel their goods, the customers not regarding whether the goods aforesaid take we•• or no; to the great damage aswel of our lord the king, as of the said marchants: because, if they had quicke dispatch, they migh•• pay custome vnto his Maiestie oftner then they doe.

Item, the said marchants doe farther alleage, that the customers of the peti•• custome, and of the subsidie in the port of London haue appointed among themselues certaine men to seale vp the goods of the saide marchants, so soon as they are arriued at the port of safetie, vntil the said goods be customed. By meanes of the which sealing, the foresaide parties doe compell the marchants aboue-named, (vpon an vse and custome whereof themselues haue bene the authors) to paye a certaine summe of money, to the great hinderance of the sayde marchants, and co••trarie to iu∣stice and to their charter. Moreouer, the saide customers haue ordained betweene themselues, that the saide marchants shall put or make vp no clo••h i••to fardels, to transport out of the realme, vn∣lesse certaine m••n appointed by them for the same purpose bee there present, to see what ma∣ner of clothes they bee, vnder paine of the forf••iture of the saide goods. Also of late, when the sayde marchants would haue made vp such fardels, the foresayde parties assigned to be ouerseers refused to come, vnlesse they might haue for their comming some certaine summe of money, de∣laying and procrastinating from day to day, so long as themselues listed, to the great losse and vndoing of the foresaide marchants, and contrarie to their liberties: because the foresaide custo∣mers are bound by their office to doe this, without any contribution therefore to bee paide vnto them by the saide marchants: for that they doe enioy from our soueraigne Lorde the King their fees and commodities, to the ende that they may serue him and euery marchant iustly and faithfully, without any contribution by them to be imposed anewe vpon the sayde marchants, of custome.

Item, the said marchants doe alleage, that the customers & bailifs of the town of Southhamp∣ton do compel them to pay for euery last of herrings, pitch, & sope ashes brought thither by thē 2.s. more then the kings custome: and for ech hundreth of bowstaues & boords called Waghenscot, 2. d. for euery hundreth of boords called Richolt, 4.d. & for al other marchandize brought by the fore∣said marchants vnto the same towne: which contributions they neuer paid at any time heereto∣fore, being greatly to their hinderance, and contrary to the t••nour of their Charter.

Item, the foresaid marchants do alleage, that one of their company, called Albert Redewish of Prussia, bringing diuers goods & marchandizes vnto Newcastle vpon Tine, & there paying the vsual custom of 3.d. in the pound for al his wares, the bailifs of the saide towne, against all reason, exacted 7. pound sterling at his hands more then the custome: whereupon the foresaide marchant got a briefe from the kings maiesty, for the recouery of the said 7.li. according to equity & reason: howbeit, that at the comming of the said briefe the foresaid bailifes would do nothing on his be∣halfe, but would haue slaine their foresaid associate, contrary to their charter and priuiledges.

William Esturmy knight, & Iohn Kington canon of Lincolne, being by y^e most mighty prince & lord, L. Henry by Gods grace ••. of England & France & lord of Ireland, sufficiently deputed and appointed to parle, treate, & agree w^t the common society of y^e marchants of the Hans of Dutchland or Almain, concerning & about the redressing & reformation of vniust attēpts happening between our said soueraign L. the king his liege people & subiects on the one part, & between the cōmon so∣ciety aforesaid, the cities, towns, & particular persons therof on the other part: do (for the behalf of our said souraign L. the king, with a mind & intention to haue al & singular y^e things vnderwritten to come to the knowledge of the said common society) intimate, declare, & make known vnto you (hono.sirs) Henr. Westhoff citizen & deputy of the city of Lubec, Henry Fredelaw, Ioh. van Berk citizen of Colen, Mainard Buxtehude citizen, & deputy of the city of Hamburgh, M. Simō Clawsten clerk, sir Iohn de Aa knight deputie of the citie of Rostok, Herman Meyer deputy of the citie of Wismar, being, as the procurators•• messengers, & commissioners of the foresaid cities, assembled together at the town of Hage in Holland, with y^e forenamed Will•• & Iohn in regard of the foresaid redres & reformation: that, euen as our said soueraign L. the king his meaning is not to disturb or hinder such priuiledges as haue bin heretofore granted & vouchsafed vnto the cōmon society of the marchāts aforesaid, by the renoumed kings of England, & the worthy progenitors of our L. the K. that now is, & by himself also vnder a certain form confirmed: euen so he is determined (without y^e

preiudice of forren lawes) vpon iust, mature and sober deliberation, by his royall authoritie to withstand such priuiledges, as by reason of the abuse thereof•• haue bene infinitely pre••••diciall vnto himselfe and his subiects.

Inprimis the said ambassadours doe affirme as afore, that whereas all and euery the Mar∣chants of the said company, as often as they would, were, both in the Realme of England, and in other territories & dominions subiect vnto our soueraigne lord the king, admitted and suffered (according to the tenor of the forenamed priuiledges granted vnto them) freely, friendly and se∣curely to traffique and conuerse with any of his Maiesties liege people and subiects whatsoeuer, or with other people of whatsoeuer nation liuing in the realme of England, or in the dominions aforesaid: the said common society of marchants by their publike & deliberate common counsel did appoint & ordain, y^t no society in any cities, townes, or places, neither yet any particular man of any such society (there being no lawfull or reasonable cause why) shoulde in any wise admit any mar∣chants of the realm of England resorting vnto their cities or other places for marchandise, to en∣ioy intercourse of traffike: but that the saide English marchants should bee altogether excluded from all traffike and mutuall conuersation among them, by denouncing and inflicting grieuous penalties of money as well vpon cities as other places, and vpon particular marchants also of the foresaid societie practising the contrary.

Item, that immediatly after, the foresaid parties enacting and ordaining published their sayde statute and ordinance, in all kingdomes, prouinces, partes, cities, and townes, wherin any mar∣chants of the said societie were conuersant.

Item, that after that publication, the statute and ordinance aforesaid by euery of the marchants of the forenamed society were inuiolably obserued.

Item, that the said statute and ordinance hath bene so rigorously put in execution, that whereas immediatly after certaine English marchants with their ships, mariners, and marchandize bee∣ing in a cer••aine part of one of the principall cities of the foresaide societie, vtterly destitute of meate, drinke, and money, publikely offred to sell their wollen clothes of England, onely to pro∣uide themselues of necessary victuals: yet the marchants of the saide citie, s••outely persisting in their statute and ordinance aforesaid, straightly prohibited the buying of such clothes, vnchristian∣ly denying meate and drinke vnto the said English marchants.

Item, the foresaid society decreed and ordained, that no marchant of the saide company should in any place or countrey whatsoeuer, buy any woollen clothes of the realme or dominion of Eng∣land (albeit offered by others and not by English men) or, hauing bought any, should, after the terme prefired, sel them, imposing grieuous pecuniary mulets, besides the forfeiture of the clothes so bought or sold, vpon them that would attempt the contrary

Item, that after the said statute and ordinance, the foresaide societie decreed, that all marchants of the said companie, hauing among their wares and marchandise any woollen clothes made in England, should either sell the saide clothes, or within a short space then limited should, vnderpe∣naltie of forfeiting the said clothes, vtterly renounce the vse and commoditie thereof: Notwithstā∣ding a grieuous penaltie of money being imposed vpon the violaters of the same statute.

Item, that the statutes and ordinances aforesaid might with more speed and celerity be put in* 1.8 execution, the said authors and publishers thereof imagining, according to their desire, that by this meanes an vtter extirpation and ouerthrow of English marchants might•• yea & of necessity must ensue: vpon their serious & long premeditated deliberation, straitely commanded & inioyned, vn∣der pain of losing the benefit of all priuileges, wheresoeuer, or by the princes of what lands, or the Magistrates of what Cities or townes soeuer vouchsafed vnto the said common societie, that not only the aldermen of that society in al places throughout the realme of England, but also al other marchants of the said company, after the maner of marchants conuersing in the saide Realme, should, without exception of persons, vtterly abstein from all intercourse of traffike with the mar∣chants of the realme aforesaid: yea, and that they shoulde depart out of the said kingdome within a very short space limited. For the dispatching of al which premisses without delay, it was accor∣ding to their commandement effectually prouided.

Item, that the society aforesaid hath approued diuers very vnreasonable statutes & ordinances,* 1.9 made & published by the marchants of the same society residing in the kingdoms of Norway and Swedland, to the great preiudice of the kingdome of England, and the marchants thereof: and as yet both couertly and expresly do approue the same, vniustly putting them in daily execution.

Item, wheras in the priuileges & indulgences granted by y^e renoumed princes somtimes kings of Englād, y^e worthy progenitors of our souereign lord the king y^t now is, vnto the society aforesaid, it is prouided, y^t the said marchants shal not auow any man which is ••ot of their company, nor shal not colour his goods and marchandize vnder their company: whereas also in the confirmation of

the sayd priuiledges made by our soueraigne lord that nowe is, it is manifestly prouided, that the marchants of the Hans towns, vnder the colour of their priuiledges in England, shall not vpon paine of the perpetuall frustration and reuocation of the foresayd priuiledges, receiue any stran∣ger of any other towne in their liberties, by whom the kings custome may in any sort be withholden or diminished: & yet the contrary vnto al these prouisoes hath bin euery yer••, for these 20. yeres or thereabout notoriously practised and committed, as well ioyntly by the generall counsell, and ••ole∣ration of the foresayd society, as also seuerally by the aduise and permission of diuers particular ci∣ties of the foresayd Hans company to the great diminution of his maiesties custome, the estimati∣on whereof the foresayd ambassadors are not able at this present fully to declare. But that all oc∣casions of the last aboue mentioned diminution may b••e preuented for the time to come, the sayd ambassadors doe demand to haue from the foresayd societie a declaration in writing, what and* 1.10 what maner of territories, cities, townes, villages or companies they be, for which the sayd society challengeth and pretendeth, that they ought to enioy the priuiledges granted vnto their marchants, as is aboue mentioned.

Moreouer, it is required by the foresaid ambassadors, if the societie aforesayd hath not decreed nor ordayned the things aboue written, that the names of the cities and places decreeing and or∣daining such statutes & ordinances, may by the sayd common society either now or at some other times and places conuenient for the same purpose, be expressed and set downe in writing.

A letter of Henry the fourth king of England &c. vnto Frater Conradus de Iungingen the master generall of Prussia.

HEnrie &c. to the most noble and mighty personage of sacred religion Fr: Conradus de Iun∣gingen Master general of the order of the Dutch knights of S. Marie, our most deare friend, greeting, and continual perfection of amity.

When as your messengers and ambassadors were of late personally present in Holland, and there expected the arriual of our ambassadors vntill the first day of the moneth of Nouember last expired, that there might bee by way of friendly conference a remedie prouided in regard of cer∣taine iniuries pretended to be off••••ed, by both our subiects one against another•• for the publique commoditie of both parts, we were determined to haue sent vnto Dordract, at the foresaid daye, our welbeloued and faithfull knight William Sturmy, and our welbeloued clerke Iohn Kington, vpon our ambassage-affayres: hauing as yet in our desires, for a peaceable ending of the matter, (which, our foresayd ambassadors, by reason of the shortnes of time, or the finding out of some other remedie and happy conclusion of all and singular the foresaid attempts concerning the principall busines, could by no meanes at that instant attaine vnto) that vpon some other more conuenient day (to the end your ambassadors might not returne home altogether frustrate of their expectation) there might be, after the wonted friendly maner, a conferēce & agreement with your foresayd am∣bassadors, euen as by other letters of ours directed vnto your sayd ambassadors the second day of the moneth of Nouember aforesayd wee haue deliuered our mind vnto them. But it fortuned not long before the departure of your ambassadors into their owne countrey, that no sufficient shipping could be found wherein our sayd ambassadors might haue secure and safe passage vnto Dordract, or Middleburgh, neither was it thought that they should get any passage at all, till the ships at Middleborough were returned into our kingdome, by the force whereof they might be the more strongly wafted ouer. And so by reason of the departure of your ambassadours, all matters re∣maine in suspense till such time as the sayd ambassadors shall againe meete with ours to adde per∣fection vnto the busines as yet imperfect. Wherefore (our friend vnfainedly beloued) desiring from the bottome of our heart that the integritie of loue, which hath from auncient times taken place betweene our & your subiects, may in time to come also be kept inuiolable, we haue thought good once again to send one of our foresaid ambassadors, namely William Esturmy knight to Dor∣dract, giuing him charge thither to make haste, and there to stay, till some of your messengers, at your commandement doe in time conuenient repayre vnto that place, there (by Gods assistance) to bring the matter vnto an happy conclusion. May it please you therefore of your vnfay••ed friendship, without all inconuenience of delay, to returne, not vnto vs, but vnto our forenamed knight an answere in writing, what your will and determination is. Neither let it seeme strange vnto you, that we haue not at this present sent our forenamed Iohn Kington clerke together with the sayd William: for the cause of his abode with vs is, that he may in the meane season employ his care and diligence about those matters which must be preparatiues for the finall conclusion of the foresayd busines. Honorable sir, and most deare friend, we doe most heartily with increase of pro∣sperity and ioy vnto your person. Giuen in our palace of Westminster the 14. day of Feb. in the yeare of our Lord 1407.

To the right noble and valiant knight Sir VVilliam Sturmy sent at this present by the most souereigne King of England &c as his ambassadour vnto Dordract, his most sincere friend.

HOnorable sir, our most entier friend, wee receiued the royall letters of the most mighty prince and lord, our lord the king of England and France and lord of Ireland, sent vnto vs vnder the date of the 14. day of February (which we receiued at our castle of Marienburgh the 11. of April) containing, amongst other matters, that his Maiesties purpose was once againe to sende one of his ambassadors, namely your selfe our very sincere friend vnto Dordract, giuing you in charge that you would make haste thither & there slay, vntill some of our subiects might at our commandemēt, in conuenient time repaire vnto the same place, there (by Gods assistance) to bring our matters vnto a happy conclusion. And then he requested that wee should without delay write our determination vnto you, as the conclusion of the said letter importeth. Howbeit (our most deare friend) the treaties & conferences about the redresse or reformation of vniust attempts com∣mitted by the subiects of our sayd lord the king & our subiects, one against another, are both on our behalfe, and on the behalfe of the common societie of the Hans marchants, hitherto had, made, and continued common. And so our commissioners vpon our full and absolute commandement, shal, for the managing of these and of other affaires of the foresaid societie, many waies vrgent and diffi∣cult, vpon the feast of our Lords Ascension next to come, meet with the said societie at Lubec, there to giue notice what they haue determined to conclude in this present busines & in others for their owne behalfe. For we wil giue our ambassadours which are there to appeare, streightly in charge that according to the kings request aforesayde they doe without delay procure an answere to be written vnto your honour concerning the determination of the foresayd societie.

Giuen at the place and vpon the day aboue named, in the yeare of our Lord 1407

.

Fr. Wernherus de Tettingen, commander in Elbing•• general vice-master and lieutenant in the roome of the Master generall of the Dutch knights of the Order of S. Marie &c. of late deceased.

The letters of Henry the 4. king of England &c vnto Vlricus de Iungingen Master generall of Prussia, 1408. wherein he doth ratifie and accept the last agreement made at Hage in Holland.

HEnry &c. vnto the honourable and religious personage Fr. Vlricus de Iungingen Master ge∣nerall of the Dutch knights of S. Marie &c. our most deare friend, greeting and dayly in∣crease of our accustomed amity and friendship. We doe by these presents giue your houour to vn∣derstand, that our faithfull & welbeloued William Esturmy knight, and Master Iohn Kington clerke, our ambassadors and messengers sent of late on our behalfe, vnto the presence of your pre∣decessour for the redressing of certaine grieuances and damages being contrary to iustice offered against vs and our liege subiects by the people & subiects of your predecessors, & against them al∣so by our subiects as it is aforesayd, in friendly maner to be procured, of late returning out of the parts of Alemain made relation vnto vs and to our counsell, that hauing conferred with your fore∣named predecessour about the foresayd affayres, the particulars following were at length conclu∣ded: namely first of all, that at a certaine day and place they should meete in Holland with his ambassadors and messengers, to hold a friendly conference between them about the redressing and reformation of the grieuances and damages aforesayd: and that they should by the equall waight of diligent examination ponder, & in the balance of iustice discusse & define al & singular the foresaid grieuances & damages inflicted on both parts. Howbeit at length after sundry prorogations then made & continued on this behalfe, our ambassadors & messengers aforesaid vpon the 28. of August last past,* 2.1 assembling themselues for our part at the towne of Hage in Holland, the hon. & discreete personages Arnold Heket burgomaster of the towne of Dantzik, & Iohn Crolowe, for the behalf of your subiects of Prussia, and Tidman de Meule, & Iohn Epenscheid for the behalfe of Liuonia, being assembled as messengers and commissioners about the redresse and reformation aforesayd, did then and there demaund in certaine articles, of our ambassadours and messengers abouena∣med 25034. nobles & half a noble, for the grieuances & damages offered (as it was thē ••aid) to your subiects of Prussia, and 24082. nobles, 12.s.8.d. in recompense of the damages offered vnto those

your subiects of Liuonia. And when the substance of those articles about the grieuances & losses aforesayd was by the sayd ambassadours and messengers throug••ly examined and discussed, by their generall consent it was finally agreed, that your subiects, in consideration of all and singu∣lar the foresayd grieuances and damages offered vnto them by our people, should within three yeares after the feast of Easter next ensuing, at three equall payments receiue from vs, name∣ly they of Prussia, 8957. nobles, and they of Liuonia 22496. nobles, sixe pence, halfe peny, far∣thing, and no more, so that we our selues thought good to condescend thereunto. Howbeit, foras∣much as certaine other articles of your subiects of Prussia, and also certaine articles in the be∣halfe of our subiects containing grieuous complaints in them, being propounded before the ambas∣sadors & messengers aforesaid, for the attaining of reformation in regard of the damages & grieuan∣ces offered on both parts, could not as thē, for the great obscurity of diuers of the sayd articles, and also for want of sufficiēt proofe at the last meeting appointed and held by the foresayd ambassadors at the towne of Hage in Holland, sufficiently to be examined, discussed, and defined, it was agreed vpon by the ambassadors and messengers of both partes, that from the 15. day of October then last expired vnto the feast of Easter now next ensuing, and from thenceforth within one whole yere im∣mediatly following, the plaintifes of both parts should throughly declare before our chancelour of England for the time being, the foresayd obscurities cōcerning the substance of their articles, and that they should, for the obtaining of execution, and complement of iustice at our sayd chancelours hands, peremptorily minister necessary probations, vnder paine of perpetuall exclusion from the petition of those things which are contayned in the articles aboue mentioned.

Prouided alwayes, that if at the last it shall be by lawfull proofes made manifest concerning the summes aboue written or any part or parcell thereof, that due satisfaction hath beene made to him or them vnto whom it was due, or that those goods of and for the which complaint hath bene made on the behalfe of your subiects haue pertained or doe appertaine vnto others, or any other iust, true, and reasonable cause may lawfully bee alleaged, why the payment of all the foresayd summes or any of them ought not to be performed: that then so much only is to be cut off or deduc∣ted from the sayd summes as shall be found to be already payd or to pertaine vnto others, or else vpon some true, iust, and reasonable cause (as is aforesayd) not to be due. We therefore conside∣ring that the sayd friendly conference, and the finall agreement ensuing thereupon are agreeable vnto reason and equitie, doe, for our part rati••ie and willingly accept the very same conference and agreement. And forasmuch as it hath bene alwayes our desire, and is as yet our intention, that the league of amity and the integritie of loue, which hath of olde time bene obserued betweene our and your subiects, may in times to come perpetually remaine inuiolable, and that your and our people may hereafter, not onely for the good of our common weale but also for the commodity and peace of both parts, according to their woonted maner, assemble themselues and enioy the faithfull and mutuall conuersation one of another: we will cause in our citie of London, with the summe of 8957. nobles satisfaction to bee made vnto the Prussians, and with the summe of 22496. nobles, sixe pence, halfe peny, farthing, recompense to be performed vnto the Liuonians, in regard of the damages and iniuries (which in very deede proceeded not of our consent) by our subiects offered vnto them, as it is aforesayd, and within three yeares after the feast of Easter next ensuing the sayd summes of money to bee payed at three payments, and by three equall portions. Conditionally that vnto our subiects which be endamaged correspondent satisfaction be likewise on your part within the terme of the foresayd three yeeres performed, with paying the summes of 766. nobles and of 4535. nobles, demaunded on our behalfe, and also with the payment of such summes as within one yeere immediately ensuing the feast of Easter aforesayd, shalbe found by sufficient delarations and proofes to be made on the behalfe of our subiects (as is aforesayd) to be due. Euen as we in like maner will make satisfaction vnto your subiects within our citie afore∣sayd. Now as touching the request of your ambassadors and of the Liuonians, whereby we were required to procure some holesome remedy for the soules of certaine drowned persons, as consci∣ence and religion seemeth to chalenge (in regard of whom we are moued with compassion, and do for their sakes heartily condole their mishaps) you are (our entier friend) of a certaintie to vnder∣stand, that after we shall be by your letters aduertized of the number, state, and condition of the sayd parties drowned, we will cause suffrages of prayers and diuers other holesome remedies pro∣fitable for the soules of the deceased and acceptable to God and men, religiously to be ordained and prouided: vpon condition, that for the soules of our drowned countrey men there be the like re∣medie prouided by you. The almighty grant vnto your selfe and vnto your whole Order, that you may prosperously triumph ouer the enemies of Christ his crosse. Giuen vnder our priuie seale at our palace of Westminster the 26. of March, in the yere of our Lord 1408. and in the ninth yere of our reigne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The ancient customes of wools.
• * 1.2

  Pence for the towne of Cales.
• * 1.3

  The great charter of marchants.
• * 1.4

  A speciall Charter.
• * 1.5

  The custo∣mers of the pety custome.
• * 1.6

  1405
• * 1.7

  The custo∣mers of the subsidie.
• * 1.8

  The Hans soci∣etie determi∣neth the ouer∣throw of Eng∣lish marchāts.
• * 1.9

  Statutes a∣gainst y^e English marchants in Norway and in Suedland.
• * 1.10

  How many & which be the Hans townes.
• * 2.1

  A meting at Hage the 28. of August 1407.