eestors to the city of London, and other cities, boroughs, and good towns of our realm of England, be to them saved.

No. XXI.

18. Ed. III. stat. 2. c. 3. § 2.

And that every man, as well stranger as privy ; from henceforth may buy wools, according as they may agree with the seller, as they were wont to do before the said ordinances; and that the sea be open to all manner of merchants to pass with their merchandise where it shall please them, (qe la mieer soit overte a tout manere des marchantz de passer over lour marchandises.)

No. XXII.

25 Ed. III. stat. 4. c. § 4.

That every merchant or other, of what condition he be, as well alien as denizen, that bring wines, flesh, fish, or other victuals, cloths, woolfels, Avoir de pois, or any other manner of merchandizes, or chaffer to the city of London, or other cities, boroughs, and good towns of England, or ports of the sea, may freely and without challenge or impeachment of any, sell in gross or at retail, or by parcels at his will, to all man

ner of people that will buy the same, notwithstanding any franchises, grants, or custom used, or any other things done to the contrary; sithence that such usages and franchises be to the common prejudice of the king and his people.

No. XXIII,

27 Ed. III. stat. 2. cap. 2.

Item pur replener lez ditx Roialmes et terres de monei et de plat dor et dargent et dez merchandizes dez autres terres, et pur doner tarlent as marchauntez estraunges de venir ove lez mercez et marchandises de autres terres en lez Roialme & terres avantditz. Si avoins ordeigne & establi, que touts lez marchaunte estrunges,queux ne sount mye de notre enmite, de quel terre ou nation qils soient puissent soutz nostre protection, et save conduit vener et demurrer en nos dit Roialme et terrez, queux parties, qils voudrount, et de illocqs retourner ove lour mesnee merces et marchaundises quecunqes fraunchement et vendre lour marchaundises a lez estaples & aillours deinz mesme le Roialme & terres, a que lez voudra achater paiauntes les custumes ent deuz. Et pur plus assurere lez marchauntz estraunges et autres mesnauntes liens & marchaundises es dites Roialme et terres; si voloing & grauntoms ordeinoms.

TRANSLATION.

Item, for the better replenishing of 'these realms with money, gold and silver plate, and merchandize of foreign countries, and for giving to merchant strangers inducements to come with the wares and merchandize of foreign countries into these realms aforesaid-We have ordained and established that all merchant strangers who are not at enmity with us of what country or nation whatsoever, may under our protection and safe conduct come and tarry in our realms aforesaid, wheresoever they chuse, and from thence may return with their imported wares and merchandize freely, and sell the same at the staples and elsewhere, &c.

No. XXIV.

28 Rich. II. stat. 1. c. 1. § 4.

Our Lord the King considering clearly the coming of merchant strangers within the realm, to be very profitable for many causes, to all the realm, by the assent of the prelates, dukes, earls, barons, and of the commons of the realm, hath ordained and stablished, that all merchants aliens, of what realms, countries, or seignories that they come, which be of the amity of the King, and of his realm, may from

henceforth safely and surely come within the realm of England, and in all cities, boroughs, ports of the sea, fairs, markets, or other places within the realm, within franchise and without, and abide with their goods and all merchandizes under the safeguard and protection of the king, as long as shall please him, without disturbance or denying of any person.*

No. XXV.

4 Ric. II. st. 2. c. 1. s. 1 and 2.

1

That all manner of merchant strangers, of whatsoever nation or country they be, being of the amity of the King and of his realme, shall be welcome, and freely may come within the realm of England, and

* The three last statutes completely prove that the exception in some of the former ones "of the kings enemies" means either rebels and foes within the realm, or is to be interpreted as shewing who are not to come and sell here-not as prohibiting merchant strangers at amity from Belling to all-foes as well as friends. Even if it were pretended that those statutes meant to prohibit the trade of alien friends with alien enemies, it would remain for the defenders of the late Orders to shew that all the restricted countries are those of alien enemies, or to admit that at least in part those orders are quite illegal. But no such interpretation can be set up, nor is it sup ported by a single law authority.-See 6 Comyns, 352.-2 Inst. 57.-Bac. Ab. Merchant.

elsewhere within the King's power, as well within franchise as without, and there to be conversant to merchandize, and tarry as long as them liketh, as those whom our said lord the King by the tenor hereof, taketh under his protection and safeguard, with their goods, merchandizes, and all manner familiars. And for so much the King willeth and commandeth, That they and every of them be well, friendly, and merchantlike entreated and demeaned within all parts within his said realm and power, with their merchandizes, and all manner goods, and suffered to go and come, and into their proper country peaceably to return without disturbance or impeachment of any.

No. XXVI.

5 Hen. IV. cap. 7. s. 1.

Item, It is ordained and established, that all the merchant strangers, of what estate or condition that they be, coming, dwelling, or repairing within the realm of England, shall be entreated or demeaned within the realm in the manner, form, and condition, as the merchants denizens be, or shall be entreated or demeaned in the parts beyond the sea.