and aforesaid countries in the said realm and countries of England, Ireland and Calais, for the merchandise which they shall carry over there and bring back, the customs, tolls, and duties due and customary when merchandise has had course in time past between the realms and countries aforesaid included in present agreement, without being constrained to other duties.

And in respect to the merchants of one side or the other, touching the merchandise which they shall bring over and carry back each on his part, they shall pay the tolls and duties at the ordinance of their prince and lord according to that which is customary in their country.

And by this it is not intended to prejudice the prince or lord of one country or another from levying in those countries and lordships such tolls and duties, with respect to his subjects, as shall seem good to him.

Except this, that the said merchants, of one side or the other, their factors and servants, masters of ships and sailors, to whom it shall be lawful to have with them in their ships armor and artillery, for the preservation and safety of themselves and their goods, in travelling by sea, and to take the same with them into whatsoever ports at which they arrive, shall upon leaving their said ships leave behind such armor in their said ships or vessels; except knives, a dagger, or a sword, which they shall be able to carry, if it seem good to them, to their inns, where they shall be bound to leave their said swords.

At all times, the prince of one part or the other shall be able, for a reasonable cause, such as the need or high price of food, to make restriction as regards such kinds of food as shall seem necessary to him for his own welfare and that of his subjects, this present agreement not preventing.

And if it should happen that any ships, by the fortune of the sea or the pursuit of enemies, should be constrained to take refuge in any ports or harbors in England which are not authorized as has been said, in such a case they shall be able to be and enter safely in the said ports and harbors, without being able (being at the said harbors and ports) to lade, to stow, or to unlade any commodities, foods, merchandise, or other things. Item, that the said merchants of England, their factors and servants, masters of ships and sailors, shall be able to hold intercourse with and dwell securely in the countries of Brabant, Flanders, Mechlin, and the aforesaid countries, and in the ports and harbors of the same countries, with their goods, ships, and any merchandises whatsoever, provisions and other things.

And likewise the merchants of Brabant, Flanders, Mechlin, and the other countries aforesaid and their factors and servants, masters of ships and sailors shall be able to be, to hold intercourse with, and to dwell safely in the kingdom of England, in Ireland, and at Calais, and in the ports and harbors of England, Ireland, and Calais aforesaid, without any misdeed being done or any hindrance or disturbance made by those of Brabant, Flanders, Mechlin and the aforesaid places nor by any others whatsoever (of whatsoever nation or country they may be) to the merchants of the country of England nor by those of that country of England or any others whatsoever to the merchants of Brabant, Flanders, Mechlin and the aforesaid countries, nor to their factors, servants, masters of ships, and sailors, of one part or the other, by violence, by reason of war, pillage, or robbery done or to be done, nor otherwise in any manner; provided that the merchants of any other country whatsoever be safe with all their goods and ships at the said countries of Brabant, Flanders, Mechlin, and other aforesaid countries, and in the ports and harbors of the said countries of Flanders, without any misdeed done or hindrance or disturbance made to them by those of the part of England; nor damage done or hindrance made in body or goods or in any possible manner by those of the other said countries to those of the part of England, their factors, servants, and goods, being in the said countries of Brabant, Flanders, the lordship and town of Mechlin, and in the other countries abovenamed, and in the ports and harbors of the same:

Given in the city of Brussels, the twenty-fourth day of November, the year of grace one thousand four hundred and sixty

seven.

131. Confirmation of Richard's Title

(1484. English original, 6 R. P. 241. 3 Stubbs, 235.)

BES

ESIDES this we consider, how that ye be the undoubted son and heir of Richard late duke of York, very inheritor to the said crown and dignity royal, and as in right king of England, by way of inheritance; and that at this time, the premises duly considered, there is none other person living but ye only, that by right may claim the said crown and dignity royal, by way of inheri

tance, and how that ye be born within this land; by reason whereof, as we deem in our minds, ye be more naturally inclined to the prosperity and common weal of the same; and all the three estates of the land have, and may have, more certain knowledge of your birth and filiation abovesaid. We consider also, the great wit, prudence, justice, princely courage, and the memorable and laudable acts in divers battles, which we by experience know ye heretofore have done, for the salvation and defense of this same realm; and also the great noblesse and excellence of your birth and blood, as of him that is descended of the three most royal houses in Christendom, that is to say, England, France, and Spain.

Wherefore, these premises by us diligently considered, we desiring effectually the peace, tranquility, and public weal of this land, and the reduction of the same to the ancient honorable estate and prosperity, and having in your great prudence, justice, princely courage, and excellent virtue, singular confidence, have chosen in all that that in us is, and by this our writing choose you, high and mighty prince, into our king and sovereign lord &c., to whom we know for certain it appertaineth of inheritance so to be chosen. And hereupon we humbly desire, pray, and require your said noble grace, that according to this election of us the three estates of this land, as by your true inheritance, ye will accept and take upon you the said crown and royal dignity, with all things thereunto annexed and appertaining, as to you of right belonging, as well by inheritance as by lawful election: and, in case you so do, we promise to serve and to assist your Highness, as true and faithful subjects and liegemen, and to live and die with you in this matter, and every other just quarrel. For certainly we be determined, rather to aventure and commit us to the peril of our lives and jeopardy of death, than to live in such thraldom and bondage as we have lived long time heretofore, oppressed and injured by extortions and new impositions, against the laws of God and man, and the liberty, old police, and laws of this realm, wherein every Englishman is inherited. Our Lord God, King of all kings, by whose infinite goodness and eternal providence all things be principally governed in this world, lighten your soul, and grant you grace to do, as well in this matter as in all other, all that that may be according to his will and pleasure, and to the common and public weal of this land; so that, after great clouds, troubles, storms and tempests, the sun of justice and of grace may shine upon us, to the comfort and gladness of all true Englishmen.

Albeit that the right, title, and estate, which our sovereign lord the king Richard the Third, hath to and in the crown and royal dignity of this realm of England, with all things thereunto within the same realm, and without it, united, annexed and appertaining, be just and lawful, as grounded upon the laws of God and of nature, and also upon the ancient laws and laudable customs of this said realm, and so taken and reputed by all such persons as are learned in the abovesaid laws and customs. Yet nevertheless, forasmuch as it is considered, that the most part of the people of this land is not sufficiently learned in the abovesaid laws and customs, whereby the truth and right in this behalf of likelihood may be hid, and not clearly known to all the people, and thereupon put in doubt and question. And besides this, how that the court of parliament is of such authority, and the people of this land of such nature and disposition, as experience teacheth, that manifestation and declaration of any truth or right, made by the three estates of this realm assembled in parliament, and by authority of the same, maketh, before all other things, most faith and certainty; and, quieting men's minds, removeth the occasion of all doubts and seditious language. Therefore, at the request, and by assent of the three estates of this realm, that is to say, the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons of this land, assembled in this present parliament, by authority of the same, be it pronounced, decreed, and declared, that our said sovereign lord the king was, and is, very and undoubted king of this realm of England, with all things thereunto within the same realm, and without it, united, annexed and appertaining, as well by right of consanguinity and inheritance, as by lawful election, consecration, and coronation. And besides this, that, at the request, and by the assent and authority abovesaid, be it ordained, enacted and established, that the said crown and royal dignity of this realm, and the inheritance of the same, and other things thereunto within this same realm, or without it, united, annexed, and now appertaining, rest and abide in the person of our said sovereign lord the king, during his life, and, after his discease, in his heirs of his body begotten. And in especial, at the request, and by assent and authority abovesaid, be it ordained, enacted, established, pronounced, decreed, and declared, that the high and excellent prince Edward, son of our said sovereign lord the king, be heir apparent of the same our sovereign lord the king, to succeed to him in the abovesaid crown and royal dignity, with all things as is aforesaid thereunto united, annexed and appertaining; to have them after the discease of

P

our said sovereign lord the king, to him and to his heirs of his body lawfully begotten.

132. Grant of Subsidy

(1484. English original, 6 R. P. 238. 3 Stubbs, 236.)

So the worship of God. We your poor commons by your high

commandment come to this your present parliament, for the shires, cities and boroughs of this your noble realm, by the assent of all the lords spiritual and temporal in this your present parliament assembled, grant by this present indenture to you, our sovereign lord, for the defense of this your said realm, and in especial for the safeguard and keeping of the sea, a subsidy called tonnage, to be taken in manner and form following; that is to say, 111 shillings of every ton of wine coming into this your said realm, and of every ton of sweet wine coming into the same your realm, by any foreign merchant, as well by the merchants of Hanse and of Almain, as of any other foreign merchant, iii shillings, over the said I shillings afore granted: to have and to perceive yearly the said subsidy, from the first day of this present parliament, for term of your natural life. And over that, we your said commons, by the assent aforesaid, grant to you, our said sovereign lord, for the safeguard and keeping of the sea, another subsidy called poundage; that is to say, of all manner merchandises of every merchant denizen and alien, as well of the merchants of Hanse and of Almain, as of any other foreign merchant, carried out of this your said realm or brought into the same by way of merchandise, of the value of every xxs., xiid.; except tin, whereof the merchants strangers to pay for subsidy, of the value of every xxs., 11S.; and the merchants denizens, xiid.; and all such manner merchandises of every merchant denizen, to be valued after that they cost at the first buying or achate, by their oaths, or of their servants buyers of the said merchandises in their absence, or by their letters, the which the same merchants have of such buying from their factors; all manner of woolen cloth made and wrought within this your realm, by any merchant denizen not born alien, to be carried out of the same realm within the time of this grant, all manner wools, woolfells and hides, going out of the same, and every manner of corn,