Merchants

In 1203, two merchants of Worksop were amerced each in half a mark for selling wine contrary to the Assize, while the custodians of measures of the borough were mulcted in one mark for performing their duty negligently—an exact illustration of the words of the ordinance.

Merchants and merchandise had suffered from John’s greed.

This benefited merchants by securing to them certain privileges, which may perhaps be analysed into three:

but being a work which will require much time, and preparation by conference with your Majesty’s officers, and with the merchants, not only of London, but of other remote parts, they find it not possible to be accomplished at this time:

If any merchant or person whatsoever shall voluntarily yield, or pay the said subsidies of Tonnage and Poundage, not being granted by Parliament, he shall likewise be reputed a betrayer of the liberties of England, and an enemy to the same.

As for our merchants, we let them know we shall always endeavour to cherish and enlarge the trade of such as be dutiful, without burthening them beyond what is fitting;

A merchant who has reached a toll-station should pay the toll as prescribed.

For merchants, all purchase and sale of commodities is for the sake of profit.

Therefore, a merchant should strive for a good price according to the place and time.

We merchants call upon Indra;

May our trading thrive, our selling, and our resale;

The many god-traveled paths of yours that pass along heaven and earth — upon those I place myself in radiance, so that having purchased goods I may carry wealth home.

Nay, we shall see our city enjoying twice the revenues which she now receives, and thronged with merchants and foreigners and resident aliens, by whom she is now deserted.

that, in the case of a merchant, his merchandise must be spared;

* and after the same manner a merchant, saving to him his merchandise.

We do not know exactly why business men wanted, after the Restoration, to come into the king’s court, but we may surmise that on the one hand the domestic jurisdiction of trade gilds, whether of Englishmen or of foreigners in England, had broken down for economic reasons, and, on the other hand, the summary process of local market and maritime courts failed to insure much certainty in the substanc …

Merchants who are observers of justice should be appointed there as listeners.

The court should be attended by a few merchants of noble family, character, age, conduct, and wealth, who are free from envy and of established lineage.

On domestic goods, a merchant may take five percent;

For merchants who act in partnership for the sake of profit, profit and loss are in proportion to their capital, or as agreed upon by their compact.

For merchants who, acting in concert, obstruct the sale of goods at a fair price, or who sell them at such a price, the highest amercement is prescribed as the fine.

The resources should be increased by making purchases and sales according to the practice of the merchants, and by means of honest servants, superintended by herself.

So deep is their love of corn that on receiving reports that it is abundant anywhere, merchants will voyage in quest of it:

And when they want money, they don’t throw the corn away anywhere at haphazard, but they carry it to the place where they hear that corn is most valued and the people prize it most highly, and deliver it to them there.