Book. However it is plain, that the Inhabi tants of the Cities and Boroughs began to triumph, in Confequence of a Victory over Foreigners, and practifed the fame Outrages and Infults against them, which they had formerly done. To put a Stop to which, two Laws were enacted, one in the fecond, and the other in the eleventh Year of his Reign, which explain and confirm the several Statutes made by his Grandfather, Edward III. in favour of Foreigners.

BUT as we are not to expect mighty Matters for the Public Good from a Prince of the Character of Richard II. fo we find in the Year 1392. the very Year in which he received ten thousand Pounds, and two gold Crowns from the City of London, by way of Redemption Money for their Charter, that he was fo mollified with this Sum, opportunely coming in to answer his extravagant Expences, as to país a Law to repeal the principal Advantages granted by his Grandfather and himself to Strangers. After having recited the Act of Edward III. with the feveral Additions, it proceeds, "Nevertheless, forafmuch as it feem"eth to our Lord the King, that the said Statutes, if they shall be fully holden and executed, fhall extend to the great Hindrance "and Damage of the City of London, as of "other Cities, Boroughs, and Towns of this Realm, it is ordained, &c.". There needs no Comment upon this Part of the Statute;

the

the very Words declare, at whofe Instigation the Law was made, and whofe [fuppofed] Interests it was defigned to ferve. This Statute deprived Merchants Strangers of the Benefit of felling to another Merchant Stranger, who was to fell again. It was likewife ordained, that no Merchant Stranger fhould fell by Retail, but only in Grofs: Nay, Merchants Strangers were not allowed to put, that is, to expose to Sale any Manner of Wares or Merchandises, except Livings and Victuals.

BUT ftill there was a Shadow of Liberty remaining; particularly Merchants Strangers were allowed the Benefit of refiding in England as long as they pleased, and of dwelling in Houfes of their own, and being their own Brokers in the Difpofal of their Effects. Therefore a Law was obtained the fifth of Henry IV. A. D. 1403. c. 9. which ordained, "That all Mer"chants Aliens, and Strangers, SHALL SELL

66.

their Merchandises, brought into this Realm, “within a Quarter of a Year next after their "coming into the fame; and also that the

Money which shall be delivered by Ex"change in England, be employed upon the "Commodities of the Realm, within the faid "Realm, upon Pain of Forfeiture of the fame "Money; and that no Merchant Alien, nor "Stranger, fell any Manner of Merchandise to any other Merchant Alien, or Stranger, up

t

on Pain of Forfeiture of the fame Merchan

"dife.

"dife. And also, it is ordained and establish "ed, that in every City, Town, and Port "of the Sea, in England, where the faid "Merchants Aliens, or Strangers be, or fhall

be repairing, fufficient Hofts shall be affigned "to the faid Merchants by the Mayor, Sherifs, or Bailifs;-and that the faid Mer"chants Aliens, and Strangers, fhall dwell in "no other Place, but with their faid Hofts fo "to be affigned; and that the faid Hofts, fo "to be affigned, fhall take for their Travel in "the Manner as was accustomed in old Time." By the Tenor of this Law, a Merchant Stranger was not only deprived of the Benefit of felling to another Merchant Stranger, who was to fell again within the Realm, according to the Statute of Richard II. mentioned above; but also he was restrained from selling at all to Merchants Strangers, though for the Purposes of Exportation: So that it became a Crime, by the Laws of the Land, to attempt to make this Country the Centre of Trade, and a Magazine for other Nations. And And yet, this unhappy national Biafs, joined with the narrow, felfish Views of Individuals, prevailed fo ftrongly, that this very abfurd Claufe was confirmed again by a Statute made the next Year, the fixth of Henry IV. c. 4. There was indeed a Repeal of the Obligation laid upon Foreigners to fell their Merchandises within a Quarter of a Year after Importation: But particular Care was taken to add, "Saving always, the Fran

"chifes

"chifes and Liberties of the City of London: "And further, Provided always, that the faid "Merchants Aliens, and Strangers, fhall not

carry, or caufe to be carried, out of the "Realm, any Merchandifes brought within "the Realm by the Merchants Aliens and "Strangers aforefaid." This was ftrengthening the Evil; fo that even our own Shipping were not to be employed in carrying the Goods of Foreigners from one Country to another. We fhall presently fee what Ufe the Citizensof London made of thefe Statutes.

Now as thefe Laws were made in the Reign of Henry IV. it may be reasonably asked, How a Prince fo politic and attached to his Intereft, could be induced to pass them? For it was impoffible to avoid perceiving, that the Duties and Customs would be greatly diminished by fuch Exclufions and Monopolies. And yet perhaps he acted wholly upon the Prin ciples of Self-Intereft and State Policy in this Affair. For he found it neceffary to ftand well with the Citizens of London, and to gain, the Affections of the People at any Rate. Great Discontents then prevailed, on account of his Behaviour to, and fuppofed Murder of the depofed King. A Confpiracy and a dange rous Infurrection were actually then on foot. Befides, he had a favourite Point to be gained, no less than the intailing of the Realms of Eng→ land and France on his four Sons, which was proposed

propofed and carried the Beginning of the next Seffions of Parliament. But as foon as this Point was obtained, his Complaifance grew lefs; and a Law was paffed the very fame Seffions, to restrain the Encroachments of the Citizens of London, viz. Anno 7mo Hen. IV. A. D. 1405. C. 9. Item, Whereas at the grievous Complaint made by the Commons "in the faid Parliament, it is fhewed, how "that in old Time it was used and accustomed, "that as well the Cloth-makers and Drapers "of whatsoever Place of the Realm, repairing " and having Recourse to the City of London, as other Merchants with divers Merchan"difes, as Wine, Iron, Oil, and Wax, and other Things pertaining to Merchandife, exercifing, repairing, and having Recourfe to "the faid City, have bought and fold in Grofs,

as well with Aliens as with Denizens, of "the Cloths and other Merchandizes afore"faid, at their Will and Pleasure, paying in "this Behalf only, the Customs and other De"voirs thereof, reafonably due: And never, "in all the faid Time, were disturbed, or in

any Manner hindered, to fell or buy in "Grofs with Merchants, Aliens or Denizens, " of fuch Cloths and Merchandises at their "Will and Pleasure, but only to Retail: And " now of late, as well the fame Cloth-mak

ers, as other the Merchants aforefaid, by "the Mayor, Sherifs, Aldermen, Drapers, "and Merchants of London, be daily disturbed

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