27. A committee of merchants drawn from both parties to be set up from the 2 May next following to settle disputes concerning the Staple at Calais.

28. Securities for the carrying out of the treaty on the side of the English king are mentioned by name.

5.

[The Intercursus Malus, 30 April, 1506. Summary of the treaty taken from Pollard, Sources, ii. p. 322.]

1. Previous treaties, except as modified by the present, to be observed.

2. Claims arising out of previous dues, tolls, etc. to be void.

3. Trade between England and the Low Countries to be free, but English merchants are not to cut, dye, or full their cloth in the Low Countries.

4. English merchants are not to pay certain harbour and port dues, but are to be allowed to anchor and remain at anchor in Philip's harbours and to transship their goods without any charge unless they sell or land them.

5. Philip's subjects, however, are to pay the customary English duties as defined by the treaty of 1496.

6. Philip and his heirs are not to exclude English cloth from their dominions nor prohibit their use nor impose any duties upon their sale. Any such impositions are to be void by the present treaty.

7. A year's notice of any change to be officially given to the Governor of the English merchants.

8. Entire freedom of import and transport of English cloths in the Netherlands to be given to all merchants, English or foreign.

9. Neither English nor Flemish ships to be embargoed for any particular or private offence, save only the ships of the offender.

10. English merchants to be allowed to buy freely in the Netherlands.

11. Merchants from the Netherlands to have similar rights subject to the liberties and privileges of the English merchants.

12. English merchants to be allowed to import bullion from the Netherlands.

13. Customs officials not to damage the goods they examine under pain of a month's imprisonment.

14. Specification of twenty-nine qualities of wool to be imported into Flanders.

15. Flemish merchants to be allowed to inspect and sample wools before buying.

16. Table of lawful duties to be publicly exhibited at London, Bruges, Antwerp, etc. and officials exacting more to be punished by fine and imprisonment. This clause to be inscribed on the tables of duties, to provide against pleas of ignorance.

17. The treaty not to apply to Castile, Leon, or Granada but only to the Netherlands.

18. To be confirmed by either party within three months.

F. COLONISATION.

1.

[The discovery of Newfoundland, May-August, 1497. Kingsford, Chronicles of London, p. 224.]

This yere the kyng at the besy request and Supplicacion of a Straunger Venisian, which by a Caart made hym self

expert in knowyng of the world, caused the kyng to manne a ship wt vytaill and other necessaries for to seche an Iland, wheryn the said Straunger Surmysed to be grete comodities; wt which Ship by the kynges grace so Rygged went iij or iiij moo owte of Bristowe, the said Straunger beyng conditor of the said fflete, wheryn dyuers merchauntes, aswell of London as of Bristowe, aventured goodes and sleight merchandises; which departed from the West Cuntrey in the begynnyng of Somer, but to this present moneth came nevir knowlege of their exployt.

2.

[Encouragement of colonisation, 9 December, 1502. Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1494-1509, p. 320.]

Licence for Hugh Elyot and Thomas Asshehurste, merchants of Bristol, John Gunsalus and Francis Farnandus, esquires, natives of the islands of Surrys under the obedience of the king of Portugal, their heirs, attornies, agents or deputies, to sail under the king's banners and ensigns with as many ships and boats as they please, of any tonnage, and with masters, countermasters, mariners, pages, and other men for the governance, safe keeping and defence of the said ships, at their own costs and charges, and for such salaries, wages and stipends as may be agreed amongst themselves, for the discovery of islands, countries or provinces of whatsoever races and infidels in all parts of the world, on which when found they shall fix the said banners and ensigns and take possession thereof in the king's name, reserving the lordship thereof to the king; but they shall not intermeddle with lands already discovered by the subjects of the king of Portugal or others the king's friends.

All men and women of the realm shall be at liberty to visit and dwell in the newly discovered lands under the protection and rule of the above grantees, and to obtain the riches, fruits and profits thereof; and the king empowers the said grantees accordingly to make ordinances statutes and proclamations accordingly for the government and rule of all persons going thither, whether in the company of the said grantees, or following afterwards; and for the punishment of persons committing theft, homicide, rapine, and rape of the women of the newly discovered lands against their will.

For forty years after discovery none shall presume to frequent with ships or enter or intermeddle in the said islands and lands without the licence of the king and the said grantees; on pain of the forfeiture of their merchandise and ships, a moiety to the king and a moiety to them.

The grantees may bring away gold and silver in mass, precious stones and other goods to any port and sell the same, notwithstanding any statute to the contrary.

In consideration of their great charges, they shall for five years export goods in one ship every voyage and expose them for sale free of customs, provided that they pay all the customs due on the goods in the other ships. . . . This without fine or fee in the transfer and with warrant to William Bishop of London, Keeper of the great seal, to issue writs to the Keeper of the transfer for exoneration of the such fees when requisite.

BOOK V. IRELAND.

1.

[The legislation of the parliament of Drogheda, 1494. Statutes at Large, Ireland, 1765, i. (a) p. 41. An Acte authorising the Treasorer to make all officers as the Treasorer of England doth.]

[Be it enacted] . . . That the treasorer of the said land of Ireland, from henceforth have as ample and large power in all things concerning or belonging to his said office, as the treasorer of England hath in his office, as for to make all customers, controllers, farmors and other officers accomptants for the most approvement and encreasement of the Kings revenue of this land. And over that it be ordained That all manner act or acts, made afore this time, by the authority of any Parliament, holden within the said land, concerning the election or making of sheriffs and escheators, of the shires of the said land, and all other officers accomptants, and farmours accomptants, contrary to this present act be revoked, adnulled, and deemed void and of none effect in the law. And that it be ordained . . . that the treasorer of Ireland from this time forward, every year, shall make a declaration of his accompt of the revenues of the same land before the barons of the Kings eschequer in Ireland, and before such of the Kings counsail there, as shall be appointed or named by