Cely Papers - Richard III Society - New Zealand Branch

INTRODUCTION.
XXV
back to Calais in order to have the fact established in the courts
there. The Flemings vainly urged that it might be less of a loss
for the buyer to put up with a bad bargain than to carry so bulky
an article back again, with the uncertainty of after all obtaining
justice. The English answered that if their sellers had to go to
Flemish courts the wool might have meanwhile been tampered with
in Flanders. They conceded, however, liberty to repudiate a bargain,
and to return the wool if it were found to be below the stipulated
quality.
It was ordained and established by law of old (ab antiquo
statittum et ordinatum) that the pound for which wool was bought
and sold should equal 22s. 8d., whereas the English sellers now
demanded 24s. for the pound. The English answered that the
regulation rate of exchange should be certainly kept if the Flemish
Government would keep their standard of money fixed ; but that if
not, it was impossible, and the rate of exchange must enter into the
calculations of merchants making bargains. For once, perhaps,
the English were reasonable.* With regard to a last complaint
they took a high tone. The Flemings said that the King sent
fine wool into France, paying no subsidy and not through the
Staple, and that they had no opportunity of buying good wool
cheap in like manner. They only got answer that the King was
superior to all laws and ordinances, that he had done it once for his
own convenience, and that his Highness would not do it again
unless he saw cause. Which was, indeed, probable. Qua
sione Oratores Dominorum Ducum non fuerunt contc/tti.
The English answered generally to all complaints that their
trade was extremely well looked after, and that the subjects of tin*
Dukes could see as much in the ordinances of the Staple, which
they submitted to their inspection. The Oratores Dominorwn
" In 1480 the fixing of the comparative value of English and French money
was made the subject of an agreement between .Milward and Louis (Rymer, xii.
115). Edward had plenty of opportunity of appraising the value of French
money.