History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 134
The Hansa brought to England the products of the Baltic lands, timber, tar, salt, iron,
silver, salted and smoked fish, furs, amber, and potash; and manufactured goods
obtained by the Hansa through their more distant trade connexions, such as fine
woven goods, armour and other metal goods, even spices and other Eastern products
which came by way of the great Russian fairs. They took in return mainly fine wool,
lead and tin, cattle, jet, and in some years corn.
The highest point in the fortunes of the Hansa in England comes in the reign of
Edward IV. They had helped him to his throne because they were afraid that French
trading interests might become dominant in England with the success of Margaret and
Warwick, and in return they obtained very favourable terms for themselves, absolute
possession of their factories at London, Boston, and Lynn, £10,000 for injuries done to
them, this sum not to be paid down, but to be deducted from the customs as they
accrued, and the right of selling Rhenish wines by retail. Nevertheless, though
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