They must sell their goods
within three months of arrival. Any alien bringing goods to the
nation to sell must buy goods of the nation to the value of at
least one-half that of his merchandise sold. These merchants must
engage in no collusion to lower the price of merchandise bought,
take merchandise bought to the staple, and promise to hold no
staple beyond the sea for the same merchandise. An amendment
disallowed denizens from taking wools, leather, woolfells, or lead
for export, but only strangers.
Towns failing to bring disturbers of this right to justice shall
forfeit their franchise to the king and pay double damages to the
merchant. The disturber shall be imprisoned for a year.
Cloth may not be tacked nor folded for sale to merchants unless
they are opened to the buyers for inspection, for instance for
concealed inferior wool. Workers, weavers, and fullers shall put
their seals to every cloth. And anyone could bring his own wools,
woolfells, leather, and lead to the staple to sell without being
compelled to sell them in the country. Special streets or
warehouses were appointed with warehouse rent fixed by the mayor
and constables with four of the principal inhabitants. Customs
duties were regulated and machinery provided for their collection.
No one was to forestall or regrate, that is, buy at one price and
sell at a higher price in the same locale. Forestallers were those
who bought raw material on its way to market.
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