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of their own Custom…house officials。 The latter demand in the name
of a pretended science； what the former claimed in the name of
actual treaties and of justice。
In the reign of Edward VI the Privy Council sought for and
found pretexts for abolishing the privileges of the 'Merchants of
the Steelyard。' The Hansards made strong protests against this
innovation。 But the Privy Council persevered in its determination；
and the step was soon followed by the most beneficial results to
the nation。 The English merchants possessed great advantages over
the foreign ones； on account of their position as dwellers in the
country； in the purchase of cloths； wool； and other articles；
advantages which up to that time they had not so clearly perceived
as to induce them to venture into competition with such a wealthy
company。 But from the time when all foreign merchants were
subjected to the same commercial restrictions； the English were
stimulated to enterprise； and the spirit of enterprise was diffused
over the whole kingdom。（13*）
After the Hansards had continued for some years to be entirely
excluded from a market which they had for three centuries
previously possessed as exclusively as England in our days
possesses the markets of Germany and the United States； they were
reinstated by Queen Mary in all their ancient privileges owing to
representations made by the German Emperor。（14*） But their joy was
this time of short duration。 Being earnestly Desirous not merely of
maintaining these privileges； but of increasing them； they made
strong complaints at the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth of the
treatment to which they had been subjected under Edward VI and
Mary。 Elizabeth prudently replied that 'she had no power to alter
anything； but she would willingly protect them still in the
possession of those privileges and immunities which they then
possessed。' This reply； however； did not satisfy them at all。 Some
time afterwards their trade was further suspended； to the great
advantage of the English merchants； who now had an opportunity of
showing of what they were capable； they gained control over the
entire export trade of their own country； and their efforts were
crowned with complete success。 They divided themselves into
'staplers and merchant adventurers；' the former carrying on
business in some one place； the latter seeking their fortune in
foreign cities and states with cloth and other English
manufactures。 This excited the jealousy of the Hansards so greatly；
that they left no means untried to draw down on the English traders
the ill opinion of other nations。 At length； on August 1； 1597；
they gained an imperial edict； by which all trade within the German
Empire was forbidden to English merchants The Queen replied （on
January 13； 1598） by proclamation； in consequence of which she
sought reprisals by seizing sixty Hanseatic vessels which were
engaged in contraband trade with Spain。 In taking this step she had
at first only intended； by restoring the vessels； to bring about a
better understanding with the Hansards。 But when she was informed
that a general Hanseatic assembly was being held in the city of
L黚eck in order to concert measures for harassing the export trade
of England； she caused all these vessels with their cargoes to be
confiscated； and then released two of them； which she sent to
L黚eck with the message that she felt the greatest contempt for the
Hanseatic League and all their proceedings and measures。（15*）
Thus Elizabeth acted towards these merchants； who had lent
their ships to her father and to so many English kings to fight
their battles； who had been courted by all the potentates of
Europe； who had treated the kings of Denmark and Sweden as their
vassals for centuries； and invited them into their territories and
expelled them as they pleased； who had colonised and civilised all
the southeastern coasts of the Baltic； and freed all seas from
piracy； who not very long before had； with sword in hand； compelled
a king of England to recognise their privileges； to whom on more
than one occasion English kings had given their crowns in pledge
for loans； and who had once carried their cruelty and insolence
towards England so far as to drown a hundred English fishermen
because they had ventured to approach their fishing grounds。 The
Hansards； indeed； still possessed sufficient power to have avenged
this conduct of the queen of England； but their ancient courage；
their mighty spirit of enterprise； the power inspired by freedom
and by co…operation； had passed from them。 They dwindled gradually
into powerlessness until at length； in 1630； their League was
formally dissolved； after they had supplicated every court in
Europe for import privileges； and had everywhere been repulsed with
scorn。
Many external causes； besides the internal ones which we have
to mention hereafter； contributed to their fall。 Denmark and Sweden
sought to avenge themselves for the position of dependence in which
they had been so long held by the League； and placed all possible
obstructions in the way of its commerce。 The czars of Russia had
conferred privileges on an English company。 The order of Teutonic
knights； who had for centuries been the allies as well as
（originally） the children of the League； declined and was
dissolved。 The Dutch and the English drove them out of all markets；
and supplanted them in every court。 Finally； the discovery of the
route to the East indies by the Cape of Good Hope； operated most
seriously to their disadvantage。
These leaguers； who during the period of their might and
prosperity had scarcely deemed an alliance with the German Empire
as worthy of consideration； now in their time of need betook
themselves to the German Reichstag and represented to that body
that the English exported annually 200；000 pieces of cloth； of
which a great proportion went to Germany； and that the only means
whereby the League could regain its ancient privileges in England；
was to prohibit the import of English cloth into Germany。 According
to Anderson； a decree of the Reichstag to that effect was seriously
contemplated； if not actually drawn up； but that author asserts
that Gilpin； the English ambassador to the Reichstag； contrived to
prevent its being passed。 A hundred and fifty years after the
formal dissolution of the Hanseatic League； so completely had all
memory of its former greatness disappeared in the Hanseatic cities
that Justus M鰏er asserts （in some passage in his works） that when
he visited those cities； and narra