FAIRS OF FRANCE.
It is to France that we must look if we would fully comprehend alike the
splendour and importance of the fairs of Europe. Even here, as elsewhere,
they are now to be regarded as things of the past; but of a past that is
full of instruction.
In the eighth and ninth centuries hardly any trade was known in France,
other than that carried on in markets and fairs; these were, therefore,
almost the only places for providing oneself with necessaries. Artificers
and dealers lived apart, dispersed in the country; the towns were chiefly
inhabited by the clergy and some handicraftsmen, with few or no monks
or nuns, the far greater part of the monasteries being either in the
open country or the neighbourhood of the cities. The nobility lived on
their estates, or attended the Court. The _Pote_ people were so far
under their Lord’s power as not to quit the place of their birth without
his leave; the villain was annexed to the estate, and the slave to the
master’s house or land. Such a dispersion was little promotive of trade,
which loves large and policed communities; _and it was to remedy this
inconvenience that its Kings established so many fairs_. _Vide_ “Extracts
translated from New Hist. of France,” 1769, i. 65.
There seem to have been three grades of fairs.—1. _Free fairs_, to which
all might come without restriction of toll or other limitation. 2. Fairs
having their franchises restricted by some local right or usage. 3.
Common fairs, without any special franchises whatever. I shall mainly
confine myself to a notice of those falling under the first of these
definitions—free fairs.
CHAMPAGNE AND BRIE.
I may speak of the fairs of these provinces collectively. They were not
only amongst the most celebrated of France or of Europe, but possess the
charm of great antiquity. They are believed to have been founded by the
earls of those provinces. Sidonius Apollinaris alludes to them, in the
fifth century. They were held in seventeen of the chief cities—some of
which had as many as six yearly, others four, none less than two.
I have already given (in the first chapter in this book) some account
of the commercial importance of these fairs in Europe, and need not
re-traverse that ground. They have a great interest from an English point
of view for reasons which will presently appear.
These districts were not indeed provinces of France at the early date
above named. They only became so in 1284, and so far from their fairs
gaining any additional lustre by the annexation, the very reverse appears
to have been the fact. The domination of the crown of France spread awe
instead of confidence into the minds of their wealthy traders!
The truth I suspect to be that charges and restrictions previously
unknown were imposed. This view indeed finds direct support in the fact
that in 1349 Philip de Valois granted letters patent confirming ancient
franchises, and suppressing the new impositions. By means of this
document we learn precisely what the ancient privileges were. The patent
consisted of thirty-six articles, but the more material may be grouped
under five heads, viz.:
1. _The Franchises._—All foreign dealers their factors and agents to
have free liberty under the Royal protection, to resort to these fairs
with their goods, provided however that these same goods were designed
to be sold or exchanged there; or failing this were to be removed within
the appointed time for the duration of the fair. They were exempted
from all dues, impositions, &c., according to the good and ancient
usages, customs, and liberties of the said fairs. No favours or letters
of respite might be granted against the said dealers, or the customs
and liberties of the said fairs—all such, if obtained, being null. No
dealers resorting to or returning from, should be stopped or molested,
without special warrant from the wardens of the conservation, and for
obligations made truly and really in the fair.
2. _Wardens of the Privileges._—These were judges appointed during the
fair, to see that the franchises were preserved, and to take cognizance
of contests that might arise between traders there. Every fair was to
have two wardens, one chancellor to keep the seal, two lieutenants, forty
notaries, and 100 serjeants. The wardens and chancellors were sworn in
the Chamber of Accounts, Paris, _where they were yearly to make their
report of the state of the fairs_. No judgment might be given during the
fair but by the two wardens, or when one was unavoidably absent, by one
warden and the chancellor.
3. _How goods were to be brought within the franchise._—The drapers and
traders of the seventeen cities of Champagne and Brie frequenting the
fairs—that is to say those of the cities in which one of these seventeen
fairs was held—might not sell their cloths or other stuffs, wholesale
or retail, within or without the kingdom, _unless first sent to one of
the fairs and exposed for sale from the first day appointed for the sale
of cloth until the sixth following_, on pain of forfeiture; they being,
however, at liberty to dispose of them as they pleased, if not sold in
that time.
Farmers, curriers, &c., must bring their leather to the fair, and expose
it all together from the first of the three days, without reserving any
for the last days, _or selling in any other place than that designed for
the sale of leather_.
Horse-dealers, both subjects and foreigners, must have their stables in
the said fairs from the third day of the cloths (_i.e._ fixed for the
sale of cloth) until the fair ended.
In like manner all other wares brought into the fair were to remain on
sale, some for six days, others for three days only, according to their
nature and quality.
4. _Inspections._—These were of two kinds, one by the wardens
conservators, and the other by examiners chosen out of the trading
companies frequenting the fair. The wardens’ inspection was at the
opening of every fair, to see that the dealers had all suitable
convenience and security—the inspectors being properly qualified judges
of the character of the goods brought, with authority to stop and seize
all that were of inferior quality; but this not without appeal to six,
five, or four persons experienced in the particular trade.
5. _Payments, Bonds, and Exchanges._—All tradesmen, alike French and
foreigners, might agree in their contracts for payment of goods sold in
the fair—to be paid in gold and silver current at the time of making the
contract, notwithstanding any ordinance concerning money to the contrary.
Interest for loans, and goods sold on credit at fairs, might not exceed
fifteen per cent. The interest might not be added to the principal in
renewing bonds made at fairs. Nor might bonds made at any other time run
in the style of those used at fairs, as if made there.
All letters, acts, contracts, &c., relating to fairs, to be null _unless
under the authenticated seal of the fairs_. None unless he had actual
residence in fairs might use the seal or other obligations, or enjoy the
privileges thereof.
The re-establishment of these privileges—many of which were obviously
made in the interest of merchants attending to buy—had the effect of
restoring the fairs of these provinces to their former greatness. Again
multitudes of traders came from Germany, Italy (particularly from
Florence), Lucca, Venice, and Genoa, with gold, silver, and silk stuffs,
spices and other goods of their country, or of the Levant, taking in
exchange cloths, leather and other commodities, not only the produce of
the provinces, but brought from other parts of France.
I speak of the fair of _Troyes_ separately hereafter, on account of one
of its distinguishing features.
Mr. Morley has pointed out that before the establishment of free fairs
in France, the rights of _salutaticum_, _pontaticum_, _repaticum_, and
_portulaticum_, absorbed one half of a foreign merchant’s goods upon
their first arrival and debarkation. Afterwards traders came exempt not
only from imperial taxation, but from many of the ordinary risks of
travel.
One great element of interest in these fairs centres in the circumstance
of the following correspondence between the Wardens of the fair and the
Lord Mayor of London concerning dealings in these fairs in the thirteenth
century. They have been carefully preserved amongst the records of the
City for six centuries—and now for the first time gain the glory of
printer’s ink. They reveal a feature in the comity of nations; and
present a proof of the cosmopolitan interests of commerce which can
scarcely be excelled. Hence I propose to give them entire:
1. _Letter directed to the Mayor by the Keepers of the Fairs of Champagne
and Brie, dated September 1299._
To the venerable man, the provident, wise and discreet Warden
of London, or to his vicegerent, Peter de Fremeville, knight,
and Robert de Champagne (_de Campaniis_), keepers of the fairs
of Champagne and Brie for our most illustrious Lord the King
of the French, increase of all good with greeting and sincere
affection. Whereas heretofore, by our letters patent sealed
with the seal of the fairs of Champagne, we have entreated you
to compel, or cause to be compelled, the burgess Fauberti, a
citizen of Florence and horse-dealer (_mercatorem equorum_),
together with Guido Fauberti, Nutus (or Nuto) Fauberti,
brothers of the said burgess, Master Gerald de Galaiòn
physician, [and] James son of the said Nutus, associates of
the said burgess, by the sale of their goods and the seizure
of their bodies, sending them back to us, to yield and pay
to Pucheus de Pré (_de Prato_), formerly horse-dealer in the
said fairs, Martin de Burgo novo, brother of John de Burgo now
deceased formerly horse-dealer, and John de Burgo novo, nephew
of the said John deceased and of Martin aforesaid, or to the
bearer of our said letters for them, one thousand six hundred
petits livres Tournois with sufficient damages and expenses;
and to satisfy us concerning the said King’s amends for default
of the fairs. In which sum of money they are held effectually
bounden, and every of them in the whole, for the body of the
fairs of Bani (_Bari_) _super Albam_ from the year of Our Lord
1292, as well by reason and because of certain pledges made
and committed in and upon the body of the said fairs, as by
reason and because of the restitution of more sureties and
more costs and damages, which by default of the said burgess
and his associates before mentioned in and upon the body of
the said fairs they had and were said to have incurred: as in
certain open letters of definitive sentence sealed with the
seal of the said fairs is said to be contained. Upon which
things Tolnetus [elsewhere Nicholas] called Concesse, our
sworn servant in the said fairs, by word of mouth related to
us that he in the year of Our Lord 1293 presented to you our
aforesaid letters (as he says), which deprecatory letters of
ours directed to you if forsooth you received, yet you willed
not to demand due execution of the same, or to write back
any answer to us, although at the end it was duly contained
that what you should do therein, you would will and deign by
your letters to write back, and although in presence of many
trustworthy persons you were so requested by our said servant;
on the ground that war was begun and raised between the most
excellent princes, the King of France and King of England: as
our said sworn servant on oath has related all these things
to be true, whereat we most greatly marvel, if it is so and
we hold ourselves not contemned, since this is to the no mean
damage and grievance of the said creditors, and prejudice and
contempt of the government of the said fairs committed unto
us, because on account of the war aforesaid you were by no
means bound to keep back our said letters deprecatory demanding
due execution. Wherefore as much as we can with diligence on
behalf of our most excellent lord, John by the grace of God,
King of France and Navarre, Lord of Champagne and Brie, and
on our part, by the tenor of these presents, we move your
providence to be entreated, that you do cause all the goods
of the aforesaid burgess Fauberti and his associates before
named and of the said company to be solemnly proclaimed for
sale, and to be sold and divided without delay to the uses and
customs of fairs, or so much of them that out of the price of
the sale the said creditors (or, for them, the bearer of these
presents) as to the aforesaid sum of money with sufficient
damages and expenses, and we, as to the amends of our said lord
the King, be wholly satisfied; and that the body of the said
burgess Fauberti together with the bodies of his associates
aforenamed—if they can be found in your jurisdiction, and if
the sale of goods does not suffice for the premises—you do
send back to us to the fairs in sure and faithful custody to
pay among them the charges of the creditors, and to clear
themselves before us in this matter as to the uses and customs
beforesaid. If, however, you wish to put forward any thing
contrary to the report of our said servant, and believe your
own interests to be concerned, be present in person before
us, or, for yourself, send at a fitting day which the bearer
of these presents shall cause to be named to you, to say what
shall seem to you expedient. Otherwise, we shall then hold
the said report to be fast and firm, you doing thereupon, on
account of the reverence and honour due to our aforesaid lord
the King and the intervention of our prayers, because we are
bounden to you and yours in all manner of favours deserved,
such and so much as you would wish us to do for you in the like
or a greater case. What you shall do herein, have a care to
signify to us by the bearer of these presents in your letters
patent together with the present letters demanding execution
sent back, notwithstanding that they shall not be presented
to you by the servant of the fairs. Given in the year of Our
Lord one thousand two hundred and ninety-nine in the month of
September.
J. DE SANCTO NABORE.
2. _Letter sent to the Keepers of the Fairs of Champagne and Brie, dated
March 19, 1299-1300._
To the noble men and discreet lords Peter de Fremeville knight
and Robert de Champagne keepers of the fairs of Champagne and
Brie for the lord the King of France, Elias Russel, Mayor, and
the Citizens of London, Greeting and continual increase of
sincere affection. Whereas you lately wrote unto us that we
should compel the burgess Fauberti &c. [named as before] as
well by sale of their goods as by seizure of their bodies and
also sending them to you, to render to Pucheus de Pré formerly
horse-dealer, Martin de Burgo novo and other creditors in your
letters comprised, or to the bearer of your said letters, 1,600
petit livres Tournois together with damages and expenses, and
also the amends of the Lord the King for default of fairs;
in which sum of money the aforesaid dealers (_mercatores_),
and every of them in the whole, are bound by their letters
made in the fairs of Bari _super Albam_, by reason of divers
contracts between them before had from the year of Our Lord
1292, as in your letters thereupon to us directed more fully
is contained: We willing, so far as the laws and customs of
England permit, by mutual interchange to comply with your
prayers, have caused to come before us, in the presence of
John de Flekers your servant and bearer of the presents, the
aforesaid burgess and Nutus, dealers, to answer to your said
servant concerning the said debt according to the form of
your letters, which said dealers asserted that they are quit
of all the aforesaid, because of them all they sufficiently
satisfied the said creditors, and therein proffered a letter of
Gencian de Paris, baker (_panetarii_) of the King of France,
and Robert de Champagne, keepers of the fairs of Champagne
and Brie sealed with the seal of the fairs of Champagne, in
which it is contained that the said burgess, for himself, his
brothers, and associates, in the fairs of Bari super Albam in
the year of Our Lord 1293, appeared in person before the said
keepers, and spoke with the said Pucheus and compounded with
him under such form that the said Pucheus held himself as paid
by the said burgess, his brothers and associates abovesaid,
by reason of the said composition, as the said Pucheus before
the said keepers acknowledged and wholly assented to the said
composition for himself and his associates. And because by the
letters aforesaid it appeared that the said burgess and his
associates by the said composition are totally quit of the debt
aforesaid, we could not by your mandate lawfully compel them
to pay the said money. Given at London on Saturday next before
Mid-Lent in the year of Our Lord 1299.
3. _Second letter_ [of the Keepers] _of the Fairs of Champagne and Brie
for the burgess Fuberti to the Lord Mayor, dated May 1300._
To the provident men, the venerable and honorable Mayor and
Citizens of London, or their vicegerents, or one of them,
Peter de Fremville, knight, and Robert de Champagne, keepers
of the fairs of Champagne and Brie, continual increase of
sincere affection with greeting. Whereas we, by our letters
patent sealed with the seal of the said fairs, have many times
(_pluries_) prayed and requested you to compel and cause to
be compelled the burgess Fouberti, citizen of Florence and
horse-dealer by seizure of his body and goods, and also by the
sale of the goods of Guido Fouberti &c. [as before], to satisfy
Pucheus de Pré formerly in the said fairs horse-dealer, Martin
&c. [as before], on and of the sum (that is to say) of 1060
[for 1600] petits livres Tournois with moderate damages and
costs, in which sum of money the said burgess Fouberti together
with his associates aforesaid is held bound to the beforenamed
Pucheus, Martin and John, as debtor, concerning the body of
the past fairs of Barri _super Albam_ in the year of Our Lord
1293, as well by reason and because of certain pledges made
and committed in and upon the body of the abovesaid fairs, as
by reason and because of the restitution of more sureties and
more costs and damages which by default of the said burgess
and his associates beforementioned in and upon the body of
the said fairs they had and were said to have incurred, as in
certain letters of definitive sentence sealed with the seal of
the fairs of Champagne is said to be contained: upon which,
first, you would make no answer to us, or for our said letters
deprecatory demand any execution, as Nicholas called Concesse
our sworn servant, bearer of our said letters (as he said),
reported to us on oath by word of mouth; but upon the tenor of
our second letters which you caused to be detained with you—as
John de Flichers our sworn servant, bearer of the same (as
he says) related to us with his own mouth—upon these things
with certain closed letters you wrote back, that you caused to
come before you in presence of the said John de Flichers the
aforesaid burgess and Nutus, dealers, according to the form of
our letters to answer to our said servant concerning the said
debt. Which said dealers asserted they were quit of all the
abovesaid, because of all these they duly satisfied the said
creditors &c. [reciting what was said in the last]. By the
course of these presents we thus hereupon notify to you that
the said sum of money has not yet been in any way satisfied,
as Dignus de Pré, son and heir (as it is said) of Pucheus
deceased, has given us to understand. And assuredly, moreover,
as soon as the said burgess on account of the things aforesaid
appeared before you, and alleged the things contained in your
answer, you ought to have taken into your hand his goods and
those of his said associates, and to have fixed a certain and
fit day for him before you, as in our letters abovesaid was
contained; for the cognizance of what relates to fairs belongs
to no judge, but to us only by reason of the government of
fairs committed unto us. Wherefore, on the part of our lord
the King of France and on our own part, we again ask your
providences to cause without delay so much of the goods of
the said burgess and his associates aforesaid to be taken,
sold, and divided to the uses and customs of fairs that the
aforesaid Dignus de Pré may be fully satisfied of the whole sum
of money aforesaid with damages and expenses, and we, of the
amends; and the body of the said burgess, is the sale shall not
suffice for the costs of the said complainant, left on account
of your default _it behove us to inhibit the land and fairs
of Champagne and Brie to all your subjects and their goods_.
What you shall do herein, have a care to signify to us in your
letters patent by the bearer of these presents, sending back
the present letters together with our other letters aforesaid
detained with you, as has been said. Given in the year of Our
Lord 1300 in the month of May. J. de Sancto Nabore.
I have placed a passage in italics, as indicating the fact that the
merchants of London attended these fairs.
4. _Letter from the Lord Mayor of London in answer directed to the
Keepers of the Fairs of Champagne_ [and Brie] _dated 20 Aug. 1300._
To the discreet and honourable men, if it please their most
dear friends, the lords Peter de Fremville, knight, and Robert
de Champagne, Wardens of the fairs of Champagne and Brie for
the illustrious King of France, Elias Russel, Mayor of London,
and the Citizens of the same City, Greeting and continual
increase of sincere affection with health. Whereas heretofore
you wrote to us that we should compel the burgess Fuberti,
Citizen of Florence, horse-dealer &c. [naming the others as
before], as well by sale of their goods as by the seizing of
their bodies and sending them to you, to render to Pucheus de
Pré, formerly horse-dealer, Martin de Burgo novo, and other
creditors in your said letters comprised, or to the bearer
of the said letters, 1600 petits livres Tournois together
with damages and expenses, and also amends of the Lord the
King for default of the fairs; in which sum of money the said
burgess and his associates, by their letters made in your fairs
beforesaid, are bound by reasons of divers contracts between
them had belonging to the year of Our Lord 1293; as in your
letters thereupon to us directed more fully is contained: We,
as much as in us lies, and as the customs and rights of the
Realm of England permit us to do, willing to comply altogether
with your prayers and requests, have made to come before us,
in the presence of your servant the bearer of the presents,
the said burgess and Nutus whom we found in our jurisdiction.
Nevertheless we sequestered their goods in the presence of
your servant putting upon them concerning the said debt, as
is contained in your letters aforesaid. And your letters
being heard and understood, the said traders (_mercatores_)
asserted that they are not bound of right to answer to your
said letters, because in your letters secondly to us directed
(as you assert) it was contained that the said burgess and his
associates before you in your fairs in the year of Our Lord
1292 bound themselves, upon which obligation they proffered
a certain letter of satisfaction of the said debt, sealed
with the seal of the fairs of Champagne and Brie. In which
said letter it was contained that the said burgess before
you compounded with the said Pucheus, to which composition
he the said Pucheus assented; and in these your letters now
to us directed it is contained that the said burgess and his
associates in the year of Our Lord 1293 bound themselves before
you in your fairs: at which writing we marvel. Moreover, at the
time in which your said letters were directed unto us, our lord
the illustrious King of England was in his war of Scotland with
whom at present we have not been able to consult, nor are the
said burgess and his associates of the liberty of our City of
London: on which account, without the special mandate of our
Lord the King of England we dared not move a hand toward the
seizing of their bodies, or send the said burgess and others
out of the Realm of England. Therefore we request and earnestly
entreat your lordships that at present in this charge you will
hold us excused from the actions abovesaid, and deign to write
to our Lord the illustrious King of England upon the aforesaid
debts and requests; and those things which shall be commanded
us for the advantage of the said creditors, and for your good
pleasure, we will dispatch without delay, and to the utmost
of our power. Farewell in Him who is the salvation of all
men. Given at London on Saturday next after the feast of the
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the year of Our Lord
1300.
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