Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-23

gan with agreements between n few
north German cities and in social and
protective alliances between German
merchants who met i'll foreign couh-
tries.
The origin OF the name Hansa is not
well known. The word is found in VI
iila's Gothic translation Of the BlO!c
and in one case means society or union
of men. Elsewhere it means L tax on
commercial transactions.
WHY THE LEAGUE WAS FORMED.
Modern civilization to Il great degree
depends on freedom of trade between
individuals and nations, and upon sale
~ of merchant and merchandise ON
land and sea. To realize, then, the ne
ccssitics which brought about the
powerful Hanseatic league We must re-
member ihat in the middle ages wreck
ing WAS considered a legitimate occu-
nation. and the cargo cast upon the
shore became the property of the dwell
crS there. and the ships crew became
their slaves. On land the lot OF the
travelling merchant was no happier, for
the owners of strong castles, who We're
called noblemen, were always lying in
wait for traders. 10 seize their wares
in the manner of common hiShWaymeh,
or, what was little better. they levied
blackmail on them under the name OF
toll. In fact. humanity counted FOR
nothing, strength for everything. The
land trader must go armed to combat
on equal terms the robbers. common or
noble. and the sailing merchant must
be ready Ia resist pirates and beware of
false lights and wrcckers.
Partly from the necessity of mutual
protection for merchants towns grow
up. and on the continent OF Europe the
words "merchant' and "townsman'
were Synonymous. The merchants frou,
Iifcnrgn+ Germany and
the coast of the Baltic sea often met
in foreign ports In those times a
stranger" was assumed to be an en-
envy" so the traders in the strange
parts naturally combined among them
selves To protect their interests against
the natives. and 10 secure guaranteed
| privileges from the rulers of the coun-
tries they visited. In the laws OF Lon
don as carly rs the year 91S we find a
| law granting to German merchants
along the Thames the same protection
as natives.
FOREIGN SETTLEMENTS OF THE,
HANSE.
Sailing in tie tenth. eleventh and
| twelfth centuries was far more dan
| gcrous than now. The ships were small
| and had no charts, chronomcter on COM
pass. once arrived in the foreign COM
| try, the trader must remain until he
! disposed of hS wares. In winter tho
| merchants did not care To venture on
! the ocean, 80 they passed the winter
! wherever they happened To he. Men
/ from different German towns came to-
/ gcthcr TO pass the chccrlcss evenings
| speaking ;hcir own language. Thus
| grew up the "Hansc' of merchants Ia
/ strange countries. clustering usually
around the chirch which they erected.
together With u house for living and
/ for storing their goods.
London was Tho earliest foreign cpi
Element of these German traders. aud
| here they Wcrp accorded special trade
facilities Tor six centuries. ana even
| the monopoly of trade in certain arji-
! clcs. until Que'nIilizabeti, in 1898. feel
| ing that the ;erman merchants were
/ prosperous 10 The dctriment of her own
| subjects. sent them word that they
must Quit England within fourteen
/ days. The grounds and buildings which
| constituted the factory" known by the
| name of The Steclyard' continued to
l belong to the Hansa until 1853, when