sea-traders knew, in those wild days, unless they were strong enough to beat them off or fleet enough to escape, their goods would be seized and they themselves butchered or held captives until a sufficient sum was paid in ransom for their release. These conditions were bad during the energetic reign of Edward I., but were much worse under the poor, weak rule of Edward II., and it was no doubt for greater safety that the brothers removed soon after their father's death to the fortified and rapidly growing city of Hull, twenty miles to the

west.

Hull, or Wyke-upon-Hull as it was then called, was owned by the monks of Meaux, who were themselves shrewd traders and encouraged trade in others. It was the home of many foreign merchants, especially of those from Florence and Flanders. The Italian merchants were also great money-lenders, and this so well suited the requirements of Edward I. that, as he had been struck with the possibilities of its situation, he went to the length of buying the city from the monks in 1298. After this it prospered more than ever. In 1297 it was made the sole port of exportation of Yorkshire wools, and when in 1298 York was made a "staple town," it was with the proviso that all its goods should pass through Hull. By the year 1300 it claimed one-fourteenth of the entire English export trade in wool, rough sheepskins and prepared leather. Indeed in some years its trade in these articles was half as great as that of London. Our first actual knowledge of the de la Poles as living in Hull dates from 1316, the year of the great famine, when wheat rose in price from six shillings and eight pence to forty shillings a quarter. At this great pass Richard de la Pole determined to visit foreign ports and bring back grain, thus serving both himself and the suffering public. His act brought him into considerable notice, and he seems to have gained more and more influence at Court, being appointed to one office after another. We find him lending the King on various securities

£4000, £2000, £1200 and so on, which were considerable sums in those days.

He was highly esteemed by his debtor, for in 1328 Richard received from Edward III. a Christmas present of 1000 marks" in consideration of good services done by him," while in the following years he was appointed to further offices of honour-among them that of testing the quality of wine used at the royal table-and these duties demanded so much of his time that Richard decided to remove to London. Here he lived respected and honoured; a rich man, but possessing wealth gained through honest means. He died in 1345, and at his death passed away the first conspicuous merchant-prince of England.

In the meantime Richard's younger brother William, who had continued the business at Hull, was rising to the highest honours. In a thinly peopled country, situated on the extreme border of the known world, he had discovered the delights and fascination of worldcommerce, and he and his brother made for the merchant the position to which all sterling success is entitled. William became richer and richer. His influence was far-reaching, and continually grew greater. When King Edward passed through Hull in the autumn of 1332 on the way to begin his Scottish wars, "he himself with several of his nobles and attendants following after were splendidly and nobly entertained by William de la Pole." So says the history of Hull, and the King was so pleased with the town and its people, and so impressed with his host, that he transferred the local government from the hands of a bailiff to those of a mayor, and nominated William de la Pole as first to fill that office.

William was called upon to perform many public services. He was sent on a special mission to reprove the Earl of Flanders for giving aid to the Scots. He was chosen mayor to succeed himself; and he was appointed supervisor of all the collectors of customs on the east coast of England from Hull as far as Lynn.