Present: The Kings most Excellent Majestic His Royall Highnesse the Duke of Yorke.

Lord Chancellor.

Lord Treasurer.

Lord Privy Seale.

Marquesse of Dorchester.

Lord Chamberlain.

Earle of Carlisle.

Earle of Lauderdaill.

Lord Bishop of London.

Lord Wentworth. Lord Seymour. Lord Holies. Lord Ashley. Sir William Complon. Mr. Treasurer. Mr. Vice-Chamberlain. Mr. Secretary Morice. Mr. Secretary Bennet. Sir Edward Nicholas.

The matter depending at this Board concerning the propriety of the Merchants Almaiue, or the Hansee Townes to the House called the Styliard, by them claymed, being by order of the first instant appointed to be heard this day, and all partyes concerned appearing and heard by their councell learned in the Lawes: the said Merchants, to prove the aforesaid propriety to the Styliard, produced the Exemplification of an Act of Parliament of 15'.° Edwardi 4? Whereby vpon an agree ment between the said King and the Dutch Hansee, for reducing the Merchants of Almain, being of the Leige and Confederation of the Dutch Hansee, to the old entercourse of merchandize with the people of England, it was enacted, that the Merchants of the Hansee should have a certain place within the City of London, called the Stylehof, otherwise the Styliard, with divers houses there vnto adjoyning, to hold to them and their successors in perpetuity, rendring and paying such Rents Abtbeilung II. 25

194 1672, September 13.

and Rent-Charges, as in the said Acl are particularly recited and expressed; since the yearely Acquitlances of payments without interruption have also been produced and the proofes made by the Merchants. Vpon due Consideration of all which premisses and what was alleadged on all parls being füll; heard and weighed, it was thought fltt and ordered, (His Maiestie present in Councell) that all suils depending in His Maiesties Court of Exchequer or in any other Court, concerning the said Styliard and howses with the appurtenants thereunto belonging be vacated, and that His Maiesties Altornej Generali doe forthwith enter a Nolo prosequi, and that the Lords and others the Committee of this Board, authorised to treate with the Ambassadors from the said Hansee Townes, do proceed in that treaty, not questioning any further the Title to the possession of the Styliard.

Edward Walker.