The staple
Encyclopedia
The Staple in English historiography, refers to the entire medieval system of trade and its taxation. Under this system, the government or King required that all overseas trade in certain goods be transacted at specific designated market town
s or port
s, referred to as the 'staple ports'. At these specified places, merchant
s, later to become Merchants of the Staple
, were required to submit their goods to inspection, and to pay a levy
to the Crown on goods for export
to the continent of Europe. The system made it easy for the Crown to monitor the overseas trade and to levy taxes and derive income and revenue on it.
Under the Staple, the designated port was often overseas. It was at Dordrecht
in 1338, and at Bruges
in 1343. For a time after 1353, staple ports were established in England, under the Statute of the Staple
. However, from 1363, Calais
was designated the staple port for wool and leather exports. All wool sold overseas was taken first to Calais, then under English control. Under this system, Calais itself was called 'the Staple'. The trade was dominated by the Merchants of the Staple
who, from 1363, had been granted the exclusive right to trade raw wool in Calais.
The system remained in place for nearly two centuries, though it would decline in importance as exports of finished cloth were substituted for exports of raw wool. With the fall of Calais to the French, in 1558, the staple moved again to Bruges. From 1617, wool exports were stopped entirely, and only domestic staples would remain in England.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
s or port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
s, referred to as the 'staple ports'. At these specified places, merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
s, later to become Merchants of the Staple
Merchants of the Staple
The Merchants of the Staple, also known as the Merchant Staplers, was an English company which controlled the export of wool to the continent during the late medieval period....
, were required to submit their goods to inspection, and to pay a levy
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
to the Crown on goods for export
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
to the continent of Europe. The system made it easy for the Crown to monitor the overseas trade and to levy taxes and derive income and revenue on it.
Under the Staple, the designated port was often overseas. It was at Dordrecht
Dordrecht
Dordrecht , colloquially Dordt, historically in English named Dort, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, located in the province of South Holland. It is the fourth largest city of the province, having a population of 118,601 in 2009...
in 1338, and at Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
in 1343. For a time after 1353, staple ports were established in England, under the Statute of the Staple
Statute of the Staple
The Statute of the Staple was a statute passed in 1353 by the Parliament of England. It aimed to regularise the status of staple ports in England, Wales, and Ireland. In particular, it designated particular ports where specific goods could be exported or imported...
. However, from 1363, Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
was designated the staple port for wool and leather exports. All wool sold overseas was taken first to Calais, then under English control. Under this system, Calais itself was called 'the Staple'. The trade was dominated by the Merchants of the Staple
Merchants of the Staple
The Merchants of the Staple, also known as the Merchant Staplers, was an English company which controlled the export of wool to the continent during the late medieval period....
who, from 1363, had been granted the exclusive right to trade raw wool in Calais.
The system remained in place for nearly two centuries, though it would decline in importance as exports of finished cloth were substituted for exports of raw wool. With the fall of Calais to the French, in 1558, the staple moved again to Bruges. From 1617, wool exports were stopped entirely, and only domestic staples would remain in England.