Merchants of the Staple facts for kids

The Company of Merchants of the Staple of England, also known as the Merchants of the Staple, was an English trading company. It was officially started by a Royal Charter in 1319, making it the oldest trading company in England. The company mainly dealt with wool, animal skins, lead, and tin. It controlled how much wool was sent from England to Europe during the late medieval period. Some people think the company might have started even earlier, possibly around 1282.

What Does 'Staple' Mean?

In the past, the word 'staple' often meant a fixed market or a main trading place. It comes from old words that mean a post, a pile, or a warehouse. So, a 'staple' was a town or market where certain goods, called 'staple wares,' had to be sold. The main idea was a special place, perhaps like a raised platform, where goods could be easily sold.

History of the Merchants of the Staple

From 1314, the English King decided that all wool meant for export had to be sold at a special market. This market was called 'The Staple'. This rule helped the King keep an eye on the wool trade. It also made it easier for the King to collect tax on all the wool being sent out of the country.

The location of The Staple changed many times. It was first set up in Antwerp (in modern-day Belgium). Then it moved to places like Saint-Omer, Bruges, Brussels, Louvain, and Mechelen. In 1353, The Staple was moved to Westminster in London. So much business happened there that Westminster became a very important town. Later, in 1378, it moved to Staple Inn in Holborn, London, where it stayed for a long time.

The Staple in Calais

After the English took control of Calais (a city in France) in 1347, Calais became the main Staple location from 1363. Before that, the Staple had been in Bruges and Antwerp. A group of twenty-six traders formed the Company of the Staple at Calais.

This company had a special deal with the English King. In return for helping the King collect taxes, the company was given a total monopoly. This meant they were the only ones allowed to export wool from England. The company was very important to the English King. It brought in a lot of money and also helped protect Calais from the French.

As England started making more of its own cloth, sending raw wool abroad became less important. This made the Merchants of the Staple less powerful. In 1558, England lost Calais to the French. The Staple then moved to Bruges, where the Merchant Staplers still had their monopoly on exports.

However, in 1614, a new rule was made: no raw wool could be exported at all. This was part of a plan called the Cockayne Project, led by William Cockayne. The idea was to make England process all its wool into cloth at home. But this plan failed because the States-General of the Netherlands (the Dutch government) stopped buying cloth from England. In 1617, England lifted its ban on wool exports, but the Dutch ban stayed. After this, the Merchant Staplers continued to exist, but they only traded in local markets within England.

The Company Today

The Company of Merchants of the Staple still exists today. It is based in Yorkshire, England. Now, it mainly focuses on charity work. It provides money and awards to charities involved in the wool business, such as the Nuffield Trust. It also supports educational travel.

Famous Merchants of the Staple

Many important people were part of the Merchants of the Staple.

• Richard Whittington, who was a famous Lord Mayor of London, was also the Mayor of the Calais Staple at the same time.
• William Browne (1410–1489) also held the office of Mayor of the Calais Staple.
• Sir Henry Keble, who was Lord Mayor of London during the time of King Henry VIII.
• Thomas Davenport, who was the Mayor of Leicester.
• Henry Plankney (around 1480–1535) from Grayingham, Lincolnshire.

See also

• List of Merchants of the Staple
• Statute of the Staple