96 Sarnowsky
towns’ co-operation. Rather, the tohopesaten fit into the usual pattern of loose
and changing agreements typical in the history of the Hanseatic League. They
could not prevent Berlin-Cölln drifting away, enforced by the electors; while it
did not contribute to the success of Soest (1449) and of most of the Prussian
towns (1454/66) which choose a new sovereign. But it may be that the alliances
deterred some princes from more far reaching measures, as Stralsund could
resist an attempt of the Pomeranian dukes to extend their authority in 1458
with the help of the other towns and the Danish king. It is thus no accident
that the tohopesaten continued on a regional basis, especially between Lübeck
and its neighbouring towns.101
Anglo-Hanseatic Relations until the Peace of Utrecht (1474)
Though many of the former demands had been renewed after 1409, Anglo-
Hanseatic trade relations remained relatively undisturbed until the 1430s. In
March 1431, the English Parliament decided to raise the poundage for foreign
merchants by 50 percent. This led to a growing crisis until June 1434, when
the Hansetag at Lübeck opted for a double strategy of negotiations and block-
ade and won the support of the grand master.102 When England suffered a set-
back in the Hundred Years’ War with the change of sides of Duke Philip of
Burgundy in 1435, the negotiations led to the conclusion of the Second Treaty
of London in March 1437. This met all demands of the Hanseatic League: its
privileges were renewed, all new dues were abolished, and its representatives
were allowed to start legal proceedings against any of the English officials if
they violated the rights of the merchants.103
In consequence, the trade of the merchants from the Wendish towns at
the East coast of England flourished, while the Prussians were confronted by
the free trade of English merchants in Prussia. Though Danzig convinced the
grand master not to ratify the treaty, the English side kept to the agreement,
nevertheless enforced by its difficult political situation. Several times, Henry vi
demanded equal conditions for English merchants in Hanseatic towns, in
1442 and 1446, but new problems in the Anglo-Hanseatic relations only arose
after the English attack on Wendish-Prussian salt ships in May 1449. While the
101 Hans Sauer, Hansestädte und Landesfürsten, Quellen und Darstellungen zur hansischen
Geschichte nf. xvi (Cologne, Vienna: Böhlau, 1971), 180, 185.
102 Jenks, England, 2, 585–86.
103 Cf. also Terry H. Lloyd, “A re-consideration of two Anglo-Hanseatic treaties of the fif-
teenth century,” English Historical Review 102 (1987), 916–30.