Chapter II: Preface: vii

PROEM 1-7

_PERIOD I._

I.
THE DAWN OF A GREAT TRADE GUILD 11-20

Teutonic Merchants, 15--Travelling in Early Times, 17--Origin
of the Guilds, 19.

II.
FEDERATION 21-29

The Story of "Winetha," 23--The Island of Gothland, 25--"Salt
Kolberg," 27--Unhansing, 29.

III.
FOREIGN TRADE 30-47

Social Conditions, 31--Enslavement of the Middle Class,
35--Italian Influences, 37--Burgher Home Rule, 43--League of
the Baltic Towns, 45--The Title "Hansa," 47.

IV.
THE HANSA FIGHTS 48-69

The Herring Fisheries, 49--Waldemar, 51--The First Attack,
53--Sack of Wisby, 55--Copenhagen Plundered, 57--Punishment
of Wittenborg, 59--The Cologne Federation, 61--Growing
Strength of the League, 63--Flight of Waldemar, 65--Treaty
of Stralsund, 67--A Curious Chapter in History, 69.

_PERIOD II._

THE HISTORY OF THE HANSEATIC LEAGUE,
FROM 1370 TO THE PUBLIC PEACE OF 1495,
DECREED IN GERMANY BY MAXIMILIAN I.

I.
LUEBECK RECEIVES AN IMPERIAL VISITOR 73-81

Hesitation of Luebeck, 75--Procession from St. Gertrude's
Chapel, 77--Luebeck Hospitality, 79--Records of the Visit,
81.

II.
THE TOWNS IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY 82-125

The Ban of the Hansa, 83--Submission of Brunswick,
85--Prominence of the Cities, 87--Population of Luebeck,
89--Characteristics of the Germans, 91--Independence of the
Towns, 93--The Maritime Ports, 95--Exports of the Hansa,
97--Conditions of Trade, 101--Specie, Credit, and Bills,
103--The Extent of Mediaeval Trade, 105--The Churches and
Religious Buildings, 107--Hanseatic Architecture and Art,
109--Science and Literature, 111--The May Emperor,
113--Customs, Restrictions, and Regulations, 117--Luxury in
Dress, 119--The Town Council, 121--The Town-hall,
123--Mediaeval Patriotism, 125.

III.
THE VICTUAL BROTHERS 126-136

Plunder of Bergen, 127--Stortebeker, 129--Simon of Utrecht,
131--Execution of Stortebeker, 133.

IV.
THE FACTORY OF BERGEN 137-147

History of Bergen, 139--Shoemaker's Alley, 141--Constitution
of the Factory, 143--Barbarous Practices, 147.

V.
THE HANSEATIC COMMERCE WITH DENMARK,
SWEDEN, AND RUSSIA 148-162

Skanoe and Falsterbo, 149--The Pious Brotherhood of Malmo,
151--The Hansa at Novgorod, 153--The Court of St. Peter,
155--Furs, Metals, Honey, and Wax, 157--The Lombards
_versus_ the Hansa, 159--Ivan the Terrible Sacks Novgorod,
161.

VI.
THE COMMERCE OF THE LEAGUE WITH THE
NETHERLANDS AND SOUTHERN EUROPE 163-178

The Flemish Trade Guilds, 165--Hansa Factory at Bruges,
167--Suspension of Trade with Flanders, 169--Trade with
Antwerp, 171--Relations with France, 173--The Hansa in
Portugal and Italy, 175--Italian Culture in South Germany,
177.

VII.
THE STEELYARD IN LONDON 179-201

The Hanseatic Rothschilds, 181--Hanseatics Hated by the
People, 183--Rupture with England, 185--The Key to the
City's Commerce, 187--Description of the Steelyard,
189--Inner Life of the Factory, 191--The English
Conciliated, 193--Depots throughout England, 195--The
Hansa's Part in Ceremonies, 199--Religion of the English
Hanseatics, 201.

VIII.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE HANSEATIC LEAGUE 202-208

The Diets, 203--Minutes of the Diet's Proceedings, 205.

_PERIOD III._
THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE HANSA.

INTRODUCTION 211-216

Decay of the Feudal System, 213--The Thirty Years' War, 215.

I.
STORM CLOUDS 217-235

Charles V. of Germany, 219--Gustavus Appeals to Luebeck,
223--Cruelty of Christian II., 225--Gustavus Lands in
Sweden, 227--Luebeck Aids Gustavus, 229--Christian II.
deposed, 231--Christian II. Abjures Lutheranism,
233--Christian's Memory, 235.

II.
KING FREDERICK AND KING GUSTAVUS VASA 236-239

"Put not thy trust in Princes," 237--Gustavus Quarrels with
Luebeck, 239.

III.
WULLENWEBER 240-282

The Religious Movement, 241--Luebeck Espouses Lutheranism,
243--Max Meyer, 245--Capture of Spanish Ships,
247--Christopher of Oldenburg, 251--Congress at Hamburg,
253--Wullenweber's Projects, 255--Disorder in Luebeck,
257--Hostilities in Denmark, 259--Escape of Max Meyer,
261--Battle of Assens, 263--Cologne's Reproach,
265--Nicholas Broemse, 267--Resignation of Wullenweber,
269--Imprisonment of Wullenweber, 271--The Rack, 275--Unfair
Trial, 277--Execution of Wullenweber, 279.

IV.
THE HANSA LOSES ITS COLONIES 283-305

Emancipation of Sweden, 285--New Route to Russia,
287--History of Livonia, 289--Livonia Repudiates the Hansa,
291--Ivan Seizes Livonia, 293--Stupefaction of Germany,
295--War Against Sweden, 297--Warning of the Duke of Alva,
299--Bornholm Ceded to Denmark, 301--Embassy to the
Muscovite Court, 303--The League Dissolves, 305.

V.
THE LEAGUE IN THE NETHERLANDS 306-323

Causes of Failure in the West, 307--Dissension Among the
Towns, 309--Depot Established at Antwerp, 311--Dangerous
Innovations, 315--General Insecurity of Commerce,
317--Insubordination of the Hanseatics, 319--The Antwerp
Factory in Danger, 321--Trade with the Low Countries, 323.

VI.
THE END OF THE HANSA'S DOMINION IN
ENGLAND 324-353

Restrictions on the English Trade, 325--Complaints of the
Londoners, 329--Trade Regulations Broken, 331--Queen Mary
Favours the Hansa, 333--English Grievances,
335--Negotiations with Elizabeth, 337--Internal Disunion,
339--The Steelyard Insubordinate, 341--Hamburg Adjusts its
Policy, 343--The Good Old Privileges, 345--Conservative
Luebeck, 347--Seizure of Hanseatic Vessels, 349--Expulsion of
Hanseatics from England, 351--The Steelyard Property, 353.

VII.
THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR KILLS THE LEAGUE 354-364

Gustavus Adolphus, 355--Wallenstein's Project, 357--Imperial
Graciousness, 359--The War Storm Breaks, 361.

VIII.
THE SURVIVORS 365-378

"Sic transit gloria mundi," 369--Napoleon and the Three
Cities, 371--Note, 375.