It was, however, in Bergen, Norway, that northernmost station of the Hansa, that the most interesting conditions prevailed.  Here, that is, in Norway, the German merchant, by means of money or arms, gradually drove all competitors, including Englishmen, from the field, and in 1350 succeeded in establishing in the most favorably situated and liveliest city of the land, Bergen, the last of his numerous bureaus—­a bureau which maintained itself, though in somewhat deteriorated form, until the eighteenth century.  This station, created at a late period of Hanseatic expansion, bears testimony to the colonial genius of the German merchants of the league and affords a glimpse into their business methods.  It may therefore be deserving of a more detailed consideration.

Twenty-one farms or granges, belonging to as many Hanse towns, dotted the shore.  Each of these, surrounded by trees and lawns, covered considerable space and included spacious granaries and dwellings, most of which served also as warehouses.  Each grange had its dock, where ships could conveniently land and discharge their goods.  The entire space thus occupied by the Hanses was enclosed by a wall, beyond which and running parallel with it was the so-called “Schustergasse”—­a street occupied by German artisans, who, though permanently settled here, nevertheless remained closely in touch with their German brethren of the bureau.  Every bureau had its Schutting—­a spacious, windowless room which depended for light and air upon a hole in the roof, which likewise served as a vent for the smoke issuing from the hearth.  It was in this room that the agents of the Hansa merchants assembled to debate on judicial or mercantile affairs.  During the long winter evenings the families of the agents, as the assistants and apprentices of the resident factors were pleasantly termed, congregated here, each group at its own particular rough-hewn, wooden table, to indulge in strong drink and pleasant gossip.  When the interests of the entire colony were to be discussed, the AElterleute ("seniors”) from every grange would meet in the Schutting belonging to Bremen and called Zum Mantel. This assemblage was called the “Council of Eighteen,” the representative of Lubeck enjoying the greatest distinction and wielding the greatest influence among them by reason of the hegemony exercised by his native town.  When matters of particular importance arose, or in case of a serious dispute, the affair at issue was usually referred to the Bergenfahrercollegium ("the town council"), or more frequently to the general convention of the Hansa at Lubeck.