I think what you are asking about may be the word "hansa" or "hanse" which was not a merchant's guild, but an organization or league of merchant's guilds. The Hanseatic League rivaled nations for power and importance at one time.
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Cohong
Guild signs
In Medieval England, tradesmen in the same craft joined a local guild. This guild acted like a modern union in many ways. All tradesmen were required to join their respective guilds. The guilds also provided training for apprentices who were accepted into their programs.
merchants ran very sizable businesses also they dominated the town and grew very wealthy
To become a member of a guild, a person had to go through apprenticeship.