Here's an example. As a caveat, you should remember that I don't have a clue what I'm talking about.
Bills of lading were commonly employed in the thirteenth century. They may have accompanied bills of exchange which were used as instruments of credit in order to economize in the shipment of specie. Freight charges are stated in this contract.
April twenty-fourth in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 1248.
We, Eustace Cazal and Peter Amiel, carriers, confess and acknowledge to you, Falcon of Acre and John Confortance of Acre, that we have had and received from you twelve full loads of brazil wood and nine of pepper and seventeen and a half of ginger for the purpose of taking them from Toulouse to Provence, to the fairs of Provence to be held in the coming May, at a price or charge of four pounds and fifteen solidi in Vienne currency for each of the said loads. And we confess we have had this from you in money, renouncing, etc. And we promise by this agreement to carry and look well after those said loads with our animals, without carts, and to return them to you at the beginning of those fairs and to wait upon you and do all the things which carriers are accustomed to do for merchants. Pledging all our goods, etc.; renouncing the protection of all laws, etc.
Witnesses, etc.