Mere agents could make contracts (10)
I believe the answer is:
agreements
'contracts' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'mere agents could make' is the wordplay.
'could make' indicates anagramming the letters.
'mere'+'agents'='mereagents'
'mereagents' anagrammed gives 'AGREEMENTS'.
(Other definitions for agreements that I've seen before include "contracts" , "Concerts" , "Compromises in" , "pledges" .)