A. D. 1535. 79. 



Glocefter, Bridgnorth, Q^ieenborough, and Northampton ; many of 

 which ruins, filled with naflinefs, are in the principal flreets of thofe 

 towns, where in times paft have been beautiful dwelling-houfes, well 

 inhabited : And therefor the owners are thereby diredcd to rebuild 

 them in a fixed time, or elfe the property to go to the lord of the ma- 

 nor, or to the community of thofe refpective towns. No certain judg- 

 ment can, however, be formed refpeding the general flate of a country 

 from the decline of fome of the towns in its commerce, which is ever 

 fhifting and varying ; and there are, even in our days, when commerce 

 and wealth are ib greatly increafed fince thofe times, particular towns 

 that are in a declining ftate, from certain local circumftances. Proba- 

 bly the manufad:ures of thofe towns above mentioned, by Spreading in- 

 to the adjacent villages, and perhaps into other countries, might occa- 

 fion their decline. Polfibly alfo the fkirts or fuburbs of fome of thofe 

 places might be fo overbuilt (as is perhaps partly the cafe in London 

 itfelf) as to make the centres of them be negleded, more efpecially if 

 thofe fuburbs were exempted from the heavy freedom-fines of the cor- 

 porations ; which laft confideration I conceive to have been one main 

 caufe of the decay of fuch towns. 



In this year the firfi commercial treaty between any Chriflian mo- 

 narch in Europe and the Ottoman Porte was concluded by Francis I 

 king of France and Solyman II, furnamed the magnificent, the Turkifh 

 emperor or fultan, whereby many commercial privileges in Turkey were 

 obtained for the French, who were allov^^ed to have a conful of their 

 own nation in the feveral ports of Turkey both for civil and criminal 

 affairs, together with the private exercife of their own religion. Thefe 

 privileges France alone of all Chriflian nations enjoyed for fome time, 

 no others being allowed to refort to Turkey unlefs they went under the 

 protedion of the French flag. 



The Venetians next obtained a like commercial treaty with the Turks, 

 in the year 1580 ; and next to them, the Enghfli obtained the like, v/ith- 

 out the interpofition of any other nation, in the year 1604. The Hol- 

 landers, next to the Englifh, concluded a commercial treaty with the 

 Turks. Laft of all, Genoa (though not till the year 1665) obtained a 

 like commercial treaty with the Ottoman Porte, as will be fhown in the 

 next century. 



In this fame year Mendoza was fent from Spain with 2200 foldiers 

 to the river De la Plata in Paraguay, on the fouth fide of. which he 

 founded the town of Buenos-Ayres, which, though foon again abandon- 

 ed during his abience, was again refounded ; as alfo fome other towns 

 and colonies- in Paraguay. 



1536. — Until this year Portugal enjoyed without a rival the fole trade 

 of all the vaft weftern coafls of Africa, whereby confiderable riches had 



