A. D, T623. 321 



common law, as the feveral cafes may require ; fo as every criminal be 

 tried by a jury of twelve men. In this grant the king recites one, of 

 the 13th year of his reign, which impowered this company to punifh of- 

 fences committed in their fliips whilll at fea. [Fadera, V. xvii,/). 450.] 



The king, by a new proclamation, obliged perfons of quality and land 

 eflates to withdraw to their country feats, in order to promote hofpita- 

 lity, &c. {Feeder a, V. xvii, p. 466.] 



Complaints being made by foreign princes, as well as by the merch- 

 ants of England, that fundry of our merchants, for their particular pro- 

 fit, fupplied the rovers of Algiers and Tunis with ammunition and mi- 

 litary weapons, and alfo with provifions, whereby they were enabled to 

 difturb our own commerce, as well as that of other chriftian nations. 

 King James flridly prohibited his fubjeds from fupplying thofe rovers 

 with any of the ' faid particulars.' \_Foedera, V. xvii, p. 483.] 



The adventurers in the Virginia and Somer-ifles companies, by pe- 

 tition to the king, reprefented the mifmanagements of the faid two co- 

 lonies, whereby their profperity was retarded ; the king thereupon ilTu- 

 ed a commiflion to the lord chief-juflice Jones, and others, for taking 

 into their confideration all letters-patent, commilTions, orders, &c. re- 

 lating to thofe two colonies. They were alfo impowered to inquire in- 

 to all fums of money, levied either by the contributions of adventurers, 

 or by voluntary gifts, bequefts, lotteries, colledions, and adventures, or 

 in magazines, &c. for the furtherance of the laid plantations ; and how 

 the fame have been expended : alfo what laws and orders the faid colo- 

 nies have made, contrary to the royal charters ; and into any frauds and 

 other mifmanagements which may have caufed the hinderance of their 

 profperity. And, lafHy, to lay dowTi methods for redreffing fuch griev- 

 ances, and reftoring the profperity of the colonies. {Fcedera, V. xvii, 

 p. 490.] 



The firfl; exclufive term of the Dutch Eaft-Tndia company expiring in 

 March 1623, the dates-general granted a fartlier term of twenty-one 

 years longer, after which, their commerce flouriflaed and increafed fo 

 much that they enlarged the number of their Ihips every year. 



In a treaty between King James and Michael Feodorowitz, czar of 

 Mufcovy, the articles relating to commerce are in fubflance as follows, 

 viz. 



If, under colour of commerce, any merchants or others fhall carry 

 warlike ammunition to the enemy of either party, it fliall not be im- 

 puted to the princes of either fide as any breach of friendfhlp ; but the 

 party offending (hall take the peril upon his own head. 



All fuch privileges and grants for freedom of commerce, as by treaties 

 have been granted to the Englilh merchants by his renowned majefly of 

 all Ruilia, and his noble progenitors, fhall remain in full force. And, 

 by virtue ot this alliance, the fubjeds of both princes may, by fea and 



Vol. II. S s 



