A, D. 1627. 351 



Colonel Coddrington again difpofTefTed the French ; and by the peace 

 of Utrecht we have it entire. It is a noble and fruitful ifle, making 

 10,000 hogfheads of fugar yearly, and has plenty of other excellent pro- 

 ductions, as cotton, ginger, &c. and is well watered. 



The ifland of Dominica,^ lying between Martinico and Guadaloupe, 

 has been claimed both by England and France ; and for that reafon has 

 never yet been planted by either nation ; and has ftill many Carib na- 

 tives on it, who were much increafed by the Caribs retiring to it, who 

 had been driven out of the other neighbouring iflands by the Europeans. 

 This ifland is ftill included in the commiflion of the governor of Bar- 

 bados, though the French would not permit our fettling it. The Ca- 

 ri^"' natives were faid to favour the French more than the Englilh, and 

 to fell their poultry, hogs, &c. to thofe of Martinico : yet we, as well as 

 other European nations, did fometimes wood and water on it, although 

 it has neither ports nor good bays for {heker. 



Defeada is partly planted by the French ; though the time when is 

 not well known : and it is generally faid to be of very fmall import- 

 ance. 



1628. — At this time the Hollanders did infinite damage to the Spa- 

 niards in the Weft-Indies, by taking their plate fleet, and plundering 

 the coafts of the ifland of Cuba. It would be almoft endlefs to enume- 

 rate the damages they at different times did to Spain, till the year 1648, 

 when the peace of Munfter put a perid to all their differences. 



We may in a great meafure underftand the true ftate of the Englifli 

 Eaft-India company's affairs at this time from their petition and remon- 

 ftrance to the houfe of commons, printed in the year 1628; being in 

 fubftance, that the company having exifted twenty-eight years, by char- 

 ters from Queen Elizabeth, King James, and King Charles, they traded 

 with great fuccefs to India, until fundry ill accidents from ftorms and 

 enemies, but more elpecially from profefTed friends and allies, (meaning 

 the Dutch company) have infinitely damaged ir. Which misfortunes, 

 together with our annual exportation of foreign coin to India, having 

 begot fuch caufelefs complaints as thereby have much difcouraged the 

 adventurers from any longer trading under the general cenfure of all 

 ranks in the nation. They therefor humbly pray that honourable houfe 

 to take the under-mentioned articles or queries into their confidera- 

 tion : and if upon their examination the faid trade fliall be found to be 

 unprofitable to the kingdom, that it may be fupprefl^d ; but if other- 

 wife, they pray that it may be fupported and countenanced by forne 

 public declaration, for the fatisfadion of all his majefty's fubjeds, and 

 the better encouragement of the prefent adventurers. 



Article •) The company's trade much increafeth the ftrength of Eng- 

 land with mariners, warlike ftiipping, ammunition, and all ufeful ar- 

 tificers relating thereto; as alio the general traffic of England, not only 



