A. D. 1629. 



359 



have not very materially or generally afFeded the commerce of the Bri- 

 tifli empire, though mod men are under apprehenfions that fooner or 

 later they may. 



The filk manufadlure at London had now become fo confiderable, 

 that the filk-throwers of that city and within four miles of it were in- 

 corporated under the name of the mafter, wardens, affiflants, and com- 

 monalty of filk-throwers. 



Peace was proclaimed with France, and the intercourfe of commerce- 

 between the two nations, on the footing of antient treaties, was renew- 

 ed. [Fa^dera, F. xix, p. 66.] 



Upon this peace Cardinal Richlicu, who was fuperintendant-general 

 of the commerce and navigation of France, refolved to maintain three 

 fquadrons of fliips conftantly in pay ; two for the guard of the French 

 coafts on the Ocean and on the Mediterranean, and the third to remain 

 ready in the ports of Gafcoigne, for convoying the French merchant 

 fliips trading to Canada. This was doubtlefs a very wife refolution in 

 that able minifter, France being till now utterly deftitute of maritime 

 ftrength. 



We find that, upon King Charles's difbanding his army, which had 

 been employed beyond fea, fwarms of Irifh beggars were every where 

 feen, to the great annoyance of the country. The kmg thereupon if- 

 fued his proclamation, commanding tliem forthwith to return to Ireland, 

 to be conveyed from conflable to conftable to the ports of Brifloi, Mine- 

 head, Barnftable, Chefter, Liverpool, Milford, or Workington ; diredl- 

 ing them to be punifhed as rogues or vagabonds, wherever found beg- 

 ging afterwards. They were to be fhipped at the charge of the refpedl- 

 ive counties. And it was thereby farther direcfted, that no ftiip fhould 

 bring over any beggars from Ireland * ; and that Engliihmea begging 

 c-.s difbanded foldiers or mariners fhould be puniflied as vagabonds, \^Fce- 

 dera, V. xix, ;>. 72.] 



Many were the ihifts and devices which King Charles was put upon, 

 in the long interval of parliament, for procuring monty. We find him 

 commiflioning Sir Sackville Crow to get 610 pieces of iron cannon cafl 

 ' in our forge, within our foreft of Dean, in Glocefterfliire, or elfe- 

 ' where, as to you it fliall feem fit.' And he employed Philip Burla- 

 mach, an eminent merchiuit, to fell thofe cannon (viz, 4000 ton weight 

 thereof) to the fiates general of the United Netherlands, for redeeming 

 from them his crown jewels, pawned in the year 1625, for L300,ooo.. 

 Thus England was ItiU eminent for its manufadure of iron artillery be- 

 yond any other country in Europe. \Foeikra^ V. xix, ^/>. 89, 99.] 



* It were to be vvillied that tlie fame regulation were now in force, unlefs (which would be much; 

 better) means were found to fet all the Iriih poor to fome utcful employment im.mediatcly upon their 

 arrival in Britain : for the ftreets of London ate. (hamefully crowded with them. 



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