A. D. 1643. 425 



for fuch fums of money as fliall be advanced for the ufe and benefit 

 of the ftate by the approbation of parliament *. And no perfon fliall 

 bring from, or fend goods or fliips into, the limits of their charter but 

 fuch as are free brothers, or otherwife licenced by the corporation, on 

 pain of forfeiture of the whole, or other lefTcr penalty to be impofed 

 by this corporation on their goods or fhips. None fliall be excluded 

 from the freedom of this corporation who fhall defire it by way of re- 

 demption, if fuch perfon be a mere merchant and otherwife capable 

 thereof, and fhall pay L50 for the fame, if above 27 years of age, 

 or L25 if under that age, or fo much lefs as their fellovvfliip fliall 

 think fitting. They may alfo impofe fines on perfons wittingly con- 

 temning or difobeying their orders, but not to exceed L20 for any 

 one offence : and, in default, to diftrain the goods of perfons fo fined ; 

 and if no fufEcient diflrefs can be found, to imprifon their perfons 

 till they pay their fines, or otherwife give fatisfa6lion. They fhall have 

 power alio to give fuch oaths as ("hall be approved by parliament, pro- 

 vided that all rights or charters granted under the broad feal of Eng- 

 land or otherwife fliall be hereby faved. It is alfo ordained, that with 

 all convenient expedition a bill fhall be prepared to pafs into an adl of 

 this prefent parliament, for the farther fettling and full confirmation 

 of this fellowihip's privileges, &c. ; and this ordinance to remain in 

 full force till then.' 

 Brower (or Brev/er), a Dutchman, failed into the great South fea 

 through a pafTage, fince called by his name, eafl of the flrait of Le Maire 

 {mentioned under the year 161 6), and fo round by Cape Home, as 

 ufual. 



In this fame year, the exclufive privileges of the Dutch Eaft-Tndia 

 company expiring, they were renewed for 27 years longer, in confidera- 

 tion of 1 ,600,000 gilders paid to the public. It is needlefs here to add, 

 that thofe privileges have fince been renewed from time to time to our 

 days, and that on every fuch renewal that company advanced confider- 

 able fums of money for the fame. 



The French now firft planted the Caribbee illand of St. Bartholomew, 

 in the latitude of 16 degrees, about five miles north of St. Chriftophers. 

 It has but litde ground fit for cultivation, yet it is faid to have plenty 

 of lignum-vitas and iron-wood. It is unfafe for fiiipping, by reafon of 

 the many rocks which furround it. It has been feveral times in French 

 and Englifh hands by turns. 



By an ordinance of the lords and commons the duty on our planta- 

 tion-tobacco was now made 4^ per pound weight : yet in the followuig 

 year, by another ordinance, they reduced it to 3</ per pound, cuflom 



* It may be prefumed that they, ai well as the merchant-adventurers, paid for the renewal of iht.'r 

 privilfges. A. 



Vol. II. 3 H 



