A. D, 1645. 4^9 



of France, in the minority of Louis XIV, and the king and kingdom 

 o-f Denmark, it was flipulated, ' that French fliips, or Oiips liireJ or 

 ' laden by Frenchmen *, palling the famous Sound of Denmark, whither- 

 ' foever they may be bound or may come from, or what goods foevec 

 ' they may have on board, fliall not be obliged to pay any more toll 

 ' than that agreed this fame year in a table of this toll with the Dutch.' 

 And the French Ihall pay the fame for fea-beacons and fires as the Dutch 

 pay. And that both kingdoms fhall in general enjoy freedom of coia- 

 merce in each other's refpedive kingdom. 



In the CoUedlion of orders, ordinances, and declarations of parlia- 

 ment, (printed for E. Hufband, printer to the houfe of commons, in 

 foho, 1646) we have a lift [p. 665] of the public navy, and alfo of the 

 merchant fliips, fet forth in the fummer 1645, by oxder of parliament^ 

 viz. 



One fliip (Vice-admiral Blyth) of 



One of - 



One (Rear-admiral Owen) of - - 



One of - - - - - 



One of - - - - 



One of - - - - 



One (under Vice-admiral Batten) of 



One of - - - - 



One of - - - - 



The reft confifted of 17 fmaller fliips, from 400 tons, no men, and 

 28 guns, down to 80 tons, 45 men, and 8 guns ; fo that here is only 

 one fliip which could at all be admitted, in our days, into a line of 

 battle. 



The Royal fovereign, built ten years before, and perhaps feveral other 

 large fliips of war were either ftill under the king's command, or elfe 

 were not as yet judged neceflliry. There were alfo fix pinks and frigates, 

 of each 50 tons burden ; and eighteen merchant fliips, from 405 tons, 

 121 men, and 29 guns, down to 106 tons, 59 men, and 12 guns. Pro- 

 bably this was the greateft part of the parliament's naval force. Yet, at 

 this time, there arofe a great coolnefs and jealoufy between this parlia- 

 ment and the Dutch republic ; the Dutch, through the prince of Orange's 

 influence, having fliewn a manifeft partiality to the king's fide, which 

 the parliament at this time clofely argued with the ftates-general, in a 

 long and fliarp declaration or remonftrance, printed in the book of or- 

 dinances. The parlian-ient therefor foon found it needful to increafe 

 their marine, as forefeeing a ftorm from that quarter. 



1646. — Ey an ordinance of the lords and commons in parliament, ia 



* The French had at this time fo few (hips of their own that tliis diftinftion was very neccffary. ^. 



