464 A. D. 1655. 



year, 1655, fo far as the date of his letter, Augufl:T5, amounting to 

 '660,000 rubles, valuing two rubles, (then) equal to Li flerling, though 

 at this day of a much fmaller value. The principal articles then export- 

 ed were potafhes, caviare, tallow, hides, fables, and cable-yarn. The 

 reft were coarfe linen, bed-feathers, tar, linen-yarn, beef, rhubarb, Per- 

 fian-filk, cork, bacon, cordage, fkins of fquirrels and cats, bees-wax, 

 hogs briflles, mice and goats Ikins, fwan and geefe down, goofe and 

 duck feathers, candles, 8cc. \_Thurloe, /^. iii, />. 713.] It is probable 

 that the rife of the new city of Peterlburg, and the fubjeclion of the 

 ports of Livonia to Ruflia, have contributed to diminifh the trade of 

 Archangel. 



This fame year Cromwell concluded a treaty of peace and commerce 

 with the minifters of King Lewis XIV of France, a minor. What re- 

 lates to our main fubjed follows, viz. 



Article V) The people of England, Scotland, and Ireland, may im- 

 port into France all their manufaftures of wool and filk, and may fell 

 them there without forfeiture or penalty. Provided, cloths ill-made or 

 tmfan^ionable be carried back into England, v^^ithout paying any duty 

 for the lame. Provided alfo, that the fubjeds of France may as freely 

 import into England, and fell their wines and manufadlures of wool and 

 filk : and that the fubjeds of both contrading parties fliall be kindly 

 treated, and enjoy like privileges with other foreigners. 



XXIV) Relates to prizes taken at fea, on both fides, fince the year 

 1 640, the determination whereof, if not finifhed by commiflloners 

 within fix months and a fortnight, fhall be referred to, the arbitration of 

 the republic of Hamburgh. 



XXV) And whereas the three forts of Pentacoet, St. John, and 

 Port-Royal, lately taken by England in America (i. e. in Nova-Scotia) 

 would be reclaimed by the French ambafTador, and the commiflloners 

 of his highnefs, the protedor, would argue, from certain reafons, that 

 they ought to be detained, it is agreed to refer this point likewife to 

 the commiflloners and arbitrators in the preceding article. [Ge/ieral 

 collePiion of treaties, V. ill,/. I49'] 



Againft the conclufion of this treaty. King Philip IV of Spain had 

 flrongly remonflrated by two ambafTadors to the protedor, fhewing that 

 France had fecretly fomented all the confpiracies againft his life and go- 

 vernment ; while on the contrary, Spain had been the flrft potentate 

 which recognized the Englifh republic : and his catholic majefly per- 

 ceiving that the treaties with Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Portugal, 

 were concluded, that with France fo forward, and the treaty with him 

 the only one deferred, at which all mankind were furprifed, the faid 

 ambafladors had orders to prefs the conclufion of it. And that in cafe 

 his highnefs inclines to recover Calais, Spain will join her forces to thofe 

 of England, both by fea and land, for that end. Provided Englaiad will 



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