47® A. D. 1656. 



low London bridge, and within two furlongs of the river Thames, be- 

 longing to mariners, fhip-builders, their wives and widows ; and fome few 

 other places. By this adl we find that Clare-market in the fields, then call- 

 ed Clement's-inn-fields, was but jull finiftied ; and it is hereby declared to 

 be a common and free market on every Tuefday, Thurfday, and Satur- 

 day: but part of Stanhope-ftreet adjoining was not yet quite built on, nor 

 were all the buildings adjoining to Lincoln's-inn-fields as yet finifhed. 



By Scobel's CoUedion of adls and ordinances of parliament, (from 

 ■1640 to 1656) we learn, that the whole charge of the public in this year, 

 1656, in England [c. 6] was fixed at Li, 300, 000, viz. Li, 000,000 

 for the navy and army, and L300,ooo for the fupport of the civil go- 

 vernment. No part of this fum was raifed by a land-tax. 



And the parliament [c. 4] abolilhed all tenures in capite by knights- 

 iervice, and by foccage in chief, and laid afide the courts of wards and 

 liveries. They alfo enaded [c. 5] that none fhould dig within the 

 houfes or lands of any perlon for faltpetre, without leave firft obtained. 

 This a6l relating to digging for faltpetre removed a grievance which 

 King Charles I impofed on his fubjeds, throughout his reign, of enter- 

 ing and digging for it everywhere, without afking leave. 



There had been a general treaty of alliance concluded between Crom- 

 well and Queen Chriftina of Sweden, in the year 1654. But matters 

 relating to commerce and navigation were then deferred to a more con- 

 venient time : fo Cromwell's commiiTioners in this year figned a treaty 

 with the minifters of King Charles Guftavus of Swxden, wherein what 

 relates to commerce is as follows. 



Article IX) ' As to commerce to be carried on in America, it is ex- 



* prefsly provided by law, that the fubjeds of no other ftate or republic 



* befides fhall be impowered to trade there in common, without a fpe- 

 ' cial licence ; but if any of the king of Sweden's fubjeds, furnifhed 

 ' with his recommendations, ihall privately folicit fuch licence of the 

 ' lord protedor to trade to any of thofe (Englifh) colonies, he will, in 



* this refped, comply with the defire of his Swedifh majefty, as far as 

 ' the ftate of his affairs will permit. 



X) ' It fhall be free for the fubjeds of Sweden to fifh and catch her- 



* rings, &c. in the feas and on the coafts which are in the dominion of 

 ' this republic ; provided the fhips fo employed do not exceed looo in 



* number : and no charges fliall be demanded, of thofe Swedifh filhers, 

 ' by the fhips of war of this republic ; but all fliall be treated courteoufly 

 ' and amicably, and fhall be even allowed to dry their nets on the fhore, 



* and to purchafe necefTaries there at a fair price.' 



The reft of this treaty relates chiefly to a mutual liberty of hiring 

 jhlps of war and troops in each others country, and againfl Sweden fup- 

 plying Spain with naval ftores during England's war with that crown- 

 ^General coll. of treaties, V, m, p. 163. J 



