474 ^' ^' ^^57' 



of fliipping, which were accounted to be the befl trading' fliips belong- 

 ing to England, (as indeed they continue to be to the prefent times) 

 from 300 to 600 tons each fhip. But the Eaft-India fliipping fell off 

 very much, by the general difcouragements in their trade, and the un- 

 derminings of the Dutch ; and now they had fcarcely one good fliip re- 

 maining. Moreover, from the year 1653, or 1654, to this year 1657, 

 by means of the multitude of interlopers, there was a fort of open trade 

 from England to India : ' in which time (fays our author, who in 1681 

 ' wrote in defence of the joint-flock company) our nation had well 

 ' nigh lofl all their privileges in India, which are many.' There were 

 alfo grievous loffes to private traders by depredations, ' a great lower- 



* ing of Engliih commodities, and advancing of Indian commodities, 

 ' an increafe of prefents to governors, &c. to fuch odious excefs, that at 

 ' length the very private traders themfelves, being without, union and pro- 



* tedion, were the forwardeft petitioners for a return to a joint-ftock/ 

 Yet, on the other hand, the ingenious author of a treatife intitled Brk~ 

 tania languens, [p. 76, ed. 16 So, 8to] affirms, ' that during the years 

 ' 1653-4-5-6, when the Eaft-India trade was laid open, they afforded 

 ' the India commodities fo cheap that they fupplied more parts of Eu- 

 ' rope, and even Amfterdam itfelf, therewith, than ever they did after; 

 "• whereby they very much funk the Dutch Eafl- India company's 

 ' acliojis.' Yet, it is generally faid, that even the interlopers or fepa- 

 rate traders were lofers in the end, having alfo endured many indigni- 

 ties and injuries from the Indians. So difficult is it to come at the real 

 truth where interefl: is nearly concerned on both fides. 



Upon the whole, the protector now re-eflablifhed the old company, with 

 a joint-{l:ock of L739,782, though only 50 per cent, or L369,89i, was 

 called in, or was flridly (at that time) cU'emed their capital flock. Yet, 

 by the late laying open of thcvt trade, fo many leffer fliips had been em- 

 ployed in it, that the company, though now again refbored, could find 

 few or no merchant fhips large enough for their purpofe. And the 

 author juft now quoted alleges, ' that although in former times the 

 ' Englifli trade into the Mediterranean did by eftimation employ 80 or 

 •^ 100 fail of fliips, from 300 to 400 tons each, yet fince they employ 

 ' fmaller ones, which are fo often taken by the Spaniards,' &c. And he 

 fays, ' he has formerly known m.any fhips of the above, or a greater 

 ' burden, built and equipped in England, purpofely to be fent to Ve- 

 *■ nice, to be let out to that flate for fnips of war, to ferve them againfl 



* the Turks : but the Hollanders foon cut us out of that employment 

 ' alfo, by ferving them cheaper.'' 



On the 9th of May this year Cromwell concluded another felf-inter- 

 efled treaty of alliance with France againft Spain and Holland, and 

 againfl the Iblid interefl of England. And as fome of the fecret arti- 

 cles have a relation to commerce, we fhall remark on the following, 

 ©nes, viz. 



