502 



A. D. i66r. 



V) It is true, they owe a large debt, occafioned partly by the misfor- 

 tunes of the civil wars, &c. and partly by the oppofition of the inter- 

 lopers, and they think it reafonable that it fhould be paid off, though 

 very gradually, by contributions or taxes on the commerce. 



VI) If the fellowfliip be not as yet eftabliflied by any law, it is now 

 fubmitted, whether it is not more than time it fhould be fettled by a6l 

 of parliament. 



VII) The fellowHup take care that the rich overgrown traders fliall 

 not ingrofs the whole traffic, but there {hall be room for younger and 

 fmaller traders to employ their flocks. 



VITI) They carefully infped the true making of cloth. 



TX) They have done more, and been at greater expenfe, to prevent 

 the exportation of our wools and fullers-earth, than all the other corpo- 

 rations and merchants in England. 



Laftly, they infifted, that unlefs their corporation be fupported, and 

 even legally eftablifhed, all the privileges and advantages, which our 

 commerce has for many ages enjoyed in foreign parts beyond other na- 

 tions, muft neceflarily fall with their fellowfhip, and the kingdom at 

 home be left without a fhadow of regulation in its greatefl; concern- 

 ment. 



After this time we hear no more of this company's complaints againft 

 feparate traders, nor, on the other hand, of any vmeafinefs of merchants 

 not free of it, the terms being quite eafy, if they incline fo to be. 

 They have long fince fixed their refidence folely at Hamburgh, where 

 they have confiderable privileges, and drive a great commerce for fup^ 

 plying many provinces of Germany with our manufactures of wool, 

 &c. 



Toward the clofe of this year, a marriage treaty was concluded be- 

 tween King Charles and the Princefs Catherine, fifter to Alphonfo VJ, 

 king of Portugal. It is faid, that the real fortune which Alphonfo 

 agreed to give with his fifter was L3oo,coo fterling. It is almoft foreign 

 to our purpofe to remark, that France greatly forwarded this match for 

 the farther weakening of Spain ; and that Spain for the prevention 

 thereof, propofed to our king three feveral proteftant princeffes : but 

 it is much to our purpofe to note, that Portugal, hoping for great af- 

 fiftance from England againft Spain, not only agreed to the above large 

 fum, but likewife to cede to King Charles for ever the town and port 

 of Tangier on the Barbary ftiore, at the very entrance of the Straits, 

 and alfo the town, port, and ifland of Bombay, with the reft of the 

 ille of North Sall'et on the coaft of Malabar in Eaft-India. Tangier had 

 been poflefl^ed by the Portuguefe ever fince the year 1463, when King 

 Alphonfo V took it from the Moors. To this port King Charles grant- 

 ed all the privileges and immunities of a free port, in order to make it 



