A. D. 1667. 5^^ 



has been brought to great perfedion, as alfo that of hardware, watches, 

 and haberdafhery ; and our paper, quite a modern manufadure, lb far 

 improved, as to fave great fums formerly paid to France. 



1668. — In January 1668, N. S. King Charles concluded with the 

 ftates-general of the United provinces of the Netherlands a defenfive al- 

 liance ; and in February following, a treaty of commerce, in fubftance 

 as follows, viz. 



Articles I, II) The king's fubjeds may freely trade with fuch king- 

 doms and ftates with whom he is in peace, although the ftates-general 

 Ihould happen to be at war with the faid kingdoms and ftates ; which 

 freedom ihall extend to all kinds of merchandize but contraband goods. 



III) By contraband goods are meant all ibi-ts of fire arms, gunpowder, 

 and military inftruments of war : alfo ropes, horfes, faltpetre, horfe 

 accoutrements, faddles, bridles, &c. 



IV) But provifions of all kinds for the fuftenance of life may be 

 carried freely even to the enemies of the ftates, excepting only to towns 

 befieged or invefted. 



V) Enghfti ftiips entering laden into any of the ports of the ftates^ 

 with an intention to fail thence to places at war with them, ftiall only 

 be obliged to produce their paflports, containing an attefted inventory 

 of their lading, and then may freely proceed. 



VI, VII, VIII) Other means to be ufed, where there may be juft 

 ground for fufpicion of carrying contraband merchandize. 



IX) Contraband goods, found in Englifti ftiips bound to the ports of 

 enemies of the ftates, ftiall be taken out ; but neither the ftiip nor the 

 other merchandize ftiall be feized. 



X) Merchandize fenr by the king's fubjec'ls in fliips belonging to the 

 enemies of rhe ftates, even though not contraband, ftiall be forfeited 

 together with the other goods in fuch fliips : but, on the other hand, 

 whatever is found onboard Britifti ftiips, though the lading, or part of 

 it, ftiould belong to the enemies of the ftates, ftiall be free, except they 

 be contraband goods. 



XI) And the fubjeds and ftiips of the ftates-general fliall, in all re- 

 fpeds, enjoy all the before and after named privileges allowed to the 

 king's fubjeds and fliips, in reference to trade and navigation on the 

 coafts and in the ports of the king's dominions. 



XII, XIII, XIV) No violence nor injury ftiall be offered by Britifli 

 fliips and fubjeds to thofe of the ftates, and vice verja ; and the com- 

 manders of privateers, before they put to fea, ftiall give fecurity to the 

 value of Li 500 or 15,000 gilders for this end ; but if a commander 

 of any Englifli fliip fliall take a veflt;l laden with prohibited goods, he 

 fliall not be allowed to open chefts, &c. nor to fell, barter, or make 

 away with, them, till brought on fliore in the pretence of the officers for 

 prizes: and unlefs the prohibited goods make only a part of the lading, 



