97° The Hiftory, &c, of the Imperial-Company at Gftend. Book I. 
tention of the Englifto Reader, and to return to Matters 
of Fad, and the Methods employed by the Maritime 
Powers, in Cojundion with France , which now, out of 
regard to its own Intereft, very heartily joined them, for 
the pulling down this Edifice, which while it Rood, 
threatened its Neighbours with the Lofs of thofe Advan- 
tages that had for fo many Ages rendered them confider- 
able, and by maintaining the Wealth of their Subjects, 
and the Naval Power of their refpedive Governments, 
had placed them in a Condition to hold the Balance of 
Power, and to prevent the Madnefs of ambitious Princes 
from reducing the Inhabitants of Europe into that abject 
State of Slavery, which renders Afia the moft dkfoicable, 
tho 5 in itfelf the richeft, moft populous, and moft de- 
lightful Quarter of the Earth. 
9. The Eaft-India Company in Holland , were fo much 
alarmed at this Accident, and fo terrified with the Thoughts 
of feeing this new Company almoft in its very Dawn "on 
a better Foot than themfelves, that they could not forbear 
once more reprefenting their Apprehenfions to their High- 
Mightineffes, which they did in a Memorial fo clofely 
"Worded, and in which all the Fads concerning this impor- 
tant Affair, are fo fully and clearly fet forth, that for the 
fake of avoiding Variety of Abftrads, we will give the 
Subftance of thefe various Treaties therein to the Reader. 
The Directors of the Eaft-India Company in this Coun- 
try, having obferved their Commerce in the Eafr-Indies 
decline from Time to Time, ever fince it hath been at- 
tempted in the Spanijh , now Aiftrian Netherlands; to car- 
ry on a Trade in the Indies , have prefen ted feveral Me- 
morials to your High-Mightineffes, fhewing, That the 
faid Netherlands have no Right by Treaties to this Na- 
vigation and Commerce ; that they never could claim 
it under the Kings of Spain , and that confequently they 
have it neither by virtue of the faid Treaties, nor of thefe 
that have been made with his Imperial Majefty, and his 
Predeceffor the Emperor Leopold of glorious Memory. 
The rather, fince the chief Aim and Tendency of thefe 
Treaties and Negociations was, that in the Countries and 
Dominions which his Imperial Majefty might acquire by 
virtue of the grand Alliance with England and this State, 
nothing fhould be attempted that might be more prejudi- 
cial to thefe two Nations, than if the faid Countries had 
remained in the Hands of Spain. It was therefore very 
wifely ftipulated by the Barrier Treaty, that his Imperial 
and Catholick Majefty fhould poffefs the Spanijh Nether- 
lands, in the fame Manner as the Kings of Spain his Pre- 
decefiors had done, and that their Commerce fhould be car- 
ried on jn the Manner ftipulated by the Treaty of Mun- 
fter. But though the Directors could have heartily wifh- 
ed they had not been obliged by frefh Incidents to trou- 
ble your High Mightineffes again by new Writings, fee- 
ing they flattered themfelves, that his Imperial and Ca- 
tholick Majefty would forbear carrying on that Commerce 
any farther to their Prejudice. 
Yet they have feen with Grief, firft, That the private 
Navigation begun fome Years ago at Oft e n d, has been 
changed into a formal Company trading to the Eaft-In- 
dies , and authorized by an ample Patent ; and fecondly. 
That all forts of Means are now ufed to improve and 
maintain this Company by Treaties with other Powers, to 
the great Prejudice of the Rights and Priviledges the Eaft- 
India Company in this Country has formerly obtained, as 
it evidently appears to the faid Diredors from the Treaty 
of Commerce lately concluded between his Imperial and 
Catholick Majefty, and the King of Spain, where it 
is faid in the firft and third Articles, 44 That the Men of 
War, and the Merchants Ships belonging to their faid 
44 Majefties, or to their Subjeds, fhall be freely admitted 
* 4 to all the Ports, Coafts, Countries, and Provinces on 
“ either Side, without afking any previous Permiffion, 
which extends alfo in a fpecial Manner to the Eaft-In- 
dies , where they may afk for every Thing neceffary for 
46 Navigation, with this ftngular Reftridion, with refped 
cs to the Raft-Indies , that it fhall not be allowed to carry 
on any Commerce in each others Dominions, and that 
€c the Men of War, efpecially in thofe Countries, fhall 
44 behave themfelves fo, as not to give to the Spa- 
e j niards. any Caufe of Fear or Sufpicion.” *Tis moreo- 
3 ' ' 
ver faid, in the thirty-fixth Article of the faid Treaty, 
That his Imperial and Catholick Majefty 5 s Ships and 
Subjeds, fhall be allowed to import into, and fell in all 
die King of Spain 9 s Dominions, all forts of Fruits, and 
Effeds and Merchandizes, brought by them from the 
“ Eaft- Indies, provided it appear by Affidavits of the 
Deputies of the Eaft-India Company eftablilhed in the 
Aiftrian Netherlands, that the fame came from the 
“ conquered Places, Colonies or Fadories of the faid Com- 
pany ; in which cafe they fhall enjoy the fame Privi- 
“ ledges granted to the Subjeds of the United Provinces 
“ b y the Treaty of Munfter in 1648, both with refped 
to the Indies , and any other Thing applicable to" die 
faid Treaty, and which fhall not be contrary to it, any 
more than to the prefent Peace.’* Which by the forty- 
feventh, or laft Article of the laid Treaty, is moreover 
extended. 44 To all what the Britijh Nation has ftipu- 
46 latedin their Favour by the Treaties of 1667, 1670, 
44 1713, and laft of all, by a certain Treaty and Conven- 
tc " tion, the Day and Date whereof are not expreffed, for- 
44 afmuch as it may be applicable to the Emperor’s’ Sub- 
44 jeds.” Moreover, 44 To all what has been granted to 
44 the States of the United Provinces, not only by the 
Tieaties of Peace of 1648, but alio by the Treaty of 
44 . Marine in 1650, and the Treaty of Peace 1714.” With 
this Addition, 44 That all thefe Treaties fhall ferve as a 
44 Rule in doubtful Cafes, or fuch as are omitted, or not 
44 plainly expreffed in the prefent Treaty between their 
44 faid Majefties.” 
Upon which doubtful Cafes, and which are paffed by 
in Silence, it may be pretended and eftablilhed in the firft 
Place, tn at his Catholick Majefty has been willin 0 " to 
grant to the Imperial Subjeds by the fecond Article, ^free 
Accefs to all the Countries, Sea-ports,, and Places of his 
Dominions, feeing that neither in that Article, nor in the 
whole Treaty, any exprefs Reftridion, or Exclufion are 
found, which are inferred in all other Treaties of that Na- 
ture, to wit. 
That this is only to be underftood of thole Countries 
and Places which the King poffeftes in Europe , or thofe 
where other Nations have always had a free Commerce, 
as it appears by the fourth Article of the Treaty of Truce 
concluded by the King of Spain and this State in 1609, 
where it is faid, 44 Which the faid Lord the King under-' 
44 ftands to be reftrained and limited to the Kingdoms, 
44 Countries, Dominions and Lordihips, which he holds 
and poffeftes in Europe , and other Places and Ports where 
44 the Subjeds of the Kings and Princes his Allies trade.” 
Moreover, by the Treaty of Munfter , in the fifth Article 
it is faid, 44 That the Diredors and Commiifioners of the 
44 Eaft and W ft- India Companies fhall have free Accefs and 
44 Commerce in all the Countries within the King’s Domi- 
44 nions in Europe , but all the States Subjeds are not to fre- 
44 quent the Caftilian Places in the Eaft- Indies And Jaft- 
ly, by the thirty-fourth Article of the Treaty concluded a £ 
Utrecht in 1714, between his prefent Catholick Majefty and 
this State , wherein it is exprefsly faid, 44 Tho’ it be mention- 
44 ed in feveral of the foregoing Articles, that the Sub- 
44 jeds on either Side may freely come to, frequent, flay, 
44 fail to, and trade in the Countries, Lands, Cities, Ports, 
44 Places and Rivers, belonging to the abovefaid refpedive 
44 contrading Parties ; yet it is to be underftood, that the 
44 faid Subjeds are only allowed that Liberty in their re- 
44 ciprocal Dominions in Europe , fince it is exprefsly agreed, 
44 that as to the Spanijh Weft-Indies, it fhall not be allow- 
44 ed to fail to, or trade there, but purfuant to the thirty-firft 
“ Article of the faid Treaty.” On the other Hand, the 
like unlimited Terms are again to be met with in the 
thirty-fixth Article of the above-mentioned Treaty, be- 
tween their faid Majefties, wherein it is ftipulated, 44 That 
44 the Emperor’s Subjeds fhall be allowed to import into all 
44 the Countries and Dominions belonging to the King of 
44 Spain, without any Diftindion, all forts of Effeds, 
44 Fruits and Merchandizes, from their Colonies and con- 
44 quered Places in the Eaft-Indies , provided they have 
44 the, neceffary Affidavits required by the faid Article; in 
44 which Cafe they fhall enjoy all the Priviledges granted 
44 to the Subjeds of this State by the King of Spain's 
44 Letters Patent in 1663.” 
Although 
