home, there are 200 of them laden with 30000
Tons of French wine, beside other Ladings many
being very rich; so that if you should but spoile
either the Feet of War, or Trade, it would be
such a blow as would hardly be recover'd this
Summer, for, here was great difficulty in getting
men to make up this Fleet at present; And if it
should happen that the English should lay hold
on our Merchantmen, it would in a maner break
the whole profession of Merchandise in this
Country, and furni[unr]th you with Treasure to doe
your work in England. It would extremely hazard
our wea thy East Indy ships who are expected
the next month, and not only render us unable
to [unr] and manage our Herring-trade this summer
(she Busses lying ready, and not daring to peep
out) but und[unr], all Trade whatsoever.
What remedy may be for these things, few do
understand; for, besides the Jealousies that are among
the States of each other, as if there were
some understand complying with England, they
are stil at a Civil war among themselves, about the
young Prince of Orange, whose party, if the affairs
prove bad at Sea, and the People desperate at
home, wil be able to carry it for the bringing his
Interest into play again, and all others with his.
The yong Child is by his Uncle Charls made knight
of the Garter. All Councels are in a maze[unr] an union
with the French impressed on very earnestly;
but the hopes of effecting it are but slender. Besides,
the Spaniard begins to stroke his Mustachoes,
and hath given to understand he will endeavor to
close with the English, if this State proceed to a
Treaty with France.