tipulation, nor the fear of reprisals, nor the sense
of that friendship which subsisted between England and the states, could
restrain the avidity of the Dutch company, or render them equitable
in their proceedings towards their allies. Impatient to have the sole
possession of the spice trade, which the English then shared with them,
they assumed a jurisdiction over a factory of the latter in the Island
of Amboyna; and on very improbable, and even absurd pretences, seized
all the factors with their families, and put them to death with the most
inhuman tortures. This dismal news arrived in England at the time
when James, by the prejudices of his subjects and the intrigues of
his favorite, was constrained to make a breach with Spain: and he was
obliged, after some remonstrances, to acquiesce in this indignity from
a state whose alliance was now become necessary to him. It is remarkable,
that the nation, almost without a murmur, submitted to this injury
from their Protestant confederates; an injury which, besides the horrid
enormity of the action, was of much deeper importance to national
interest, than all those which they were so impatient to resent from the
house of Austria.

The exports of England from Christmas, 1612, to Christmas 1613, are
computed at two millions four hundred and eighty-seven thousand four
hundred and thirty-five pounds; the imports at two millions one hundred
and forty-one thousand one hundred and fifty-one: so that the balance
in favor of England was three Hundred and forty-six thousand two hundred
and eighty-four.[*] But in 1622, the exports were two millions three
hundred and twenty thousand four hundred and thirty-six pounds; the
imports two millions six hundred and nineteen thousand three hundred and
fifteen; which makes a balance of two hundred and ninety-eight thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine pounds against England.[**] The coinage
of England from 1599 to 1619 amounted to four millions seven hundred
and seventy-nine thousand three hundred and fourteen pounds thirteen
shillings and fourpence:[***] a proof that the balance, in the main,
was considerably in favor of the kingdom. As the annual imports and
exports together rose to near five millions, and the customs never
yielded so much as two Hundred thousand pounds a year, of which tonnage
made a part, it appears that the new rates affixed by James did not, on
the whole, amount to one shilling in the pound, and consequently were
still i