Forced the said King to great expence of fleets, to be sent to Brazil, whence his sugars used heretofore to be brought home without any trouble, and whilst he lay asleep; and his revenue collected without any cost. Item. Prevented the Portuguese, by the continual cruizing of our ships on the coast of Brazil, from bringing over their sugars and other produce; twenty-three per cent of which, when imported, went to the King; and as much when exported, amounting together to forty-six per cent, nearly half the sugar; without the loss which is suffered in Brazil wood, from shrinkage. Also, captured his fleet from New Spain, and thrice made prize of the rich Honduras ships; took, moreover, in divers parts of Africa and America, over a hundred of his vessels, most of which had full freights, including several of his best galleons; and burnt and destroyed nearly as many, if not more, that had ran ashore.

64 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. Forced him to dispatch a greater number of galleons and armed ships, than he was formerly accustomed to send, to convey the fleet from Terra firma and New Spain. Obliged him to change his usual seasons, and to let his ships come over at unusual and unfavorable periods of the year, whereby a rich fleet from New Spain was, last year, almost entirely lost; and (as far as we can ascertain) his last year's fleet, which otherwise ought to have been in before the winter, hath not as yet arrived up to the present time; by all which his treasury is so exhausted, and his credit so damaged, that it can with difficulty be repaired; and he is, in consequence, obliged to apply to this country even for the Truce. It is also to be considered, that this State hath paid and still pays to foreign princes, heavy