Frances Gardiner Davenport

“ In 1621 the twelve years' truce expired, and Spain declared war on the United Netherlands. Within the period from 1621 to 1625 the Dutch were conducting various negotiations with Denmark, France, and England, as well as with other powers, for the purpose of securing their alliance against Spain. The States General were very desirous that Danes, French, and English should co-operate with the Dutch West India Company, chartered in 1621 for the purpose of attacking Spain's American possessions and treasure-fleets, as well as for trade. ”

“ In compiling the bibliographies, the needs of less advanced students, and also the needs of scholars and investigators, have been kept in mind; for the purpose of the work is not merely to present a body of texts in convenient form, but also to stimulate further research into the history of European-American relations. ”

“ The English mariners had been slower than the French to make their way into the distant regions. The comparatively few voyages undertaken by them in the early part of the sixteenth century to the West Indies and Brazil seem to have been usually made in association with French ship-owners and seamen. [1] In the latter half of the sixteenth century, however, England came to be the most formidable opponent of the monopolistic claims of Portugal and Spain. In 1553, a joint-stock company was founded in London for the Guinea trade ”

“ For a long period after the settlement made at Cateau-Cambrésis, France was so distracted by civil strife that she was unable to carry on a vigorous policy abroad. Enterprises, like Coligny's Florida colony, or the Azores expedition whereby France planned to purchase the region of Brazil, by aiding the Prior of Crato to recover from Spain the Portuguese crown, failed grievously. So closely were the French Catholic leaders of the League bound to Spanish interests, that in their treaty of 1585 they promised Philip to put a stop to the French voyages to the Indies and Azores (Doc. 22) . ”

“ By these treaties France and the Provinces agreed to send ships to co-operate with those of Portugal in attacking the silver fleet on the seas and the naval fleet at Cadiz; and it was further arranged that neither Dutch nor Portuguese should send any ships, negroes, or merchandise to the Spanish Indies, and that conquests made there should be divided or enjoyed by common consent. The right of the English and Dutch to continue in the African trade and possessions was recognized. ”

“ The successful intruders, French, English, Dutch, and others, also sought exclusive rights for their respective peoples or even for certain of their own trading companies in the newly acquired commerce and land. ”