Page:European treaties bearing on the history of the United States and its dependencies.djvu/16



The treaty which France made with Spain in 1626, and English interference with the French trade with Spain, were among the most important causes of the war between England and France which broke out in 1627. During this war the English, operating in the St. Lawrence River, captured the first fleet sent out by the trading Company of New France, and devastated some French settlements. They also seized some posts occupied by the French in the region of Acadia, but did not capture Quebec until after peace had been proclaimed between England and France in 1629 (Doc. 34).

In the following year, when England made peace with Spain, under circumstances of domestic dissension that made it impossible for her to compel large concessions, the article respecting trade with the Indies was left in practically the same ambiguous form as in the previous Anglo-Spanish treaty of 1604. An article, which stipulated the return of prizes made south of the Equator, marked a departure from the ancient principle that, between Spain and other nations, might made right beyond the line (Doc. 35).

The seizure of the fort of Quebec, together with a quantity of furs and merchandise, effected after the conclusion of the Franco-English peace, led to protracted negotiations between the English and French. These finally bore fruit in the treaty of 1632 (Doc. 36), which provided for the restitution to France of all places occupied by the English in "New France, Acadia, and Canada". Subsequently, a long and bitter quarrel between two lieutenant-governors of Acadia threatened seriously to involve the English of Massachusetts Bay. But the danger was averted by the conclusion of a treaty between D'Aulnay of Acadia and the magistrates of Massachusetts (Doc. 39), stipulating peace and mutual liberty of trade.

The liberation of Portugal from Spain in 1640 gravely affected the commercial interests of those nations which, in the course of their wars against Spain, or at other times, had acquired territory in both Indies and Africa, or had seized Spanish-Portuguese colonies, or were developing the slave-trade. Nevertheless, it was to these nations that Portugal turned for friendly recognition or aid. In 1641 and 1642 she signed treaties with France, the United Provinces, and England (Doc 37,.Doc. 38, and Doc. 38, note 24). 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.

This separation of Portuguese from Spanish colonial interests made possi­ ble a peace between Spain and the Dutch. In the treaty of Münster, 1648 (Doc. 40), Spain, for the first time, in a public treaty, and with express