y.
(1) Sir John Dethicke, James Gold, John Limbery, and other London
merchants, are owners of a ship called _The Happy Entrance_,
which they sent out with merchandise for trade in the
Mediterranean, under the command of a John Marvin. They can get no
account from him, and have reason to fear he means to play the
rogue with the ship and cargo and never return. It is believed that
within two months he may put in at Leghorn; and the Protector
requests the Grand Duke to give the merchants, in that case,
facilities for the recovery of their property. (2) A James
Modiford, merchant, complains to the Protector that certain goods
of his, taken to Leghorn about 1652 by another English trader,
Humphrey Sidney, were there seized by some Italian creditors of
Sidney. Modiford has been unable to obtain redress; and the Grand
Duke is now prayed to see his goods restored and any claims Sidney
may have upon him referred to the English Courts.

(CXLVI.) To ALFONSO V., KING OF PORTUGAL, _April_
1659:[1]--A Francis Hurdidge of London complains that a ship of
his, called _The Mary and John_, cargo valued at 70,000
crowns, employed in the Brazil trade in 1649 and 1650, was seized
by the Portuguese. The ship was afterwards taken from the
Portuguese by the Dutch. The Treaty between the English
Commonwealth and Portugal provides for such cases; and his
Portuguese Majesty is requested to make compensation to Hurdidge to
the extent of 25,000 crowns. The man is in great straits.

[Footnote 1: "_Joanni Portugallioe Regi_" is the heading in Mr.
Hamilton's copy from the Skinner Transcript; but this is a mistake
(see ante p. 576, note).]

(CXLVII.) To CHARLES GUSTAVUS, KING OF SWEDEN, _April_
1659:--David Fithy, merchant, informs the Protector that, about a
month ago, he contracted to supply to the Navy 150 sacks of hemp.
He has the hemp now at Riga, and a ship ready to bring it thence
for the use of the fleet--"part of which," the Protector skilfully
adds, "has just sailed for the Baltic for your protection" (i.e.
Montague's fleet, despatched this very month: see ante p. 435). It
appears, however, that his Swedish Majesty has forbidden the
exportation of hemp from his port of Riga without special
permission. His Majesty is requested to give Fithy this permission,
that he may be able to fulfil his contract. The Protector will
consider himself much obliged by the kindness.