Folio 192: Swann to Bennet. Senate have delivered reply to King's letter broughtback...

Folio 192: Swann to Bennet. Senate have delivered reply to King's letter broughtback by him, Swann, when returning from England to Hamburg; has sent it to Morrice; found that it contained nothing they had not already offered English factory in justification of burghers' irregular trade; has also sent abstract [of entries] from company's registers containing their refutation of burghers' arguments; asks Bennet to remember that Westermann's assurance that Hamburg would restrain its citizens from exporting English cloth for their mart was sole basis for concession granted, to which Sir Richard Ford can testify; says he has reason to believe that it is Senate's design 'to beat the company out of their trade' and to seize monopoly of cloth and drapery export from England to the whole of Germany for Hamburg citizens; they sell drapery 'cheaper than they cost them the first penny', their loss being made good out of city's public purse, to the ruin of English merchants who would have to sell at loss in order 'to hould markett with them' [i.e. Hamburgers] and may have to give over trade and quit city; refers to 'scandalous' pamphlets previously mentioned; urges that speedy action be taken in England and repeats suggestion that concessions and privileges granted be withdrawn before next session of parliament.

Date and Place: 1664 July 26/Aug. 5 Hamburg