ABSTRACT
THE unhappy dissensions which had broken out between the King and his subjects in England had in the commencenlcnt no effect upon the prosperity of the new colony. In the turnloil of factions Barbados ,vas forgotten, and left to itself its trade remained unrestricted. This freedom caused the island to pro~per, and it was visited both by Dutch and English ships. It is asserted that previous to the revolution the Dutch possessed Llore interest in the island than the English, \vhich they gained by their liberal spirit in commercial transactions 1. On a former occasion, when the new settlers were still struggling for their sustenance, two English ships \vhich touched at Barbados refused them provisions, because they had no goods to give to the English traders in return, who sailed a\\'ay without relieving the distress of the inhabitants. Some Dutch vessels bound for Brazil \vhich touched shortly afterwards at the island supplied the settlers abundantly, and waited until the following year for a return, by which liberality they greatly ingratiated themsclves \vith the settlers 2• This unrestricted intercourse increased annually, and the fame of the prosperityof the island was not only carried to England, but spread over Europe. After the death of Lord Carlisle (\vho left behind hinl the reputation of being the most accomplished courtier, but not a house or an acre of land that was not mortgaged much beyond its value:i), it was found that his Lordship by his will had settled Barbados for the payment of his debts. About the year 1647 his son and heir entered into negotiations with Francis Lord Willoughby of Parham for the fulfilment of his father's wish, in order to pay his numerous debts from the revenue of the island, which he thought might be effected in a short time, and the benefits arising from it would afterwards fall to him as heir.
