270 APPENDIX I enduced them to saile and seek into all the corners of the earth." Under the Commonwealth the desire for an open trade to India gained strength. The Navigation Act of 1651 gave it a decisive impulse. Next year— the very year after the Company had declared that thenceforth " there will be little use of any governor, in regard they are to set no ships out "— a new voice rang aloud to the nation: " That with all possible conveniency we enlarge our Forraign Plantations, and get further foot- ing in Barbarie, East and West Indies." Forasmuch as " a little spot of ground, as England is, with its Domin- ions, if it do not enlarge them," will strive in vain against the growing trade of Holland and the other European powers. Men of rank once again joined with men of the City in ventures beyond the seas. Indeed in 1649 the Company had complained that the name of Lord General Fairfax stood first in the draft of a patent for the Assada Merchants which it was intended to submit to Parliament. The outside capitalists hoped that after the three years for which the United Joint Stock of 1650 was formed, a broader basis might be adopted. But on the expiration of that period in the summer of 1653 the Company found itself too weak to attempt any new departure, and the existing arrangement continued, although no ships could be sent out. Forthwith it ap- peared that the outsiders had strong supporters within the Company itself. The standard of revolt was raised at a court meeting in the following December, when
