[1] The marriage portion of Queen Catherine included the city of Tangier, the Island of Bombay, and a sum equal to 300,000_l._ sterling. Tangier is a place of great antiquity, and was formerly one of the most splendid cities in Africa. It is stated by Procopius Cæsariensis to have been founded by the Phœnicians; it was known by the name of _Tingis_, or _Tinja_, and was taken by the Romans under Sertorius. It was afterwards captured by the Vandals, and was retaken by the celebrated Belisarius, who restored it to Justinian. On the invasion of the Saracens it was surrendered to them by Count Julian. In the fifteenth century it was the scene of several desperate engagements between the Moors and Portuguese; and in 1437 Prince Ferdinand was defeated before the city, and his army subjected to an ignominious capitulation. In 1471 it was taken by Alfonso V., king of Portugal. After the death of Sebastian, it fell into the hands of Spain; but upon the restoration of the Braganza family to the throne of Portugal, in 1640, it was once more annexed to that monarchy. [2] A memorandum on the subject of Regimental Colours is given in the Appendix, and marked E. [3] Copy of a letter addressed by King Charles II.:-- 'To the Earl of Peterborough. 'Dated Whitehall, y_{e} 21^{st} of 10^{ber} 1661. 'My Lord Peterborough:--I am very well satisfied of your care and dilligence in the employment your are in, for which I thank you very heartily. And assure yourself I have soe just a sense of this and all your other services, as you shall find upon all occasions how much I esteem and value all those who serve me faithfully. I have noe more to adde at present only to desire you to lett those honest men knowe who are along with you, y^t they shall allwayes be in my particular care and protection, as persons y^t venture themselves in my service. And so wishing you a good voyage I remain 'Y^r very aff^{nate} friend 'CHARLES R.' '_Bibl. Harl._, 6844.' [4] Mercurius Publicus. [5] These battalions were part of the royal force which fought for Charles I. during the civil war in England. In 1657 they entered the service of Spain; and in 1660 were placed in garrison at Dunkirk; in 1663 they were incorporated in the Queen's Tangier Regiment. Dunkirk had been taken from the Spaniards by the combined armies of England and France in 1658, and was ceded in 1659 to England. It was sold by King Charles II. to the French, for 500,000_l._