Commonwealth of England c. To the most Excellent Lord M. d. 〈◊〉 Extraordinary Embassador from the most Serene King of France Most Excellent Lord LVcas Lucie Merchant of London has made his Complaint to the most Serene Lord Protector concerning a certain Ship of his call'd the Mary which in her Voyage from Ireland to Bayonne being driven by Tempest into the Port of St. John de Luz was there detain'd by vertue of an Arrest at the Suit of one Martin de Lazan nor could she be discharg'd till the Merchants had given security to stand a Tryal for the Property of the said Ship and Lading For Martin pretended to have a great Sum of Money owing to him by the Parlament for several Goods of his which in the year 1642. were Seiz'd by Authority of Parlament in a 〈◊〉 Ship call'd the Santa Clarâ—â—… 〈◊〉 in manifest That Martin 〈…〉 the Owner of the said 〈…〉 that he Prosecuted the 〈…〉 Owners Richard and 〈…〉 with his Paâ—â—ner whole 〈◊〉 was Antonio Fernandez and that upon the said Marâ—â—n and Antonio's falling out among themselves the Parlament Decreed that the said Goods should be stop'd till the Law should decide to which of the two they were to be restor'd Upon this Antony was desirous that the Action should proceed on the other side neither Martin nor any body for him has hitherto appear'd in Court All which is evidently apparent by Luca's Petition hereto annex'd So that it seems most unreasonable That he who refus'd to try his pretended Title with Antonio to other mens Goods in our own Courts should compel our People and the true Owners to go to Law for their own in a Foreign Dominion And that the same is apparent to your Excellency's Equity and Prudence the most Serene Lord Protector makes no question by whom I am therefore commanded in a particular manner to recommend this fair and honest Cause of Lucas Lucy to your Excellency's consideration to the end that Martin who neglects to try his pretended Right here may not under that pretence have an opportunity in the French Dominions to deprive others of their Rightful claims Westm Octob. 1657. Your Excellency's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonweolth of England c. To the most Serene Duke and Senate of the Republick of Venice Most Serene Duke and Senate our dearest Friends SO numerous are the Tydings brought us of your fortunate Successes against the Turks that there is nothing wherein we have more frequent occasion to employ our Pens then in Congratulating your Serenities for some signal Victory For this so recently obtain'd we give ye Joy as being not onely most Auspicious and Seasonable to your Republick but which is more Glorious so greatly tending to the Deliverance of all the Christians groaning under Turkish Servitude More particularly we recommend to your Serenity and the Senate Thomas Galily formerly Master of the Ship call'd the Relief who for these Five years together has bin a Slave tho this be not the first time we have interceded in his behalf yet now we do it the more freely as in a time of more then ordinary Exultation He having receiv'd your Commands to serve your Republick with his Ship and Engaging alone with several of the Enemies Gallies Sunk some and made a great havock among the rest but at length his Ship being Burnt the Brave Commander and so well deserving of the Venetian Republick was taken and ever since for Five years together has endur'd a miserable Bondage under the Barbarians To redeem himself he had not wherewithall for whatsoever he had that he makes out was owing to him by your Highness and the Senate upon the account either of his Ship his Goods or for his Wages Now in regard he may not want Relief and for that the Enemy refuses to discharge him upon any other condition then by exchange of some other person of equal value and reputation to himself we most earnestly intreat your Highness and the most Serene Senate and the Afflicted Old man Father of the said Thomas full of Grief and Tears which not a little mov'd us by our Intercession begs That in regard so many prosperous Combats have made ye Masters of so many Turkish Prisoners you will exchange some one of their Number whom the Enemy will accept for so stout a Seaman taken in your Service our Countreyman and the onely Son of a most sorrowful Father Lastly That whatsoever is due to him from the Republick upon the score of Wages or upon any other account you will take care to see it paid to his Father or to whom he shall appoint to receive it The effect of our first request or rather of your Equity was this that the whole matter was examin'd and upon an exact stating of the accounts the Debt was agreed but perhaps by reason of more important business intervening no payment ensu'd upon it Now the condition of the miserable Creature admits of no longer delay and therefore some endeavour must be us'd if it be worth your while to desire his wellfare that he may speedily be deliver'd from the noysome Stench of Imprisonment Which as you flourish no less in Justice Moderation and Prudence then in Military Fame and Victorious Success we are confident you will see done of your own innate Humanity and Free will without any hesitation without any incitement of ours Now that ye may long flourish after a most Potent Enemy subdu'd our daily Prayers implore of the Almighty From our Court at Westminster October 1657. Your Highnesses most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces Most High and Mighty Lords our dearest Friends and Confederates THE most Illustrious William Nuport your Extraordinary Embassador for some years residing with us is now returning to your Lordships but with this condition That after this respit obtain'd from your Lordships he shall return again in a short time For he has remain'd among us in the discharge of his Trust with that Fidelity Vigilance Prudence and Equity that neither you nor we could desire greater Vertue and Probity in an Embassador and a Person of unblemished Reputation with those inclinations and endeavours to preserve Peace and Friendship between us without any fraud or dissimulation that while he officiates the duty of your Embassador we do not find what occasion of scruple or offence can arise in either Nation And we should brook his departue with so much the more anxiety of mind considering the present juncture of times and affairs were we not assur'd that no man can better or more faithfully declare and represent to your Lordships either the present condition of Affairs or our Good-will and Affection to your Government Being therefore every way so excellent a Person and so well deserving both of yours and our Republick we request your Lordships to receive him returning
c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene and Potent Prince our most August Confederate and Friend BY so speedily repaying our profound Respect to your Majesty with an Accumulation of Honour by such an Illustrious Embassy to our Court you have not onely made known to us but to all the People of England your singular Benignity and Generosity of Mind but also how much you favour our Reputation and Dignity For which we return our most cordial Thanks to your Majesty as justly you have merited from us As for the Victory which God has given most fortunate to our United Forces against our Enemies we rejoyce with your Majesty for it and that our People in that Battel were not wanting to your Assistance nor the Military Glory of their Ancestors nor their own Pristin Fortitude is most grateful to us As for Dunkirk which as your Majesty Wrote you were in hopes was near Surrender 't is a great addition to our joy to hear from your Majesty such speedy Tidings that it is absolutely now in your Victorious hands and we hope moreover that the loss of one City will not suffice to repay the twofold Treachery of the Spaniard but that your Majesty will in a short time Write us the welcome News of the Surrender also of the other Town As to your Promise That you will take care of our Interests we mistrust it not in the least upon the Word of a most Excellent King and our most assured Friend confirm'd withal by your Embassador the most accomplish'd Duke of Crequi Lastly we beseech Almighty God to prosper your Majesty and the Affairs of France both in Peace and War Westminster June 1658. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Eminent Lord Cardinal Mazarin Most Eminent Lord WHile we are returning Thanks to the most Serene King who to Honour and Congratulate us as also to intermix his Joy with ours for the late glorious Victory has sent a splendid Embassy to our Court we should be ungrateful should we not also by our Letters pay our due acknowledgments to your Eminency who to testifie your Good-will toward us and how much you make it your study to do us all the Honour which lyes within your power have sent your Nephew to us a most Excellent and most Accomplish'd young Gentleman and if you had any nearer Relation or any Person whom you valu'd more would have sent him more especially to us as you declare in your Letters adding wlthal the Reason which coming from so great a Personage we deem no small advantage to our Praise and Ornament that is to say to the end that they who are most nearly Related to your Eminency in Blood might learn to imitate your Eminency in shewing Respect and Honour to our Person And we would have it not to be their meanest strife to follow your Example of Civility Candour and Friendship to us since there are not more conspicuous Examples of extraordinary Prudence and Vertue to be imitated then in your Eminency from whence they may learn with equal Renown to Govern Kingdoms and manage the most important Affairs of the World Which that your Eminency may long and happily Administer to the Prosperity of the whole Realm of France to the common Good of the whole Christian Republick and your own Glory we shall never be wanting in our Prayers to implore From our Court at White-Hall June 1658. Your Excellency's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Charles Gustavus King of the Swedes Goths and Vandals c. Most Serene and Potent Prince our dearest Confiderate and Friend AS often as we behold the busy Counsels and various Artifices of the common Enemies of Religion so often do we revolve in our Minds how necessary it would be and how much for the safely of the Christian world that the Protestant Princes and most especially your Majesty should be united with our Republick in a most first and solemn Confederacy Which how ardently and zealously it has bin sought by our selves how acceptable it would have bin to us if ours and the Affairs of Swedeland had bin in that posture and condition if the said League could have bin sacredly concluded to the good liking of both and that the one could have bin a seasonable Succour to the other we declar'd to your Embassadors when first they enter'd into Treaty with us upon this Subject Nor were they wanting in their duty but the same Prudence which they were wont to shew in other things the same Wisdom and Sedulity they made known in this Affair But such was the Perfidiousness of our wicked and restless Countrey-men at home who being often receiv'd into our Protection ceas'd not however to machinate new disturbances and to resume their formerly often frustrated and dissipated Conspiracies with our Enemies the Spaniards that being altogether taken up with the preservation of our selves from surrounding dangets we could not bend our whole care and our entire Forces as we wish'd we could have done to defend the common Cause of Religion Nevertheless what lay in our power we have already zealously perform'd and whatever for the future may conduce to your Majesty's Interests we shall not onely shew our selves willing but industrious to carry on in union with your Majesty upon all occasions In the mean time we most gladly Congratulate your Majesty's Victories most Prudently and Couragiously atchiev'd and in our daily Prayers implore Almighty God long to continue to your Majesty a steady course of Conquest and Felicity to the Glory of his Name From our Court at White-Hall June 1658. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene Prince the King of Portugal Most Serene King our Friend and Confederate JOhn Buffield of London Merchant has set forth in a Petition to us That in the year 1649. he deliver'd certain Goods to Anthony John and Manuel Ferdinando Castaneo Merchants in Tamira to the end that after they had sold 'em they might give him a just account according to the Custome of Merchants after which in his Voyage for England he fell into the hands of Pyrates and being Plunder'd by 'em receiv'd no small Damage Upon this News Antony and Manuel believing he had bin Kill'd presently look'd upon the Goods as their own and still detain 'em in their hands refusing to come to any Account covering this Fraud of theirs with a Sequestration of Englisb Goods that soon after ensu'd So that he was forc'd the last year in the middle of Winter to return to Portugal and demand his Goods but all in vain For that the said John and Anthony could by no fair means be perswaded either to deliver the said Goods or to come to any Account and which is more to be admir'd justifi'd their private detention of the Goods by the Publick Attainder Finding therefore that being a
stranger he should get nothing by contending with the Inhabitants of Tamira in their own Countrey he betook himself for Justice to your Majesty humbly demanded the judgment of the Conservator appointed to determine the Causes of the English but was sent back to the Cognizance of that Court from which he had appeal'd Which though in it self not unjust yet seeing it is evident that the Merchants of Tamira make an ill use of your Publick Edict to justify their own private Couzenage we make it our earnest request to your Majesty that according to your wonted Clemency you would rather refer to the Conservator being the proper Judge in these Cases the Cause of this poor Man Afflicted by many Casualties and reduc'd to utmost Poverty to the end he may recover the Remainder of his Fortunes from the Faithless Partnership of those People Which when you rightly understand the business we make no question but will be no less pleasing to your Majesty to see done then to our selves From our Court at Westminster August 1658. To the most Serene Prince Leopold Arch-Duke of Austria Governour of the Low-Countries under Philip K. of Spain Most Serene Lord CHarles Harbord Knight has set forth in his Petition to Us that having sent certain Goods and Houshold-Stuff out of Holland to Bruges under your Jurisdiction he is in great danger of having them arrested out of his hands by Force and Violence For that those Goods were sent him out of England in the Year 1643. by the Earl of Suffolk for whom he stood bound in a Great Sum of Money to the end he might have wherewithal to satisfy himself should he be compell'd to pay the Debt Which Goods are now in the Possession of Richard Greenville Knight who broke open the doors of the place where they were in Custody and made a Violent seizure of the same under pretence of we know not what due to him from Theophilus Earl of Suffolk by Vertue of a certain Decree of our Court of Chancery to which those Goods as being the Earls were justly liable whereas by our Laws neither the Earl now living whose Goods they are is bound by that Decree neither ought the Goods to be seiz'd or detain'd which the Sentence of that Court now sent to your Serenity together with these Letters positively declares and proves Which Letters the said Charles Harbord has desir'd of us to the end we would make it our Request to your Highness that the said Goods may be forthwith discharg'd from the violent seizure and no less unjust action of the said Richard Greenville in regard it is apparently against the Custom and Law of Nations that any Person should be allow'd the liberties to sue in a Foreign Jurisdiction upon a plaint wherein he can have no relief in the Country where the Cause of Action first arose Therefore the Reason of Justice it self and your far Celebrated Enquanimity encourag'd us to recommend this Cause to your Highness Assuring your Highness that whenever any dispute shall happen in our Courts concerning the Rights and Properties of your People you shall ever find us ready and quick in our Returns of Favour Westminster Your Highnesse's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. LETTERS Written in the Name of RICHARD Protector Richard Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene and Potent King our Friend and Confederate SO soon as our most Serene Father Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England by the Will of God so ordaining departed this Life upon the Third of September we being Lawfully declar'd his Successor in the Supream Magistracy tho in the Extremity of Tears and sadness could do no less then with the first Opportunity by these our Letters make known a Matter of this Concernment to your Majesty by whom as you have bin a most Cordial Friend to our Father and this Republick we are Confident the Mournful and unexpected Tydings will be as sorrowfully received Our business now is to request your Majesty that you would have such an Opinion of us as of one who has determin'd nothing more Religiously and constantly then to observe the Friendship and Confedracy contracted between your Majesty and our Renowned Father and with the same Zeal and Good-will to confirm and Establish the Leagues by him Concluded and to carry on the same Counsels and Interests with your Majesty To which intent it is our pleasure that our Embassadour Residing at your Court be empower'd by the same Commission as formerly and that you will give the same Credit to what he transacts in our Name as if it had bin done by our selves In the mean time we wish your Majesty all Prosperity From our Court at White-Hall Septemb. 5. 1658. To the most Eminent Lord Cardinal Mazarine THO nothing could fall out more bitter and grievous to us then to write the Mournful News of our most Serene and most Renowned Father's Death nevertheless in regard we cannot be ignorant of the high Esteem which he had for your Eminency and the great Value which you had for him nor have any reason to doubt but that your Eminency upon whose care the Prosperity of France depends will no less bewail the loss of your constant Friend and most United Confederate we thought it of great moment by these our Letters to make known this Accident so deeply to be lamented as well to your Eminency as to the King and to assure your Eminency which is but reason that we shall most Religiously observe all those things which our Father of most Serene Memory was bound by the League to fee confirm'd and ratify'd and shall make it our business that in the midst of your mourning for a Friend so Faithful and Flourishing in all Vertuous Applause there may be nothing wanting to preserve the Faith of our Confederacy For the Conservation of which on your part also to the good of both Nations may God Almighty long preserve your Eminency Westminster Sept. 1658. Richard Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Charles Gustavus King of the Swedes Goths and Vandalls c. Most Serene and Potent King our Friend and Confederate WHen we consider with our selves that it will be a difficult matter for us to be Imitators of our Fathers Vertues unless we should observe and endeavour to hold the same Confederacies which he by his prowess acquir'd and out of his singular judgment thought most worthy to be embrac'd and observ'd your Majesty has no reason to doubt but that it behoves us to pay the same tribute of Affection and Good-will which our Father of most Serene Memory always paid to your Majesty Therefore altho in this beginning of our Government and Dignity I may not find our Affairs in that Condition as at present to answer to some particulars which your Embassadours have propos'd yet it is
a Chest or two of choice Musick-books of the best Masters flourishing about that time in Italy namely Luca Marenzo Monte Verde Horatio Vecchi Cifa the Prince of Venosa and several others he took his course through Verona Milan and the Poenine Alps and so by the Lake Leman to Geneva where he staid for some time and had daily converse with the most Learned Giovanni Deodati Theology-Professor in that City and so returning through France by the same way he had passed it going to Italy he after a Peregrination of one compleat Year and about Three Months arrived safe in England about the time of the Kings making his second Expedition against the Scots Soon after his return and visits paid to his Father and other Friends he took him a Lodging in S. Brides Church-yard at the House of one Russel a Taylor where he first undertook the Education and Instruction of his Sister 's two Sons the Younger whereof had been wholly committed to his Charge and Care And here by the way I judge it not impertinent to mention the many Authors both of the Latin and Greek which through his excellent judgment and way of Teaching far above the Pedantry of common publick Schools where such Authors are scarce ever heard of were run over within no greater compass of time then from Ten to Fifteen or Sixteen Years of Age. Of the Latin the four Grand Authors De Re Rustica Cato Varro Columella and Palladius Cornelius Celsus an Ancient Physician of the Romans a great part of Pliny's Natural History Vitruvius his Architecture Frontinus his Stratagems with the two Egregious Poets Lucretius and Manilius Of the Greek Hesiod a Poet equal with Homer Aratus his Phaenomena and Diosemeia Dionysius Afer de situ Orbis Oppian's Cynegeticks Halieuticks Quintus Calaber his Poem of the Trojan War continued from Homer Apollonius Rhodius his Argonuticks and in Prose Plutarch's Placita Philosophorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Geminus's Astronomy Xenophon's Cyri Institutio Anabasis Aelians Tacticks and Polyaenus his Warlike Stratagems thus by teaching he in some measure increased his own knowledge having the reading of all these Authors as it were by Proxy and all this might possibly have conduced to the preserving of his Eye-sight had he not moreover been perpetually busied in his own Laborious Undertakings of the Book or Pen. Nor did the time thus Studiously imployed in conquering the Greek and Latin Tongues hinder the attaining to the chief Oriental Languages viz. The Hebrew Caldee and Syriac so far as to go through the Pentateuch or Five Books of Moses in Hebrew to make a good entrance into the Targum or Chaldee Paraphrase and to understand several Chapters of St. Matthew in the Syriac Testament besides an Introduction into several Arts and Sciences by Reading Vrstisius his Arithmetick Riffs Geometry Petiscus his Trigonometry Joannes de Sacro Bosco de Sphaera and into the Italian and French Tongues by reading in Italian Giovan Villani's History of the Transactions between several petty States of Italy and in French a great part of Pierre Davity the famous Geographer of France in his time The Sunday's work was for the most part the Reading each day a Chapter of the Greek Testament and hearing his Learned Exposition upon the same and how this savoured of Atheism in him I leave to the courteous Backbiter to judge The next work after this was the writing from his own dictation some part from time to time of a Tractate which he thought fit to collect from the ablest of Divines who had written of that Subject Amesius Wollebius c. viz. A perfect System of Divinity of which more hereafter Now persons so far Manuducted into the highest paths of Literature both Divine and Human had they received his documents with the same Acuteness of Wit and Apprehension the same Industry Alacrity and Thirst after Knowledge as the Instructer was indued with what Prodigies of Wit and Learning might they have proved the Scholars might in some degree have come near to the equalling of the Master or at least have in some sort made good what he seems to predict in the close of an Elegy he made in the Seventeenth Year of his Age upon the Death of one of his Sister's Children a Daughter who died in her Infancy Then thou the Mother of so sweet a Child Her false Imagin'd Loss cease to Lament And Wisely learn to curb thy Sorrows Wild This if thou do he will an Offspring give That to the Worlds last end shall make thy Name to live But to return to the Thread of our Discourse he made no long stay in his Lodgings in St. Brides Church-yard necessity of having a place to dispose his Books in and other Goods fit for the furnishing of a good handsome House hastning him to take one and accordingly a pretty Garden-House he took in Aldersgate-Street at the end of an Entry and therefore the fitter for his turn by the reason of the Privacy besides that there are few Streets in London more free from Noise then that Here first it was that his Academick Erudition was put in practice and Vigorously proceeded he himself giving an Example to those under him for it was not long after his taking this House e're his Elder Nephew was put to Board with him also of hard Study and spare Diet only this advantage he had that once in three Weeks or a Month he would drop into the Society of some Young Sparks of his Acquaintance the chief whereof were Mr. Alphry and Mr. Miller two Gentlemen of Gray's-Inn the Beau's of those Times but nothing near so bad as those now-a-days with these Gentlemen he would so far make bold with his Body as now and then to keep a Gawdy day In this House he continued several Years in the one or two first whereof he set out several Treatises viz. That of Reformation that against Prelatical Episcopacy The Reason of Church-Government The Defence of Smectimnuus at least the greatest part of them but as I take it all and some time after one Sheet of Education which he Dedicated to Mr. Samuel Hartlib he that wrote so much of Husbandry this Sheet is Printed at the end of the Second Edition of his Poems and lastly Areopagitica During the time also of his continuance in this House there fell out several Occasions of the Increasing of his Family His Father who till the taking of Reading by the Earl of Essex his Forces had lived with his other Son at his House there was upon that Son's dissettlement necessitated to betake himself to this his Eldest Son with whom he lived for some Years even to his Dying Day In the next place he had an Addition of some Scholars to which may be added his entring into Matrimony but he had his Wife's company so small a time that he may well be said to have become a single man again soon after About Whitsuntide it was or a little after that he took
setling of those Affairs In the mean time Almighty God preserve in safety so great a Pillar of his Church and of Swedeland's welfare From our Palace at Westminster July 1656. Your Majesties most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. to the most Serene Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene King our most dear Friend and Confederate CErtain Merchants of London Richard Baker and others have made their complaint in a Petition to us That a certain hir'd Ship of theirs call'd the Endeavour William Jop Master Laden at Tenariff with Three hundre'd Pipes of rich Canary and bound from thence for London in her Voyage between Palma and that Island upon the 21st of November in the year 1655. was taken by Four French Vessels seeming Ships of Burthen but fitted and mann'd like Privateers under the Command of Giles de la Roche their Admiral and carri'd with all her Freight and the greatest part of the Seamen to the East-Indies whither he pretended to be bound Fourteen excepted who were put ashore upon the Coast of Guiney which the said Giles affirm'd he did with that Intent that none of 'em might escape from so Remote and Barbarous a Countrey to do him any harm by their Testimony For he confess'd he had neither any Commission to take the English Vessels neither had he taken any as he might have done before well knowing there was a firm Peace at that time between the French and our Republick But in regard he had design'd to revittle in Portugal from whence he was driven by contrary Winds he was constrain'd to supply his necessities with what he found in that Vessel and believ'd the Owners of his Ships would satisfie the Merchants for their Loss Now the Loss of our Merchants amounts to Sixteen Thousand English Pounds as will easily be made appear by Witnesses upon Oath But if it shall be Lawful upon such trivial Excuses as these for Pyrates to violate the most Religious Acts of Princes and make a sport of Merchants for their particular benefits certainly the sanctity of Leagnes must fall to the ground all Faith and Authority of Princes will grow out of date and be trampl'd under foot Wherefore we not onely request your Majesty but believe it mainly to concern your Honour that they who have adventur'd upon so slight a pretence to violate the League and most Sacred Oath of their Sovereign should suffer the Punishment due to so much Perfidiousness and daring Insolence and that in the mean time the Owners of those Ships though to their Loss should be bound to satisfie our Merchants for the vast Detriment which they have so wrongfully sustain'd So may the Almighty long preserve your Majesty and support the Interest of France against the Common Enemy of us Both. From our Palace at Westminster August 1656. Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England To his Eminency Cardinal Mazarine Most Eminent Lord HAving an occasion to send Letters to the King we thought it likewise an offer'd opportunity to Write to your Eminency For we could not think it proper to conceal the subject of our Writing from the sole and onely person whose singular Prudence Governs the most important Interests of the French Nation and the most weighty Affairs of the Kingdom with equal Fidelity Council and Vigilance Not without reason we complain in short to find that League by your self as it were a crime to doubt most sacredly concluded almost the very same day contemn'd and violated by one Giles a French-man a petty Admiral of Four Ships and his Associates equally concern'd as your Eminency will readily find by our Letters to the King and the Demands themselves of our Merchants Nor is it unknown to your Excellency howmuch it concerns not only Inferiour Magistrates but even Royal Majesty it self that those first Violators of solemn Alliances should be severely punish'd But they perhaps by this time being arriv'd in the East-Indies whither they pretended to be bound enjoy in undisturb'd possession the Goods of our People as Lawful Prize won from an Enemy which they Robb'd and Pilledg'd from the Owners contrary to all Law and the pledg'd Faith of our late sacrd League However this is that which we request from your Eminency That whatever Goods were taken from our Merchants by the Admiral of those Ships as necessary for his Voyage may be restor'd by the Owners of the same Vessels which was no more then what the Rovers themselves thought Just and Equal which as we understand it lies within your Power to do considering the Authority and Sway you bear in the Kingdom From our Palace at Westminster August 1656. Your Eminencies most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces Most High and Mighty Lords our dear Friends and Confederates WE make no doubt but that all men will bear us this Testimony That no considerations in contracting Foreign Alliances ever sway'd us beyond those of defending the Truth of Religion or that we accounted any thing more sacred then to Unite the Minds of all the Friends and Protectors of the Protestants and of all others who at least were not their Enemies Whence it comes to pass that we are touch'd with so much the more grief of Mind to hear that the Protestant Princes and Cities whom it so much behoves to live in Friendship and Concord together should begin to be so jealous of each other and so ill dispos'd to mutual Affection more especially that your Lordships and the King of Sweden then whom the Orthodox Faith has not more Magnanimous and Couragious Defenders nor our Republick Confederates more strictly conjoyn'd in Interests should seem to remit of your confidence in each other or rather that there should appear some too apparent signs of tottering Friendship and growing discord between ye What the causes are and what progress this alienation of your Affection has made we protest our selves to be altogether ignorant However we cannot but conceive an extraordinary trouble of mind for these beginnings of the least dissention arisen among Brethren which infallibly must greatly endanger the Protestant Interests Which if they should gather strength how prejudicial it would prove to the Protestant Churches what an occasion of triumph it would afford our Enemies and more especially the Spaniards cannot be unknown to your Prudence and most industrious experience of Affairs As for the Spaniards it has already so enliven'd their confidence and rais'd their Courage that they made no scruple by their Embassador residing in your Territories boldly to obtrude their Counsels upon your Lordships and that in reference to the highest concerns of your Republick presuming partly with Threats of renewing the War to terrifie and partly with a false prospect of Advantage
own Honour Westm May 1658. To the Evangelick Cities of the Switzers Illustrious and most Noble Lords our dearest Friends HOW heavy and intolerable the Sufferings of the Piemontois your most afflicted Neighbours have bin and how unmercifully they have been dealt with by their own Prince for the sake of their Religion by reason of the Felness of the Cruelties we almost tremble to remember and thought it superfluous to put you in mind of those things which are much better known to your Lordships We have also seen Copies of the Letters which your Embassadors Promoters and Witnesses of the Peace concluded at Pignerol wrote to the Duke of Savoy and the President of his Council at Turin wherein they set forth and make it out that all the Conditions of the said Peace are broken and were rather a Snare then a Security to those miserable People Which Violation continu'd from the Conclusion of the Peace to this very moment and still growing more heavy every day then other unless they patiently endure unless they lay themselves down to be trampl'd under foot plash'd like Mortar or abjure their Religion the same Calamities the same Slaughters hang over their Heads which three years since made such a dreadful havock of them their Wives and Children and which if it must be undergone once more will certainly prove the utter extirpation of their whole Race What shall such miserable Creatures do in whose behalf no Intercession will avail to whom no breathing time is allow'd nor any certain place of Refuge They have to do with Wild Beasts or Furies rather upon whom the remembrance of their former Murders has wrought no compassion upon their Countrymen no sense of humanity nor satiated their ravenous hunger after blood Most certainly these things are not to be endur'd if we desire the safety of our Brethren the Piemontois most Ancient Professors of the Orthodox Faith or the Welfare of our Religion it self As for our selves so far remote we have not been wanting to assist 'em as far as in us lay nor shall we cease our future Aid But you who not only lie so near adjoining as to behold the Butcheries and hear the Outcries and Shrieks of the Distressed but are also next expos'd to the fury of the same Enemies consider for the sake of the Immortal God and that in time what it behoves ye now to do Consult your Prudence your Piety and your Fortitude what succour what relief and safegard you are able and are bound to afford your Neighbours and Brethren who must else undoubtedly and speedily perish Certainly the same Religion is the cause why the same Enemies seek also your Perdition why at the same time the last year they meditated your ruin by Intestine Broiles among your selves It seems to be only in your power next under God to prevent the Extirpation of this most Ancient Scien of the Purer Religion in these remainders of the Primitive Believers whose preservation now reduc'd to the very brink of utter ruin if you neglect beware that the next Turn be not your own These Admonitions while we give ye freely and out of Brotherly love we are not quite as yet cast down For what lies only in our power so far distant as we have hitherto so shall we still employ our utmost Endeavours not only to procure the safety of our Brethren upon the precipice of danger but also to relieve their Wants May the Almighty God vouchsafe to both of us that peace and tranquility at home that settlement of Times and Affairs that we may be able to employ all our Wealth and Force all our Studies and Counsels in the defence of his Church against the Rage and Fury of her Enemies From our Court at White-Hall May 1658. To his Eminency Cardinal Mazarin Most Eminent Lord THE late most Grievous Cruelties and most Bloody Slaughters perpetrated upon the Inhabitants of the Valleys of Piemont within the Duke of Savoy's Dominions occasion'd the writing of the inclos'd Letters to his Majesty and these other to your Eminency And as we make no doubt but that such Tyranny Inhumanities so rigorously inflicted upon harmless and indigent People are highly displeasing and offensive to the most Serene King so we readily persuade our selves that what we request from his Majesty in behalf of those unfortunate Creatures your Eminency will employ your endeavour and your favour to obtain as an accumulation to our Intercessions Seeing there is nothing which has acquir'd more good-will and affection to the French Nation among all the Neighbouring Professors of the Reformed Religion then that Liberty and those Privileges which by publick Acts and Edicts are granted in that Kingdom to the Protestants And this among others was one main Reason why this Republick so ardently desir'd the Friendship and Alliance of the French People For the setling of which we are now treating with the King's Embassador and have made those progresses that the Treaty is almost brought to a conclusion Besides that your Eminency's singular Benignity and Moderation which in the management of the most Important Affairs of the Kingdom you have always testifi'd to the Protestants of France encourages us to expect what we promise to our selves from your Prudence and Generosity whereby you will not only lay the foundations of a stricter Alliance between this Republick and the Kingdom of France but oblige us in particular to Returns of all good Offices of Civility and Kindness And of this we desire your Eminency to rest assur'd Your Eminency's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene and Potent King our most August Friend and Confederate IT being the intention of Thomas Viscount Falconbridge our Son-in-Law to Travel into France and no less his desire out of his profound Respect and Veneration to your Majesty to be admitted to Kiss your Royal hands though by reason of his pleasing Conversation we are unwilling to part with him nevertheless not doubting but he will in a short time return from the Court of so great a Prince celebrated for the resort of so many Prudent and Couragious Persons more nobly prepar'd for great Performances and fully Accomplish'd in whatsoever may be thought most Laudable and Vertuous we did not think it fit to put a stop to his generous Resolutions And though he be a Person who unless we deceive our selves carries his own Recommendations about him wheresoe're he goes yet if he shall find himself somewhat the more favour'd by your Majesty for our sake we shall think our selves Honour'd and Oblig'd by the same Kindness God Almighty long preserve your Majesty in safety and continue a lasting Peace between us to the common Good of the Christian world From our Court at White-May 1658. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Eminent Lord Cardinal Mazarin Most Eminent Lord HAving Recommended to the most Serene King