particular pressure to you relateing thereto pursuant to the Parliaments said comands in order to the obtaining of Justice upon these villains yet when we found our selves disâ—…ppointed in our said expectation and likewise considering the danger which our Merchants and Estates should be alwayes exposed unto â—…or want of a guard against the restlesse malice of their Enemies we have comanded him to represent a fresh our sense of that affair And that he shou'd in the name of this Common-wealth sollicit your taking care of the preservation oâ—… the amity and alliance ratified between this Republick and your Citty and the considerable Comerce which intercedes between both and with all to protect as well our Marchants themselves as their Priviledges without suffering them to be lyable to any violation what ever and that in a particular degree in referrence to One Garmet whose deportment to this Commonwealth has appear'd very insolent and whâ—… to the great dislquiet oâ—… our Merchants and in contempt of this Republick has publickly cited certain Merchants of the English Company resi â—…eing in your Citty into the Chamher of Spire Wherein we depend upon such reparation as may consist with equity and Justice All these Particulars and if there be any thing further that may affect the â—…riendship novv on foot betvveen this Repubblick and your Citty vve have directed the said Resident to vvait upon you vvith Whom vve desire that you give ample Credit unto in such things relating the reto as he shall propose Westwinster 12. March 1651. Subscribed by the Speaker of the House whose 〈◊〉 be fixed thereto To the most serene CHRISTIANA Queen of Sweedland c. the Parliament of England greeting THis comes to your Majesty with an account of our recept and peruseall of your letters dated the 26. of September last from Stokholme directed to and delivered the Parliament of England by Peter Spiering Silvercroon and to intimate that we earnestly and cordially wish that the alliance commerce and great traffick anciently observed between England and Sweedland be permanent and dayly thrive Nor do we doubt but that an Embassadour had come from your Mâ—…jesty furnished with full power of makeing such proposalls as principally tended to the mutuall Intrest and reputation of both Governments and such as we shoud very freely have received from him and that should seem to imply more particularly the health and profit of both and who shou'd have return'd upon the speedy accomplishment thereof But it haveing pleased God The câ—…iefe Moderator of things to remove that person out of this world whose losse we have as bitterly and sharply lamented as consisted with our due deferrence to the will of God beâ—…ore he could have made knowne unto the Parliament the message he came upon from your Majesty the same has kept them hitherto from the knowledge of your Majesties mind so that the further progresse thereof lies under present suspence wherefore we have thought fit to let you know by our Envoy expresly dismissed herewith to that purpose what welcome your Majesty Letters and publick Minister may depend upon from the Parliament of England and how ambitious we are of your Majesties â—…riendshipp as also what weight we shall as we ought be found to lay upon the â—…avour of so great a Prince And our regard to the augmentation of that commerce now in beiâ—…g â—…etween this Government and your Majesties shall appear to be such as we ought to retaine in re errence to a point in it selâ—…e every way valuable and which for that very reason shall be of ultimat acceptance to the Parliament of England in whose name and pursuant to whoseauthority first recommending your Majesty to the protection of God their speaker has fixed their seale and counter signed this letters Dated at Westminster March Anno Domini 1651. The Parliament of the Comonwealth of England To the Most serene and potent Prince Philip the IV. King of Spaine greeting GReat complaints have been made us from such of our people as exercise the faculty of merchandizeing within your Majesties Dominions of great violence and injurious practises and of proportionably new customes imposed upon them by the magistrates and other officers of your respective ports and other places where the trade and more particularly in the Canaery Islands and that contrary to the Articles wherein both Nations have engaged each â—…ther for the Support of Trade The Truth of whick complaints they have by oath made appear and tell us that if in case they are not justly treated and their damages repaired as also their Persons and Estates secured against such oppressions and affronts they purpole to withdraw and trade no longer into those places Which haveing seriously considering and judgeing that the misbehaviours of your Ministers were not at all known or represented to your Maj. otherwise then as they really stood They thought fit to transmit herewith their said complaints to your Majesty not questioning but that your Majesty may out of regard to Justice as the incentive consideration of Trade wherein your own people's as well as the advantage of ours is equally involved be pleased to â—…ssue such directions to your officers as may wean such vexatious practises and that the English Merchants have speedy Justice done them in consideration of the damages sustain'd thro the meanes of Mr Peter de Carillo de Gusman and other persons contrary to the said Articles and that your Majesty may please to order that the said Merchants receive the benefiâ—… of the said Articles and so to be retain'd in your Majesty's Ey as that they in their persons and estates be lyableto no future oppression what ever This they thinke they may in a great measure attaine unto if your Majesty will grant them back again that Charter which protected them in cases of this kind Otherwise they may be for want of a due refuge from Injurys 〈◊〉 to the discontinuance of that comerce which is of no small advantage to both thrô these kind of violations and encroachments upon the Articles of peace To the most Serene Prince the Duke of Venice The Councell of State constituted by the Authority of the Common wealth of England greeting JOhn Dickons and John Throgmorton with severall others of our Merchants have complain'd that haveing pursuant to the constitution Authority of our Admirality Court about the 28. of November 1651. Seized upon a quantity of Camphire of about one handred Fatts on board a certain ship called the swallow under the Command of Isaac Tayler then in the downes but loaded thereon at a place in Muscovy called the Archangel obtein'd according to Law adecrre in that Court directing the delivery of the said Goods to the receipt of the said petitioners upon Caution first enter'd into by them of standing to the award of the Court that the said Court by whom this matter was to be determin'd writ according to Custome to the Magistrates and Judges of Venice praying that John Perat
Great Prince of Finland c. Most Serene Prince AS it is a custome of knowne antiquity especially among friends to admit of an obligation of useing all freedome in communicateing to each other passages of adversity as well as prosperity and comunity so that most delightfull part of friendship relateing to the import of the Letters which Your Majesty has been pleased to give us the honour of is what we cannot but take very kindly Seeing that it is an indication of singular humanity and true Royalty to be as communicable in enjoyments as way of liveing and to believe nothing to be pleasant without it be in community with Friends and Confederates And therefore cannot but justly rejoyce at the birth of a young Prince to his Son to inherit we hope the glory and vertue of so good a King and gladly lay it in parallel with the felicity and glory that befell Philip of Macedone both abroad and at home whom Records cite to have conquer'd the most powerful Greeks at the very time of the birth of his Son Alexander For we do not doubt but that Your kindness to Poland in dischargeing and as it were forceing it by the very strength of Your Army from the papall â—…oke and the establishment of that Peace with Brandenburgh which the desires of all pious men gaped for notwitstanding the storming opposition made to the contrary may conduce very considerably to the peace and advantage of the Church That God may in the mean time bless such Glorious Beginings with suitable Issues that his Gift of a Son may pursue the patern of his Father in Piety Vertue and noble Deeds That which we truly both hope and from our hearts wish the Omnipotent and Great God always favourable to Your undertakings may grant Westminster 1655. Your Majesties most affectionally OLIVER Protector of England c. To the King of Denmarke Most Serene and potent Prince JOhn Freeman and Phillip Traverse Subjects of this Republick have 〈◊〉 their owne and the names of severall other Merchants of London a petition'd humbly complain'd that haveing in the month of October 1653. loaded on board a certain ship of Sunderbrugh called the Salvador Nicolas Winskins Master severall Merchandizes woolen manufacture Cloathes and other woven comodities and Goods amounting according to Estimate to the value of between three and foure thousand pounds sterling charged the said Master that as he sailed thro the Baltique sea he shoud go directly to Dantzick and pay the usuall duty at Elsenor and for the same purpose furnished him with a competent sume of money Yetnotwithstanding t hat the said master most treacherously and contrary to his Instructions from the Merchants pass'd by the said place without dischargeing that duty so that the said ship with her whole loading had hue and Cry sent after them and were arrested to the great damage of the Owners in favour of whom we writ to your Majesties Embassadour then here in London who as they say engaged that as soone as he came to speake with your Majesty he woud endeavour to 〈◊〉 justice done the Merchants But in as much as the said person has been dispatched upon Your Majesties affaires into other Countryes and that their application to him before his departure amounted to nothing so that they were forc't to sen'd an Atturney purposely to sollicit their Right at Hafnia and demand restitution of said shipp and Goods which they also found coud amount to no more then an aggravation of the former Reckoning heape of fruitless trouble upon trouble that the said Goods Ly under confiscation present Restraint notwithstanding that according to the Laws of Denmarke a Master of a ship ought as they seeme to urge in their petition upon any misdedmeanour of his own to suffer corporall punishment exclusive to any confiscation that shipp or Merchandises can be pretended to be liable unto and reckon themselves so much the unkindlyer dealt with all for that the custome which ought to be paid at Essen'or is as we apprehend very inconsiderable Therefore as our Merchants have given no provocation that can be interpreted to the rendering their effects liable to forfeiture and that the Master a little before his death confessed that the neglect was wholly applicable to his proper guilt which exposed the Merchants to so 〈◊〉 damage and in as much as the Parent of the deceased Master himselfe has as we understand by petition already presented unto Your Majesty charged all the blame to his son's account and quitted the Merchants Wee coud not truly decline our condemning the detention of the said 〈◊〉 and goods to be most arbitrary and are so much the more strengthen'd in our confidence that as soone as your Majesty has a clear State of this thing you will not onely award a competent reproofe to the Ministers concernd in these Injuryes but Issue your comands also for the doing the Merchaâ—…ts Right and direct speedy restitution to be made of those Goods and reparation of damages sustaind to the said Owuers or Asfignes Which we instantly pray your Majesties compliance in as a thing guarded with so much reason and justice that we canot appear in the sollicitation of ought on behalfe of our people which we lesse ought to accept of a denyall in as being ready to make suitable returnes on behalfe of your Subjects as often as there is like occasion for 't To the most Serene Prince John the 4. King of Portugal THE Peace and alliance which your Majesties most Noble and splendid Embassy lately sent hither sollicitted the Parliament about which then had the conduct of this Republick in their hand Wee have now at length thro Gods help and pursuant to the 〈◊〉 we hold in the Administration of this Goverment as well as the affection we always bore theteto drawn unto a happy 〈◊〉 and such we hope as may continue to perpetuity And therefore returne you Your Ambassader extraordinary Mr John Roderick de Saa Menesses Count Pennagavad a per son whose Civill carriage understanding prudence and faithfulnesse we have found very eminent and worthy your esteeme and one who haveing discharged this Trust with extraordinary applause comes to you with the Ratification of the said Peâ—…ce As to the Import of your letters of the second of April from Lisbona intimating your good esteem of us how much you tender our honour and the excesse of your Gladnessâ—… at your â—…earing of our present undertakeing in this Goverment the same are apparent indications of singular affection and shall endeavour that all Men may hereafter see from my readynesse to serve Your Majesty at all times that the same is of utmost acceptance unto me Nor am I in the mean time lesse painfull in the preferrence of my expres prayers to God for your safety for the happy State of Your Kingdome and the prosperity of your affaires Your Majestie 's most affectionatlâ—… OLIVER Protector of England Scotland Ireland c OLIVER Protector of the Republick of
Enemys with men and Money that the Massacre aâ—…d destruction executed the last year upon the Protestant Inhabitants of Piedmont were the effects of Spanish Influences that the Protestants of Germany under the subjection of the Emperour underwent intollerable disquiets and with much difficulty held their native habitations That the King of Sweedland whom God we hope raised as a most curagious champion for the Protestant Religion was exposed to the necessity of maintaining with the strength of his whole Kingdome a fowle aud rigid Warr against the most powerfull Enemy that the Reformation has extant how your own Provinces are threatend by the malicious confederacy lately struck by your Neighbours the Papists who are the King of Spaine's Subjects And sinally we who are taken up by the warr declared against the King of Spaine If while things stand thus a misunderstanding shoud happen to arise between you and the King of Sweedlâ—…nd what a sad and lamentable condition shoud Protestancy fall under all Europe over being subjected to the cruelty and fury of inhuman Enemys The consideration of which doth not a little trouble us and believe you to be of the same mind and that you will withall pursuant to the great affection you always expressed on behalfe of the Protestant cause in generall and disposition to the maintaining uninterupted the peace of such as are 〈◊〉 both in their Judgment and desires accommodate your counsells to these considerations which are preferrable to all others whatever and that you will not decline the doing of ought that may conduce to the establishing of a peace between you and the King of Sweedland Wherein 〈◊〉 we can â—…e of any service what ever opinion you may entertaine of our Authority or Intrest we most freely offer you the tender of our endeavour with the same readynesse which we do it to thâ—… King of Sweedland to whom we designe likewise to send an Embassy out of hand to let him know our opinion of this affair And â—…ope that God will incline your minds on both sides to moderat Couucills and prevent the falling out of any thing that may give cause of offence on either hand or carry things to an extremity But that contrarywise both partys endeavour to remove what may offend or Administer matter of Iealousy to to'ther Which if you concurr to you will â—…oth disappoint your Enemys and become a comfor't to your Friends and finally provide plentifully for your owne and the safety of the Republicke And do pray you to rest likewise very confident in this that we as often as we are supplyd with an opportunity for it shall employ our endeavour towards the rendering the united Provinces sensible of the great affection and love we bear 'em Sollicitting God witâ—…all with our dayly prayers that he woud be pleased to bless your Repulick with a flourishing peace riches Liberty and more especially love and true worshipp to the Christian faith From our Court at Westminster August 1656. Your c. OLIVER Protector OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene Prince John King of Portugall Most Serene King THomas Maynard has upon the 11. of July last old stile delivevered into our Receipt your Majesties Ratification of the peace concluded by your Embassador at London as well as of the private and preliminary articles thereof and by letters then transmitted hither from Phillip Meaddaw our Envoy at Lisbona understand that he has deliver'd your Majesty ours likewise pursuant to our direction to him on that behalfe the aforesaid Instruments of Ratification being about the beginning of June last interchanged So that a most firme Peace is confirmed between both Nations From which peace we have derived no small pleasure for that we judged that as it bespeakes a general advantage to both so it doth a proportionable detriment to the comon Enemy Who as they have been the first Inventers of meanes to interrupt the former alliance so they have lefr nothing unattempted to prevent its renovation novv Nor do vve doubt of their slipping any occasion that can be improved tovvards the creating matter of suspicion and offence between Us. Which vve have truly resolved to employ our utmost endeavours and constancy in opposition of yea it 's our earnest desire that the alliance may strengthen our confidence in each other dayly more and more so as to reckon those our Enemys vvho by any artifices shall appear to employ any project tovvards the lesseningh our friendship among ourselves and those contain'd in this Ratification and are verily persvvaded that Your Majesty is much of the same mind And vvhereas Your Majesty has been pleased in it's Letters to Us under the 24. of June nevv Stile and delivered unto our Envoy some days after the mutual exchange of the Instrument concerning the establih't Peace to mention some Clauses of this Treaty vvhich you vvould have alter'd as things vvhich thô of small moment to this Republick in Your Majesties opinion yet of very great consequence to the Kingdome of Portugal We shall be found ready to treat apart about such things as shall be propound on Your Majesties behalfe and settleing such things as shall seeme to either party to conduce to the further strengthening or binding the same Wherein we shall observe such measures as may equally conduce to the satisfaction of Your Majesty and People as our owne and referr to your choice where you will have all these things debated either at London or Lisbona But this Treaty being already confirm'd passed the lawfull Firme of both Nations and mutually interchanged to alter any part of it were to destroy the whole which we know is a thing far from Your Majesties seeking We wish Your Majesty all prosperiâ—…y and happiness From our Court at Westminster August 1656. Your Majesties most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most serene Prince John King of Portugal S. D. WEE have had an account of that base and wicked attempt made towards the Murther of Phillip Meadowes sent hence under the Character of our Envoy to treat with you touching a peace The cruelty of which has appeared so great that his escape is the sole effect of God providence and care of him And do by your Majestys Letters of the 26. of May delivered by Thomas Maynard understand that your Majesty moved at the indignity of the Fact Issued your comands in pursuit of the Assacinates in order to their being brought to condign punishment but do not yet heare of the apprehension of any of them nor that your Comands concerning them signified any thing We have therefore thought fitt to declare openly how much we resent that base and barbarous attempt and the approach it made towards its designe And require that due punishment â—…e executed upon the Authors Confederates and Instruments concern'd in that Villany And the sooner its done and People of honesty utmost integrity aud who
16â—…7 OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Noble Corporation of Lubeck Most Noble Magnificent and worthy Gentleman Dearest Friends WIlliam Jepson Knt a very worthy person and a Member of our Senat proceeds under the character of our publick minister to the most Serene King of Sweedland's Court held not farr distant from yours Do therefore pray that while his Journey happens to continue within the limits either of your Citty or Jurisdiction our alliance and comerce may be inducements to you to aid if need be and protect him We moreover directed him to salute you in our name very kindly and invite you to an assurance of our Clear disposition of mind and 〈◊〉 towards you From our Court at Westminster August An. Dom. 1657. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Noble Magistrates and Senators of the Citty of Hambrugh S. P. D. Most Noble Magnificent and worthy Gentlemen Dearest Friends PHillip Meddow who brings you this takes your Citty in his way to Denmarke whether wee have sent him as our Embassadour to the most Serene King of that Câ—…ntry Whom we earnestly recomend to your favour if in any thinâ—… he may judge it needfull to make use of your Authority or help Praying that our Recomendation be of no less weight now than it was always wont to draw with you who shall 〈◊〉 of nothing from us of an acknowledgment upon a like occasion From our Court at Westminster August An. Dom. 1657. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene Prince Frederick Heir of Norway Duke of Slesvice Holsatia Flormaria Ditmarsia Count in Oldenburgh and Delmenhorst WEe have sent William Jepson to the most Serene King of Denmarke being a Gentleman of a noble Family member of our Parliament to treat with him as our Embassader about an affair that concernes the felicity and prosperity of the peace of Christendome And have among other things directed him to visit and salute in his way shither your in our name and make mention of our former kindness and most constant affection And desire that your Authority may be employed to secure and 〈◊〉 his Journey thrô your Country In which your Highness will oblige us and ours in a more speciall manner to suitable Returnes From our Court at Whitehall August An. Dom. 1657. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene Prince Ferdinando Great Duke of Toskany Most Serene great Duke Dearest Friend APplication has been made unto us by petition in the names of severall Merchants tradeing to the Levant Seas setting forth that one William Ellis master of a certain shipp called the Little Lâ—…wis being by an Otoman Peere hired in the 〈◊〉 of Alexandria to carry Rice Suggars with other comodities thenceâ—… Constantinople or Smirna there to be disposed of to his directions the said person withdrew from the 〈◊〉 fleet and contrary to his Trust 〈◊〉 the said 〈◊〉 to Livorne where he disposes of it as prized Goods Which misbehaviour as it is of utmost 〈◊〉 example of great infamy to the name of Christians and a passage that may expose the fortunes of such English Merchants as live in the Ottoman Empire to Reprizall Wee desire that your Highnese woud Issue your Comands for the apprehension and laying up of the said perfon secureing in the mean time the said shipp and Goods till intimation be transmâ—…tted hence to the said Ottoman Prince of the care taken of the Reâ—…titution of his said Goods Promiseing that if your Excellency shall happen to need the like from us in any Instance of this kind we shall be as ready to answer it as we are now to aske From our Court at Westminster An Dom. 1657. Your Highness's most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene Prince and Lord the Lord Frederick William Duke of Brandeburgh c. Most Serene Prince Friend and dearest Confâ—…derate OUR last to Your Highnesse by William Jepson who either already has or soone may deliver'em will shew you what errand we have sent him upon and how that we could not have done the same without doing you the Justice of inserting som mentions of your vertues and the affection we bear you But to prevent any mans thinking that our notice of these great obligations of yours conferr'd upon the Protestant Interest and celebrated as such in the Report of all Men is the slight effect of ordinary Custome we must â—…ay hold upon the same argument now where tho we cannot be more sincere yet a little more large we have thought fit to be then we have been in our expressions towards Your Serenity And not without cause truly considering that we are dayly told that notvvithstanding all the attempts that are made upon you by the supple address of Trick and artifices yet your constancy and loyalty is found to give no way nor be perswaded to part from the friendship of a most couragious King and Confederâ—…t and that at a time when the condition of Sweedland is such as that it is manifest that your regard to the welfare of the Protestant Religion in general is the onely inducement that keepes you to their Society and no privat end of your owne As also when hem'd in and as it were besieged by private as well as publick enemy peeping from every Corner to continue neverthelesse that steddynesse and comanding-vertue as that the Judgment of the whole matter the Issue of this very great Warr seeme to acquiesce in whatever your shall determine Wherefore your Highnesse has no reâ—…son to question but promise it selâ—…e any thing that may be expected from our friendshipp who woud arraign our selfe of all Delinquency if we did seeme to entertaine cheaper thoug 〈◊〉 of your fidelity constancy and other Merits or seeme less in our acknowledgments to your particular Government upon the comon account oâ—… Religion As to the delay met with by John Frederick 〈◊〉 your Councellour and Embassadour here and our respitting hitherto that reply which according to our inclinations we ought to have made to his proposalls we pray that our Highnesse woud impute the same to the condition 〈◊〉 our affaires and not the said person whose Industry and diligence act and contend for it and rest assured that we looke upon nothing more dear or desireable then to be serviceable and assisting to your affaires so inseperable from the Intrest of the Protestant Religion Wee in the mean time pray in our prayers to to the most Great and Omnipotent God that your apparent vertue and courage may never saile fall under oppression or misse of its due reward and praise From onr Court at Westminster September An. Dom. 1657. Your Highnes's most affectionately OLIVER Protector of England c. To the most Excellent Lord Monsieur de Bourdeux Embassadour extraordinary from his most Serene Majesty the King
crime and as the 〈◊〉 calls for Albeit wâ—… doudt not but that a King naturally pious and just woud unsollicited persorme neverthelesse what we seeme here to desire Whereto what we have to add is to pray that the body be deliver'd to the receipt of his Friends and relations in order to its transportationin to its owne Country and our consulting a little and provideing for the health of his survivers as we shall thinke fit till they accompanid with an answer hereto give us upon their returne if possible an account of your piety and justice herein Westminster Dat. 28. January 1650. To His Excellency Don ANTONIO JOANNI LUDOVICO Duke of Corda Medina Celi Praesident of Andalitia The Councill of State constituted by the Authority of the Parliament of England Greeting THE Person intrusted with the command in chiefe of that fleet sent hence to the Coast of Portugall to persecute â—…d recover the Damages sustein'd from our enemies in those parts hath acquainted us with your Highness Friendship upon the fleets touching upon the Coast of Galicia a place belonging to your Jurisdiction where thy were he saith very curteously used and furnished with all manner of necessary supplies incident to the want of seamen Which kindnes of yours as it has always justly challenged our gratitude so in a more particular manner now at a time when experience acquaints us with the effects of some ill dispositions from abroad towards us un proveoked that we know of We therefore pray you most Illustrious Sir to be pleased not to discontinue the same disposition and affection towards us and that as often as any of our ships may for the future happen to touch at any place in the said Coasts they faile not of the same favour and help Resting in the mean time assured that upon any opportunity occuring and that may be improved to your advantage and service our Returnes shall be suitable Dated at Westminster November 7. 1650. The Council-seale affixed and countersigned By JOHN BRADSHAW President To the Illustrious and Magnificent Senat of Switserland c. Magnificent and most Noble Sirs most dear Friends WEE have by Letters from our Merchants tradeing for Prusia received heavy Complaints of an intolerable and inusual Tax lately imposed upon them by a decree enacted by the great Coudcil of Poland who seeme to have assessed them in the Tenth part of their Estates with a designe of applying the same to tâ—…e support of our enemy the King of Scots Which as it is an act standing indirect opposition to the Laws of Nations to treat Merchants and sttangers after a method of this Make it is also as pregnant with injustice to force such to contribute to the maintenance of one abroad from whose Tiranny divine providence has so lately delivered them at home and consequently do not doubt but that as we know you to be a free People you will not abide or give way to the laying of such Impositions upon Persons whose correspondence and traffique has for several yeares past been of no small advantage to your Citty If therefore you will protect them as Merchants and strangers it is no less then what we may undoubtedly expect as being a thing becoming your justice and prudence and no less suitable to the dignity of your splendid Corporation and what our endeavours shall render you sensible of our acknowledgment of as often as any of your People or Ships which often happens shall need the friendship of our Ports Dated at Westminster February 6. 1650. To the Portugal-Envoy YOurs of the 15. current were delivered us at Hampton Court signifying your being sent from the Crowne of Portugal with a message to the Representatives of the Common-wealth of England but take no notice under what Character whether of an Agent Embassadour Envoy or what which pray resolve us in by remitting us with as much speed as you can Coppys of such Letters and Credentials as accompany you from your King together with an account whether you come with full power to repair such injuryes and makeing Amends for such Damages as your King has been the occasion of involving this Commonwealth in in protecting all the last sumer within your harbours our enemies and Rebels against the assault of our fleet while on the other hand they were at liberty to invade us If you say that you come with full power and directions to answer all these points and that you send the aforesaid Coppies care shall be thereupon taken for your publick and safe accesse unto us who when we peruse the King's Letters shall direct liberty to be given you of expounding the Errand you are sent upon The Representatives of the Commonwealth of England To the most Serene Prince D. FERDINANDO the second Great Duke of Toskany MR Almerico Salvetti your Resident here hath delivered us your Highnesse's Letter dated at Florence the 22. of Aprile plainly shewing the value your Highness retains for the English Nation confirmed by the account we have not onely from such of our Merchants as have for several years lived as Traders iâ—… your Ports but also young Gentlemen of our best Nobility who have had the experience of your Country either by travelling throw or liveing there to gaine the education thereof Which as it is a thing that cannot misse of ouf gratefull approveall so we earnestly pray that you do not withdraw or discontinue the like to such of our Merchants or other our Subjects as may for the future have occasion of travelling thro your Highness's Dukedome Assureing you that as far as it concerns the Parliament nothing shall be wanting that may conduce to the fortifying establishing the commerce and mutuall affection with has time out of minde united both Nations which we truly desire and wish may be perpetually maintain'd with all true endeavours and mutuall observance of both hands reciprocally Westminster 20. January 1651. Subscribed by William Lenthale Speaker to the House of Commons whose Seale he fixed hereto The Parliament of England to the Illustrious and Magnificent Senat of Hamburgh Most magnificent Noble worthy Gentlemen dearest Friends THE Parliament of England to evidence their great disposition to the inviolable observance of the mutual correspondence and commerce antiently held between England and your Corporation hath lately deputed thither Richard Bradshaw Esq to reside with you under the Character of their Resident who among other tâ—…ings relating thereto has it in expresse commands from them to demand Justice upon certain of your People who made an attempt upon the Person of the Minister belonging to the English Company there with a designe we understand of murthering him as also their Deputy who had violent hands laid upon as well as some of the chiefest of the Merchants themselves whom they dared to offer the like affront unto by spiritting them on board a certain Privateer c. And albeit the said Resident hath upon his first Entrance after he had audience given him made
or exercised any Trade or Comerce with any of the Kingdomes Dominions or Jurisdictions belonging in the Crown of Denmarke and Norway should be liable to the Payment of no excess of Castome Taxe Toll Tribute or any other Imposition what ever for the future beyond what the Dutch and all other forreign Nations exerciseing Trade shall or ought to pay and to enjoy with freedome the same full Liberty Priviledges and Imunities in their comeing in stay as well as departure as also their Fishing-Trade and all other circumstances what ever equall and in proportion with any other strangers inhabiting the aforesaid Kingdomes or Empire of the said King of Denmark and Norway which Priviledges the said King of Denmark's and Norway's Subjects shall likewise enjoy throughout all the Provinces and Jurisdictions belonging to the Republick of England The Council of State to the most Illustrious Prince FERDINANDO the II Great Duke of Toskany Greeting Most Illustrious Prince and dearest Friend CHarles Longland Atturney for the English Factory at Livorne as also Your High Resident here haveing comunicated unto us with what affection and sincerity our Merchant-men were protected by Your Highnesse upon their repair to Livorne to escape the designe of Dutch Rovers who breathed nothing but ruine and destruction against them the Council of State 's Letters dated the 31. of July last and come to hand ere this we hope have signified unto Your Highness how grateful so seasonable a piece of kindness as that happened to be was to them where by the same conveyance they transmitted unto Your Highnesse other Papers containing an account of the ground of the controversy now depending between the Parliament of England the States of Holland And upon such advise transmitted from the said Charles Longland of your Highness's further care bestow'd upon the English by warning the Dutch to supersede notwithstanding their industrious sollicitation to the Countrey the said Council has taken the Liberty of signifying unto Your Highness by this conveyance that as your Justice and singular constancy in defending their Ships calls for the height of their esteeme so it likewise doth their gâ—…atitude Which as it is no slight indication of your sound friendship and affection to this Republick so Your Highness may rest Confident that upon any occasion opportunely represented our Returns shall lead your desires that in a method becoming the respect and affection we ow you and yours and that in such a degree as may declare how much we make it our endeavour to render the Alliance between this Government and Your Highnesses both constant and permanent We have in the mean time Issued our strict command to such of our Ships as may happen to call at your ports that they faile not saluteing you with a just Number of Canons and paying you all other imaginable due respect Dated at Whitehal September 2625. Subscribed by the Praesident of the Council whoseseale he fixed thereto TO ALPHONSO DE CARDENAS the Spanish Embassador Most Excellent Sir YOUR Excellencies Letter dated the 5. or 15. November 1652 together with two Petitions inclosed concerning the Ship comonly knowne by the Name of the Samson and Salvador were by Your Secretary upon the 8. Ditto delivered unto and read in Council who appointed the following Answer to both That the said Shipp fell in the English-man's ways super altum mare not in the Downes as Your Excellency seems to have understood it where having sett upon seized her as a Vessell belonging to the Enemy brought her home proceeded against her as a lawful prize in the Admiralty Court to which alone the cognisance of such cases is solely belonging and where the pretences of all parties are audibly and freely debated and lawfully determined We have moreover transmitted Your Excellencies Demand to the â—…udges of the laid Court with directions requireing our being informed concerning what proceedings were made towards the condemnation of thâ—… said Shipp Which when we have satisfaction given us in such further care shall be taken therein as is consistent with Iustice and becomeing the friendship subsisting between this Republick and Your King relying upon a suitable confidence that his Royal Majesty will not suffer himselfe to be made a Cloack of to protect the goods of our Enemies or see us otherwise baâ—…led under the pretence of their owning themselves his Subjects Subscribed by William Lenthal President of the Council whose Seale he caused to be affixed thereto Dated at Whitehal November 11 1652. To the Spanish Embassadour Most Noble Sir BAldid a Comander of one of the Men of War belonging to this Commonwealth having lately advised the Council that being necessitated to put in at a place comonly called by the name of Longone to repair some damages susteind in a Battle of two dayes constant continuance fought in the streights of Gibralter against eleaven Dutch Men of War haveing but three besides himselfe and furnish himselfe and Company with such further supplyes as he wanted for fight the Gouernour of that place acquitted himselfe like a very just and civil Person towards both him and the rest of his Ships And whereas the said place lies within the King of Spain's Dominions the Councill reckons the singular humanity of that Civility effectually demonstrated to be the true plentiâ—…ul Result of the strict alliance so fortunately establish't and so judge it an act becoming them to thanke His Majesty for so seasonable a piece of service and desire Your Excellency to be pleased to signify the same without losse of time to His most Serene Majesty and to assure him of a suitable Returne of friendship and kindnesse upon any occasion that may offer Dated at Westminster November the11 Anno Domini 1652. Signed and sealed by William Masham Praesident of the Council To the most Serene Prince FERDINAND the II. Duke of Great Toscany the Representaâ—…ives of the Commonwealth of England greeting Most Serene Prince and dearest Friend THe Representatives of the Commonwealth of England have received Your Highnesse's Letter dated the 3. of August from Florence touching the Restitution of a Vessell loaded with Rice challeng'd by a Master belonging to Livorns called Cardio and albeit Sentence is already awarded in our Cour of Admiralty against the said Cardio concerning that affair and that the appeal then hung before the Delegate yet upon Your Highnesses interposition the Parliament to shew their opinion of the amity and friendship of so great a Prince comanded those that were intrusted with the management of that affair that that Vessel witâ—… her loadeing of Rice or an equivalent value at least should be restored to the said Captain Cardeo whose Correspondent has since received the effect of the said Comand accordingly And as Your Highnesses Protection to the English Merchants and principally in the Port of Livorne has very much obliged the Parliament of which Your Resident as well as Charles Longland Sollicitor for the English Factorâ—… at Livorne have given us an account
service can be of service to you we are ready to shew our selves not as friends but Brethren Dated at Westminster October Anno 1653. Signed and sealed by the Speaker to the House of Commons To the Spanish Embassador Most Illustrious Sir UPon the receipt of a petition in the names of Philip Noel John Goddall and other Merchants belonging to Foy in England heavily bemoaning that a ship of theirs called the Ann of Foy of their own buildding in England was about Michaelmas last most injustly sett upon and seised by a certain privateer belonging to Ostend comanded by Erasmus Bruerus who in his way homewards seised her loading wholly belonging to the petitioners and treated the marriners unworthily and barbarously The Councill of State thereupon writ to the Duke of Leda a copy whereof comes herewith to your Excellency and expected that he woud according to justice and equity make speedy inquiry into that affair But the said Noel and the rest of the Petitioners renewing their said heavy complaint and urgeing that although the said Duke had our said letters delivered him and that the said Merchants repaired since to Bruges where at the Admiralty Court they made proofe of their cause and the integrity of their Claime but that Justice is neverthelesse denyed 'em and they exposed to so unjust useâ—…ge That albeit the case has stood ready for determination any time these three monthes and more yet coud not obteine the sentence of that Court but that their said shipp and goods are still nevertheless under the same Restraint and they themselves from this delay of Justice exposed to considerable expences in the prosecution of their Right Your Excellency is not ignorant of its being contrary to the Laws of Nations as well as the Tearmes of Trade and correspondence â—…ow existent between the English and Flanders that any Osteender shoud offer to touch any English ship provided shee be loaded with Euglish goods and bound for England and that the said Captain 's inâ—…umane and barbarous useage of the Marriners ought to be severly punished The Councill therefore recommends the case to your consideration and prays that you woud write to Flanders about it and endeavour that speedy care be taken that this busynesse be no longer prolonged but that Justice be done as that the said shipp and Goods together with the damages expences and loss which the said English have susteind upon the score of that injust interception be by the Authority of the said maritime Court of Brussels or some other good manner restored them and provision made against any such future interception but that the correspondence now in being betvveen England and France be supported vvithout any Interruption Signed and sealed by the direction of the Councill of State appointed by the Parliament To the Duke of Lisle PHillip Noel John Gadâ—…ll with severall other Merchants belonging to the Towne of Foy haveing made large complaints unto us concerning a Ship of theirs called the Ann of Foy representing that the said Ship Anne built and loaded at their sole and peculiar cost and charges was about Michaelmas last in her way homewards unawares sett upon seised by one Erasmus Bruerus a Master of a shipp belonging to Ostend They moreover say that the Osteenders when they gott the vessell into their possession misused the marriners very inhumanely by dipping and almost stiffleing'em to prevent their telling of Tales and disposed of the goods as if they were French propriety Which albe it the Master as well as the Mariners positively denyed to be yet the Ostenders carried both Ship and Goods to their owne homes The truth of these things has upon inquiry made and the testimony of sworne witnesses been proved as is evident by the Certificate herewith sent In as much therefore as the said Ship called the Anne of Foy witth all the Goods truly properly and bonafide bâ—…longed to the English so as that there appears no cause why they of Ostend shoud lay violent hands on her or them much lesse touch the Master or expose the Seamen to so much hardship and whereas the constitution of the Laws of Nations and the alliance now existent between England and Flanders call for the restitution of the said Shipp and Goods wee earnestly desire Your Excellency that timely Right be done the English in haveing their owne forthvvith returned 'em and satisfaction made for the dammages they suftein'd and that the Trade and Commerce vvhich novv interceede betvveen England and Flanders may be supported firme aâ—…d permanent To the Spanish Embassador WHereas the Representatives of the Commonwealth of England being informed that great many People about Towne relating as well to Your Excellency as other Embassadours and forâ—…eign publick Ministers attending here resort to Your as well as other Houâ—…es under the pretence of hearing Masse Gave it in strict charge to the Counâ—…il to observe to Your Excellency that as the â—…aid practice tends to the expresse prejudice of the Laws of this Nation and of proportionable â—…ll example and offence to the Government They judged it abranch of their ossice to prohibit such a practice for the future and declare their dislike of such Assemblies for the ensuing time Whereof we desire Your Excellency to take notice and suffer none of the Subjects of this Republick to frequent Your House for the time to come to hear Masse And as the Parliament shall take due care to have the Right of Embassadors as well as their Priviledges secured inviolable to Your Excellency so they depend upon no encroachments to be made by You or Yours upon the Lawes of the Land dureing Your abode therein An Abstract of the particular Damages Susteind by the English East India Company thrò the meanes of the Dutch in severall places of the East Indies Imprimis THE Damages conteind in the 16. Articles lately exhibitted amounting in pieces 〈◊〉 291555. in Sterling make-73638 lb 15 ss 2. Satisfaction is expected for the Croppariseing from the â—…sland of Pularon from between the year 1622. to this time amounting in value to two handred thousane preces 5 8 besides future expence till the same be restored as it was when it was taken from us and that according to articles of agreement Which in sterling is 50000. lb 0 0. 3. Wee expect satisfaction for all those Sea prâ—…visions and apparell aken from the English in the Indies by the Dutch Factory delivered to or forc'd from their ships in their going to or returning thence Amounting to 10635. Royalls and in sterling 30158 lb 0. 4. Wee expect satisfaction for the Custom of all Dutch comoditys imported into exported out of Persia from the year 1624. according to the King of that Countryes Grant unto us which we canot calculat at lessâ—…n value then eighty thousand Royalls 20000. lb 0. 0. 5. Wee expect satisfaction for the reparation of four houses most malitiously and unjustly destroyed at Jocatra together with warehouses and other necessarys occasioned by the
Corporations a considerable Reliefe advantage in a matter of this consequence as being truly bent upon all opportunity administred by God which we shall not thro the good help of the 〈◊〉 God decline the doing our part in the improvement of We cannot in the mean time without very great griefe observe unto Your Highnesse with what inclemency the Duke of Savoy persecutes such of his Subjects as inhabitingabout the Alps professe the Protestant Religion and whom he has not onely 〈◊〉 as many of as denyed to embrace the Roman Religion to quit their nature Country and abandon all their Possessions but also set upon them with his Forces who exposed many to most cruel murthers dispatched others with barbarous and invented Tortures and drove great Multitudes of 'em into the mountains there to be consumed with hunger and cowld having sett fire to their Houses and goods if these Butchers did chance to leave any unplunderd for want of conveyance And are very apt to believe that Your Highnesse could not decline being much displeased at so great a cruelty when first you heard it which I presume may be some time past and that you did what you could towards the Reliefe assiâ—…tance of those miserable wretches if inhuman Murthers and Miseries have left any surviveing We have writ to the Duke of Savoy to divert his Rage from off his People as also the King of France that he might do so too together with the neighbouring Protestant Princes to let them understand how we resented so inhumane an instance of cruelty Which albeit it was begun upon these needy wretches yet its designe seemes to extend to all that are of the same Judgment in Religion And so heightens the necessity conveyed unto them so much the morâ—… of taking care of hemselves and consulting the welfare of all their Friends Which pursuant to that light which God has inspired us with shall always be the very levell of our pursuit A thing Your Highness may depend upon the sincerity of as that of our love and affection wherewith we heartily wish you a properous issue in all things Praying that all Your Enterprises and Approaches towards the asserting the Liberty of the Gospel and its adherents may determine happily Whitehall May 1655. OLIVER Protector c. To the most Serene Prince Charles Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweedland Greeting YOur Majesty has ere this and to Your great trouble we presume had an account of that most bitter Proclamation reported to have bâ—…en lately published whereby the Duke of Savoy has afflicted to the marrow such of his Subjects inhabiting about the Alpes as stile themselves Reformed Protestants and directed that if in case they did not renounce their owne and embrace the Roman Catholick Religion within twenty dayes they should be rooted out of their Native Country habitations so that after the murther of many the rest plunder'd exposed to invented Deaths they wander now with their Wives and small Children over the wild Mountains in a continual Winter Consum'd witâ—… hunger and cowld For the universall hatred of the contrary party even unto all Protestants Demonstrates that albeit they differ in some frivolus things among themselves their cause and intrest yet in the main ought to be the same and almost one And there is none but knowes that how upon all occasions the Kings of Sweedland have joyned with the Reformed and powred their Forces into Germany to defend without distinction the Protestant Religion there Wee therefore and that with more then ordinary earnestnesse pray that Your Majesty would in the first place if You have not already done it in imitation of Us and other Protestant Republicks write to the Duke of Savoy concerning this matter and endeavour to reverse if it be possible by the interposition of Your Authority the severitd of this so cruel a proclamation from off of a People that are innocent as well as religious For these so cruel beginnings what do they mean what may they threaten Us all is a thing which we judge very unnecessary to advise Your Majesty of If this man will sligth all our prayers to gratify his owne peevish humour truly we shall after haveing first conâ—…ulted with Your Majesty and the rest of the Protestant Princes as we ought â—…f there be any obligation any love or community of Religion to be regarded or observed fix upon some speedy resolution that may serve timelily to prevent the miserable destruction of a multude of our most innocent Brethren destitute of all help Which as vve do not in the least question to have beeu Your Majesties sense and resolution too nothing can in our opinion be more adviseable in this point than that vve all vvithout the least losse of time unite our povver Council Purses and if there be any thing else that can be judged to stop the further groâ—…vth of this evil In the mean time we heartily recommend Your Majesties to the Tuitionof the most great omnipotent God OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England to the high and mighty Lords the States Generall of the united Provinces RUmor and the frequent advices and Tideings which letters bring you from your correspondents abroad have ere this we judge informed you of the Duke of Savoyê°s late proclamation issued against such under his subjection about the Alpes as have been antient professors of the Protestant Religion by verture of which proclamation they unlesse they embrace the Roman Catholick Religion â—…ithin twenty daâ—…s are comanded to quit their Lands and houses being first stript of all they have besides â—…nd with what cruelty the Authority â—…f tâ—…at Edict has tyranyzed over inocent persons and which very much concernes us our helplesse friends and Brethren in Christ. Many of them being destroyed by a Limb of his forces appointed to that purpose the rest plundred forc't from home so that they with their wives and smalle Ones have been for some time driven into the roughest of mountains covered with continual snow where they now labour under the oppression of hunger cowld But your concernednesse whereat how you Symphathyzed these calamities of our Brethren is a thing we can easily guesâ—… at by our own griefe which is truly very great For we that are but One as it were in point of Religion why should not we be equally such in our concernednesse at so unworthy a misuseage of our Brethren And truly many are the experiences of your apparent piety to the Orthodox people in times of oppression and no lesse favourable to many Ecclesiasticall difficultys and adversitys As for my part I had if I know my owne mind rather been outon in any thing elce then in love and charity to Brethren labouring under affliction and persecution upon the account of their Religion For that I would freely give way to the health repose of the Church in preferrence to my owne par ticular safety What we coud therefore hitherto act in it was to writ
this very worke will make a thro conquest over the harts of all the Protestants inhabiting your owne Dominions who in times of difficulty have been already found of unexceptable affection and loyalty towards you as well as shevv your Neighbours that Royall Councill has no vvay abetted to this Mischiefe whatever Royall Ministers and Magistrates might presume to have done Especially if your Majesty exacts due punishment to be examplified upon those Captains and Officers who pursuant to their owne Wills and Pleasures have dared to be the Actors of such inhumane villanys In the mean time when your Majesty will thinke fit to shew your aversnes to the detestation this deserves I do not doubt but that your Kingdome may by your allowance become a reception and secure refuge to those miserable and distressed People when their address shall seeme to call for 't nor that you will suffer that any of your Subjects give the Duke of Savoy any assistance to their prejudice What we have to add is to assure your Majesty how much I esteeme your friendship To the improvement of which I assert to be wanting neither in faith nor â—…ndeavour I am your Majesty's most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England Whitehall July 29. 16â—…5 To his Excellency Cardiual Mazarine Most eminent Lord Cardinall Upon my resolveing to send the bearer with Letters whereof the inclosed is a Copie to the King I did then direct him to accost your Eminency in my Name and committed some things to his Trust to be comunicated to you in particular Wherein I desire your Excellency to give him full Credit as being a person in whom I have reposed very great confidence Whitehall July 29. 1655. Your Eminency's most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c. OLIVER Protector c to the most Serene Prince Frederick the 3. King of Denmarke Norway c greeting YOur Majesty has erè this we judge and that as much to your griefe as becomes a champion and a Protestant Prince had an account of the unmercifull proclamation lately published by Imanuel Duke of Savoy for the overthrow of his own Subjects inhabiting about the Alpes inocent People and men of note and Renowne and that for the sincerity of their Zeale to the true Protestant Religion for many yeares past haveing driven them out of their native Land out of detestation to their Faith and after butchering many exposâ—…d the rest needy naked and loâ—…ded with all other miserys unto all the mischiefs and hardships which those desered mountains usually administer If the principles of Christianity layes an obligation upon us in generall to resent or Sympathize the sufferings of any particular scanâ—…leing thereof we do not if well acquainted with your piety prudence know of any that can clearlyer foresee what danger the example and consequence of this Fact bespeakes us all as well as the protestant Intrest then your selfe Wee have therefore exercised all freedome in our letters to let you know that however you resent this calamity of our most inocent brethren what opinion or judgment we expect you may entertaine of it the same shoud be a paterne for our imitation And for that reason have writ to the Duke of Savoy where we earnestly prayed that he wou'd treat the poore and meeke more spareingly and prevent the said bloody proclamation's being of any further Force Which if your Majesty and the rest of the Protestant Princes have imitated or otherwiâ—…e perform'd as we believe you have it is to be hoped that the most Serene Duk 's fury may be allayed and this his Rage appeased at the intercession and Instance of so many Neighbouring Princes at least But if he will rather choose to continue his resolution we declare our readynesse to joine with your Majesty the rest of our Confederats concern'd for the â—…ntrest of the Protestant Religion in such a resolution as may provide for their speedy Reliefe srom their distresse and do what we can for their sasety and Liberty Our prayers in the mean time bespeake your Majesty all health and happynesse Westminster May 1655. OLIVER Protector c. To the most Noble Magistrates and Senators of Geneva OUr Letters lately send you to shoud have intimated the very great griefe conveyed unto us from the vast and unheard of calamitys to which the Duke of Savoy has exposed the Protestants inhabiting in and about the Vallyes of Piedmont did we not then make it more our businesse to let you know that we were not onely concern'd at such their miserys as it was our care to provide all we could for their reliefe and comfort Wherefore we have caused a Collection to be levyed over all this Republick which we justly expect may prove such as may expresse the passionat affection which this Land bear to their Brethren ' in time of such most inhumane persecution And as we are One in point of Religion so we ought to admit of a fellowfeeling of their Calamityes In the meane time while the Collection is a raising which will take up time And considering that their want and helplessnes canot admit of any delay we have judged it necessary to transmit with all imaginable speed to be before hand distributed among 'em who shall appear most to need present help comfort the present sum of 2000. li But in as much as wee know how much the miserys and Injurys done Inocencyl affect you and that you will looke upon nothing either painfull or troublesome that may tend to their help and assistance we have ventured the transmitting the said sume to you to be distributed among these calamitous people and give you the trouble of considering in your piety and prudence of the justest method pursuant to vvhich that money may be soonest disposed of among the needyest of those people And albeit the sume is truly small Yet some vvhat it may be at least tovvards their present Ease and refreshment till vve grovv able to enlarge our charity by sending them a greater sume And as vve doubt not of your accepting of this employment in good part so vve pray the Omnipotent Great God to furnish his ovvne Protestant people vvith the courage of desending each other in common and of being a mutuall assistance to each other against the barbarity of their enemy vvherein vve shoud be gladd that our endeavour might be of any use to the service of the Church Adieu Fifteen hundred pounds of the said sume of two thousand remitted by Gerard Hensh to Paris the other five hundred shall be taken care of by Master Stoupely in bills of exchange OLIVER Protector of England c. To the most Serene Prince Duke of Venice Most Serene Prince As we have been always found manifest 〈◊〉 of your Outdoing your Enemys in Instances 〈◊〉 to the promotion of the Christain Interest more particularly so now more especially at the tydeing of the late Sea-battle which we no way repine at the success of
altho it seemes as we are inform'd to have happend some thing to the detriment of our people For certain of our Traders namely William and Daniel Williams with Edward Beale Merchants have by petition humbly represented unto us that a ship of theirs called the Great Prince employed for their account to Constantinople was there ptessed by the Grand Signeur's Ministers and employed to transport Provision and Soldiers to Crete in which constrain'd Service vvhile sailing vvas among others of the Turcks Fleet vvhich happend to engage vvith the Venetians taken carryed to Venice and by the Gourt of Admiralty there condemn'd to the use of the publicke As the said shipp therefore vvas contrary to the approvall and knowledge of her Owners forc't into the Turcks Service and that he cou'd not disintangle himselfe out of the 〈◊〉 being loaded with Soldiers we earnestly intreat Your Serenity to repeal out of regard to 〈◊〉 alliance the sentence of that admiralty Court and take care of the restitution of the said shipp haveing no way deserved ill of your Republick to her Owners The allowance of which we have no reason to dispair 〈◊〉 obtain atour request especially when we find the Merchants themselves entertain so good an opinion of your Clemency And therefore hartily recommend your great Councills and the affairs of Venice both by sea and Land to the happy guidance of God Almighty I am Westminster 1655. Your Serenity's and the Republick of Venice's very affectionately OLIVER Protector OLIVER Protector of the Comonwealah of England to the most Serene Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene King SAmuel Mico William Coran George Poyner with severall others of 〈◊〉 Merchants have shewed us by their humble petition that they in the year 1650. 〈◊〉 on board a certain shipp called the Unicorne a very considerable part of their Estates and that the same Shipp with her feight of raw silcks Oyles and other goods amounting by their Estimate to no lesse then four and thirty thousand pounds sterling was by two of your Men of Warr set upon and taken in the â—…ranea Sea that Our Subjects wou'd not out of regard to the peace that was then between the English and the french make any violent defence but referr to the maritime Laws as being induced thereto by the promisses of Paul Terrer the Comanders of the said Men of Warr who engaged to dismisse the shipp upon peruseall of her bills of loading That the said Merchants employd moreover sent into france an attorney to sollicit the restitution of the said ship and Goods where after the expence of three yeares and more when matters were brought to that maturity as that there was nothing 〈◊〉 to be done but to award sentence for restitution his Emenency Cardinall Mazarine owned unto Hugh Morelly their Attorny that the Merchants had wrong done 'em and undertooke that they shou'd have satisfaction done 'em as soone ever as the peace between both nations and the alliance then under Treaty was ended and ratified Yea his Excelleecy the Lord de Bordeaux your Majesties Embassadour has lately confirmed the same in express words pursuant to your Majesties comands seconded by those of the Councill and that the said shipp and Goods and the peculiar demurr under which they lay shoud be taken into consideration a part from those other controversys provided for the decision of by the generall Import of the Treaty Of which promise the said Embassadour him selfe who by good luck has repaired home upon occasions of his owne can bear Testimony Upon the allowance of such strong presumptions and that the Right of these Merchants in the repetition of their Goods lies so clear It 's our earnest request to your Majesty that they be put off no longer and that you woud be pleased at our Instance to render your compliance herewith the leading fruits of the Treaty lately revived and restablish't Which wee confide in the effect of wishing that the Omnipotent Great God may influence your selfe and Kingdome with all imaginable felicity Westminster December 1655. Your Majesties most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of England c. To the Evangelicall Cantons of Svvitzerland THE account transmitted unto us from our Commissioners at Genova concerning your publick proceedings as well as the substance of your Letters of the 27. of December from Tigur sufficiently informe us in the posture of your affaires being none of the best we doubt wherein albeit we apprehend to our trouble that your peace so long continued collaterall alliance is dissolved into a Rupture yet nothing appearing applicable to your fault the Iniquity perversnesse of your Enemys may we doubt not furnish you with an opportunity of repeating your knowne disposition constancy to the Protestant Religion For the Swiâ—…zers who condemn for Traytors any who turne to our Religion what have they attempted what have their practises been to raise malitious spirits against the Orthodox Faith is a thing that can escape the knowledge of none who has not totally forgot that most unworthy Massacre comitted upon our Brethren at Piedmont Wherefore dearest Friends forget not your former wont rouse up in Gods Name yeeld not your Reights Friends your Liberty of Conscience and conscience it selfe to be trampled in the dirt under the heels of incroaching Idolatrous Prepare your selves therefore that you may not seeme to looke like Men who cared not how the World went so they themselves were well but such as reckon the sufferings of their Neighbours their Owne especially theirs of Piedmont help and comfort those most distressed People all you can Assureing your selves that your own sides were darted at and their deaths and blood made but an Inled of to reach you As for my part know that your safety and prosperity are no lesse the Subject of my care and trouble than if this Massacre had been executed within the Bowels of this Republick and as if the Switzers Axes and Drawen Swords as they truly are against all Protestants were ready to fall upon our own Necks No sooner had we therefore had an account of your condition the virulency of your Enemys but we presently entred into a strict consultation with persons of very great worth knowne piety and affection to the Church in order to the makeing such provision for your subsistence as the posture of our owne affairs at home cou'd bear and came to such a determination as you may know from our Comissary Mr Pell What I have to add is the continuance of our petitions to Almighty God that he wou'd be pleased to stand by and guide all your councills and take under his more particular conduct and defend by peace or warr which he thinkes most adviseable this your most just Cause Westminster January 1655. Yours c. most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c. OLIVER P. of the Republick of England To the most Serene Prince Charles Gustavus by the Grace of God King of Sweedland Gothes and Vandalls
England to the high and mighty States of Holland c. High and mighty Lords dearest Friends THomas Bushell and Richard Bear with severall other of our Subjects have made their joint complaint unto us setting forth that a shipp of theirs called the Edmond and John did being set upon in her way between Brasile and 〈◊〉 submit to the assault of a certain Privateor belonging to Vlushing called the Red Lyon whose Comander went by the name of Lambert Bartelson but upon such conditions and Tearmes 〈◊〉 by the said Lamberts hand and seale as that upon their arrivall at Vluissing restitution shoud be made of such Goods as shoud appear to belong unto the English That upon their arrivall there the shipp was acquitted and the seamen their respective goods restored them but the Merchants effects taken out and exposed to imediat sale That they namely the Merchants who had this affront put upon did upon their repair to Vlushing to demand their effects at the Admiralty Court there after five yâ—…ares expensive prosecution loose the cause with vast charges thro amost wicked sentence awarded against them by those Judges namely they who concern'd in the said Privateer were themselves both Juges and Jury in the thing That they have no other hope left 'em except it be in your equity and incorrupted uprightnesse which they now at length fly unto whom they judge some reliefe favour from if back'd with our 〈◊〉 of their complaint to you And truly this is a thing pardonable in the people if in so great a hasard of their fortunes as this seemes to be they under an uuiversall dread from all hands consider what they ought to fear from your power and authority as wel as what they were to hope from the integrity of Judges especially in a case where they were themselves 〈◊〉 We do not doubt but that the influence you are under of Religion Justice and Integrity may in preferrence to any sollicitation of Ours become an Incentive to you of comeing to such a determination herein as you may 〈◊〉 to consist with Equity and justice and an act that may become you God preserve both your selves and Republick to tâ—…e service of his Glory and the comfort of his Church Westminster April 1. 1656. OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Comonwealth of England To the most Serene Prince Charles Gustavus King of Sweedland Gothes and Vandalls Great Prince of Finland Duke of Esthon Carelia Bremen Verda Stetin Pomerania Cassubia and Vandalia Prince of Russia Lord of Ingry Wismar as also Count Pallatine of the Rhine Bavaria Jul Clevia and Duke of the Mounains c. Most Serene Prince PEter Julius Coitus haveing discharged his Embassy here and so discharged it as that I thought it a thing unfit to dismisse him hence without accompanying him with my opinion of his just merits which he now returnes to your Majesty with as being a person who upon your score who have a just Right to our highest esteeme was as well as for that of his owne meritts very acceptable unto us and no lesse praise worthy by the most dilligent discharge of this Trust. Therefore we freely certify if any Testimony can add thereto that he has answerd that character which he brought Us as your Majestys most just gift to him who may with the same fidelity and integrity relate the singular respect which we bear towards your Majesty What we have to add is to breath our wishes to the Omnipotent Great God to bless your Majesty with all prosperity and continue the influence of your victorys over the enemys of the Church to perpetuity Westminster Aprill 17. 1656. Your Majestie 's most affectionately OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England To the most Serene and potent Prince Lewis King of France S. D. APplication being by petition made us in the names of John Dethicke present Lord Mayor of tâ—…is Citty of London and William Wackfield Merchant setting forth that haveing about the Calends of the month of October Auno 1649. loaded a certaine shipp called the 〈◊〉 of London one Ligâ—…tbagh Master the whole freight consisting of their owne proper goods to be transported to Ostend the said shipp was seised upon in the mouth of the River of Thames carryed away and disposed of at Dunkirk then under the obedience of the Crowne of France and that by the contrivance of a certaine Privateer called White belonging to Berkin who exerciseth piracy by vertue of a Comission from the son of Charles the late deceased King contrary to the purport of your Majestâ—…s proclamations published to the contrary Annis 1647. and 1649 besides some resolutions of Councill in favour of the Parliament of England whereby they understanding that the transportation of any Goods or ships taken from the English dureing that 〈◊〉 into any place under your Majesties jurisdiction or suffered to be in any such place exposed to sale was provided against as unlawfull dispatched Hugh Morrell their solliciter to Dunkirke with directions to apply to Mr Lestrado Governour of that Citty and demand restitution of the said shipp and Goods as knowing that they were in a great measure yet untoucht in Towne who upon such application replyed not like a gentleman nor one that woud seem to be very observable of the Comands of his prince that his present employ was a benefit comferr'd upon him in consideration of publick past services perform'd in the King of France s Service that he therefore intended to make as much improvement thereof as he coud as if comisionated to Robb his neighbours Upon which disappointment the said sollicitour after a great expence both of money and time comeing home the petiâ—…ioners destitute of all other hopes other then what they imagin'd they might meet with upon appeal to your Majesties Clemency and Justice and believing that our recomendatory Letters in their favour might render their access to your Majesty more facile pray that you woud not decline your help from a people robbed in defiance of all Justice and in derision of your repeated Comands to the Contrary Which if obtainable at our importunity albeit it is truly a thing which seemes ver equitable yet we shall believe it to be rather the effect of your naturall 〈◊〉 to Justice then the fruit of my soâ—…licitation Westminster May 1656. Your Majestie 's most affectionately OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c. To the high and mighty Lords the States General of the United Provinces S. D. High and mighty Lords Dearest Friends IOohn Browne Nicolas Williams with other Londoners have in a Petition humbly shewed unto us that having severally ventured to the East Indies by the Ship Good Hope of London then bound thither directed their Correspondents at Amsterdam about the Month of February 1644. to ensure there two thousand and forty Pounds Flemish That the
been found very easy and expedient and of a considerable advantage to your Highnesses and the other Provinces yet no part of the said settlement has been made good to this day altho sought with much sollicicitation So that he the said van den Brooke and la Maire being tired out with delays that affair lawfully descended to the said William Cooper our subject who out of a desire of receiveing the effects of his Father in Laws Industry applyed unto us by petition praying that we woud recomend this his Request to the consideration of your Mighty Highnesses which we thought unsit to deâ—…y ' him in Wherefore make it our friendly request to Your Mighty Highnesses that you would please to give a fair hearing to the petition of the said William Cooper and take care that the stipulated Reward of Industry and so just a stipend and for so many yeares past with a yearly 〈◊〉 fot the time to come be paid him Which as we doubt not of your Mighty Highnesses free allowance of as a just thing and worthy Your Bounty so we shall be on ouâ—… part ready to shew the like just disposition to your People in their Requests as often as we are in that nature applyed unto From our Court at Westminster September Anno Dom. 1656. I am your mighty Highnesses most affectionally OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene Prince Lewis King of France Most serene King Friend and dearest Confederate IT is with violence to our inclination that so many complaints of ours against the injustice of your Subjects should happen to pursue the peace reestablish't vvith Your Majesty But as vve are confident that our sufferings are no vvay the effects of your consent so vve cannot be vvanting to the Complaints of our People It is evident that the Capture of the Ship Anthony of Deepe vvas lavvful prize if the Sentence of our Admiralty Court be consulted vvith vvhich says that her seisure happen'd before the Treaty vvas concluded Part of vvhich Prize to the number of about four thousand Hides more or lesse Robert Browne Merchant of London bought of those vvho had the overseeing of the publick sale Upon his sending selling â—…d calling for the price of about tvvo hundred of vvhich Hides from a certain Skinner at Deepe he complaines that the same vvas stopt and arrested in his Correspondents hands a quarrel fastend upon him so that he cannot attain to Justice in that Court Wherefore vve have thought fit to desire Your Majesty to cause the vvhole matter to be brought before your Council and that mony disengaged from that most uâ—…just restraint For if vvhat vvere comitted before the conclusion of the Peace shall be liable to be called into question and Judgment after its confirmation We do not see vvhat a Treaty can signify For there can be no end of quarrels of this kind if some severe punishment be not timely avvarded these frequent Peace-Breakers vvhich vve hope Your Majesty vvill take speedy care to see done Whom God honour vvith his most holy Defâ—…nce â—…om our Pâ—…llace at Westminster September 1656. Your Majesty's most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince John King of Portugall Most Serene King THe peace between this Republick and the Kingdome of Portugall being now transacted and all due provision and 〈◊〉 â—…ken of Trade Wee have thought it a thing 〈◊〉 and necessary to dispatch the bearer Thomas Maynard to your Majesty to act in your Kingdome as Consul to hear and determine matters of debate usually ariseing amongst Merchanâ—… But in regard it often fâ—…lls out that the nature of his employ may necessâ—…rily require 〈◊〉 to your Majesty relateing as well to the Intrest of this Nation as Trade in generall Wee desire your Majesty that as often as he has occasion of being hâ—…ar'd you will please to allow him the liberty of approaching to and being heard by your Majâ—…sty which shall pass with us for an evident argument and singular Testimony of your esteeme of us That the omnipotent great God may in the mean time prosper all your Majestys undertakeings From our Court at Westminster October 1656. Your Majestie 's most affectionately OLIVER Protector of England c. To the King of Svveedland Most Serene aâ—…d Potent King ALbeit your Majesties wonted and naturall disposition to men of merit is such as to reckon all additionall comendations unecessary yet we coud not dismiss this worthy Gentleman Sir William Vavasor Knight a person of note in warlike discipline and now upon his Journey towards you with out accompaining him with the trouble of a letter to your Majesty Our freedome in the doing of which was prompted so much the morâ—… when we were tould that much of his time blood has been spent in the pursuit of your service and in many battells fought on your behalfe So that the late Kings of Sweedland have in consideration of his warlike skill and true courage often exerted in warr settled Landsand annuall Pensions upon him Nor do we doubt but that he may be of future great use to your Majesty in the present Warrs as being faithfull and of knowne skill in Martiall discipline It is therefore but what he merits if we recomend him to your Majesty that the allowances granted him by them formerly be paid This we will take very kindly nor shall we upon any the like occasion that may offer grudge to gratify your Mâ—…jesty whom we wish all hapyâ—… and prosperity unto From our Court at Westminster Octob. An. Dom. 1656. Your Majesties most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene Prince John King of Portugall S. D. Most Serene King Friend and dearest Confederate Thomas Evans Skipper and one of the Subjects of this Lâ—…d complains that haveing served the Brasile Company Annis 1649. and 1650 in a small vessell of his of about forty Tuns and whereof he was himselfe Master the said vessell with all her Freight and apparell was taken from him pursuant to a comand of your Majestys So that the damages done the man besides the loss of six yeares profit amounts according to the Report of the Commissioner appointed by the League to decide differrences on both sides to above seaven thousand pounds sterling or twice that number of Milreis of Portugall Which proveing such a great affliction to the a foresaid Thomas so as to be constrain'd to repair to Lisbon to recover his Right according to Tearms of the Treaty humbly prayed us that we vvoud graâ—…t him our Letters to your Majesty Wee altho we did the last year writ on behalfe of those merchants cause in Comon to whom the Brasile Company is indebted yet that we may be wanting to none justly requireing our help pray that the consideration of our friendship
mean time Most Serene Prince left a samous declaration of your inclination to the Churches as â—…n everlasting monument becoming your family and a patern fit for the imitation of all Princes hereafter Wee do pursuant to your deserts pray that the great good God may bless all your other undertakeings with as much felicity as you your selfe can desire and continue you in your present mind no alteration being able to mend it Westminster March An. Dom. 1656. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene Prince the Duke of Courland Most Serene Prince YOur kind entertainment of our Embassadour during those few dayes he stayed in Your Country in his way to the Duke of 〈◊〉 has beside other considerations shewed Your Highness's opinion of us who hope that your owne natural disposition added to our interposition may 〈◊〉 Your Highnesse not toalter those inclinations of your kindnesse towards us now â—…n the case of John Jameson a Scotchman who having 〈◊〉 you seaven yeares and that faithfully as Master at Sea deliver'd a Ship of yours lately comitted to his charge in her Ballast to the care of a Pilot upon her arrival as the custome is in the Mouth of the River and made out by good evidence that discovering the ignorance of the said Pilot did all he coud to advise him so that the miscarriage of the said Ship can be no way imputed to him but wholly to the un skill fulnesse or obstinacy of the said Pilot. Admitting which it s our earnest Request to Your Excellency that the said Shipwrack be not laid to the said John the Master's charge nor the wages remaining due to him stopt therefore upon that score which is what he has left to subsist comfort himselfe with or take to in the end having by a precedent shipwrack lost what he had a little before Westminster March Anno 1657. OLIVER Protector of the Repbul of England c. To the Noble Consuls and Senators of the Commonwealth of Switzerland S. P. D. Most Noble Magnificent Gentlemen WE have been alwayes of opinion that in Industry Riches and Practise of Arts and Sciences the Fame of your Citty might vie and stand in competition with any the Noblest Citty s whatever Now having chosen to take part with Poland rather then Sweedland in that Warr which has for a considerable time raged upon the Frontiers of your Country it were truly to be wished that the consideration of that Religion which you professe and of the antient Comerce between you and the English had inclined you to the choice of such Resolutions as shoud seeme to consist with the Glory of God and the dignity and splendor of your Corporation We therefore pray that the Alliance established by the length of custome and now extant between the English Nation and you my name if it may add any thing may induce you to set at liberty the Noble and famous Conismarek the chiefest among the Sweedish Captains a singular person in warlike discipline more especially and who has been casually and thro the Treachery of his People betrayed at Sea and by the Law of Warr not yet gott to the height of bitternesse made Prisonner But if you shou'd chance to Judge it inconsistent with the present posture of your affairs to free him that then you wou'd please to render his Confinement more easy Whatever of these two you happen to resolve upon you will resolve upon that which will be truly and principally consistent with the reputation of your Corporation and consequently beget the esteem of all Noble Comanders oblige us more especially in an extraordinary manner what ever you thinke it may avail you From our Court at Westminster Anno Dom. 1657. Your most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince and Lord the Emperour and Great Duke of all Russia Lord of Voladomar Muschow Novogrady King of Kazin and Astracan Syboria Lord of Vobsco Great Duke of Novcgrod and of the Law Countreys Chernigoy Rezanscoa c. Lord of all the North Seas also Lord of Everscoa Cartaluisa and many other Places S. P. D. THe antiquity of the alliance great and generally noted Trafficq together with the vast and antient comerce for along time observed betvveen this Government and your people but Great Emperour that 〈◊〉 vertue more especially wherein you outdo your Ancestors very much with the opinion entertained thereof by all your Neighbouring Princes have been our principall Inducement to cherish that affection for your Majesty which vve do and communicate thereto what vve may judge not a little conduceing to the Intrest of Christian affaires and suitably subservient to the Glory of your Name Previous whereto Wee have deputed under the character of our Embassadour to your Majeay a very vvorthy Gentlemen Mr Richard Bradshaw in whose fidelity Integrity Prudence and experience we have been sufficiently satisfied by his discharge of former Embassys and who comes fully capacitated to make kowne the singular affection and observance we bear you and suitably impower'd to treat with your Majesty concerning the affaires above mentioned Be plased therefore to receive him curteously in our name and order him as he shall have occasion for it 〈◊〉 access to your speech and Ear with proportionable credit to what he shall propose or transact and that in as full a 〈◊〉 as you woud unto us if personally present Wee wish that the Almighty and Great God may bless Your Majesty and Kingdome of Russia with all properity From our Court at Westminster April An. Dom. 1657. Your Majesties most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Charles Gustavus King of Sweedland Gothe aud Uandals Great Prince of Finland Duke of Esthon Carelia Bremen Verd Stetin Pomerania Cassuby and Vandall c. Most Serene and Potent King Friend and dearest confederate WIlliam Jepson Kinght and a member 〈◊〉 our Parliament vvho reckons it an honour to have the delivery hereof to your Majesty comes to let your Majesty knovv vvith vvhat trouble and griefe of mind 〈◊〉 vve surprised at our receipt of the 〈◊〉 of that fatall warr arisen between your Majesty and the King of Sweedland and how much its become our study and care to advance as 〈◊〉 as God will enable us to go towards the 〈◊〉 stopping of this growing mischiefe and 〈◊〉 to beat back those calamitys which this warr must necessarily beget to the generall concerns of Religion now more especially at a time when our adversarys are visibly seen united in their most pernicious counsells and consequently in their strength against us These and many other considerations and reasons of utmost moment to the publick advantage of both Nations have been our inducements to dispatch this very worthy Gentleman under the character of our Envoy Extraordinary to your Majesty whom
we pray you to 〈◊〉 kindly and throly confide in in referrence to such things as he shall comunicate in our name to your Majesty as being a person whose fidelity prudence we confide very much in praying withal that you woud not in the least suspect our singular affection and sincerity we bear Your Majesty Which our disposition of mind and redynes to Serve you upon all occasions shall contain real demonstrations of From our Court at Westminster 1656. Your Majestie 's most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of England c. To this Excellency the Lord of Bourdeaux Embassadour Extraordinary from his most 〈◊〉 Majesty the King of France Most Excellent Sr. SAmuel Dawson John Campsey and John Nevin Merchants of London have preferred a petition to the most Serene Lord Protector setting forth that they upon their being informed of the conclusion of the Treaty between this Republick and France freighted Anno 1655. a ship called by a Name not answered by her luck viz. the Speedwel whereof John Karr war Master with 〈◊〉 comodities to be thence transported to Portugall where haveing unloaded and taken in fresh freight consisting in Wines and other comodities was in her way back set upon about the 24. of November in the said year and seized by two Men of Warr belonging to Brest whose Comanders were called the one Adrian Vindmain Swart and the other James Jonshon who carried her to a place comonly called Brivat where shee was condemn'd as lawfull prize and exposed to publick sale the goods taken from 'em being bona fide and really worth eleaven hundred pounds besides the further damage of a thousand pound That they pursued all lawfull meanes with the Governour and Magistrates of that place to recover'em That all amounted to nothing hitherto That they 〈◊〉 pursuant to the Customes of the Admiralty Court sued out a publication whereby they were to be sumond and cited to Justice who were concern'd in the capture of the said shipp who 〈◊〉 to insist upon the legalty of their Seizure That this publication was duely orderly published delivered 〈◊〉 the publick Ministers of the saide Court timelily 〈◊〉 to the French Embassadour That when none appeared on the contrary side it was desired that witnesses might be 〈◊〉 and examin'd concerning the matter under 〈◊〉 Which as it was presented to the Lord Protector by the petitioners and by him referred to the cognisance and opinion of the Councill and whereas the affidavits of witnesses annexed to the petition make plain enough that the petitioners were at liberty to trade with Portugall and seeing none can be so blind but may see that the after-seisure of Goods bought and loaded there is as we said before an act contrary to the reputation of the alliance who canot but judge it a very 〈◊〉 demand to have the said shipp and goods restord or full satisfaction made of the damage 〈◊〉 from this 〈◊〉 in referrence as well to the expence 〈◊〉 in the prosecution at Law as the goods and shipp themselves Let me therefore desire you in the name of the most Serene Protector added to my own request to Your Excellency that you woud endeavour all you can and therein to employ the Authority of Your Employment too towards the speedy effecting of either of the two In regard you canot labour in a cause more equitable nor that you can please me more in who by how much the earlyer Your Excellency shall appear to have acquitted your 〈◊〉 in what you ought to do herein by so much the more that diligence shall appear which I am always inclinable to observe in the allowance of the demands made upon me by my people Whitehall August An. Dom. 1657. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene Prince the Lord Frederick Williams Duke of Brandenburgh High Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Empire and Prince Elector of Magdeburgh Prussia Julia Clivia the Mountains of Stetin Pomerania Cassubyes and Vandalls as also in Silesia Crosna and Carnovia Duke Burgrave Norinbergin Prince of Halberstad and Mind Earle of Marca and Ravensbergh Lord in Ravestein S. P. D. Most Serene Prince Friend and dearest Confederate WHereas you 〈◊〉 singular vertue in peace Warr haveing sounded all over the world with that Renowne such is your Greatnes and 〈◊〉 of courage that the ambition of your friendship is gaped at by the neighbouring Princes about you so as that none need to desire a friend and neighbour of more fidelity or constancy Wee have also to let you know of our being one of thsoe who entertaine high and clear thoughts of you and Your Exttaordinary obligations upon the Christian Republick 〈◊〉 you a very worthy Gentleman William Jepson Knight and one of our Parliament Men who comes to Salute 〈◊〉 in our name bespeake and wish your affaires all happynesse and finally to make knowne at large the love and great affection vve bear Your Highnesse Praying that vvhatever proposalls he makes you you listen thereto vvith as much attention and confidence as you vvoud to our selves if personally present at the delivery thereof From our Court at Westminster August Dom. 1656. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Noble Magistrates and Senators of the City of Hambrough S. P. D. Most Noble Magnificent and worthy Gentleman Dearest Friends HAveing directed a very worthy Gentleman William Jepson Knt and member of our Parliament upon his going thrô 〈◊〉 Citty in his way to the most Serene King of Sweedland whether we sent him on an Embassy not to pass by without saluteing you in our name and praying that if in ought he judged your Authority and advice to be of any service to him you woud deny him in neither The freelyer you shew you selves wherein the more sensible shall you be made of our disposition towards you From 〈◊〉 Court at 〈◊〉 August An. 〈◊〉 1657. To the most noble Magistrates of the Citty of Bremen S. P. D. Most Noble Magnisicent and Worthy Gentlemen Dearest Friends YOu have heretofore and shall as often as there is occasion for it be made sensible how you stood in our opinion and affection and that as well out of regard to your Religion as the Renowne of your Citty Now whereas William Jepsâ—…n Kut a member of our Parliament and a very worthy person may in his way to the most Serene King of Sweedland whether he goes on an Embassy pass thro â—…our Citty our present request to you amounts to no more then this that upon his delivery of our Salutes which he is directed to hand to you if in any thing he happens to need your help or â—…iendshipp we have ordered him to propose our â—…ntrest with you as an inducement to your complying with him in any demand he shall make upon you wherein we no lesse rely upon your allowance of then you ought to doe upon our love and singular affection towards you From our Court at Westminster August An. Dom.
of France Most Excellent Sir THE most Serene Lord Protector has had a demand made upon him by Luke Lucius ' Merchant of London concerning a Ship of his called the Maria which in her way between Ireland and Bajone being by distress of weather forced into a place called the Bay of divi Johannis de Luce was there retain'd and arrested in the name of one Martine de Lawson nor to be discharged till satisfied by his Merchant Correspondents and the propriety of the said Ship and Goods decided by a law-suit to be comenced between them and the said Martin The said Martin pretending to a considerable debt due from the Parliament of England upon the account of some Goods of his which were laid hold oâ—… pursuant to the authority of Parliament Anno 1642. But whereas it is manifest that the said Martin had nothing to doe with the propriety of the said Goods but sollicited the Right of two Persons Richald and Triat against one Anthony Fernand and the said Anthony and Martine at variance among themselves the Parliament directed that the said Merchandises should be laid up till the law did determine who of the two had most Right to 'em the said Anthony being always ready to goe to Law whereas nor Martin nor any for â—…im has hitherto appeared in Court as may appear throly in the former proceedings annexed to the humble address of the Petitioner It is a point of very great Injustice tâ—…at the person who denyes to try his pretended Title with Anthony his Collegue concerning other mens Goods here shoud be able to force our people and the true Owners too to the trouble of proveing their Right to their owne Goods there The most Serene Lord Protector is of opinion that to be of the same judgment iâ—… a thing consistent with your equity and prudence too by whom I have it in comand to recomend this case of Luke Lucius the petitioner to your Excellency in an Extraordinar namer that Martin who neglects to prosecute the Right of another here be not sufferrd in that restraint to lay hold upon other mens goods â—…here Westminster October An. Dom. 1657. Your Excellencys most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene Duke and State of Venice Most Serene Duke and Senat dearest Friends WEE have such frequent Tideings daâ—…ly brought us of your happy successe against the Infidels that nothing happens to be oftener the Subject of our Pen then to congratulate with you concerning some signall victory or other Wee wish that this very last One may prove comfortable and of advantage to your Republicke which is of utmost Glory a Deliverer of all the Christians laboureing under the slavery of the Turke More particularly of Thomas Galile formerly Master of a shipp called the Reliefe whom albeit this is not the first time of our recomending to your Government yet we do it with so much the more freedome now by how much we consider the length of his Captivity being now the fifth year When you comanded him and shipp into the service of Your Rebublick he did in an engagement with many Gally's belonging to the Enemy depresse some and comitted a great Massacre among others He was at length the good Man taken his ship burnt after the good service he did the Venetians and lives now in the fifth year of his Captivity under the slavery of Barbary He has nothing left to pay his Ransom for whatever there was either in goods shipp or sallary he says it remains yet due from Your Government But that meanes may not be wanting for his Redemption â—…et the Enemy say they I part with him upon no other Termes then in exchange of one of theirs of an equivalent price We earnestly desire your's and the serenity of the Senat jointly as doth the most miserable antient Man his father pregnant with griefe aud yeares which have truly engaged us in his behalfe that you wound as soone as may be out of the multitude of Turkish Prisoners which so many prosperous battells must have furnished you with pick out some person which they may accept of in exchange of one who has fought so well for you and is the onely son of the most afflicted old man as well as our Subject And thereupon see that whatever appeares due unto him from your Government upon the account of wages or otherwise be forth with paid unto either his father or atturney Our former interposition or rather your owne Justice has induced you upon a former inspection made into this matter and examination of accounts to order the imediat 〈◊〉 of what was his due but no payment has pursued that direction the intervention of other urgent considerations haveing possibly prevented it Now the poor man's health can bear with no further delay You must if you desire he may live endeavour to discharge him forthwith out of the filthy sestraint of imprisonment We are confident that your own most naturall inclination will without any importunity of ours prompt you to his speedy enlargement considering that in justice moderation and prudence you are no less considerable and flourishiug then in glory and warlike Tryumphs And that you may long continue therein in prejudice of your most iminent Enemy is the content of our supplications to the Omnipotent Greatest God From our Court at Westminster October An. Dom. 1657. Your Highnsse's most affectionally OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the High and Mighty States of Holland S. P. D. High and Mighty States Friends and dearest Consederates WIllam Newport that very worthy Person who for some yeares past attended here as your Embassadour Extraordinary brings you this upon his returne home But goes with your permission onely leaveing us in the mean time under hopes of his returne hither quickly again His conversation while here has been accompanyed wiâ—…h so much faithfulnes vigilance prudence and Justice as that we woud not nor can expectmore vertue integrity in all respects from an Embassadour and a very good Man so addicted was he to the study and practice of manteining a fair understanding void of all deceit and fraude between us as that dureing his continuance among us under that Character we cou'd not see any thing of offence or jealousy that cou'd arise or spring up among us And truly we wou'd have been much more troubled at his departure as things seem now to stand were we not very assur'd that none being better or that with more faithfulness can represent the General State of our affaires or the sincerity of the love and affection we bear your Excellency will force his returne hither a gain Wherefore wee pray that you wou'd please to receive him both as a Person who in all circumstances has done both our governments extraordinary good service and dismissed him tho as such almost against our will accompanyed with the most genuin '
is worse he appealed to Your Majesty and humbly petitiond for his Judgement who is appointed to the decision of differences relating to the English but was sent back again by Your Majesty to that Court that had rejected him Which albeit it is in it selfe an act full of iujustice yet in regard it is apparent that these Tamiran Merchants have incroached upon the reputation of that publick Edict of yours in perverting its intent to serve their owne fraudulent Ends It is our earnest request to Your Majesty that the cause of these Persons whose afflictions are manifold thro the poverty which they are reduced unto be wholly referr'd as the effect of your Clemency to the Determination of the proper Judge Whereby the unfortunaâ—…e may rescue the remainder of theirfortunes out of the hands of such a perfidious society which the thing being apparent and clear we doubt not of Your Majesties concurring with us in Dated at our Court at Westminster August A. D. 1658. To the most Serene Prince Leopald Arch Duke of Austria Praesident to Philip King of Spaine now in Flanders Most Serene Sir CHarles Harbert Knt Petitioned unto us that haveing directed the transportation of some certain Goods and other houshold stuff out of Holland into Bruges within your Jurisdiction to prevent their being taken from him by forme of injustice is unexpectedly fallen into the hasard of looseing the same Videlicet by the means of the Earle oâ—… Suffolcke for whom the Pâ—…titioner being engaged for the Payment of considerable Sumes of Money and haveing in the Year 1643. sent out of England the said Goods as a security to the Petitioneâ—… to answer any deâ—…and which might be made upon him upon the account of the said obligation Richard Greenwill one of the order of Knihthood also broke in into the place where they were laid up seized and keepes'em in violation of the Termes under which they came into the 〈◊〉 possession Under this pretence of Right onely that there remain'd due â—…o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 know not what from Theophilus â—…arle of Suffolcke deceased by vertue of a decree of our Court of Chancry and thâ—…t those Goods as beinâ—… the said Eâ—…rles were Subject to the said decree and therefore arâ—…ested them Whereas according to our Lawes the said Earle who now is and whose Goods these are nor is obliged bâ—… that decree nor ougâ—…t â—…is Goods to be liable to seisure or restraint upon it's score as appeares by the Sentence of the said Court herewiâ—… sent you at the request of the said Charles Harbert We pray your Highnsse to see the said Goods forthwith discharged from all restraint as well as from the unjust action of the said Richard Greenwill in regard it is a thing soe plainly contrary to the Lawes and practice of Nations to give way to the legality of an action in another Land which in the Land where the cause of the action originally arose canot be lawfully allowed of The Consideration of Justice it selfe and the reputation which you have abroad of an upright man has induced us to recomend this cause to your Highnesse Which if it falls out at any time that the Right or Concernes of your Subâ—…ects come under debate with us in this kind assure your selâ—…e of finding uâ—… 〈◊〉 way slack but rather very râ—…dy to serve you upon all occasions Westminster Your Highness's most affectionately OLIVER 〈◊〉 of the Republick of England c To tâ—… High Court of Parliament at Paris WEe the Commissâ—…yes of the great Seale of England make it our request â—…o the higâ—… Court of Parliament at Paris that it woud be intreated â—…o sâ—…e care taken that Miles William and Mary Sandys Children of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Ellsabeth soame his wife lately deceâ—…sed English Natives and under age be at Liberty forthwith to repaire to us hither from Paâ—…is where they now remaine under the Tuition Guarranty of the said Court comitting them to the care of James Mowath a Scoth man and a person of integrity and uprightnesse to whom we have assign'd this trouble of takeing them thence and bringing of 'em hither engageing that upon any the like occasion or demand the like Right and Justice shall be by this Court administred in favour of any of the Subjects of France LETTERS Written in the Name of RICHARD CROMWEL Protector Upon the death of OLIVER his Father RICHARD Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene aud potent King Friend and Confederate WHereas my most Serene Father of Glorious memory Oliver Protector of the Comonwealth of England haveing pursuant to the will of Almighty God departed this liâ—…e the 3. of this instant September I declared his lâ—…wfull Successor in the administration of this Goverment coud not decline not without very great griefe and troubie I must confesse the giveing timely account of a matter of that importance to Your Majesty who I am confident caâ—…t considering your friendly disposition as well towards him as this Republick conceive any plâ—… at this so sudden an account of his death It is now become my wâ—…ke to invite Your Majesty into such apprehensions of me as are fitt to be entertain'd of one who hath nothing more in his thoughts then a fâ—…hfull and constant inclination to the support of that Society and amity which my iaid most Glorious Father and Your Majesty were concern'd in with each other and with the same study and affection maintaine and observe the alliances Resolutions and Intelligencie wherein he was engaged with you It is my purpose to continue to our Embassadour there the poweâ—… formerly lodged with him What ever he offers you in our name accept thereof I pray as if tender'd you by our selfe That that remains is to tell you that I wish you all happynes Dâ—…ted at our Court at Westminster 5. September 1658. To his Eminency Cardinall Mazarine Most Eminent Sir ALtho nothing coud fall out more to my trouble then to have an occasion given me of writeing concerning the death of my most Serene and Famous Father and considering the mutuall esteem which flâ—…wed between your Eminency and him and that I do not question but tâ—…at the death of so faithfull and constant a friend must affect one so much concern'd in the Government of France as your Eminency is I have judged it very materiall to accompany the account I sent oâ—… this mâ—…st fatall busâ—…nesse to the King witâ—… a Letter to you and withall to act that that is just in assureing you of a most sacred perâ—…ormance of all those things by me which my father of most Serene memory has been by agreement obliged to yâ—…u to â—…eepe and performe and take care that tho you may justly lament the lâ—…sse of one so much your friend and admiâ—…er you may not misse him as farr forth as may concern the preservation of his promise to you To the performance of which on your part also