stranger he should get nothing by contending with the Inhabitants of Tamira in their own Countrey he betook himself for Justice to your Majesty humbly demanded the judgment of the Conservator appointed to determine the Causes of the English but was sent back to the Cognizance of that Court from which he had appeal'd Which though in it self not unjust yet seeing it is evident that the Merchants of Tamira make an ill use of your Publick Edict to justify their own private Couzenage we make it our earnest request to your Majesty that according to your wonted Clemency you would rather refer to the Conservator being the proper Judge in these Cases the Cause of this poor Man Afflicted by many Casualties and reduc'd to utmost Poverty to the end he may recover the Remainder of his Fortunes from the Faithless Partnership of those People Which when you rightly understand the business we make no question but will be no less pleasing to your Majesty to see done then to our selves From our Court at Westminster August 1658. To the most Serene Prince Leopold Arch-Duke of Austria Governour of the Low-Countries under Philip K. of Spain Most Serene Lord CHarles Harbord Knight has set forth in his Petition to Us that having sent certain Goods and Houshold-Stuff out of Holland to Bruges under your Jurisdiction he is in great danger of having them arrested out of his hands by Force and Violence For that those Goods were sent him out of England in the Year 1643. by the Earl of Suffolk for whom he stood bound in a Great Sum of Money to the end he might have wherewithal to satisfy himself should he be compell'd to pay the Debt Which Goods are now in the Possession of Richard Greenville Knight who broke open the doors of the place where they were in Custody and made a Violent seizure of the same under pretence of we know not what due to him from Theophilus Earl of Suffolk by Vertue of a certain Decree of our Court of Chancery to which those Goods as being the Earls were justly liable whereas by our Laws neither the Earl now living whose Goods they are is bound by that Decree neither ought the Goods to be seiz'd or detain'd which the Sentence of that Court now sent to your Serenity together with these Letters positively declares and proves Which Letters the said Charles Harbord has desir'd of us to the end we would make it our Request to your Highness that the said Goods may be forthwith discharg'd from the violent seizure and no less unjust action of the said Richard Greenville in regard it is apparently against the Custom and Law of Nations that any Person should be allow'd the liberties to sue in a Foreign Jurisdiction upon a plaint wherein he can have no relief in the Country where the Cause of Action first arose Therefore the Reason of Justice it self and your far Celebrated Enquanimity encourag'd us to recommend this Cause to your Highness Assuring your Highness that whenever any dispute shall happen in our Courts concerning the Rights and Properties of your People you shall ever find us ready and quick in our Returns of Favour Westminster Your Highnesse's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. LETTERS Written in the Name of RICHARD Protector Richard Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene and Potent King our Friend and Confederate SO soon as our most Serene Father Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England by the Will of God so ordaining departed this Life upon the Third of September we being Lawfully declar'd his Successor in the Supream Magistracy tho in the Extremity of Tears and sadness could do no less then with the first Opportunity by these our Letters make known a Matter of this Concernment to your Majesty by whom as you have bin a most Cordial Friend to our Father and this Republick we are Confident the Mournful and unexpected Tydings will be as sorrowfully received Our business now is to request your Majesty that you would have such an Opinion of us as of one who has determin'd nothing more Religiously and constantly then to observe the Friendship and Confedracy contracted between your Majesty and our Renowned Father and with the same Zeal and Good-will to confirm and Establish the Leagues by him Concluded and to carry on the same Counsels and Interests with your Majesty To which intent it is our pleasure that our Embassadour Residing at your Court be empower'd by the same Commission as formerly and that you will give the same Credit to what he transacts in our Name as if it had bin done by our selves In the mean time we wish your Majesty all Prosperity From our Court at White-Hall Septemb. 5. 1658. To the most Eminent Lord Cardinal Mazarine THO nothing could fall out more bitter and grievous to us then to write the Mournful News of our most Serene and most Renowned Father's Death nevertheless in regard we cannot be ignorant of the high Esteem which he had for your Eminency and the great Value which you had for him nor have any reason to doubt but that your Eminency upon whose care the Prosperity of France depends will no less bewail the loss of your constant Friend and most United Confederate we thought it of great moment by these our Letters to make known this Accident so deeply to be lamented as well to your Eminency as to the King and to assure your Eminency which is but reason that we shall most Religiously observe all those things which our Father of most Serene Memory was bound by the League to fee confirm'd and ratify'd and shall make it our business that in the midst of your mourning for a Friend so Faithful and Flourishing in all Vertuous Applause there may be nothing wanting to preserve the Faith of our Confederacy For the Conservation of which on your part also to the good of both Nations may God Almighty long preserve your Eminency Westminster Sept. 1658. Richard Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Charles Gustavus King of the Swedes Goths and Vandalls c. Most Serene and Potent King our Friend and Confederate WHen we consider with our selves that it will be a difficult matter for us to be Imitators of our Fathers Vertues unless we should observe and endeavour to hold the same Confederacies which he by his prowess acquir'd and out of his singular judgment thought most worthy to be embrac'd and observ'd your Majesty has no reason to doubt but that it behoves us to pay the same tribute of Affection and Good-will which our Father of most Serene Memory always paid to your Majesty Therefore altho in this beginning of our Government and Dignity I may not find our Affairs in that Condition as at present to answer to some particulars which your Embassadours have propos'd yet it is
they might have the more easie access by means of our Letters and therefore that neither your Clemency nor your Justice may be wanting to People despoil'd against all Law and Reason and contrary to your repeated Prohibitions we make it our request Wherein if your Majesty vouchsafe to gratifie us since there is nothing requir'd but what is most just and equitable we shall deem it as obtain'd rather from your innate Integrity then any intreaty of ours Westminster May 1656. Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces Most High and Mighty Lords our dearest Friends JOhn Brown Nicholas Williams and others Citizens of London have set forth in their Petition to us that when they had every one brought in their Proportions and Freighted a certain Ship call'd the Good-Hope of London bound for the East-Indies they gave Orders to their Factor to take up at Amsterdam Two thousand four hunder'd Dutch Pounds to insure the said Ship that afterwards this Ship in her Voyage to the Coast of India was taken by a Ship belonging to the East-India Company upon which they who had engag'd to Insure the said Vessel refus'd to Pay the Money and have for this Six years by various delays eluded our Merchants who with extraordinary Diligence and at vast Expences endeavour'd the recovery of their just Right Which in regard it is an unjust Grievance that lies so heavy upon the Petitioners for that some of those who oblig'd themselves are Dead or become Insolvent therefore that no farther Losses may accrue to their former Damages we make it our earnest request to your Lordships that you will vouchsafe your Integrity to be the harbour and refuge for People toss'd so many years and almost shipwrack'd in your Courts of Justice and that speedy judgment may be given according to the rules of Equity and Honesty in their Cause which they believe to be most just In the mean time we wish you all Prosperity to the Glory of God and the Welfare of his Church Westminste May 1656. Your High and Mighty Lordships most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces Most High and Mighty Lords our dearest Friends THE same Persons in whose behalf we wrote to your Lordships in September the last year Thomas and William Lower the lawful Heirs of Nicholas Lower deceas'd make grievous complaints before us that they are oppress'd either by the Favour or Wealth of their Adversaries notwithstanding the Justice of their Cause and when that would not suffice although our Letters often pleaded in their behalf they have not bin able hitherto to obtain Possession of the Inheritance left 'em by their Father's Will From the Court of Holland where the Suit was first Commenc'd they were sent to your Court and from thence hurri'd away into Zealand to which three Places they carry'd our Letters and now they are remanded not unwillingly back again to your Supream Judicature for where the Supream Power is there they expect Supream Justice If that hope fail 'em eluded and frustrated after being so long toss'd from post to pillar for the recovery of their Right where at length to find a resting place they know not For as for our Letters if they find no benefit of these the Fourth time Written they can never promise themselves any advantage for the future from slighted Papers However it would be most acceptable to us if yet at length after so many contempts the injur'd Heirs might meet with some Relief by a speedy and just Judgment if not out of respect to any Reputation we have among ye yet out of a regard to your own Equity and Justice Of the last of which we make no question and confidently presume you will allow the other to our Friendship Westminster May 6656. Your High and Mighty Lordships most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Common-wealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene Prince John King of Portugal Most Serene King WHereas there is a considerable Sum of Money owing from certain Portugal Merchants of the Brasile Company to several English Merchants upon the account of Freightage and Demorage in the years 1649 and 1650. which Money is detain'd by the said Company by your Majesties Command the Merchants before-mention'd expected that the said Money should have bin paid long since according to the Articles of the last League but now they are afraid of being debarr'd all hopes and means of recovering their Debts understanding your Majesty has order'd That what Money is owing to 'em by the Brasile Company shall be carri'd into your Treasury and that no more then one half of the Duty of Freightage shall be expended toward the Payment of their Debts by which means the Merchants will receive no more then the bare Interest of their Money while at the same time they utterly lose their Principal Which we considering to be very severe and heavy upon 'em and being overcome by their most reasonable Supplications have granted 'em these our Letters to your Majesty chiefly requesting this at your hands to take care that the aforesaid Brasile Company may give speedy Satisfaction to the Merchants of this Republick and pay 'em not onely the Principal Money which is owing to 'em but the Five years Interest as being both just in it self and conformable to the League so lately concluded between us which on their behalf in most friendly manner we request from your Majesty Your Majesties most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth c. From our Palace at Westminster July 1656. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the Most Serene Prince Charles Gustavus King of the Swedes Goths and Vandals c Most Serene King AS it is but just that we should highly value the Friendship of your Majesty a Prince so Potent and so Renown'd for great Atchievements so is it but equally reasonable that your Extraordinary Embassador the most Illustrious Lord Christiern Bond by whose sedulity and care a strict Alliance is most sacredly and solemnly ratifi'd between us should be most acceptable to us and no less deeply fix'd in our esteem Him therefore having now most worthily accomplish'd his Embassy we thought it became us to send back to your Majesty though not without the high Applause which the rest of his singular Vertues merit to the end that he who was before conspicuous in your esteem and respect may now be sensible of his having reap'd still more abundant fruits of his Sedulity and Prudence from our Recommendation As for those things which yet remain to be transacted we have determin'd in a short time to send an Embassy to your Majesty for the
that same Brotherly Union as becomes their Profession there would be no occasion to fear what all the Artifices or Puissance of our Enemies could do to hurt us which our fraternal Concord and Harmony alone would easily repel and frustrate And therefore we most earnestly request and beseech your Majesty to harbour in your Mind propitious thoughts of Peace and inclinations ready bent to repair the breaches of your Pristin Friendship with the Vnited Provinces if in any part it may have accidentally suffer'd the decays of mistakes or misconstruction If there be any thing wherein our Labour our Fidelity and Diligence may be useful toward this Composure we offer and devote all to your service And may the God of Heaven favour and prosper your Noble and Pious Resolutions which together with all Felicity and a perpetual course of Victory we cordially wish to your Majesty From our Palace at Westm Aug. 1656. Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the States of Holland Most High and Mighty Lords our dearest Friends IT has bin represented to us by William Cooper a Minister of London and our Countrey-man That John le Maire of Amsterdam his Father-in-Law about Three and thirty years ago devis'd a Project by which the Revenues of your Republick might be very much advanc'd without any burthen to the People and made an agreement with John Vandenbrook to share between 'em the reward which they should obtain for their Invention which was the setling of a little Seal to be made use of in all the Provinces of your Territories and for which your High and Mightinesses promis'd to pay the said Vandenbrook and his Heirs the yearly Sum of 3000 Gilders or 300 English Pounds Now although the use and method of this Little Seal has bin found very easy and expeditious and that ever since great Incomes have thereby accru'd to your High and Mightinesses and some of your Provinces nevertheless nothing of the said Reward tho with much importunity demanded has bin paid to this day so that the said Vandenbrook and le Maire being tir'd out with long delays the Right of the said Grant is devolv'd to the foresaid William Cooper our Countrey-man who desirous to reap the fruit of his Father-in-Law's Industry has petition'd us That we would recommend his just demands to your High and Mightinesses which we thought not reasonable to deny him Wherefore in most friendly wise we request your High and Mightenesses favourably to hear the Petition of the said William Cooper and to take such care that the Reward and Stipend so well deserv'd and by contract Agreed and Granted may be paid him annually from this time forward together with the Arrears of the years already pass'd Which not doubting but your High and Mightinesses will vouchsafe to perform as what is no more then just and becoming your Magnificence we shall be ready to shew the same favour to the Petitions of your Countrey-men upon any occasions of the same nature whenever presented to us From our Palace at White-Hall September 1656. Your High and Mightinesses most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene King our dearest Friend and Confederate AGainst our will it is that we so often trouble your Majesty with the wrongs done by your Subjects after a Peace so lately renew'd But as we are fully perswaded that your Majesty disapproves their being committed so neither can we be wanting to the complaints of our People That the Ship Anthony of Dieppe was Legally taken before the League manifestly appears by the Sentence of the Judges of our Admiralty Court Part of the Lading that is to say Four thousand Hides Robert Brown a Merchant of London fairly bought of those who were entrusted with the Sale as they themselves testify The same Merchant after the Peace was confirm'd carri'd to Dieppe about Two hundred of the same Hides and there having Sold 'em to a Currier thought to have receiv'd his Money but found it Stopt and Attach'd in the hands of his Factor and a Suit being commenc'd against him he could obtain no favour in that Court Wherefore we thought it proper to request your Majesty that the whole matter may be referr'd to your Council that so the said Money may be discharg'd from an unjust and vexatious Action For if Acts done and adjudg'd before the Peace shall after Peace renew'd be call'd into question and controversy we must look upon assurance of Treaties to be a thing of little moment Nor will there be any end of these complaints if some of these Violators of Leagues be not made severee and timely Examples to others Which we hope your Majesty will speedily take into your Care To whom God Almighty in the mean time vouchsafe his most Holy Protection From our Palace at White-Hall September 1656. Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene Prince John King of Portugal Most Serene King THE Peace being happily concluded between this Republick and the Kingdom of Portugal and what refers to Trade being duly provided for and ratifi'd we deem'd it necessary to send to your Majesty Thomas Maynard from whom you will receive these Letters to reside in your Dominions under the Character and Employment of a Consul and to take care of the Estates and Interests of our Merchants Now in regard it may frequently so fall out that he may be enforc'd to desire the Privilege of free Admission to your Majesty as well in matters of Trade as upon other occasions for the Interest of our Republick we make it our request to your Majesty That you will vouchsafe him favourable Access and Audience which we shall acknowledge as a singular demonstration and testimony of your Majesties Good-will toward us In the mean tlme we beseech Almighty God to bless your Majesty with all Prosperity From our Court at Westm October 1656. Your Majesties most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the King of the Swedes Most Serene and Potent King ALthough your Majesty's wonted and spontaneous Favour and Good-will toward all deserving men be such that all recommendations in their behalf may seem superfluous yet we were unwilling to dismiss without our Letters to your Majesty this Noble Person William Vavassour Knight serving under your Banners and now returning to your Majesty Which we have done so much the more willingly being inform'd that formerly following your Majesty's fortunate Conduct he had lost his Blood in several Combats to assert the Noble Cause for which you Fight Insomuch that the succeeding Kings of Swedeland in renumeration of his Military Skill and bold Atchievements in War rewarded him with Lands and Annual Pensions
Commonwealth of England c. To the most Excellent Lord M. d. 〈◊〉 Extraordinary Embassador from the most Serene King of France Most Excellent Lord LVcas Lucie Merchant of London has made his Complaint to the most Serene Lord Protector concerning a certain Ship of his call'd the Mary which in her Voyage from Ireland to Bayonne being driven by Tempest into the Port of St. John de Luz was there detain'd by vertue of an Arrest at the Suit of one Martin de Lazan nor could she be discharg'd till the Merchants had given security to stand a Tryal for the Property of the said Ship and Lading For Martin pretended to have a great Sum of Money owing to him by the Parlament for several Goods of his which in the year 1642. were Seiz'd by Authority of Parlament in a 〈◊〉 Ship call'd the Santa Clarâ—â—… 〈◊〉 in manifest That Martin 〈…〉 the Owner of the said 〈…〉 that he Prosecuted the 〈…〉 Owners Richard and 〈…〉 with his Paâ—â—ner whole 〈◊〉 was Antonio Fernandez and that upon the said Marâ—â—n and Antonio's falling out among themselves the Parlament Decreed that the said Goods should be stop'd till the Law should decide to which of the two they were to be restor'd Upon this Antony was desirous that the Action should proceed on the other side neither Martin nor any body for him has hitherto appear'd in Court All which is evidently apparent by Luca's Petition hereto annex'd So that it seems most unreasonable That he who refus'd to try his pretended Title with Antonio to other mens Goods in our own Courts should compel our People and the true Owners to go to Law for their own in a Foreign Dominion And that the same is apparent to your Excellency's Equity and Prudence the most Serene Lord Protector makes no question by whom I am therefore commanded in a particular manner to recommend this fair and honest Cause of Lucas Lucy to your Excellency's consideration to the end that Martin who neglects to try his pretended Right here may not under that pretence have an opportunity in the French Dominions to deprive others of their Rightful claims Westm Octob. 1657. Your Excellency's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonweolth of England c. To the most Serene Duke and Senate of the Republick of Venice Most Serene Duke and Senate our dearest Friends SO numerous are the Tydings brought us of your fortunate Successes against the Turks that there is nothing wherein we have more frequent occasion to employ our Pens then in Congratulating your Serenities for some signal Victory For this so recently obtain'd we give ye Joy as being not onely most Auspicious and Seasonable to your Republick but which is more Glorious so greatly tending to the Deliverance of all the Christians groaning under Turkish Servitude More particularly we recommend to your Serenity and the Senate Thomas Galily formerly Master of the Ship call'd the Relief who for these Five years together has bin a Slave tho this be not the first time we have interceded in his behalf yet now we do it the more freely as in a time of more then ordinary Exultation He having receiv'd your Commands to serve your Republick with his Ship and Engaging alone with several of the Enemies Gallies Sunk some and made a great havock among the rest but at length his Ship being Burnt the Brave Commander and so well deserving of the Venetian Republick was taken and ever since for Five years together has endur'd a miserable Bondage under the Barbarians To redeem himself he had not wherewithall for whatsoever he had that he makes out was owing to him by your Highness and the Senate upon the account either of his Ship his Goods or for his Wages Now in regard he may not want Relief and for that the Enemy refuses to discharge him upon any other condition then by exchange of some other person of equal value and reputation to himself we most earnestly intreat your Highness and the most Serene Senate and the Afflicted Old man Father of the said Thomas full of Grief and Tears which not a little mov'd us by our Intercession begs That in regard so many prosperous Combats have made ye Masters of so many Turkish Prisoners you will exchange some one of their Number whom the Enemy will accept for so stout a Seaman taken in your Service our Countreyman and the onely Son of a most sorrowful Father Lastly That whatsoever is due to him from the Republick upon the score of Wages or upon any other account you will take care to see it paid to his Father or to whom he shall appoint to receive it The effect of our first request or rather of your Equity was this that the whole matter was examin'd and upon an exact stating of the accounts the Debt was agreed but perhaps by reason of more important business intervening no payment ensu'd upon it Now the condition of the miserable Creature admits of no longer delay and therefore some endeavour must be us'd if it be worth your while to desire his wellfare that he may speedily be deliver'd from the noysome Stench of Imprisonment Which as you flourish no less in Justice Moderation and Prudence then in Military Fame and Victorious Success we are confident you will see done of your own innate Humanity and Free will without any hesitation without any incitement of ours Now that ye may long flourish after a most Potent Enemy subdu'd our daily Prayers implore of the Almighty From our Court at Westminster October 1657. Your Highnesses most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces Most High and Mighty Lords our dearest Friends and Confederates THE most Illustrious William Nuport your Extraordinary Embassador for some years residing with us is now returning to your Lordships but with this condition That after this respit obtain'd from your Lordships he shall return again in a short time For he has remain'd among us in the discharge of his Trust with that Fidelity Vigilance Prudence and Equity that neither you nor we could desire greater Vertue and Probity in an Embassador and a Person of unblemished Reputation with those inclinations and endeavours to preserve Peace and Friendship between us without any fraud or dissimulation that while he officiates the duty of your Embassador we do not find what occasion of scruple or offence can arise in either Nation And we should brook his departue with so much the more anxiety of mind considering the present juncture of times and affairs were we not assur'd that no man can better or more faithfully declare and represent to your Lordships either the present condition of Affairs or our Good-will and Affection to your Government Being therefore every way so excellent a Person and so well deserving both of yours and our Republick we request your Lordships to receive him returning
Punishment of a Spy By these two remarkable passages we may clearly discover the Industry and good Intelligence of those Times Here is a Catalogue added of every Book of his that was ever publish'd which to my knowledge is full and compleat TO Oliver Cromwell CRomwell our Chief of Men that through a Croud Not of War only but distractions rude Guided by Faith and Matchless Fortitude To Peace and Truth thy Glorious way hast Plough'd And Fought God's Battels and his Work pursu'd While Darwent Streams with Blood of Scots imbru'd And Dunbarfield resound thy Praises loud And Worcester's Laureat Wreath yet much remains To Conquer still Peace hath her Victories No less than those of War new Foes arise Threatning to bind our Souls in secular Chains Help us to save Free Conscience from the paw Of Hireling Wolves whose Gospel is their Maw To my Lord FAIRFAX FAirfax whose Name in Arms through Europe rings And fills all Mouths with Envy or with Praise And all her Jealous Monarchs with Amaze And Rumours loud which daunt remotest Kings Thy firm unshaken Valour ever brings Victory home while new Rebellions raise Their Hydra-heads and the false North displays Her broken League to Imp her Serpent Wings O yet a Nobler task awaits thy Hand For what can War but Acts of War still breed Till injur'd Truth from Violence be freed And publick Faith be rescu'd from the Brand Of publick Fraud in vain doth Valour bleed While Avarice and Rapine shares the Land To Sir HENRY VANE VANE Young in years but in Sage Councels old Then whom a better Senator ne're held The Helm of Rome when Gowns not Arms repell'd The fierce Epirote and the African bold Whether to settle Peace or to unfold The Drift of hollow States hard to be Spell'd Then to advise how War may best be upheld Mann'd by her Two main Nerves Iron and Gold In all her Equipage Besides to know Both Spiritual and Civil what each means What serves each thou hast learn'd which few have done The bounds of either Sword to thee we owe Therefore on thy Right hand Religion leans And reckons thee in chief her Eldest Son To Mr. CYRIAC SKINNER Upon his Blindness CYRIAC this Three years day these Eyes though clear To outward view of blemish or of Spot Bereft of Sight their Seeing have forgot Nor to their idle Orbs doth day appear Or Sun or Moon or Star throughout the Year Or Man or Woman yet I argue not Against Heaven's Hand or Will nor bate one jot Of Heart or Hope but still bear up and steer Right onward What supports me dost thou ask The Conscience Friend to have lost them over ply'd In Liberties Defence my noble task Of which all Europe rings from side to side This thought might lead me through this World 's vain mask Content though blind had I no other Guide A CATALOGUE OF Mr. John Milton's Works 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Answer to a Book Entituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Portraiture of his Sacred Majesty in his Solitudes and Sufferings The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates proving That it is Lawful and hath been held so through all Ages for any who have the Power to call to Account a Tyrant or Wicked King and after due Conviction to Depose and put him to Death if the ordinary Magistrate have neglected or denied to do it and that they who of late so much blame Deposing are the men that did it themselves 4to Observations upon the Articles of Peace with the Irish Rebels on the Letter of Ormond to Collonel Jones and the Representation of the Presbytery of Belfast 4to The ready and easie way to establish a Free Commonwealth and the Excellency thereof compared with the Inconveniencies and Dangers of Readmitting Kingship in this Nation 4to Areopagitica A Speech of John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing to the Parliament of England 4to Brief Notes upon a Sermon Entitled The Fear of God and the King Preach'd and since Publish'd by Matthew Griffeth D. D. and Chaplain to the late King wherein many notorious Wrestings of Scripture and other Falsities are observed By J. M. 4to Of Reformation touching Church-Discipline in England and the Causes that hitherto have hindred it Two Books written to a Friend 4to Of Prelatical Episcopacy and whether it may be deduc'd from the Apostolical times by vertue of those Testimonies which are alledged to that purpose in some late Treatises one whereof goes under the Name of James Archbishop of Armagb 4to Animadversions upon the Remonstrants defence against Smectymnuus 4to An Apology for Smectymnuus with the Reason of Church-Government 4to The Reason of Church-Government urged against Prelacy In Two Books 4to Of True Religion Heresie Schism Toleration and what best means may be used against the growth of Popery 4to The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce restored to the Good of both Sexes from the Bondage of Canon Law and other mistakes to the true meaning of Scripture in the Law and Gospel compared Wherein also are set down the bad consequences of Abolishing or Condemning of Sin that which the Law of God allows and Christ abolisht not Now the second time Revised and much Augmented in Two Books To the Parliament of England with the Assembly In 4to Colasterion A Reply to a nameless Answer against the Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce Wherein the Trivial Author of that Answer is discovered the Licenser conferr'd with and the Opinion which they traduce defended 4to Tetrachordon Expositions upon the Four chief Places in Scripture which Treat of Marriage or Nullities in Marriage on Genesis 1 27 28. Compar'd and Explain'd by Genesis 2. 18 23 24. Deut. 24. 1 2. Matt. 5. 31 32. with Matt. 19. from the 3d. to the 11. verse 1 Cor. 7. from the 10th to the 16th Wherein the Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce as was lately Published is confirmed by Explanation of Scripture by Testimony of Ancient Fathers of Civil Laws in the Primitive Church of Famousest Reformed Divines And lastly by an intended act of the Parliament and Church of England in the last year of Edward the Sixth 4to The Judgment of Martin Bucer concerning Divorce written to Edward the Sixth in his second Book of the Kingdom of Christ and now Englished wherein a late Book restoring the Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce is here Confirmed and Justified by the Authority of Martin Bucer To the Parliament of England 4to The History of Brittain that part especially now called England From the first Traditional Beginning continued to the Norman Conquest Collected out of the Ancientest and best Authors thereof in 4to Paradice lost A Poem in Twelve Books in 4to Paradice regain'd a Poem in four Books to which is added Samson Agonistes Octav. Poems upon several Occasions both English and Latin c. Composed at several times A brief History of Muscovia and of other less known Countries lying Eastward of Prussia as far as Cathay gathered from the writings of
several Eye-witnesses Oct. A Treatise of Civil Power in Ecclesiastical Causes shewing that it is not Lawful for any Power on Earth to Compel in Matters of Religion Twelves Considerations touching the likeliest means to remove Hirelings out of the Church wherein is also discours'd of Tythes Church-Fees and Church-Revenues and whether any maintenance of Ministers can be setled by Law Twelves A Declaration or Letters Patents of the Election of John King of Poland A Translation Opera Latina Viz. Defensio pro populo Anglicano The same lately Translated into English Defensio Secunda Defensio Pro se Defensio Miltoni per Johannem Philippum Literae Pseudo-Senatûs Cromwellii Reliquorumque perduellium nomine ac jussu conscriptae a J. M. Twelves Johannis Miltoni Angli Epistolarum Familiarium Liber unus Quibus Accesserunt jam olim in Collegio Adolescentis Prolusiones Quaedam Oratoriae Octavo Accidence Commenet Gramar Johannis Miltoni Angli Artis Logicae Plenior Institutio ad Petri Rami Methodum Concinnata Adjecta est Praxis Annalytica Petri Rami vita libris Duobus Twelves LETTERS Written in the Name of the Parlament The Senate and People of England to the most Noble Senate of the City of Hamborough FOR how long a series of past Years and for what important Reasons the Friendship enter'd into by our Ancestors with your most Noble City has continu'd to this day we both willingly acknowledge together with your selves nor is it a thing displeasing to us frequently also to call to our remembrance But as to what we understand by your Letters dated the 25th of June that some of our People deal not with that Fidelity and Probity as they were wont to do in their Trading and Commerce among ye we presently referr'd it to the consideration of certain Persons well skill'd in those matters to the end they might make a more strict enquiry into the Frauds of the Clothiers and other Artificers of the Woollen Manufacture And we farther promise to take such effectual care as to make you sensible of our unalterable intentions to preserve sincerity and justice among our selves as also never to neglect any good Offices of our kindness that may redound to the welfare of your Commonwealth On the other hand there is something likewise which we not only require but which Equity it self and all the Laws of God and Man demand of your selves That you will not only conserve inviolable to the Merchants of our Nation their Privileges but by your Authority and Power defend and protect their Lives and Estates as it becomes your City to do Which as we most earnestly desir'd in our former Letters so upon the repeated Complaints of our Merchants that are daily made before us we now more earnestly sollicite and request it they complaining That their safety and all that they have in the world is again in great jeopardy among ye For although they acknowledge themselves to have reap'd some Benefit for a short time of our former Letters sent you and to have had some respite from the Injuries of a sort of Profligate People yet since the coming of the same Coc m to your City of whom we complain'd before who pretends to be honour'd with a sort of Embassy from the Son of the lately deceas'd King they have been assaulted with all manner of ill Language Threats and naked Swords of Ruffians and Homicides and have wanted your accustom'd Protection and Defence insomuch that when Two or Three of the Merchants together with the President of the Society were hurry'd away by surprize Aboard a certain Privateer and that the rest implor'd your Aid yet they could not obtain any Assistance from you till the Merchants themselves were forc'd to embody their own strength and rescue from the hands of Pyrates the Persons Seiz'd on in that River of which your City is the Mistress not without extream hazard of their Lives Nay when they had fortunately brought 'em home again and as it were by Force of Arms recover'd 'em from an Ignominious Captivity and carry'd the Pyrates themselves into Custody we are inform'd that Coc m was so audacious as to demand the Release of the Pyrates and that the Merchants might be deliver'd Prisoners into his hands We therefore again and again beseech and adjure ye if it be your intention that Contracts and Leagues and the very ancient Commerce between both Nations should be preserv'd the thing which you desire That our People may be able to asiure themselves of some certain and firm support and reliance upon your Word your Prudence and Authority that you would lend 'em a favourable Audience concerning these matters and that you would inflict deserved Punishment as well upon Coc m and the rest of his Accomplices in that wicked act as upon those who lately assaulted the Preacher hitherto unpunish'd or command 'em to depart your Territories nor that you would believe that expell'd and exil'd Tarquins are to be preferr'd before the Friendship and the Wealth and Power of our Republick For if you do not carefully provide to the contrary but that the Enemies of our Republick shall presume to think lawful the committing of any Violences against us in your City how unsafe how ignominious the Residence of our People there will be do you consider with your selves These things we recommend to your Prudence and Equity your selves to the Protection of Heaven Westminster Aug. 10. 1649. To the Senate of Hamborough YOUR conspicuous Favour in the doubtful condition of our Affairs is now the reason that after Victory and prosperous Success we can no longer question your good will and friendly inclination towards us As for our parts the War being almost now determin'd and our Enemies every where vanquish'd we have deem'd nothing more just or more conducing to the firm Establishment of the Republick then that they who by our means the Almighty being always our Captain and Conductor have either recover'd their Liberty or obtain'd their Lives and Fortunes after the pernicious Ravages of a Civil War of our free Gift and Grace should testifie and pay in exchange to their Magistrates Allegiance and Duty in a solemn manner if need requir'd More especially when so many Turbulent and Exasperated Persons more then once receiv'd into Protection will make no end either at home or abroad of acting Perfidiously and raising new Disturbances To that purpose we took care to enjoin a certain form of an Oath by which all who held any Office in the Common-wealth or being fortify'd with the Protection of the Law enjoy'd both Safety Ease and all other Conveniences of Life should bind themselves to Obedience in words prescrib'd This we also thought proper to be sent to all Colonies abroad or where-ever else our People resided for the convenience of Trade to the end that the Fidelity of those over whom we are set might be prov'd and known to us as it is but reasonable and necessary Which makes us wonder so much the
all our parts Westminster Feb. 4. 1649. To the Most Serene Prince John the Fourth King of Portugal The Parliament of the Commonwealth of England Greeting ALmost daily and most grievous complaints are brought before us that certain of our Seamen and Officers who revolted from us the last year and Treacherously and Wickedly carry'd away the Ships with the Command of which they were entrusted and who having made their escape from the Port of Ireland where being blockt up for almost a whole Summer together they very narrowly avoided the punishment due to their Crimes have now betaken themselves to the Coast of Portugal and the mouth of the River Tagus that there they practice furious Pyracy Taking and Plundering all the English Vessels they meet with Sailing to and fro upon the account of Trade and that all the adjoining Seas are become almost impassible by reason of their notorious and infamous Robberies To which increasing Mischief unless a speedy Remedy be apply'd who does not see but that there will be a final end of that vast Trade so gainful to both Nations which our People were wont to drive with the Portugueses Wherefore we again and again request Your Majesty that you will command those Pyrates and Revolters to depart the Territories of Portugal And that if any pretended Embassadors present themselves from ******* that you will not vouchsafe to give them Audience but that you will rather acknowledge us upon whom the Supream Power of England by the Conspicuous Favour and Assistance of the Almighty is devolv'd and that the Ports and Rivers of Portugal may not be barr'd and defended against your Friends and Confederates Fleet no less serviceable to your Emolument then the Trade of the English To Philip the Fourth King of Spain HOW heinously and with what Detestation your Majesty resented the Villanous Murder of our Agent Anthony Ascham and what has hitherto been done in the Prosecution and Punishment of his Assassinates we have been given to understand as well by your Majesty 's own Letters as from your Embassador Don Alphonso de Cardenos Nevertheless so often as we consider the horridness of that bloody Fact which utterly subverts the very Foundations of Correspondence and Commerce and of the Privilege of Embassadors most sacred among all Nations so villanously violated without severity of punishment we cannot but with utmost importunity repeat our most urgent Suit to your Majesty That those Parricides may with all the Speed imaginable be brought to Justice and that you would not suffer their merited Pains to be suspended any longer by any delay or pretence of Religion For tho most certainly we highly value the Friendship of a Potent Prince yet it behoves us to use our utmost endeavours that the Authors of such an enormous Parricide should receive the deserved Reward of their Impiety Indeed we cannot but with a grateful mind acknowledge that Civility of which by your Command our People were not unsensible as also your surpassing Affection for us which lately your Embassador at large unfolded to us Nor will it be displeasing to us to return the same good Offices to your Majesty and the Spanish Nation whenever opportunity offers Nevertheless if Justice be not satisfy'd without delay which we still most earnestly request we see not upon what foundations a sincere and lasting Friendship can subsist For the preservation of which however we shall omit no just and laudable occasion to which purpose we are likewise apt to believe that the presence of your Ambassador does not a little conduce To the Spanish Embassador Most Eccellent Lord THe Council of State so soon as their weighty Affairs would permit 'em having carried into Parlament the four Writings which it pleas'd your Excellency to impart to the Council upon the 19th of December last have receiv'd in Command from the Parlament to return this Answer to the first Head of those Writings touching the villanous Assassinates of their late Agent Anthony Ascham The Parlament have so long time so often and so justly demanded their being brought to deserved Punishment that there needs nothing further to be said on a thing of so great importance wherein as your Excellency well observ'd his Royal Majesty's Authority it self is so deeply concern'd that unless Justice be done upon such notorious Offenders all the foundations of Humane Society all the ways of preserving Friendship among Nations of necessity must be overturn'd and abolish'd Nor can we apprehend by any argument drawn from Religion that the Blood of the Innocent shed by a propensely malicious Murder is not to be aveng'd The Parlament therefore once more most urgently presses and expects from his Royal Majesty according to their first demands That satifaction be given 'em effectually and sincerely in this matter To the Most Serene Prince Leopold Archduke of Austria Governor of the Spanish Low-Countries under King Philip. SO soon as word was brought us not without a most grevious complaint that Jane Puckering an Heiress of an Illustrious and Opulent Family while yet by reason of her Age she was under Guardians not far from the House wherein she then liv'd at Greenwich was violently forc'd from the Hands and Embraces of her Attendants and of a sudden in a Vessel to that purpose ready prepar'd carri'd off into Flanders by the treachery of one Walsh who has endeavour'd all the ways imaginable in contempt of Law both Human and Divine to constrain a Wealthy Virgin to marriage even by terrifying her with Menaces of present Death We deeming it proper to apply some speedy remedy to so enormous and unheard-of a piece of Villany gave order to some Persons to treat with the Governours of Newport and Ostend for the Unfortunate Captive was said to be landed in one of those two places about rescuing the Free-born Lady out of the Hands of the Ravisher Who both out of their singular Humanity and Love of Virtue lent their assisting aid to the young Virgin in servitude and by down-right Robbery rifl'd from her Habitation So that to avoid the violence of her Imperious Masters she was as it were deposited in a Nunnery and committed to the charge of the Governess of the Society Wherefore the same Walsh to get her again into his Clutches has commenc'd a Suit against her in the Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Ypre pretending a Matrimonial Contract between him and her Now in regard that both the Ravisher and the Ravish'd person are Natives of our Countrey as by the Witnesses upon their Oaths abundantly appears as also for that the splendid Inheritance after which most certainly the Criminal chiefly gape lies within our Territories so that we conceive that the whole cognizance and determination of this Cause belongs solely to our selves Therefore let him repair hither he who calls himself the Husband here let him commence his Suit and demand the delivery of the Person whom he claims for his Wife In the mean time this it is that we most
earnestly request from your Highness which is no more then what we have already requested by our Agent residing at Brussels that you will permit an afflicted and many ways misus'd Virgin Born of Honest Parents but Pyrated out of her Native Countrey to Return as far as lies in your power with Freedom and Safety home agen This not only we upon all opportunities offer'd as readily prepar'd to return the same Favour and Kindness to your Highness but also Humanity it self and that same hatred of Infamy which ought to accompany all persons of Vertue and Courage in defending the Honour of the Female Sex seem altogether joyntly to require at your hands Westminster March 28. 1650. To the Most Serene Prince John the Fourth King of Portugal UNderstanding that Your Majesty had both Honourably receiv'd our Agent and immediately given him a favourable Audience we thought it became us to assure your Majesty without delay by speedy Letters from us That nothing could happen more acceptable to us and that there is nothing which we have decreed more sacred then not to violate by any word or deed of ours not first provok'd the Peace the Friendship and Commerce now for some time settl'd between us and the greatest number of other Foreign Nations and amongst the rest with the Portugheses Nor did we send the English Fleet to the Mouth of the River Tagus with any other intention or design then in pursuit of Enemies so often put to flight and for recovery of our Vessels which being carry'd away from their Owners by Force and Treachery the same Rabble of Fugitives conducted to your Coasts and even to Lisbon it self as to the most certain Fairs for the Sale of their Plunder But we are apt to believe that by this time almost all the Portugheses are abundantly convinc'd from the Flagitious manners of those People of their Audaciousness their Fury and their Madness Which is the reason we are in hopes that we shall more easily obtain from your Majesty First That you will as far as in you lies be assistant to the most Illustrious Edward Popham whom we have made Admiral of our New Fleet for the subduing those detested Freebooters and that you will no longer suffer 'em together with their Captain not Guests but Pyrates not Merchants but the Pests of Commerce and Violaters of the Law of Nations to Harbour in the Ports and under the shelter of the Fortresses of your Kingdom but that where-ever the Confines of Portugal extend themselves you will Command 'em to be Expell'd as well by Land as by Sea Or if you are unwilling to proceed to that extremity at least that with your leave it may be lawful for us with our proper Forces to assail our own Revolters and Sea Robbers and if it be the pleasure of Heaven to reduce 'em into our Power This as we have earnestly desired in our former Letters so now again with the greatest ardency and importunity we request of your Majesty By this whether equity or act of kindness you will not only enlarge the fame of your Justice over all well Govern'd and Civil Nations but also in a greater measure bind both us and the People of England who never yet had other then a good opinion of the Portugheses to your self and to your Subjects Farewel Westminster 27. April 1650. To the Hamburghers MORE then once we have Written concerning the controversies of the Merchants and some other things which more nearly concern the Dignity of our Republick yet no Answer has been return'd But understanding that Affairs of that nature can hardly be determin'd by Letters onely and that in the mean time certain Seditious Persons have been sent to your City by ******* Authoriz'd with no other Commission then that of Malice and Audaciousness who make it their business utterly to extirpate the ancient Trade of our People in your City especially of those whose fidelity to their Countrey is most conspicuous Therefore we have commanded the worthy and most eminent Richard Bradshaw to reside as our Agent among ye to the end he may be able more at large to Treat and Negotiate with your Lordships such Matters and Affairs as are interwoven with the Benefit and Advantages of both Republicks Him therefore we request ye with the soonest to admit to a favourable Audience and that in all things that Credit may be given to him that Honour paid him as is usually in all Countries and among all Nations paid to those that bear his Character Farewel Westminster April 2. 1650. To the Hamburghers Most Noble Magnificent and Illustrious our dearest Friends THAT your sedulities in the Reception of our Agent were so cordial and so egregious we both gladly understand and earnestly exhort ye that you would persevere in your good Will and Affection toward us And this we do with so much the greater vehemence as being inform'd that the same Exiles of ours concerning whom we have so frequently Written now carry themselves more insolently in your City then they were wont to do and that they not only openly Affront but give out threatning Language in a most despiteful manner against our Resident Therefore once more by these our Letters we would have the safety of his Person and the honour due to his Quality recommended to your Care On the other side if you inflict severe and timely Punishment upon those Fugitives and Ruffians as well the old ones as the new comers it will be most acceptable to us and becoming your Authority and Prudence Westminster May 31. 1650. To Philip the Fourth King of Spain TO our infinite sorrow we are given to understand That Antony Ascham by us lately sent our Agent to your Majesty and under that Character most Civilly and Publickly receiv'd by your Governours upon his first coming to your Royal City naked of all defence and guard was most bloodily Murther'd in a certain Inn together with John Baptistade Ripa his Interpreter Butchered at the same time Wherefore we most earnestly request your Majesty That deserved Punishment may be speedily inflicted upon those Parricides already apprehended as it is reported and committed to Custody who have not only presum'd to wound our selves through his sides but have also dar'd to Stabb as it were to the very heart your Faith of Word and Royal Honour So that we make no question but what we so ardently desire would nevertheless be done effectually by a Prince of his own accord so Just and Pious though no body requir'd it As to what remains we make it our farther suit That the breathless Carkass may be deliver'd to his Friends and Attendants to be brought back and Enterr'd in his own Countrey and that such care may be taken for the security of those that remain alive as is but requisite till having obtain'd an Answer to these Letters if it may be done they shall return to us the Witnesses of your Piety and Justice Westminster June 28. 1650. To the most Excellent
to your Lordships our Judgment upon the whole Matter as also to exhort and perswade ye in the name of this Republick to be careful of preserving the Friendship and Alliance contracted between this Commonwealth and your City as also the Traffick and Commerce no less advantagious for the Interest of both and to that end that you would not fail to Protect our Merchants together with their Priviledges from all Violation and more particularly against the Insolencies of one Garmes who has carry'd himself contumeliously toward this Republick and publickly cited to the Chamber of Spire certain Merchants of the English Company residing in your City to the great contempt of this Commonwealth and trouble of our Merchants for which we expect such Reparation as shall be consentaneous to Equity and Justice To Treat of these Heads and whatever else more largely belongs to the common Friendship of both Republicks we have Order'd our Resident aforesaid to attend your Lordships requesting that ample credit may be given to him in such matters as he shall propose relating to these Affairs Westminster Mar. 12. 1651. Seal'd with the Parlament Seal and Subscrib'd Speaker c. The Parlament of the Commonwealth of England to the Most Serene Christiana Queen of the Swedes Goths and Vandals c. Greeting Most Serene Queen WE have receiv'd and read your Majesty's Letters to the Parlament of England dated from Stockholm the 26th of September last and deliver'd by Peter Spering Silvercroon and there is nothing which we more vehemently and cordially desire then that the ancient Peace Traffick and Commerce of long continuance between the English and Swedes may prove diuturnal and every day encrease Nor did we question but that your Majesty's Embassador was come amply Instructed to make those Proposals chiefly which should be most for the Interest and Honour of both Nations and which we were no less readily prepar'd to have heard and to have done effectually that which should have been thought most secure and beneficial on both sides But it pleas'd the Supreme Moderator and Governour of all things that before he had desir'd to be heard as to those Matters which he had in Charge from your Majesty to propound to the Parlament he departed this Life whose loss we took with that heaviness and sorrow as became persons whom it no less behov'd to acquiesce in the Will of the Almighty whence it comes to pass that we are prevented hitherto from knowing your Majesty's pleasure and that there is a stop at present put to this Negotiation Wherefore we thought we could do no less then by these our Letters which we have given to our Messenger on purpose sent with these unhappy Tydings to signifie to your Majesty how acceptable your Letters how grateful your Publick Minister were to the Parlament of the Commonwealth of England as also how earnestly we expect your Friendship and how highly we shall value the Amity of so great a Princess assuring your Majesty that we have those thoughts of encreasing the Commerce between this Republick and your Majesty's Kingdom as we ought to have of a thing of the highest importance which for that reason will be most acceptable to the Parlament of the Commonwealth of England And so we recommend your Majesty to the Protection of the Divine Providence Westminster March 1651. Seal'd with the Parlament Seal and Subscrib'd Speaker c. The Parlament of the Commonwealth of England to the Most Serene and Potent Prince Philip the Fourth King of Spain Greeting THE Merchants of this Commonwealth who Trade in your Majesties Territories make loud Complaints of extraordinary Violence and Injuries offer'd 'em and of new Tributes impos'd upon 'em by the Governors and other Officers of your Ports and Places where they Traffick and particularly in the Canary Islands and this against the Articles of the League which both Nations have Solemnly Ratifi'd upon the account of Trade the truth of which Complaints they have confirm'd by Oath And they make it out before us That unless they can enjoy their Privileges and that their Losses be repair'd Lastly That except they may have some certain Safeguard and Protection for themselves and their Estates against those Violences and Injuries they can no longer Traffick in those Places Which Complaints of theirs being duly weigh'd by us and believing the unjust proceedings of those Ministers either not at all to have reach'd your knowledge or else to have been untruly represented to your Majesty we deem'd it convenient to send the complaints themselves together with these our Letters to your Majesty Nor do we question but that your Majesty as well out of your love of Justice as for the sake of that Commerce no less gainful to your Subjects then our People will command your Governors to desist from those unjust Oppressions of our Merchants and so order it that they may obtain speedy Justice and due Satisfaction for those Injuries done 'em by Don Pedro de Carillo de Guzman and others and that your Majesty will take care that the Merchants aforesaid may reap the fruit of those Articles and be so far under your Protection that both their Persons and their Estates may be secure and free from all manner of Injury and Vexation And this they believe they shall for the greatest part obtain if your Majesty will be pleas'd to restore 'em that Expedient taken from 'em of a Judge Conservator who may be able to defend 'em from a new Consulship more uneasie to 'em least if no shelter from Injustice be allow'd 'em there should follow a necessity of breaking off that Commerce which has hitherto brought great Advantages to both Nations while the Articles of the League are violated in such a manner West Aug. 1651. To the Most Serene Prince the Duke of Venice and the Most Illustrious Senate Most Serene Prince Most Illustrious Senate our dearest Friends CErtain of our Merchants by name John Dickins and Job Throckmorton with others have made their Complaints unto us That upon the 28th of November 1651. having Seiz'd upon a hunder'd Butts of Caveare in the Vessel call'd the Swallow Riding in the Downs Isaac Taylour Master which were their own proper Goods and Laden Aboard the same Ship in the Muscovite Bay of Archangel and this by the Authority of our Court of Admiralty In which Court the Suit being there depending they obtain'd a Decree for the delivery of the said Butts of Caveare into their Possession they having first given security to abide by the Sentence of that Court And that the said Court to the end the said Suit might be brought to a conclusion having Written Letters according to custom to the Magistrates and Judges of Venice wherein they requested liberty to cite John Piatti to appear by his Proctor in the English Court of Admiralty where the Suit depended and prove his Right nevertheless that the said Piatti and one David Rutts a Hollander while this Cause depends here in our Court put
no less ready to make returns of all good Offices both of Friends and Brethren if in any thing we may be serviceable to your Lordships Westminster October 1653. Seal'd with the Parlament Seal and Subscrib'd Speaker c. To the Spanish Embassador Most Illustrious Lord UPON grievous Complaints brought before us by Philip Niel John Godal and the Society of Merchants of Foy in England that a certain Ship of theirs call'd the Ann of Foy an English Ship by them fitted out and laden with their own Goods in her return home to the Port of Foy about Michaelmas last was unjustly and without any cause set upon and taken by a certain Privateer of Ostend Erasmus Bruer Commander and the Seamen unworthily and barbarously us'd The Council of State wrote to the Marquis of Leda concerning it a copy of which Letter we also send enclos'd to your Excellency and expected from him that without delay Orders would have bin given for the doing of Justice in this matter Nevertheless after all this the foresaid Noel together with the said Company make further heavy complaint that altho our Letters were deliver'd to the Marquess and that those Merchants from that time forward betook themselves to Bruges to the Court there held for Maritime Causes and there asserted and prov'd their Right and the Verity of their Cause yet that Justice was deni'd 'em and that they were so hardly dealt with that though the Cause had bin ripe for Tryal above three Months nevertheless they could obtain no Sentence from that Court but that their Ship and Goods are still detain'd notwithstanding the great Expences they have bin at in Prosecuting their Claim Now your Excellency well knows it to be contrary to the Law of Nations of Traffick and that Friendship which is at present settl'd betwen the English and Flemings that any Ostender should take any English Vessel if bound for England with English Goods and that whatever was Inhumanly and Barbarously done to the English Seamen by that Commander deserves a rigorous Punishment The Council therefore recommends the whole matter to your Excellency and makes it their request that you would Write into Flanders concerning it and take such speedy care that this business may no longer be delai'd but that Justice may be done in such a manner that the foresaid Ship together with the Damages Costs and Interest which the English have sustain'd and bin out of purse by reason of that Illegal Seizure may be restor'd and made good to 'em by the Authority of the Court or in some other way and that care be taken that hereafter no such Violence may be committed but that the Amity between our People and the Flemings may be preserv'd without any Infringement Sign'd in the Name and by the Command of the Council of State appointed by Authority of Parlament To the Marquiss of Leda GREAT Complaints are brought before us by Philip Noel John Godal and the Company of Foy Merchants concerning a Ship of theirs call'd the Ann of Foy which being an English Vessel by them fitted out and laden with their own Goods in her return home to her own Port about Michaelmas last was taken unawares by a Freebooter of Ostend Erasmus Brewer Commander It is also further related that the Ostenders when the Ship was in their Power us'd the Seamen too inhumanly by setting lighted Match to their Fingers and plunging the Master of the Ship in the Sea till they had almost drown'd him on purpose to extort a false Confession from him that the Ship and Goods belong'd to the French Which though the Master and the rest of the Ship 's Crue resolutely deni'd nevertheiess the Ostenders carri'd away the Ship and Goods to their own Port. These things upon strict enquiry and examination of Witnesses have bin made manifest in the Admiralty Court in England as will appear by the Copies of the Affidavits herewith sent your Lordship Now in regard that that same Ship call'd the Ann of Foy and all her lading of Merchandize and Goods belongs truly and properly to the English so that there is no apparent reason why the Ostenders should seize by force either the one or the other much less carry away the Master of the Ship and use the Seamen so unmercifully and whereas according to the Law of Nations and in respect to the Friendship between the Flemings and English that Ship and Goods ought to be restor'd we make it our earnest request to your Excellency that the English may have speedy Justice done and that Satisfaction may be given for their losses to the end the Traffick and Friendship which is between the English and Flemings may be long and inviolably preserv'd To the Spanish Embassador THE Parlament of the Commonwealth of England understanding that several of the People of this City daily resort to the Houses of your Excellency and other Embassadors and Publick Ministers from Foreign Nations here residing meerly to hear Mass gave Order to the Council of State to let your Excellency understand That whereas such Resort is prohibited by the Laws of the Nation and of very evil Example in this our Republick and extreamly Scandalous that they deem it their duty to take care that no such thing be permitted henceforward and to prohibit all such Assemblies for the future Concerning which 't is our desire that your Excellency should have a fair Advertisement to the end that henceforth your Excellency may be more careful of admitting any of the People of this Republick to hear Mass in your House And as the Parlament will diligently provide that your Excellencies Rights and Privileges shall be preserv'd inviolable so they perswade themselves that your Excellency during your abode here would by no means that the Laws of this Republick should be violated by your self or your Attendants A Summary of the particular real damages sustaiu'd by the English Company in many Places of the East-Indies from the Dutch Company in Holland 1. THe Damages comprehended in Sixteen Articles and formerly exhibited Amounting to 298555 Royals ½ which is of our Money 74638 l. 15 s. 00 d. 2. We demand Satisfaction to be given for the incomes of the Island of Pularon from the year 1622. to this time of Two hundred thousand Royals ½ besides the future Expence till the Right of Jurisdiction over that Island be restor'd in the same condition as when it was wrestest out of our hands as was by League agreed to amounting of our Money to 50000 l. 00 s. 00 d. 3. We demand Satisfaction for all the Merchandize Provision and Furniture taken away by the Agents of the Dutch Company in the Indies or to them deliver'd or to any of their Ships bound thither or returning home which Sum amounts to 80635 Royals of our Money 20158 l. 00 s. 00 d. 4. We demand Satisfaction for the Customs of Dutch Merchandize laden on board their Ships in Persia or landed there from the year 1624 as was granted us by the
such exasperated Cruelties inflicted upon the Professors of the same Religion with our selves and all this too out of a hatred of the same Worship And we have reason to hope a success of this Negotiation so much the more prosperous if your Majesty would vouchsafe to employ your Authority and Assistance once again with so much the more urgent importunity and as you have undertaken for those Indigent People that they will be Faithful and Obedient to their Prince so you would be gratiously pleas'd to take care of their Welfare and Safety that no farther Oppressions of this nature no more such dismal Calamities may be the portion of the Innocent and Peaceful This being truly Royal and Just in it self and highly agreeable to your Benignity and Clemency which every where protects in soft security so many of your Subjects professing the same Religion we cannot but expect as it behoves us from your Majesty Which Act of yours as it will more closely bind to your Subjection all the Protestants throughout your spacious Dominions whose Affection and Fidelity to your Predecessors and your self in most important Distresses have bin often conspicuously made known so will it fully convince all Foreign Princes that the Advice or Intention of your Majesty were no way contributory to this prodigious Violence whatever inflam'd your Ministers and Officers to promote it More especially if your Majesty shall inflict deserved punishment upon those Captains and Ministers who of their own Authority and to gratifie their own Wills adventur'd the perpetrating such dreadful Acts of Inhumanity In the mean while since your Majesty has assur'd us of your justly merited aversion to these most inhuman and cruel Proceedings we doubt not but you will assord a secure Sanctuary and Shelter within your Kingdom to all those miserable Exiles that shall flye to your Majesty for Protection and that you will not give permission to any of your Subjects to assist the Duke of Savoy to their prejudice It remains that we make known to your Majesty how highly we esteem and value your Friendship In testimony of which we farther affirm there shall never be wanting upon all occasions the real assurances and effects of our Protestation White-Hall July 29. 1655. Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Eminent Lord Cardinal Mazarine Most Eminent Lord Cardinal HAving deem'd it necessary to send this Noble Person to the King with Letters a Copy of which is here enclos'd we gave him also farther in Charge to Salute your Excellency in our Name as having entrusted to his Fidelity certain other matters to be communicated to your Eminency In reference to which Affairs I intreat your Eminency to give him entire Credit as being a Person in whom I have repos'd a more then ordinary confidence White-Hall July 29. 1655. Your Eminencies most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England to the most Serene Prince Frederick III. King of Danemark Norway c. WITH what a severe and unmerciful Edict Immanuel Duke of Savoy has expell'd from their Native Seats his Subjects inhabiting the Valleys of Piemont men otherwise harmless onely for many years remarkably famous for embracing the Purity of Religion and after a dreadful Slaughter of some numbers how he has expos'd the rest to the hardships of those desert Mountains Stript to their Skins and barr'd from all relief we believe your Majesty has long since heard and doubt not but that your Majesty is touch'd with a real commiseration of their Sufferings as becomes so puissant a Defender and Prince of the Reformed Faith For indeed the Institutions of Christian Religion require that whatever Mischiefs and Miseries any part of us undergo it should behove us all to be deeply sensible of the same Nor does any man better then your Majesty foresee if we may be thought able to give a right conjecture of your Piety and Prudence what dangers the success and example of this fact portend to our selves in particular and to the whole Protestant name in general We have written the more willingly to your self to the end we might assure your Majesty that the same sorrow which we hope you have conceiv'd for the Calamity of our most Innocent Brethren the same opinion the same judgment you have of the whole matter is plainly and sincerely our own We have therefore sent our Letters to the Duke of Savoy wherein we have most importunately besought him to spare those miserable People that implore his mercy and that he would no longer suffer that dreadful Edict to be in force Which if your Majesty and the rest of the Reformed Princes would vouchsafe to do as we are apt to belive they have already done there is some hope that the Anger of the most Serene Duke may be asswag'd and that his Indignation will relent upon the Intercession and Importunities of his Neighbour Princes Or if he persist in his Determinations we protest our selves ready together with your Majesty and the rest of our Confederates of the Reformed Religion to take such speedy methods as may enable us as far in us lies to relieve the distresses of so many miserable Creatures and provide for their Liberty and Safety In the mean time we beseech Almighty God to bless your Majesty with all Prosperity White Hall May 1655. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. to the most Noble the Consuls and Senators of the City of Geneva WE had before made known to your Lordships our excessive Sorrow for the heavy and unheard of Calamities of the Protestants Inhabiting the Valleys of Piemont whom the Duke of Savoy Persecutes with so much Cruelty but that we made it our business that you should at the same time understand that we are not onely affected with the multitude of their sufferings but are using the utmost of our endeavours to Relieve and Comfort 'em in their distresses To that purpose we have taken care for a gathering of Alms to be made throughout this whole Republick which upon good grounds we expect will be such as will demonstrate the affection of this Nation toward their Brethren labouring under the burthen of such horrid Inhumanities and that as the Communion of Religion is the same between both People so the sence of their Calamities is no less the same In the mean time while the Collections of the Money go forward which in regard they will require some time to accomplish and for that the Wants and Necessities of those deplorable People will admit of no delay we thought it requifite to remit beforehand Two thousand Pounds of the Value of England with all possible speed to be distributed among such as shall be judg'd to be most in present need of Comfort and Succour Now in regard we are not ignorant how deeply the miseries and wrongs of those most innocent people have affected your selves and that you will not
think amiss of any Labour or Pains where you can be assisting to their Relief we made no scruple to commit the Paying and Distributing this Sum of Money to your Care and to give ye this farther trouble that according to your wonted Piety and Prudence you would take care that the said Money made be distributed equally to the most Necessitous to the end that though the Sum be small yet there may be something to Refresh and Revive the most Poor and Needy till we can afford 'em a more plentiful Supply And thus not making any doubt but you will take in good part the trouble impos'd upon ye we beseech Almighty God to stir up the hearts of all his People Professing the Orthodox Religion to resolve upon the common Defence of themselves and the mutual Assistance of each other against their imbitter'd and most implacable Enemies In the prosecution of which we should rejoyce that our helping hand might be any way serviceable to the Church Farewel Fifteen hundred Pounds of the foresaid Two thousand will be remitted by Gerard Hench from Paris and the other Five hundred Pounds will be taken care of by Letters from the Lord Stoup June 8. 1655. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. to the most Serene Prince the Duke of Venice Most Serene Prince AS it has bin always a great occasion of rejoycing to us when ever any prosperous Success attended your Arms but more especially against the Common Enemy of the Christian Name so neither are we sorry for the late Advantage gain'd by your Fleet though as we understand it happen'd not a little to the Detriment of our People For certain of our Merchants William and Daniel Williams and Edward Beale have set forth in a Petition presented to us that a Ship of theirs call'd the Great Prince was lately sent by them with Goods and Merchandize to Constantinople where the said Ship was detain'd by the Ministers of the Port to carry Soldiers and Provisions to Creet and that the said Ship being constrain'd to Sail along with the same Fleet of the Turks which was set upon and vanquish'd by the Gallies of the Venetians was taken carri'd away to Venice and there adjudg'd Lawful Prize by the Judges of the Admiralty Now therefore in regard the said Ship was press'd by the Turks and forc'd into their Service without the Knowledge or Consent of the Owners directly or indirectly obtain'd and that it was impossible for her being Ship'd with Soldiers to withdraw from the Engagement we most earnestly request your Serenity That you will remit that sentence of your Admiralty as a Present to our Friendship and take such care that the Ship may be restor'd to the Owners no way deserving the displeasure of your Republick by any Act of theirs In the obtaining of which request more especially upon our Intercession while we find the Merchants themselves so well assur'd of your Clemency It behoves us not to question it And so we beseech the Almighty God to continue his prosperous Blessings upon your Noble Designs and the Venetian Republick Westminster December 1655. Your Serenity's and the Venetian Republick's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. to the most Serene Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene King CErtain of our Merchants by name Samuel Mico William Cockain George Poyner and several others in a Petition to us have set forth That in the year 1650. they Laded a Ship of theirs call'd the Vnicorn with Goods of a very considerable value and that the said Ship being thus Laden with Silk Oyl and other Merchandize amounting to above Thirty four thousand of our Pounds was taken by the Admiral and Vice-Admiral of your Majesty's Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea Now it appears to us that our People who were then in the Ship by reason there was at that time a Peace between the French and us that never had bin violated in the least were not willing to make any Defence against your Majesty's Royal Ships and therefore over-rul'd besides by the fair Promises of the Captains Paul and Terrery who faithfully engag'd to dismiss our People they paid their Obedience to the Maritime Laws and produc'd their Bills of Lading Moreover we find that the Merchants aforesaid sent their Agent into France to demand Restitution of the said Ship and Goods And then it was that after above Three years slipt away when the Suit was brought so far that Sentence of Restitution or Condemnation was to have bin given that his Eminency Cardinal Mazarine acknowledg'd to their Factor Hugh Morel the wrong that had bin done the Merchants and undertook that Satisfaction should be given so soon as the League between the two Nations which was then under Negotiation should be Ratifi'd and Confirm'd Nay since that his Excellency M. de Bourdeaux your Majesty's Embassador assur'd us in express Words by the Command of your Majesty and your Council That care should be taken of that Ship and Goods in a particular Exception a part from those controversies for the decision of which a general provision was made by the League of which promise the Embassador now opportunely arriv'd here to solicit some business of his own is a Testimony no way to be question'd Which being true and the Right of the Merchants in redemanding their Ship and Goods so undeniably apparent we most earnestly request your Majesty that they may meet with no delay in obtaining what is justly their due but that your Majesty will admit the grant of this Favour as the first fruits of our reviv'd Amity and the lately renew'd League between us The refusal of which as we have no reason to doubt so we beseech Almighty God to Bless with all Prosperity both your Majesty and your Kingdom Westminster Decemb. 1655. Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland c. To the Evangelic Cities of Switzerland IN what condition your Affairs are which is not the best we are abundantly inform'd as well by your publick Acts transmitted to us by our Agent at Geneva as also by your Letters from Zurick bearing date the 27th of December Whereby although we are sorry to find your Peace and such a lasting League of Confederacy broken nevertheless since it appears to have happen'd through no fault of yours we are in hopes that the Iniquity and perverseness of your Adversaries are contriving new occasions for ye to make known your long-ago experienc'd Fortitude and Resolution in Defence of the Evangelick Faith For as for those of the Canton of Schwits who account it a Capital Crime for any person to embrace our Religion what they are might and main designing and whose instigations have incens'd 'em to resolutions of Hostility against the Orthodox Religion no body can be ignorant who has not yet forgot that most detestable Slaughter of our Brethren in Piemont Wherefore
most beloved Friends what you were always wont to be with God's assistance still continue Magnanimous and Resolute suffer not your Privileges your Confederacies the Liberty of your Consciences your Religion it self to be trampled under foot by the Worshippers of Idols and so prepare your selves that you may not seem to be the Defenders onely of your own Freedom and Safety but be ready likewise to Aid and Succour as far as in you lies your Neighbouring Brethren more especially those most deplorable Piedmontois as being certainly convinc'd of this that a Passage was lately intended to have bin open'd over their Slaughter'd bodies to your sides As for our part be assur'd that we are no less anxious and solicitous for your Welfare and Prosperity then if this conflagration had broken forth in our Republick or as if the Axes of the Schwits Canton had bin sharpen'd for our Necks or that their Swords had bin drawn against our Breasts as indeed they were against the bosoms of all the Reformed Therefore so soon as we were inform'd of the condition of your Affairs and the obstinate Animosities of your Enemies advising with some sincere and honest Persons together with some Mininisters of the Church most eminent for their Piety about sending to your Assistance such Succour as the present posture of our Affairs would permit we came to those Results which our Envoy Pell will impart to your consideration In the mean time we cease not to implore the Blessing of the Almighty upon all your Counsels and the Protection of your most just Cause as well in War as in Peace Westminster Jan. 1655. Your Lordships and Worships most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. to the most Serene Prince Charles Gustavus by the Grace of God King of the Swedes Goths and Vandals Great Prince of Finland c. Most Serene King SEeing it is a thing well known to all men that there ought to be a Communication of concerns among Friends whether in Prosperity or Adversity it cannot be but most grateful to us that your Majesty should vouchsafe to impart unto us by your Letters the most pleasing and delightful part of your Friendship which is your joy In regard it is a mark of singular Civility and truly Royal as not to live onely to a man's self so neither to rejoyce alone unless he be sensible that his Friends and Confederates partake of his gladness Certainly then we have reason to rejoyce for the Birth of a young Prince Born to such an excellent King and sent into the world to be the Heir of his Father's Glory and Vertue and this at such a lucky season that we have no less cause to Congratulate the Royal Parent with the memorable Omen that befel the Famous Philip of Macedon who at the same time receiv'd the Tydings of Alexander's Birth and the Conquest of the Illyrians For we make no question but the wresting of the Kingdom of Poland from Papal Subjection as it were a Horn dismembred from the Head of the Beast and the Peace so much desir'd by all Good men concluded with the Duke of Brandenburgh will be most highly conducing to the Tranquility and Advantage of the Church Heaven grant a conclusion correspondent to such signal beginnings and may the Son be like the Father in Vertue Piety and Renown obtain'd by great Atchievments Which is that we wish may luckily come to pass and which we beg of the Almighty so propitious hitherto to your Affairs Westminster Feb. 1655. Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Comonwealth of England c. To the King of Danemark Most Serene and Potent Prince JOhn Freeman and Philip Travess Citizens of this Republick by a Petition presented to us in their own and the Name of several other Merchants of London have made a complaint That whereas about the Month of March in the year 1653. they Freighted a certain Ship of Sunderburgh call'd the Saviour Nicolas Weinskinks Master with Woollen Cloth and other Commodities to the Value of above Three thousand Pound with Orders to the Master That he should Sail directly up the Baltick for Dantzick paying the usual Tribute at Elsenore to which purpose in particulor they gave him Money nevertheless that the said Master Perfidiously and contrary to the Orders of the said Merchants slipping by Elsenore without paying the usual Duty thought to have proceeded in his Voyage but that the Ship for this reason was immediately Seiz'd and detain'd with all her Lading After due consideration of which Complaints we Wrote in favour of the Merchants to your Majesty's Embassador residing at London who promis'd as they say that as soon as he return'd to your Majesty he would take care that the Merchants should be taken into consideration But he being sent to Negotiate your Majesty's Affairs in other Countries the Merchants attended upon him in vain both before and after his departure so that they were forc'd to send their Agent to prosecute their Right and Claim at Copenhagen and demand Restitution of the Ship and Goods but all the Benefit they reap'd by it was onely to add more expences to their former damages and a great deal of labour and pains thrown away the Goods being condemn'd to Confiscation and still detain'd Whereas by the Law of Danemark as they set forth in their Petition the Master is to be Punish'd for his Offence and the Ship is to be Condemn'd but not the Goods And they look upon this misfortune to lye the more heavy upon 'em in regard the Duty which is to be paid at Elsenore as they tell us is but very small Wherefore seeing our Merchants seem to have given no cause of Proscription and for that the Master confess'd before his death that this damage befel them onely through his neglect and the Father of the Master deceas'd by his Petition to your Majesty as we are given to understand by laying all the blame upon his Son has acquitted the Merchants we could not but believe the detaining of the said Ship and Goods to be most unjust and therefore we are confident that so soon as your Majesty shall be rightly inform'd of the whole matter you will not only disapprove of these Oppressions of your Ministers but give command that they be call'd to an account that the Goods be restor'd to the Owners or their Factors and Reparation made 'em for the Losses they have sustain'd All which we most earnestly request of your Majesty as being no more then what is so just and consentaneous to reason that a more equitable demand or more legal satisfaction cannot well be made considering the Justice of our Merchants Cause and which your own Subjects would think but fair and honest upon the like occasions To the most Serene Prince John the Fourth King of Portugal c. Most Serene King THE Peace and Friendship which your Majesty desir'd by your Noble and
Splendid Embassy sent to us some time since after certain Negotiations begun by the Parlament in whom the Supreme Power was vested at that time as it was always most affectionately wish'd for by us with the assistance of God and that we might not be wanting in the Administration of the Government which we have now taken upon us at length we brought to a happy conclusion and as we hope as a sacred Act have ratifi'd it to perpetuity And therefore we send back to your Majesty your extraordinary Embassador the Lord John Roderigo de Sita Meneses Count of Pennaguiada a person both approv'd by your Majesty's judgment and by us experienc'd to excel in Civility Ingenuity Prudence and Fidelity besides the merited applause which he has justly gain'd by accomplishing the ends of his Embassy which is the Peace which he carries along with him to his Country But as to what we perceive by your Letters dated from Lisbon the second of April that is to say how highly your Majesty esteems our Amity how cordially you favour our Advancement and rejoyce at our having taken the Government of the Republick upon us which you are pleas'd to manifest by singular Testimonies of Kindness and Affection we shall make it our business that all the world may understand by our readiness at all times to serve your Majesty that there could be nothing more acceptable or grateful to us Nor are we less earnest in our Prayers to God for your Majesty's safety the welfare of your Kingdom and the prosperous success of your Affairs Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the High and Mighty States of the United Provinces Most High and Mighty Lords our dearest Friends CERTAIN Merchants our Countrey-men Thomas Bassel Richard Beare and others their Co-Partners have made their complaints before us That a certain Ship of theirs the Edmund and John in her Voyage from the Coast of Brasile to Lisbon was set upon by a Privateer of Flushing call'd the Red-Lyon Commanded by Lambert Bartelson but upon this condition which the Writing Sign'd by Lambert himself testifies That the Ship and whatsoever Goods belong'd to the English should be restor'd at Flushing where when the Vessel arriv'd the Ship indeed with what peculiarly belong'd to the Seamen was restor'd but the English Merchants Goods were detain'd and put forthwith to Sale For the Merchants who had receiv'd the Damage when they had su'd for their Goods in the Court of Flushing after great Expences for Five years together lost their Suit by the pronouncing of a most unjust Sentence against 'em by those Judges of which some being interested in the Privateer were both Judges and Adversaries and no less Criminal altogether So that now they have no other hopes but onely in your Equity and uncorrupted Faith to which at last they fly for Succour and which they believ'd they should find the more inclinable to do 'em Justice if assisted by our Recommendation And men are surely to be pardon'd if afraid of all things in so great a struggle for their Estates they rather call to mind what they have reason to fear from your Authority and high Power then what they have to hope well of their Cause especially before sincere and upright Judges Though for our parts we make no question but that induc'd by your Religion your Justice your Integrity rather then by our Intreaties you will give that Judgment which is Just and Equal and truly becoming your selves God preserve both you and your Republick to his own Glory and the defence and Succour of his Church Westminster April 1. 1656. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland c. To the most Serene Prince Charles Gustavus King of the Swedes Goths and Vandals Great Prince of Finland Duke of Esthonia Carelia Breme Verden Stettin Pomerania Cassubia and Vandalia Prince of Rugia Lord of Ingria and Wismaria Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria Juliers Cleves and Monts Most Serene Prince PEter Julius Coict having accomplish'd the Affairs of his Embassy with us and so acquitted himself that he is not by us to be dismiss'd without the Ornament of his deserved Praises is now returning to your Majesty For he was most acceptable to us as well and chiefly for your own sake which ought with us to be of high consideration as for his own deserts in the diligent acquittal of his Trust The Recommendation therefore which we receiv'd from you in his behalf we freely testifie to have bin made good by him and deservedly given by your self as he on the other side is able with the same Fidelity and Integrity to relate and most truly to declare our singular Affection and Observance toward your Majesty It remains for us to beseech the most Merciful and All-powerful God to Bless your Majesty with all Felicity and a perpetual course of Victory over all the Enemies of his Church Westminster Apirl 17. 1656. Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene Prince JOhn Dethic Mayor of the City of London for this Year and William Wakefield Merchant have made their Addresses to us by way of Petition complaining That about the middle of October 1649. they freighted a certain Ship call'd the Jonas of London Jonas Lightfoot Master with Goods that were to be sent to Ostend which Vessel was taken in the mouth of the River Thames by one White of Barking a Pyrate Robbing upon the Seas by Vertue of a Commission from the Son of King Charles deceas'd and carri'd to Dnnkirk then under the Jurisdiction of the French Now in regard that by your Majesty's Edict in the year 1647. renew'd in 1649. and by some other Decrees in favour of the Parlament of England as they find it recorded it was Enacted That no Vessel or Goods taken from the English in the time of that War should be carri'd into any of your Majesty's Ports to be there put to Sale they presently sent their Factor Hugh Morel to Dunkirk to demand Restitution of the said Ship and Goods from M. Lestrade then Governor of the Town more especially finding them in the Place for the most part untouch'd and neither Exchang'd or Sold. To which the Governor made Answer That the King had bestow'd that Government upon him of his free Gift for Service done the King in his Wars and therefore he would take care to make the best of the Reward of his Labour So that having little to hope from an Answer so unkind and unjust after a great Expence of Time and Money the Factor return'd home So that all the remaining hopes which the Petitioners have seem wholly to depend upon your Majesty's Justice and Clemency to which they thought
setling of those Affairs In the mean time Almighty God preserve in safety so great a Pillar of his Church and of Swedeland's welfare From our Palace at Westminster July 1656. Your Majesties most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. to the most Serene Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene King our most dear Friend and Confederate CErtain Merchants of London Richard Baker and others have made their complaint in a Petition to us That a certain hir'd Ship of theirs call'd the Endeavour William Jop Master Laden at Tenariff with Three hundre'd Pipes of rich Canary and bound from thence for London in her Voyage between Palma and that Island upon the 21st of November in the year 1655. was taken by Four French Vessels seeming Ships of Burthen but fitted and mann'd like Privateers under the Command of Giles de la Roche their Admiral and carri'd with all her Freight and the greatest part of the Seamen to the East-Indies whither he pretended to be bound Fourteen excepted who were put ashore upon the Coast of Guiney which the said Giles affirm'd he did with that Intent that none of 'em might escape from so Remote and Barbarous a Countrey to do him any harm by their Testimony For he confess'd he had neither any Commission to take the English Vessels neither had he taken any as he might have done before well knowing there was a firm Peace at that time between the French and our Republick But in regard he had design'd to revittle in Portugal from whence he was driven by contrary Winds he was constrain'd to supply his necessities with what he found in that Vessel and believ'd the Owners of his Ships would satisfie the Merchants for their Loss Now the Loss of our Merchants amounts to Sixteen Thousand English Pounds as will easily be made appear by Witnesses upon Oath But if it shall be Lawful upon such trivial Excuses as these for Pyrates to violate the most Religious Acts of Princes and make a sport of Merchants for their particular benefits certainly the sanctity of Leagnes must fall to the ground all Faith and Authority of Princes will grow out of date and be trampl'd under foot Wherefore we not onely request your Majesty but believe it mainly to concern your Honour that they who have adventur'd upon so slight a pretence to violate the League and most Sacred Oath of their Sovereign should suffer the Punishment due to so much Perfidiousness and daring Insolence and that in the mean time the Owners of those Ships though to their Loss should be bound to satisfie our Merchants for the vast Detriment which they have so wrongfully sustain'd So may the Almighty long preserve your Majesty and support the Interest of France against the Common Enemy of us Both. From our Palace at Westminster August 1656. Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England To his Eminency Cardinal Mazarine Most Eminent Lord HAving an occasion to send Letters to the King we thought it likewise an offer'd opportunity to Write to your Eminency For we could not think it proper to conceal the subject of our Writing from the sole and onely person whose singular Prudence Governs the most important Interests of the French Nation and the most weighty Affairs of the Kingdom with equal Fidelity Council and Vigilance Not without reason we complain in short to find that League by your self as it were a crime to doubt most sacredly concluded almost the very same day contemn'd and violated by one Giles a French-man a petty Admiral of Four Ships and his Associates equally concern'd as your Eminency will readily find by our Letters to the King and the Demands themselves of our Merchants Nor is it unknown to your Excellency howmuch it concerns not only Inferiour Magistrates but even Royal Majesty it self that those first Violators of solemn Alliances should be severely punish'd But they perhaps by this time being arriv'd in the East-Indies whither they pretended to be bound enjoy in undisturb'd possession the Goods of our People as Lawful Prize won from an Enemy which they Robb'd and Pilledg'd from the Owners contrary to all Law and the pledg'd Faith of our late sacrd League However this is that which we request from your Eminency That whatever Goods were taken from our Merchants by the Admiral of those Ships as necessary for his Voyage may be restor'd by the Owners of the same Vessels which was no more then what the Rovers themselves thought Just and Equal which as we understand it lies within your Power to do considering the Authority and Sway you bear in the Kingdom From our Palace at Westminster August 1656. Your Eminencies most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces Most High and Mighty Lords our dear Friends and Confederates WE make no doubt but that all men will bear us this Testimony That no considerations in contracting Foreign Alliances ever sway'd us beyond those of defending the Truth of Religion or that we accounted any thing more sacred then to Unite the Minds of all the Friends and Protectors of the Protestants and of all others who at least were not their Enemies Whence it comes to pass that we are touch'd with so much the more grief of Mind to hear that the Protestant Princes and Cities whom it so much behoves to live in Friendship and Concord together should begin to be so jealous of each other and so ill dispos'd to mutual Affection more especially that your Lordships and the King of Sweden then whom the Orthodox Faith has not more Magnanimous and Couragious Defenders nor our Republick Confederates more strictly conjoyn'd in Interests should seem to remit of your confidence in each other or rather that there should appear some too apparent signs of tottering Friendship and growing discord between ye What the causes are and what progress this alienation of your Affection has made we protest our selves to be altogether ignorant However we cannot but conceive an extraordinary trouble of mind for these beginnings of the least dissention arisen among Brethren which infallibly must greatly endanger the Protestant Interests Which if they should gather strength how prejudicial it would prove to the Protestant Churches what an occasion of triumph it would afford our Enemies and more especially the Spaniards cannot be unknown to your Prudence and most industrious experience of Affairs As for the Spaniards it has already so enliven'd their confidence and rais'd their Courage that they made no scruple by their Embassador residing in your Territories boldly to obtrude their Counsels upon your Lordships and that in reference to the highest concerns of your Republick presuming partly with Threats of renewing the War to terrifie and partly with a false prospect of Advantage
as the Guerdons of his Prowess Nor do we question but that he may be of great use to your Majesty in your present Wars who has bin so long conspicuous for his Fidelity and Experience in Military Affairs 'T is our desire therefore that he may be recommended to your Majesty according to his merits and we also farther request That he may be paid the Arrears that are due to him This as it will be most acceptable to us so we shall be ready upon the like occasion whenever offer'd to gratify your Majesty to whom we wish all Happiness and Prosperity Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene Prince John King of Portugal Most Serene King our dearest Friend and Confederate THomas Evans a Master of a Ship and our Countrey-man has presented a Petition to us wherein he sets forth that in the years 1649. and 1650. he serv'd the Brafile Company with his Ship the Scipio being a Vessel of Four hunder'd Tuns and of which he was Master that the said Ship was taken from him with all the Lading and Furniture by your Majesties Command by which he has receiv'd great Damage besides the loss of Six years gain arising out of such a Stock The Commissioners by the League appointed on both sides for the deciding controversies valu'd the whole at Seven thousand of our Pounds or twice as many Milreys of Portugal Money as they made their report to us Which Loss falling so heavy upon the foresaid Thomas and being constrain'd to make a voyage to Lisbon for the Recovery of his Estate he humbly besought us that we would grant him our Letters to your Majesty in favour of his demands We therefore although we Wrote the last year in behalf of our Merchants in general to whom the Brasile Company was Indebted nevertheless that we may not be wanting to any that implore our aid request your Majesty in regard to that Friendship which is between us that consideration may be had of this man in particular and that your Majesty would give such Orders to all your Ministers and Officers that no obstacle may hinder him from demanding and recovering without delay what is owing to him from the Brasile Company or any other persons God Almighty Bless your Majesty with perpetual Felicity and grant that our Friendship may long endure From our Palace at Westm October 1656. Your Mrjesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the Illustrious and Magnificent Senate of Hamborough Most Noble Magnificent and Right Worshipful JAmes and Patrick Hays Subjects of this Commonwealth have made grievous Complaint before us That they being Lawful Heirs of their Brother Alexander who dy'd Intestate were so declar'd by a Sentence of your Court pronounc'd in their behalf against their Brother's Widow and the Estates of their deceas'd Brother together with the Profits onely the Widow's Dowre excepted being adjudg'd to them by vertue of that Sentence nevertheless to this very day they could never reap any benefit of their Pains and Expences in obtaining the said Judgment notwithstanding their own declar'd Right and Letters formerly Written by King Charles in their behalf for that the great Power and Wealth of Albertvan Eyzen one of your Chief Magistrates and with whom the greatest part of the Goods was deposited was an Opposition too Potent for them to surmount whilst he strove all that in him lay that the Goods might not be restor'd to the Heirs Thus disappointed and tir'd out with delays and at length reduc'd to utmost Poverty they are become suppliants to us that we would not forsake 'em wrong'd and oppress'd as they are in a Confederated City We therefore believing it to be a chief part of our duty not to suffer any Countrey-man of ours in vain to desire our Patronage and Succour in distress make this request to your Lordships which we are apt to think we may easily obtain from your City That the Sentence pronounc'd in behalf of the two Brothers may be Ratifi'd and duly Executed according to the intents and purposes for which it was given and that you will not suffer any longer delay of Justice by any Appeal to the Chamber of Spire upon any pretence whatever For we have requir'd the Opinions of our Lawyers which we have sent to your Lordships fairiy Written and Sign'd But if intreaty and fair means will nothing avail of necessity and which is no more then according to the customary Law of Nations though we are unwilling to come to that extremity the severity of Retaliation must take its course which we hope your Prudence will take care to prevent From our Palace at Westm Octob. 16. 1656. Your Lordships most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Lewis King of France Most Serene and Potent King our dearest Friend and Confederate WE are apt to believe that your Majesty receiv'd our Letters dated the 14th of May of the last year wherein we wrote that John Dethic Mayor of London that year and William Waterford Merchant had by their Petition set forth That a certain Vessel call'd the Jonas freighted with Goods upon their Accompt and bound for Dunkirk then under the Jurisdiction of the French was taken at the very Mouth of the Thames by a Sea-Rover pretending a Commission from the Son of the late King Charles Which being directly contrary to your Edicts and the Decrees of your Council That no English Ship taken by the Enemies of the Parliament should be admitted into any of your Ports and there put to sale they demanded Restitution of the said Ship and Goods from M. Lestrade then Governor of the Town who return'd 'em an answer no way becoming a Person of his Quality or who pretended Obedience to his Sovereign That the Government was conferr'd upon him for his good Service in the Wars and therefore he would make his best advantage of it that is to say by right or wrong for that he seem'd to drive at As if he had receiv'd that Government of your Majesties free gift to authorize him in the robbing your Confederates and contemning your Edicts set forth in their favour For what the King of France forbids his Subjects any way to have a hand in that the King's Governor has not only suffer'd to be committed in your Ports but he himself becomes the Pirate seizes the Prey and openly avouches the Fact With this Answer therefore the Merchants departed altogether baffl'd and disappointed and this we signifi'd by our Letters to your Majesty the last year with little better success for as yet we have receiv'd no Reply to those Letters Of which we are apt to believe the reason was because the Governor was with the Army
more reason you will have to be assur'd of our singular Love and Kindness for your Lordships From our Court at White-Hall August 1657. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Noble the Senators and Consuls of the City of Lubeck Most Noble Magnificent and Right Worshipful our dearest Friends COllonel William Jepson a Person of great Honour and a Senator in our Parlament is to pass with the Character of a Publick Minister from your City to the King of Sweden encamping not far from it Wherefore we desire your Lordships that if occasion require upon the account of the Friendship and Commerce between us you will be Assistant to him in his Journey through your City and the Territories under your Jurisdiction As to what remains it is our farther pleasure That you be Saluted in our Name and that you be assur'd of our Good-will and ready Inclinations to serve your Lordships From our Court at Westminster August 1657. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the City of Hamborough Most Noble Magnificent and Right Worshipful PHilip Meadows who brings these Letters to your Lordships is to Travel through your City with the Character of our Agent to the King of Danemark Therefore we most earnestly recommend him to your Lordships that if any occasion should happen for him to desire it you would be ready to Aid him with your Authority and Assistance And we desire that this our Recommendation may have the same weight at present with your Lordships as formerly it wont to have nor shall we be wanting to your Lordships upon the same Opportunities From our Court at White-Hall August 1657. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Sereae Prince Frederick Heir of Norway Duke of Sleswic Holsatia and Ditmarsh Count in Oldenburgh and Delmenhorst Most Serene Prince our dearest Friend COllonel William Jepson a Person truly Noble in his Countrey and a Senator in our Parlament is sent by us as our Envoy Extraordinary to the most Serene King of Sweden and may it prove Happy and Prosperous for the common Peace and Interests of Christendome We have given him Instructions among other things That in his Journey after he has Kiss'd your Serenities hands in our Name and declar'd our former Good-will and constant Zeal for your Welfare to request of your Serenity also That being Guarded with your Authority he may Travel with Safety and Convenience through your Territories By which kind act of Civility your Highness will in a greater measure oblige us to returns of answerable Kindness From our Court at Westm August 1657. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene Prince Ferdinand Great Duke of Tuscany Most Serene Great Duke our dearest Friend THE Company of our Merchants Trading to the Eastern Coasts of the Mediterranean Sea by their Petition to us have set forth That William Ellis Master of a Ship call'd the Little Lewis being at Alexandria in Egypt was hir'd by the Basha of Memphis to carry Rice Sugar and Coffee either to Constantinople or Smyrna for the use of the Grand Seignior but that contrary to his Faith and Promise given he bore away privately from the Ottoman Fleet and brought his Ship and Lading to Leghorn where now he lives in Possession of his Prey Which Villanous Act being of dangerous Example as exposing the Christian Name to scandal and the Fortunes of our Merchants living under the Turks to Violence and Ransack we therefore make it our request to your Highness That you will give Command that the said Master be Apprehended and Imprison'd and that the Vessel and Goods may remain under seizure till we shall have given notice of our care for the restitution of those Goods to the Sultan Assuring your Highness of our readiness to make suitable returns of gratitude whenever opportunity presents it self From our Court at Westm Septemb. 1657. Your Highness's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene Prince the Lord Frederic William Marquiss of Brandenburgh c. Most Serene Prince our most dear Friend and Confederate BY our last Letters to your Highness either already or shortly to be deliver'd by our Embassador William Jepson we have imparted the substance of our Embassy to your Highness Which we could not do without some mention of your great Vertues and demonstration of our own Good will and Affection Nevertheless That we may not seem too superficially to have glided over your transcending deservings of the Protestant Interests we thought it proper to resume the same subject and pay our Respect and Veneration not more willingly or with a greater fervency of Mind but somewhat more at large to your Highness And truly most deservedly when daily Information reaches our ears That your Faith and Conscience by all manner of Artifices Tempted and Assail'd by all manner of Arts and Devices Solicited yet cannot be shaken or by any Violence be rent from your Friendship and Alliance with a most Magnanimous Prince and your Confederate And this when the Affairs of the Swedes are now reduc'd to that condition that in adhering to their Alliance 't is manifest that your Highness rather consults the common Cause of the Reformed Religion then your own Advantage And when your Highness is almost surrounded and besieg'd by Enemies either privately lurking or almost at your Gates yet such is your Constancy and Resolution of Mind such your Conduct and Prowess becoming a great General that the burthen and massy bulk of the whole Affair and the event of this important War seems to rest and depend upon your sole determination Wherefore your Highness has no reason to question but that you may rely upon our Friendship and unfeigned Affection who should think our selves worthy to be forsaken of all men's Good word should we seem careless in the least of your unblemish'd Fidelity your Constancy and the rest of your applauded Vertues or should we pay less respect to your Highness upon the common score of Religion As to those matters propounded by the most Accomplish'd John Frederic Schlever your Counsellor and Agent here residing if hitherto we could not return an Answer such as we desir'd to do though with all assiduity and diligence labour'd by your Agent we intreat your Highness to impute it to the present condition of our Affairs and to be assur'd that there is nothing which we account more sacred or more earnestly desire then to be serviceable and assisting to your Interests so bound up with the Cause of Religion In the mean time we beseech the God of Mercy and Power that so signal a Prowess and Fortitude may never languish or be oppress'd nor be depriv'd the Fruit and due Applause of all your Pious Undertakings From our Court at Westminster September 1657. Your Highness's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the
c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene and Potent Prince our most August Confederate and Friend BY so speedily repaying our profound Respect to your Majesty with an Accumulation of Honour by such an Illustrious Embassy to our Court you have not onely made known to us but to all the People of England your singular Benignity and Generosity of Mind but also how much you favour our Reputation and Dignity For which we return our most cordial Thanks to your Majesty as justly you have merited from us As for the Victory which God has given most fortunate to our United Forces against our Enemies we rejoyce with your Majesty for it and that our People in that Battel were not wanting to your Assistance nor the Military Glory of their Ancestors nor their own Pristin Fortitude is most grateful to us As for Dunkirk which as your Majesty Wrote you were in hopes was near Surrender 't is a great addition to our joy to hear from your Majesty such speedy Tidings that it is absolutely now in your Victorious hands and we hope moreover that the loss of one City will not suffice to repay the twofold Treachery of the Spaniard but that your Majesty will in a short time Write us the welcome News of the Surrender also of the other Town As to your Promise That you will take care of our Interests we mistrust it not in the least upon the Word of a most Excellent King and our most assured Friend confirm'd withal by your Embassador the most accomplish'd Duke of Crequi Lastly we beseech Almighty God to prosper your Majesty and the Affairs of France both in Peace and War Westminster June 1658. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Eminent Lord Cardinal Mazarin Most Eminent Lord WHile we are returning Thanks to the most Serene King who to Honour and Congratulate us as also to intermix his Joy with ours for the late glorious Victory has sent a splendid Embassy to our Court we should be ungrateful should we not also by our Letters pay our due acknowledgments to your Eminency who to testifie your Good-will toward us and how much you make it your study to do us all the Honour which lyes within your power have sent your Nephew to us a most Excellent and most Accomplish'd young Gentleman and if you had any nearer Relation or any Person whom you valu'd more would have sent him more especially to us as you declare in your Letters adding wlthal the Reason which coming from so great a Personage we deem no small advantage to our Praise and Ornament that is to say to the end that they who are most nearly Related to your Eminency in Blood might learn to imitate your Eminency in shewing Respect and Honour to our Person And we would have it not to be their meanest strife to follow your Example of Civility Candour and Friendship to us since there are not more conspicuous Examples of extraordinary Prudence and Vertue to be imitated then in your Eminency from whence they may learn with equal Renown to Govern Kingdoms and manage the most important Affairs of the World Which that your Eminency may long and happily Administer to the Prosperity of the whole Realm of France to the common Good of the whole Christian Republick and your own Glory we shall never be wanting in our Prayers to implore From our Court at White-Hall June 1658. Your Excellency's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Charles Gustavus King of the Swedes Goths and Vandals c. Most Serene and Potent Prince our dearest Confiderate and Friend AS often as we behold the busy Counsels and various Artifices of the common Enemies of Religion so often do we revolve in our Minds how necessary it would be and how much for the safely of the Christian world that the Protestant Princes and most especially your Majesty should be united with our Republick in a most first and solemn Confederacy Which how ardently and zealously it has bin sought by our selves how acceptable it would have bin to us if ours and the Affairs of Swedeland had bin in that posture and condition if the said League could have bin sacredly concluded to the good liking of both and that the one could have bin a seasonable Succour to the other we declar'd to your Embassadors when first they enter'd into Treaty with us upon this Subject Nor were they wanting in their duty but the same Prudence which they were wont to shew in other things the same Wisdom and Sedulity they made known in this Affair But such was the Perfidiousness of our wicked and restless Countrey-men at home who being often receiv'd into our Protection ceas'd not however to machinate new disturbances and to resume their formerly often frustrated and dissipated Conspiracies with our Enemies the Spaniards that being altogether taken up with the preservation of our selves from surrounding dangets we could not bend our whole care and our entire Forces as we wish'd we could have done to defend the common Cause of Religion Nevertheless what lay in our power we have already zealously perform'd and whatever for the future may conduce to your Majesty's Interests we shall not onely shew our selves willing but industrious to carry on in union with your Majesty upon all occasions In the mean time we most gladly Congratulate your Majesty's Victories most Prudently and Couragiously atchiev'd and in our daily Prayers implore Almighty God long to continue to your Majesty a steady course of Conquest and Felicity to the Glory of his Name From our Court at White-Hall June 1658. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene Prince the King of Portugal Most Serene King our Friend and Confederate JOhn Buffield of London Merchant has set forth in a Petition to us That in the year 1649. he deliver'd certain Goods to Anthony John and Manuel Ferdinando Castaneo Merchants in Tamira to the end that after they had sold 'em they might give him a just account according to the Custome of Merchants after which in his Voyage for England he fell into the hands of Pyrates and being Plunder'd by 'em receiv'd no small Damage Upon this News Antony and Manuel believing he had bin Kill'd presently look'd upon the Goods as their own and still detain 'em in their hands refusing to come to any Account covering this Fraud of theirs with a Sequestration of Englisb Goods that soon after ensu'd So that he was forc'd the last year in the middle of Winter to return to Portugal and demand his Goods but all in vain For that the said John and Anthony could by no fair means be perswaded either to deliver the said Goods or to come to any Account and which is more to be admir'd justifi'd their private detention of the Goods by the Publick Attainder Finding therefore that being a