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
for he sometimes found vacant hours to the Study which he made his recreation of the Noble Science of Musick in which he advanc'd to that perfection that as I have been told and as I take it by our Author himself he Composed an In Nomine of Forty Parts for which he was rewarded with a Gold Medal and Chain by a Polish Prince to whom he presented it However this is a truth not to be denied that for several Songs of his Composition after the way of these times three or four of which are still to be seen in Old Wilby's set of Ayres besides some Compositions of his in Ravenscrofs Psalms he gained the Reputation of a considerable Master in this most charming of all the Liberal Sciences Yet all this while he managed his Grand Affair of this World with such Prudence and Diligence that by the assistance of Divine Providence favouring his honest endeavours he gained a Competent Estate whereby he was enabled to make a handsom Provision both for the Education and Maintenance of his Children for three he had and no more all by one Wife Sarah of the Family of the Castons derived originally from Wales A Woman of Incomparable Vertue and Goodness John the Eldest the Subject of our present Work Christopher and an onely Daughter Ann Christopher being principally designed for the Study of the Common Law of England was Entered Young a Student of the Inner-Temple of which House he lived to be an Ancient Bencher and keeping close to that Study and Profession all his Life-time except in the time of the Civil Wars of England when being a great favourer and assertor of the King's Cause and Obnoxious to the Parliament's side by acting to his utmost power against them so long as he kept his Station at Reading and after that Town was taken by the Parliament Forces being forced to quit his House there he steer'd his course according to the Motion of the King's Army But when the War was ended with Victory and Success to the Parliament Party by the Valour of General Fairfax and the Craft and Conduct of Cromwell and his composition made by the help of his Brother's Interest with the then prevailing Power he betook himself again to his former Study and Profession following Chamber-Practice every Term yet came to no Advancement in the World in a long time except some small Employ in the Town of Ipswich where and near it he lived all the latter time of his Life For he was a person of a modest quiet temper preferring Justice and Vertue before all Worldly Pleasure or Grandeur but in the beginning of the Reign of K. James the II. for his known Integrity and Ability in the Law he was by some Persons of Quality recommended to the King and at a Call of Serjeants received the Coif and the same day was Sworn one of the Barons of the Exchequer and soon after made one of the Judges of the Common Pleas but his Years and Indisposition not well brooking the Fatigue of publick Imployment he continued not long in either of these Stations but having his Quietus est retired to a Country Life his Study and Devotion Ann the onely Daughter of the said John Milton the Elder had a considerable Dowry given her by her Father in Marriage with Edward Philips the Son of Edward Philips of Shrewsbury who coming up Young to Town was bred up in the Crown-Office in Chancery and at length came to be Secondary of the Office under Old Mr. Bembo by him she had besides other Children that dyed Infants two Sons yet surviving of whom more hereafter and by a second Husband Mr. Thomas Agar who upon the Death of his Intimate Friend Mr. Philips worthily Succeeded in the place which except some time of Exclusion before and during the Interregnum he held for many Years and left it to Mr. Thomas Milton the Son of the aforementioned Sir Christopher who at this day executes it with great Reputation and Ability Two Daughters Mary who died very Young and Ann yet surviving But to hasten back to our matter in hand John our Author who was destin'd to be the Ornament and Glory of his Countrey was sent together with his Brother to Paul's School whereof Dr. Gill the Elder was then Chief Master where he was enter'd into the first Rudiments of Learning and advanced therein with that admirable Success not more by the Discipline of the School and good Instructions of his Masters for that he had another Master possibly at his Father's house appears by the Fourth Elegy of his Latin Poems written in his 18th year to Thomas Young Pastor of the English Company of Merchants at Hamborough wherein he owns and stiles him his Master than by his own happy Genius prompt Wit and Apprehension and insuperable Industry for he generally sate up half the Night as well in voluntary Improvements of his own choice as the exact perfecting of his School-Exercises So that at the Age of 15 he was full ripe for Academick Learning and accordingly was sent to the University of Cambridge where in Christ's College under the Tuition of a very Eminent Learned man whose Name I cannot call to mind he Studied Seven years and took his Degree of Master of Arts and for the extraordinary Wit and Reading he had shown in his Performances to attain his Degree some whereof spoken at a Vacation-Exercise in his 19th year of Age are to be yet seen in his Miscellaneous Poems he was lov'd and admir'd by the whole University particularly by the Fellows and most Ingenious Persons of his House Among the rest there was a Young Gentleman one Mr. King with whom for his great Learning and Parts he had contracted a particular Friendship and Intimacy whose death for he was drown'd on the Irish Seas in his passage from Chester to Ireland he bewails in that most excellent Monody in his forementioned Poems Intituled Lycidas Never was the loss of Friend so Elegantly lamented and among the rest of his Juvenile Poems some he wrote at the Age of 15 which contain a Poetical Genius scarce to be parallel'd by any English Writer Soon after he had taken his Master's Degree he thought fit to leave the University Not upon any disgust or discontent for want of Preferment as some Ill-willers have reported nor upon any cause whatsoever forc'd to flie as his Detractors maliciously feign but from which aspersion he sufficiently clears himself in his Second Answer to Alexander Morus the Author of a Book call'd Clamor Regii Sanguinis ad Caelum the chief of his Calumniators in which he plainly makes it out that after his leaving the University to the no small trouble of his Fellow-Collegiates who in general regretted his Absence he for the space of Five years lived for the most part with his Father and Mother at their house at Horton near Colebrook in Barkshire whither his Father having got an Estate to his content and left off all business was
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
more at what our Merchants write from your City that they are not permitted to execute our Commands by some or other of your Order and Degree Certainly what the most Potent United Provinces of the Low Countries most jealous of their Power and their Interests never thought any way belonging to their inspection namely whether the English Foreigners swore Fidelity and Allegiance to their Magistrates at home either in these or those Words how that should come to be so suspected and troublesome to your City we must plainly acknowledge that we do not understand But this proceeding from the private inclinations or fears of some whom certain Vagabond Scots expell'd their Countrey are said to have enforc'd by Menaces on purpose to deter our Merchants from Swearing Fidelity to us we impute not to your City Most earnestly therefore we intreat and conjure ye for it is not now the interest of Trade but the honour of the Republick it self that lies at stake not to suffer any one among ye who can have no reason to concern himself in this Affair to interpose his Authority whatever it be with that Supremacy which we challenge over our own Subjects not by the judgment and opinion of Foreigners but by the Laws of our Country for who would not take it amiss if we should forbid your Hamburghers residing here to Swear Fidelity to you that are their Magistrates at Home Farewel Jan. 4. 1649. To the Most Serene and Potent Prince Philip the Fourth King of Spain The Parliament of the Common-wealth of England Greeting WE send to your Majesty Anthony Ascham a person of Integrity Learned and Descended of an Ancient Family to Treat of matters very advantageous as we hope as well to the Spanish as the English Nation Wherefore in freindly manner we desire that you would be pleas'd to Grant and Order him a Safe and Honourable Passage to your Royal City and the same in his return from thence readily prepar'd to repay the kindness when occasion offers Or if your Majesty be otherwise inclin'd that it may be signify'd to him with the soonest what your Pleasure is in this particular and that he may be at Liberty to depart without Molestation Feb. 4. 1649. To the Most Serene and Potent Prince Philip the Fourth King of Spain The Parliament of the Common-wealth of England Greeting WHAT is the condition of our Affairs and by what heinous Injuries provok'd and broken at length we began to think of recovering our Liberty by force of Arms what Constituted form of Government we now make use of can neither be conceal'd from your Majesty nor any other Person who has but cast an impartial Eye upon our Writings Publish'd upon these Occasions Neither ought we to think it a difficult thing among fit and proper judges of things to render our Fidelity our Equity and Patience manifest to all men and justly meriting their Approbation as also to defend our Authority Honour and Grandeur against the infamous Tongues of Exiles and Fugitives Now then as to what is more the concern of Foreign Nations after having subdu'd and vanquish'd the Enemies of our Countrey through the Miraculous Assistance of Heaven we openly and cordially profess our selves readily prepar'd to have Peace and Friendship more desirable then all enlargement of Empire with our Neighbour Nations For these reasons we have sent into Spain to your Majesty Antony Ascham of approv'd Dexterity and Probity to treat with your Majesty concerning Friendship and the accustom'd Commerce between both Nations or else if it be your Pleasure to open a way for the Ratifying of new Articles and Alliances Our request therefore is that you will grant him free Liberty of Access to your Majesty and give such Order that care may be taken of his Safety and his Honour while he resides a Publick Minister with your Majesty to the end he may freely propose what he has in charge from us for the Benefit as we hope of both Nations and certifie to us with the soonest what are your Majesty's sentiments concerning these matters Westminster Feb. 4. 1649. To the Most Serene Prince John the Fourth King of Portugal The Parliament of the Commonwealth of England Greeting AFTER we had suffer'd many and those the utmost Mischiefs of a Faithless Peace and intestine War Our being reduc'd to those Exigences that if we had any regard to the safety of the Republick there was a necessity of altering for the chiefest part the form of Government is a thing which we make no question is well known to your Majesty by what we have both publickly Written and declar'd in justification of our Proceedings To which as it is but reason if credit might be rather given then to the most malicious Calumnies of Loose and Wicked men perhaps we should find those persons more amicably inclin'd who now abroad have the worst sentiments of our actions For as to what we justifie our selves to have justly and strenuously perform'd after the Example of our Ancestors in pursuance of our Rights and for recovery of the native Liberty of English-men certainly it is not the work of Human force or wit to eradicate the perverse and obstinate Opinions of People wickedly inclin'd concerning what we have done But after all in reference to what is common to us with all Foreign Nations and more for the general interest on both sides we are willing to let the world know that there is nothing which we more ardently desire then that the Friendship and Commerce which our People have been accustom'd to maintain with all our Neighbours should be enlarg'd and settled in the most ample and solemn manner And whereas our People have always driven a very great Trade and gainful to both Nations in your Kingdom we shall take care as much as in us lies that they may not meet with any Impediment to interrupt their dealings However we foresee that all our Industry will be in vain if as it is reported the Pyrates and Revolters of our Nation shall be suffer'd to have Refuge in your Ports and after they have taken and plunder'd the Laden Vessels of the English shall be permitted to sell their Goods by Publick Outcries at Lisbon To the end therefore that a more speedy remedy may be apply'd to this growing Mischief and that we may be more clearly satisfy'd concerning the Peace which we desire we have sent to Your Majesty the most Noble Charles Vane under the Character of our Agent with Instructions and a Commission a plenary Testimonial of the Trust we have repos'd and the employment we have conferr'd upon him Him therefore we most earnestly desire your Majesty graciously to hear to give him Credit and to take such Order that he may be safe in his Person and his Honour within the bounds of your Dominions These things as they will be most acceptable to us so we promise whenever occasion offers that the same offices of kindness to your Majesty shall be mutually observ'd on
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
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
of the Council to it the Council have thought it necessary to add this following Article to their following Demands That the People and Inhabitants of the Republick of England Trading into any Kingdoms Regions or Territories of the King of Danemark and Norway shall not for the future pay any more Customs Tribute Taxes Duties or Stipends or in any other manner then the People of the Vnited Provinces or any other Foreign Nation that pays the least coming in or going out of Harbour and shall enjoy the same and as equally ample Freedom Privileges and Immunities both coming and going and so long as they shall reside in the Countrey as also in Fishing Tradeing or in any other manner which any other People of a Foreign Nation enjoys or may enjoy in the foresaid Kingdoms and throughout the whole Dominions of the said King of Danemark and Norway Which Privileges also the Subjects of the King of Danemark and Norway shall equally enjoy throughout all the Territories and Dominions of the Republick of England The Council of State of the Republick of England to the most Serene Prince Ferdinand the Second Grand Duke of Tuscany Greeting Most Serene Prince our dearest Friend THE Council of State understanding as well by your Highness's Agent here residing as by Charles Longland chief Factor for the English at Leghorn with what Affectiou and Fidelity your Highness undertook the Protection of the English Vessels putting in to the Port of Leghorn for shelter against the Dutch Men of War threatning 'em with nothing but Ransack and Destruction by their Letters of the 29th of July which they hope are by this time come to your Highness's hands have made known to your Highness how grateful and how acceptable it was to 'em and at the same time sent to your Serenity a Declaration of the Parlament of the Commonwealth of England concerning the present Differences between this Republick and the Vnited Provinces And whereas the Council has again bin inform'd by the same Charles Longland what further Commands your Highness gave for the security and defence of the English Vessels notwithstanding the opposite endeavours of the Dutch they deem'd this opportunity not to be pass'd over to let your Highness understand once more how highly they esteem your Justice and singular Constancy in defending their Vessels and how acceptable they took so great a piece of Service Which being no mean testimony of your solid Friendship and Affection to this Republick your Highness may assure your self that the same offices of Kindness and good Will toward your Highness shall never be wanting in us such as may be able to demonstrate how firmly we are resolv'd to cultivate both long and constantly to the utmost of our Power that Friendship which is between your Serenity and this Republick In the mean time we have expresly commanded all our Ships upon their entrance into your Ports not to fail of paying the accustom'd Salutes by Firing their Guns and to give all other due Honours to your Highness White Hall Sep. 1652. Seal'd with the Council Seal and Subscrib'd President To the Spanish Embassador Alphonso de Cardenas Most Excellent Lord YOUR Excelleny's Letters of the 1 11 of November 1652. deliver'd by your Secretary together with Two Petitions inclos'd concerning the Ships the Sampson and Sun Salvadore were read in Council To which the Council returns this Answer That the English Man of War meeting with the foresaid Ships not in the Downes as your Excellency Writes but in the open Sea brought 'em into Port as Enemies Ships and therefore Lawful Prize and the Court of Admiralty to which it properly belongs to take Cognizance of all Causes of this nature have undertaken to determin the Right in dispute Where all Parties concern'd on both sides shall be fully and freely heard and you may be assur'd that Right shall take place We have also sent your Excellency's request to the Judges of that Court to the end we may more certainly understand what progress they have made in their proceeding to Judgement Of which so soon as we are rightly inform'd we shall take care that such Orders shall be given in this matter as shall correspond with Justice and become the Friendship that is between this Republick and your King Nor are we less confident that his Royal Majesty will by no means permit the Goods of the Enemies of this Commonwealth to be conceal'd and escape due Confiscation under the shelter of being own'd by his Subjects White-Hall Nov. 11. 1652. Seal'd with the Council Seal and Subscrib'd William Masham President To the Spanish Embassador Most Excellent Lord BUT lately the Council has bin inform'd by Captain Badiley Admiral of the Fleet of this Republick in the Streights that after he himself together with three other Men of War had for two days together engag'd Eleven of the Dutch put into Porto Longone as well to repair the Damages he had receiv'd in the Fight as also to supply himself with Warlike Ammunition where the Governor of the Place perform'd all the good Offices of a most just and courteous Person as well toward his own as the rest of the Men of War under his Conduct Now in regard that that same Place is under the Dominion of the Most Serene King of Spain the Council cannot but look upon the singular Civility of that Garison to be the copious fruit of that stricter mutual Amity so auspiciously commenc'd and therefore deem it to be a part of their duty to return their thanks to his Majesty for a Kindness so opportunely receiv'd and desire your Excellency to signify this to your most Serene King and to assure him that the Parlament of the Common-wealth of England will be always ready to make the same returns of Friendship and Civility upon all occasion offer'd Westminster Nov. 11. 1652. Seal'd with the Councel Seal and Subscrib'd William Masham President The Parlament of the Commonwealth of England to the Most Serene Prince Ferdinand the Second Grand Duke of Tuscany Greeting Most Serene Prince our dearest Friend THE Parlament of the Commonwealth of England has receiv'd your Letters dated from Florence August 17. concerning the restitution of a certain Ship laden with Rice which Ship is claim'd by Captain Cardi of Leghorn And though the Judges of our Admiralty have already pronounc'd Sentence in that Cause against the foresaid Cardi and that there be an Appeal depending before the Delegates yet upon your Highness's Request the Parlament to testify how much they value the good Will and Alliance of a Prince so much their Friend have given Order to those who are entrusted with this Affair that the said Ship together with the Rice or at least the full Price of it be restor'd to the foresaid Captain Cardi the fruit of which Command his Proctor here has effectually already reap'd And as your Highness by favourably affording your Patronage and Protection to the Ships of the English in your Port of Leghorn has
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