Letters of State, Letters 2 · Letter 32 – Letter 35
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 to ſollicit your Lordſhips to forſake your Ancient and moſt Faithful Friends the Engliſh, French and Danes, and enter into a ſtrict Confederacy with your old Enemy, and once your domineering Tyrant, now ſeemingly atton'd, but what is moſt to be fear'd, only at preſent treacherouſly fawning to advance his own Deſigns. Certainly he, who of an inveterate Enemy, lays hold of ſo ſlight an occaſion of a ſudden to become your Counſellor, what is it that he would not take upon him? where would his Inſolency ſtop, if once he could but ſee with his eyes, what now he onelyonly ruminates and labours in his thoughts; that is to ſay, Diviſion and a Civil War among the Proteſtants? We are not ignorant, that your Lordſhips, out of your deep Wiſdom, frequently revolve in your Minds what the poſture of all Europe is, and what more eſpecially the condition of the Proteſtants: That the Cantons of Switzerland adhering to the Orthodox Faith, are in daily expectation of new Troubles to be rais'd by their Countrey-men embracing the Popiſh Ceremonies; ſcarcely recover'd from that War which for the ſake of Religion was kindled and blown up by the Spaniards, who ſuppli'd their Enemies both with Commanders and Money: That the Councils of the Spaniards are ſtill contriving to continue the ſlaughter and deſtruction of the Piemontois, which was cruelly put in execution the laſt year: That the Proteſtants under the Juriſdiction of the Emperor are moſt grievouſly haraſs'd, having much ado to keep Poſſeſſion of their Native Homes: That the King of Sweden, whom God, as we hope, has rais'd up to be a moſt ſtout Defender of the Orthodox Faith, is at preſent waging with all the Force of his Kingdom a doubtful and bloody War with the moſt Potent Enemies of the Reformed Religion: That your own Provinces are threatened with Hoſtile Confederacies of the Princes your Neighbours, Headed by the Spaniards; and laſtly, that we our ſelves are buſied in a War proclaim'd againſt the King of Spain. In this poſture of Affairs, if any Conteſt ſhould happen between your Lordſhips and the King of Sweden, How miſerable would be the condition of all the Reformed Churches over all Europe, expos'd to the Cruelty and Fury of unſanctifi'd Enemies? Theſe cares not ſlightly ſeize us; and we hope your Sentiments to be the ſame; and that out of your continu'd Zeal for the common Cauſe of the Proteſtants, and to the end the preſent Peace between Brethren profeſſing the ſame Faith, the ſame Hope of Eternity, may be preſerv'd inviolable, your Lordſhips will accommodate your Counſels to theſe Conſiderations, which are to be preferr'd before all others; and that you will leave nothing neglected that may conduce to the eſtabliſhing Tranquility and Union between your Lordſhips and the King of Sweden. Wherein if we can any way be uſeful, as far as our Authority, and the Favour you bear us will ſway with your Lordſhips, we freely offer our utmoſt Aſſiſtance, prepared in like manner to be no leſs ſerviceable to the King of Sweden, to whom we deſign a ſpeedy Embaſſie, to the end we may declare our Sentiments at large concerning theſe matterso We hope, moreover, that God will bend your Minds on both ſides to moderate Counſels and ſo reſtrain your Animoſities, that no provocation may be given either by the one or the other, to feſter your differences to extremity: But that on the other ſide both parties will remove whatever may give offence, or occaſion of jealouſie to the other. Which if you ſhall vouchſafe to do, you will diſappoint your Enemies, prove the conſolation of your Friends, and in the beſt manner provide for the welfare of your Republick. And this we beſeech you to be fully convinc'd of, that we ſhall uſe our utmoſt care to make appear, upon all occaſions, our extraordinary Affection and Good-will to the States of the Vnited Provinces. And ſo we moſt earneſtly implore the Almighty God to perpetuate his Bleſſings of Peace, Wealth and Liberty upon your Republick, but above all things to preſerve it always flouriſhing in the Love of the Chriſtian Faith, and the true Worſhip of his Name. From our Palace at Weſtminſter, Aug.—1656.
Your High and Mightineſſes moſt Affectionate, Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England, &c.
Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England, to the moſt Serene Prince, John King of Portugal.
Moſt Serene Prince,
UPON the 11th. of July laſt, Old-ſtile, we receiv'd by Thomas Maynard the Ratification of the Peace Negotiated at London, by your Extraordinary Embaſſador, as alſo of the private and preliminary Articles, all now confirm'd by your Majeſty: And by our Letters from Philip Medows, our Agent at Lisbon, dated the ſame time, we underſtand that our Ratification alſo of the ſame Peace and Articles, was by him, according to our Orders ſent him, deliver'd to your Majeſty: And thus, the Inſtruments of the foremention'd Ratification being mutually interchang'd on both ſides in the begining of June laſt, there is now a firm and ſettl'd Peace between both Nations. And this pacification has given us no ſmall occaſion of joy and ſatisfaction, as believing it will prove to the common benefit of both Nations, and to the no ſlight detriment of our common Enemies, who as they found out a means to diſturb the former League, ſo they left nothing neglected to have hinder'd the renewing of this. Nor do we queſtion in the leaſt, that they will omit any occaſion of creating new matter for ſcandals and jealouſies between us. Which we however have conſtantly determin'd, as much as in us lies, to remove at a remote diſtance from our thoughts; rather we ſo earneſtly deſire, that this our Alliance may beget a mutual confidence greater every day then other, that we ſhall take them for our Enemies, who ſhall by any artifices endeavour to moleſt the Friendſhip by this Peace eſtabliſh'd between our ſelves and both our People. And we readily perſwade our ſelves, that your Majeſty's thoughts and intentions are the ſame. And whereas it has pleas'd your Majeſty, by your Letters dated the 24th. of June, and ſome days after the delivery by our Agent of the interchang'd Inſtrument of confirm'd Peace, to mention certain clauſes of the League, of which you deſir'd ſome little Alteration, being of ſmall moment to this Republick, as your Majeſty believes, but of great importance to the Kingdom of Portugal, we ſhall be ready to enter into a particular Treaty in order to thoſe Propoſals made by your Majeſty, or whatever elſe may conduce, in the judgment of both Parties, to the farther eſtabliſhment and more ſtrongly faſtning of the League: wherein we ſhall have thoſe due conſiderations of your Majeſty and your Subjects, as alſo of our own People, that all may be ſatisfi'd; and it ſhall be in your choice, whether theſe things ſhall be Negotiated at Lisbon or at London. However, the League being now Confirm'd, and duly Seal'd with the Seals of both Nations, to alter any part of it, would be the ſame thing as to annul the whole; which we are certainly aſſur'd your Majeſty by no means deſires to do. We heartily wiſh all things Lucky, all things Proſperous to your Majeſty. From our Palace at Weſtminſter, Auguſt—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, John King of Portugal.
Moſt Serene King,
WE have receiv'd the unwelcome News of a wicked and inhuman Attempt to have Murther'd our Agent Philip Medows, reſiding with your Majeſty, and by us ſent upon the bleſſed Errand of Peace; the hainouſneſs of which was ſuch, that his Preſervation is onelyonly to be attributed to the Protection of Heaven. And we are given to underſtand by your Letters dated the 26th. of May laſt, and deliver'd to us by Thomas Maynard, that your Majeſty juſtly incens'd at the horridneſs of the Fact, has Commanded inquiry to be made after the Criminals, to the end they may be brought to condign Puniſhment: But we do not hear that any of the Ruffians are yet apprehended, or that your Commands have wrought any effect in this particular. Wherefore we thought it our duty openly to declare how deeply we reſent this barbarous outrage in part Attempted, and in part committed: And therefore we make it our Requeſt to your Majeſty, That due Puniſhment may be inflicted upon the Authors, Aſſociates, and Encouragers of this Abominable Fact. And to the end that this may be the more ſpeedily accompliſh'd, we farther demand, That perſons of Honeſty and Sincerity, Well-wiſhers to the Peace of both Nations, may be entruſted with the Examination of this Buſineſs, That ſo a due ſcrutiny may be made into the bottom of this malicious contrivance, to the end both Authors and Aſſiſtants may be the more ſeverely Puniſh'd. Unleſs this be done, neither your Majeſty's Juſtice, nor the Honour of this Republick can be vindicated; neither can there be any ſtable aſſurance of the Peace between both Nations. We wiſh your Majeſty all things Fortunate and Proſperous. From our Palace at White-Hall, Auguſt—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 Illuſtrious Lord, the Conderd' Odemira.
Moſt Illuſtrious Lord,
YOUR ſingular Good-will toward us and this Republick, has laid no mean obligation upon us, nor ſlightly ti'd us to acknowledgment. We readily perceiv'd it by your Letters of the 25th. of June laſt, as alſo by thoſe which we receiv'd from our Agent Philip Meadows, ſent into Portugal to conclude the Peace in Agitation; wherein he inform'd us of your extraordinary zeal and diligence to promote the Pacification, of which we moſt joyfully receiv'd the laſt Ratification; and we perſwade our ſelves, that your Lordſhip will have no cauſe to repent either of your pains and diligence in procuring this Peace, or of your Good-will to the Engliſh, or your Fidelity toward the King, your Sovereign; more eſpecially conſidering the great hopes we have, that this Peace will be of high Advantage to both Nations, and not a little Inconvenient to our Enemies. The onelyonly Accident that fell out unfortunate and mournful in this Negotiation, was that unhallow'd Villanany nefariouſly attempted upon the Perſon of our Agent, Philip Medows. The conceal'd Authors of which intended piece of Inhumanity, ought no leſs diligently to be ſought after, and made Examples to Poſterity, then the vileſt of moſt openly detected Aſſaſſinates. Nor can we doubt in the leaſt of your King's Severity and Juſtice in the Puniſhment of a Crime ſo horrid, nor of your Care and Sedulity to ſee that there be no remiſsneſs of Proſecution; as being a perſon bearing due veneration to the Laws of God, and Sanctity among men, and no leſs zealous to maintain the Peace between both Nations; which never can ſubſiſt if ſuch inhuman Barbarities as theſe eſcape unpuniſh'd and unreveng'd. But your abhorrency and deteſtation of the Fact is ſo well known, that there is no need of inſiſting any more at preſent upon this unpleaſing ſubject. Therefore, having thus declar'd our Good-will and Affection to your Lordſhip, of which we ſhall be always ready to give apparent demonſtrations, there nothing remains, but to implore the Bleſſings of Divine Favour and Protection upon you, and all yours. From our Palace at Weſtm. Aug.—1656.
Your Lordſhip's moſt Affectionate, Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England, &c.