Letters of State, Letters 2 · Letter 57 – Letter 65
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, 'tis 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 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 Clar… … in manifeſt, That Martin … the Owner of the ſaid … that he Proſecuted the … Owners Richard and … with his Pa…ner, whole … was Antonio Fernandez; and that upon the ſaid Mar…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 onelyonly 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 onelyonly 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, ſuch as we unwillingly diſmiſs him, laden with the real Teſtimonials of our Applauſes. Almighty God grant all Proſperity to your Affairs and perpetuate our Friendſhip, to his Glory, and the ſupport of his Orthodox Church.
From our Court at Weſtminſter November —1657. Your High and Mightineſſes moſt devoted.
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,
GEorge Downing is a Perſon of Eminent Quality, and after a long trial of his Fidelity, Probity and Diligence, in ſeveral and various Negotiations, well approv'd and valu'd by us. Him we have thought fitting to ſend to your Lordſhips, dignify'd with the Character of our Agent, and amply furniſh'd with our Inſtructions. We therefore deſire your Lordſhip to receive him kindly, and that ſo often as he ſhall ſignify that he has any thing to impart in our Name to your Lordſhips, you will admit him free Audience, and give the ſame Credit to him, and entruſt him with whatſoever you have to communicate to us: which you may ſafely do, as if our ſelves were perſonally preſent. And ſo we beſeech Almighty God to bleſs your Lordſhips, and your Republick with all proſperity, to the Glory of God, and the Support of his Church. From our Court at White-Hall, Decemb.—1657.
Your High and Mightineſſes moſt Affectionate Oliver, &c.
To the States of Holland.
THere being an Alliance between our Republick and yours, and thoſe Affairs to be tranſacted on both ſides, that without an Agent and Interpreter, ſent either by your ſelves, or from us, matters of ſuch great moment can hardly be adjuſted to the advantage of both Nations, we thought it conducing to the common good of both Republicks to ſend Geroge Downing, a Perſon of Eminent Quality, and long in our knowledge and eſteem for his undoubted Fidelity, Probity and Diligence, in many and various Negotiations, dignifi'd with the Character of our Agent, to reſide with your Lordſhips, and chiefly to take care of thoſe things, by which the Peace between us may be preſerv'd entire and diuturnal. Concerning which we have not onelyonly written to the States, but alſo thought it requiſite to give notice alſo of the ſame to your Lordſhips, Supreme in the Government of your Province, and who make ſo conſiderable a Part of the Vnited Provinces; to the end you may give that reception to our Reſident which becomes him, and that whatever he Tranſacts with your High and Mighty States, you may aſſure your ſelves ſhall be as firm and irrevocable, as if our ſelves had bin preſent in the Negotiation. Now the moſt Merciful God direct all your Counſels and Actions to his Glory and the Peace of his Church. Weſtm. Decemb.—1657.
Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England, &c. to the moſt Serene Prince, Ferdinand Great Duke of Tuſcany.
Moſt Serene Great Duke, our much Honour'd Friend,
YOur Highneſs's Letters, bearing date from Florence the 10th. of Novemb. gave us no ſmall occaſion of content and ſatisfaction; finding therein your Good will toward us, ſo much the more conſpicuous, by how much Deeds then Words, Performances then Promiſes, are the more certain marks of a cordial Affection. For what we requeſted of your Highneſs, That you would command the Maſter of the Little Lewis, William Ellis, who moſt ignominiouſly broke his Faith with the Turks, and the Ship and Goods to be Seiz'd and Detain'd, till Reſtitution ſhould be made to the Turks, leaſt the Cnriſtian Name ſhould receive any Blemiſh by Thieveries of the like nature; all thoſe things, and that too with an extraordinary zeal, as we moſt gladly underſtood before, your Highneſs writes that you have ſeen diligently perform'd. We therefore return our Thanks for the kindneſs receiv'd, and make it our farther requeſt, That when the Merchants have given ſecurity to ſatisfie the Turks, the Maſter may be diſcharg'd, and the Ship, together with her Lading, be forthwith diſmis'd, to the end we may not ſeem to have had more care perhaps of the Turks Intereſt, then our own Countreymen. In the mean time we take ſo kindly this ſurpaſſing favour done us by your Highneſs, and moſt acceptable to us, that we ſhould not refuſe to be branded with ingratitude, if we ſhould not ardently deſire a ſpeedy opportunity, with the ſame promptitude of Mind, to gratifie your Highneſs, whereby we might be enabl'd to demonſtrate our readineſs to return the ſame good offices to ſo noble a Benefactor upon all occaſions. From our Court at Weſtm. Decemb.—1657.
Your Highneſſes moſt Affectionate, Oliver, &c.
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 moſt Invincible Friend and Confederate,
BY your Majeſty's Letters, dated the 21ſt. Of February from your Camp in Seland, we found many reaſons to be affected with no ſmall joy, as well for our own particular, as in regard of the whole Chriſtian Republick in general. In the firſt place, becauſe the King of Danemark, being become an Enemy, not induc'd thereto, as we are apt to believe, by his own Inclinations or Intereſts, but deluded by the Artifices of our common Adverſaries, is reduc'd to that condition by your ſudden irruption into the very heart of his Kingdom, with very little blood ſhed on either ſide, that what was really true, he will at length be perſwaded that Peace would have bin more beneficial to him, then the War which he has enter'd into againſt your Majeſty. Then again, when he ſhall conſider with himſelf, that he cannot obtain it by any more ſpeedy means, then by making uſe of our Aſſiſtance long ſince offer'd him to procure a Reconciliation, in regard your Majeſty ſo readily intreated by the Letters onelyonly, deliver'd by our Agent, by ſuch an eaſy conceſſion of Peace, moſt clearly made it apparent how highly you eſteem'd the Interceſſion of our Friendſhip, he will certainly apply himſelf to us; and then our Interpoſition in ſo Pious a work, will chiefly require, that we ſhould be the ſole Reconciler and almoſt Author of that Peace, ſo beneficial to the Intereſts of the Proteſtants; which, as we hope, will ſuddenly be accompliſh'd. For when the Enemies of Religion ſhall deſpair of breaking your United Forces by any other means then ſetting both your Majeſties at variance, then their own fears will overtake 'em, leſt this unexpected Conjunction, which we ardently deſire, of your Arms and Minds, ſhould turn to the deſtruction of them that were the Kindlers of the War. In the mean time, moſt Magnanimous King, may your Proweſs go on and proſper; and the ſame felicity which the Enemies of the Church have admir'd in the Progreſs of your Atchievements, and the ſteady Careir of your Victories, againſt a Prince, now your Confederate, the ſame, by God's aſſiſtance, may you enforce 'em to behold once more in their ſubverſion. From our Palace at Weſtminſter, March 30. 1658.
Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England, &c. To the moſt Serene Prince Ferdinand, Great Duke of Tuſcany.
Moſt Serene Prince,
THE Anſwer which we have given to your Agent here reſiding, we believe, will fully ſatisfy your Highneſs, as to our Admiral, who but lately put into your Ports. In the mean time, John Hoſier, Maſter of a Ship, call'd the Owner, has ſet forth in a Petition to us, that in April, 1656. he hir'd out his Ship, by a Charter-party Agreement, to one Joſeph Arman, an Italian, who manifeſtly broke all the Covenants therein contain'd; ſo that he was enforc'd, leſt he ſhould loſe his Ship and Lading, together with his whole Principal Stock, openly to ſet forth the fraud of his Freighter, after the manner of Merchants; and when he had caus'd it to be regiſter'd by a Publick Notary, to ſue him at Leghorne. Joſeph, on the other ſide, that he might make good one Fraud by another, combining with two other Litigious Traders, upon a faign'd Pretence, by Perjury, ſeiz'd upon Six thouſand Pieces of Eight, the Money of one Thomas Clutterbuck. But as for his part, the ſaid Hoſier, after great Expences and loſs of time, could never obtain his Right and Due at Leghorn: Nor durſt he there appear in Court, being threaten'd as he was, and way-lay'd by his Adverſaries: We therefore requeſt your Highneſs, that you would vouchſafe your Aſſiſtance to this poor Oppreſt Man, and according to your wonted Juſtice, reſtrain the Inſolence of his Adverſary. For in vain are Laws ordain'd for the government of Cities by the Authority of Princes, if Wrong and Violence, when they cannot abrogate, ſhall be able by Threats and Terror to fruſtrate the Refuge and Sanctuary of the Laws. However, we make no doubt, but that your Highneſs will ſpeedily take care to puniſh a daring Boldneſs of this nature; beſeeching Almighty God to bleſs your Highneſs with Peace and Proſperity. From our Court at Weſtminſter, April 7. 1658.