Letters of State, Letters 2 · Letter 36 – Letter 43
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, our deareſt Friend and Confederate,
BEing aſſur'd of your Majeſty's concurrence both in Thoughts and Councels, for the defence of the Proteſtant Faith againſt the Enemies of it, if ever, now at this time, moſt dangerouſly vexatious, though we cannot but rejoyce at your proſperous Succeſſes, and the daily Tidings of your Victories, yet on the other ſide we cannot but be as deeply afflicted to meet with one thing that diſturbs and interrupts our joy; we mean, the bad News, intermix'd with ſo many welcome Tydings, that the Ancient Friendſhip between your Majeſty and the States of the Vnited Provinces, looks with a dubious Aſpect, and that the miſchief is exaſperated to that heighth, eſpecially in the Baltick Sea, as ſeems to bode an unhappy rupture. We confeſs our ſelves ignorant of the Cauſes; but we too eaſily foreſee that the Events, which God avert, will be fatal to the Intereſts of the Proteſtants. And therefore, as well in reſpect to that moſt ſtrict Alliance between us and your Majeſty, as out of that Affection and Love to the Reformed Religion, by which we all of us ought chiefly to be ſwai'd, we thought it our duty, as we have moſt earneſtly exhorted the States of the Vnited Provinces to Peace and Moderation, ſo now to perſwade your Majeſty to the ſame. The Proteſtants have Enemies every where enow and to ſpare, inflam'd with inexorable revenge; they never were known to have conſpir'd more perniciouſly to our deſtruction, witneſs the Valleys of Piemont, ſtill reaking with the Blood and Slaughter of the Miſerable; witneſs Auſtria, lately turmoil'd with the Emperor's Edicts and Proſcriptions; witneſs Switzerland; But to what purpoſe is it in many words to call back the bitter lamentations and remembrance of ſo many Calamities? Who ſo ignorant, as not to know that the Counſels of the Spaniards, and the Roman Pontiff, for theſe Two years have fill'd all theſe Places with Conflagrations, Slaughter, and Vexation of the Orthodox. If to theſe miſchiefs there ſhould happen an acceſs of Diſſention among Proteſtant Brethren, more eſpecially between Two Potent States, upon whoſe Courage, Wealth and Fortitude, ſo far as human Strength may be reli'd upon, the Support and Hopes of all the Reformed Churches depend, of neceſſity the Proteſtant Religion muſt be in great jeopardy, if not upon the brink of deſtruction. On the other ſide, if the whole Proteſtant Name would but obſerve perpetual Peace among themſelves with 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, 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. 'Tis 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, onelyonly 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 in Flanders; but now he reſides at Paris, or rather flutters unpuniſh'd about the City, and at Court enrich'd with the Spoils of our Merchants. Once more therefore, We make it our Requeſt to your Majeſty, which it is your Majeſty's Intereſt in the firſt place to take care of, That no perſon whatever may dare to juſtify the wrongs done to your Majeſty's Confederates by the contempt of your Royal Edicts. Nor can this Cauſe be properly referr'd to the Commiſſioners appointed for deciding Common Controverſies on both ſides; ſince in this Caſe, not only the Rights of Confederates, but your Authority it ſelf, and the Veneration due to the Royal Name, are chiefly in diſpute. And it would be a wonder, that Merchants ſhould be more troubled for their Loſſes, then your Majeſty provok'd at Incroachments upon your Honour. Which while you diſdain to brook, with the ſame labour you will demonſtrate that you neither repent of your Friendly Edicts in favour of our Republick, nor conniv'd at the Injuries done by your Subjects, nor neglected to give due reſpect to our demands. From our Court at Weſtminſter, Novemb.—1656.
Your Majeſty's moſt bounden by Good-will, by Friendſhip and Solemn League, Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth, &c.