WEE Aga Mahomet Dey and Baba Hassan, Governour of the City and King­dom of Algier, wish on our Behalf, and in the Name of all our Victorious Militia, after offer of our Service, all Prosperity to the most High and Migh­ty Lords, the States General of the Ʋnited Provinces of the Low Countries, and People, Sons of God; Example of all Christian Princes, Supporters of the Faith of Jesus, our most dear and great Friend.

If you enquire of our Health, we are well, thanks be to God; as also the Countrey whereof We are established Governour, belonging to the Grand Seignior, and to his Royal Ismael Bassa, is in good Estate.

We have several times understood, with extreme Content, from Thomas Heer and Jacob Deparyeur, Commissioners here, whom we esteem on your behalf, and who by their Safe Conduct, cause themselves to be loved by us as well as any of this Place, and rejoyce that your Lordships and all your Dominions are in good condition. Not long since the said Commissioners advised us, that You have made and concluded an honourable Peace with his Majesty of France, by which your Countreys are Re­established in repose; desiring now no other thing than a new Encrease of Commerce and Navigation through all Parts of the World, which is pleasing News to us; for which we Congratulate you as mueh, as if it were a Good communicated from Heaven to our selves. We know well, that the fruits of a good Peace a [...] [...]cessarily Good, and that War bringeth with it nothing but sorrowful Desolation: [...] Cause, we have a long time ago desired an Alliance of Peace with your Lordships, and renew our Ancient Friendship. In this Holy purpose, we have hitherto, to our great Regret, been hindred by divers obstacles, as we have formerly advised you; Peace being in Gods [...]sposal, and Time, and Means to obtain it, depending also on his Power. In [...]ne, the happy Moment being come, we have, according to our Promise, in conside­ration of the great Honour and Amity you are pleased to manifest to Us, Invited your said Commissioners, who incessantly, by all wayes, have labour'd with your Lordships, to confirm the Treaty with Us, which they have done with great Pru­dence and Vigilance: So that for the great Esteem we have of them, and Inclination which we have to our Navigation, by reason of the Sincerity and Loyalty we find therein above all others; We assure your Lordships, that we proceed in this Cause in good Faith, and without Fraud.

During these Transactions with your Commissioners, the English arrived in Our Road, with some Vessels, who, contrary to our expectation, sollicited us with many Instances to make Peace with them; they are a People without Faith, not observing [Page 2] their Promise; they made War with Us without Cause, and without Declaring against Us; they have taken Vessels, and made Slaves of our People. We perceive in our Victorious Militia, as also in all our Inhabitants of this Place, a great aver­sion to Peace with that Nation. On the contrary, all the World avoweth with one Heart and Mouth, that the Flemings are a Good and Faithful People, who go the right way, hating with horrour all Fraud and Deceit. Finally, the Conference with your Commissioners hath had a desired Issue.

We have together, in full Assembly, in presence of all the World, by Invocati­on of the Holy Name of God, Made, Signed, Sealed, and duely Confirmed the Articles of Peace. We assure our selves that your Lordships will not lose time, but send us your Approbation and Ratification of what is Treated be­tween Us and your Commissioners. The Effects of a good Peace will be the Prosperity of your Government as well as Ours; the Subjects of one ano­ther may freely Navigate and Traffick: We desire nothing else but to Live in good Correspondence with you, your Word being Ours, and Ours with Yours.

Be pleased then to permit your Subjects to Trade freely, and bring us all sorts of Merchandize to make their profit of them; what then we shall have need of, we will Demand for our Money, as we have formerly done with the English.

At the Arrival of the Ambassadour, We understood that he had brought an hun­dred pieces of Brass Cannon, to present to the Royal House here in case the Peace should be concluded, which was very acceptable unto Us; for this Courtesie, which we have not merited, we are very much obliged to you also. It hath been a custom, that our Predecessors, after Peace made with Christian Potentates, have been courted with some Present or other. We seek not our particular Profit being obliged to contribute all our Cares to the Publick good; therefore We declare to your Lord­ships, as we have before done to your Commissioners, that we desire nothing for Us, nor for any other particular Person; but if it be your good Will, that after the Ra­tification of the Treaty of Peace on your part, you shall please to send us a Present of that sort, as is abovesaid, and cause us to have some more pieces of Brass Cannon of the largest Bore; We assure you, that We with our Militia shall account them the most excellent Present that can be chosen, and our Successors will remain perpetu­ally obliged to you for the same: and if there be amongst us the power to serve you, our hands shall be alwayes open, when you shall please to command our Service: in the mean wh [...] [...] expect a favourable and speedy Answer to this.

We ke [...] [...] Commissioners in our Protection, not suffering any Injury to be done to them: We live with them as with our Brethren.

If this Treaty please you not, which God forbid, We will not for that forbear to treat them well, and as Friends; knowing well, that they are your Ministers, and that all is not in their power, but depends on your Will and good pleasu [...]. We will then wait the Accomplishment from your hand. God have you in his H [...]ly Pro­tection.

Towards the midst of the Moon Rabia Elouel, in the Year One Thousand and Ninety, De Hegia.