FOR how long a ſeries of paſt Years, and for what important Reaſons the Friendſhip enter'd into by our Anceſtors with your moſt Noble City has continu'd to this day, we both willingly acknowledge, together with your ſelves; nor is it a thing diſpleaſing to us, frequently alſo to call to our remembrance. But as to what we underſtand, by your Letters dated the 25th. of June, that ſome of our People deal not with that Fidelity and Probity, as they were wont to do in their Trading and Commerce among ye; we preſently referr'd it to the conſideration of certain Perſons well skill'd in thoſe matters, to the end they might make a more ſtrict enquiry into the Frauds of the Clothiers and other Artificers of the Woollen Manufacture. And we farther promiſe, to take ſuch effectual care, as to make you ſenſible of our unalterable intentions, to preſerve ſincerity and juſtice among our ſelves, as alſo never to neglect any good Offices of our kindneſs that may redound to the welfare of your Commonwealth. On the other hand, there is ſomething likewiſe which we not only require, but which Equity it ſelf, and all the Laws of God and Man, demand of your ſelves, That you will not only conſerve inviolable to the Merchants of our Nation their Privileges, but by your Authority and Power defend and protect their Lives and Eſtates, as it becomes your City to do. Which as we moſt earneſtly deſir'd in our former Letters, ſo upon the repeated Complaints of our Merchants that are daily made before us, we now more earneſtly ſollicite and requeſt it: they complaining, That their ſafety, and all that they have in the world, is again in great jeopardy among ye. For although they acknowledge themſelves to have reap'd ſome Benefit for a ſhort time of our former Letters ſent you, and to have had ſome reſpite from the Injuries of a ſort of Profligate People; yet ſince the coming of the ſame Coc—m to your City (of whom we complain'd before) who pretends to be honour'd with a ſort of Embaſſy from— the Son of the lately deceas'd King, they have been aſſaulted with all manner of ill Language, Threats and naked Swords of Ruffians and Homicides, and have wanted your accuſtom'd Protection and Defence; inſomuch, that when Two or Three of the Merchants, together with the Preſident of the Society, were hurry'd away by ſurprize Aboard a certain Privateer, and that the reſt implor'd your Aid, yet they could not obtain any Aſſiſtance from you, till the Merchants themſelves were forc'd to embody their own ſtrength, and reſcue from the hands of Pyrates the Perſons Seiz'd on in that River, of which your City is the Miſtreſs, not without extream hazard of their Lives. Nay, when they had fortunately brought 'em home again, and as it were by Force of Arms recover'd 'em from an Ignominious Captivity, and carry'd the Pyrates themſelves into Cuſtody; we are inform'd that Coc—m was ſo audacious, as to demand the Releaſe of the Pyrates, and that the Merchants might be deliver'd Priſoners into his hands. We therefore again, and again, beſeech and adjure ye, if it be your intention that Contracts and Leagues, and the very ancient Commerce between both Nations ſhould be preſerv'd, the thing which you deſire, That our People may be able to aſiure themſelves of ſome certain and firm ſupport and reliance upon your Word, your Prudence and Authority; that you would lend 'em a favourable Audience concerning theſe matters; and that you would inflict deſerved Puniſhment as well upon Coc—m, and the reſt of his Accomplices in that wicked act, as upon thoſe who lately aſſaulted the Preacher, hitherto unpuniſh'd, or command 'em to depart your Territories; nor that you would believe that expell'd and exil'd Tarquins are to be preferr'd before the Friendſhip, and the Wealth, and Power of our Republick. For if you do not carefully provide to the contrary, but that the Enemies of our Republick ſhall preſume to think lawful the committing of any Violences againſt us in your City, how unſafe, how ignominious the Reſidence of our People there will be, do you conſider with your ſelves. Theſe things we recommend to your Prudence and Equity, your ſelves to the Protection of Heaven.

YOUR conſpicuous Favour in the doubtful condition of our Affairs, is now the reaſon, that after Victory and proſperous Succeſs, we can no longer queſtion your good will and friendly inclination towards us. As for our parts, the War being almoſt now determin'd, and our Enemies every where vanquiſh'd, we have deem'd nothing more juſt, or more conducing to the firm Eſtabliſhment of the Republick, then that they who by our means (the Almighty being always our Captain and Conductor) have either recover'd their Liberty, or obtain'd their Lives and Fortunes, after the pernicious Ravages of a Civil War, of our free Gift and Grace, ſhould teſtifie and pay in exchange to their Magiſtrates Allegiance and Duty in a ſolemn manner, if need requir'd. More eſpecially, when ſo many Turbulent and Exaſperated Perſons, more then once receiv'd into Protection, will make no end, either at home or abroad, of acting Perfidiouſly, and raiſing new Diſturbances. To that purpoſe we took care to enjoin a certain form of an Oath, by which all who held any Office in the Common-wealth, or being fortify'd with the Protection of the Law, enjoy'd both Safety, Eaſe, and all other Conveniences of Life, ſhould bind themſelves to Obedience in words preſcrib'd. This we alſo thought proper to be ſent to all Colonies abroad, or where-ever elſe our People reſided for the convenience of Trade; to the end that the Fidelity of thoſe over whom we are ſet, might be prov'd and known to us, as it is but reaſonable and neceſſary. Which makes us wonder ſo much the 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.

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.

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.

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.

UNderſtanding that Your Majeſty had both Honourably receiv'd our Agent, and immediately given him a favourable Audience, we thought it became us to aſſure your Majeſty without delay, by ſpeedy Letters from us, That nothing could happen more acceptable to us, and that there is nothing which we have decreed more ſacred, then not to violate by any word or deed of ours, not firſt provok'd, the Peace, the Friendſhip and Commerce, now for ſome time ſettl'd between us and the greateſt number of other Foreign Nations, and amongſt the reſt with the Portugheſes. Nor did we ſend the Engliſh Fleet to the Mouth of the River Tagus with any other intention or deſign, then in purſuit of Enemies ſo often put to flight, and for recovery of our Veſſels, which being carry'd away from their Owners by Force and Treachery, the ſame Rabble of Fugitives conducted to your Coaſts, and even to Lisbon it ſelf, as to the moſt certain Fairs for the Sale of their Plunder. But we are apt to believe that by this time almoſt all the Portugheſes are abundantly convinc'd, from the Flagitious manners of thoſe People, of their Audaciouſneſs, their Fury and their Madneſs. Which is the reaſon we are in hopes that we ſhall more eaſily obtain from your Majeſty; Firſt, That you will, as far as in you lies, be aſſiſtant to the moſt Illuſtrious Edward Popham, whom we have made Admiral of our New Fleet, for the ſubduing thoſe deteſted Freebooters; and that you will no longer ſuffer 'em together with their Captain, not Gueſts, but Pyrates; not Merchants, but the Peſts of Commerce, and Violaters of the Law of Nations, to Harbour in the Ports and under the ſhelter of the Fortreſſes of your Kingdom; but that where-ever the Confines of Portugal extend themſelves, you will Command 'em to be Expell'd as well by Land as by Sea. Or if you are unwilling to proceed to that extremity, at leaſt that with your leave it may be lawful for us with our proper Forces to aſſail our own Revolters and Sea Robbers, and if it be the pleaſure of Heaven, to reduce 'em into our Power. This, as we have earneſtly deſired in our former Letters, ſo now again with the greateſt ardency and importunity we requeſt of your Majeſty. By this, whether equity, or act of kindneſs, you will not only enlarge the fame of your Juſtice over all well Govern'd and Civil Nations, but alſo in a greater meaſure bind both us and the People of England, who never yet had other then a good opinion of the Portugheſes, to your ſelf and to your Subjects. Farewel.

MORE then once we have Written concerning the controverſies of the Merchants, and ſome other things which more nearly concern the Dignity of our Republick, yet no Anſwer has been return'd. But underſtanding that Affairs of that nature can hardly be determin'd by Letters onely, and that in the mean time certain Seditious Perſons have been ſent to your City by * * * * * * * Authoriz'd with no other Commiſſion then that of Malice and Audaciouſneſs, who make it their buſineſs utterly to extirpate the ancient Trade of our People in your City, eſpecially of thoſe whoſe fidelity to their Countrey is moſt conſpicuous; Therefore we have commanded the worthy and moſt eminent Richard Bradſhaw to reſide as our Agent among ye; to the end he may be able more at large to Treat and Negotiate with your Lordſhips ſuch Matters and Affairs, as are interwoven with the Benefit and Advantages of both Republicks. Him therefore we requeſt ye, with the ſooneſt to admit to a favourable Audience; and that in all things that Credit may be given to him, that Honour paid him, as is uſually in all Countries, and among all Nations paid to thoſe that bear his Character. Farewel.

TO our infinite ſorrow we are given to underſtand, That Antony Aſcham, by us lately ſent our Agent to your Majeſty, and under that Character moſt Civilly and Publickly receiv'd by your Governours; upon his firſt coming to your Royal City, naked of all defence and guard, was moſt bloodily Murther'd in a certain Inn, together with John Baptiſtade Ripa his Interpreter, Butchered at the ſame time. Wherefore we moſt earneſtly requeſt your Majeſty, That deſerved Puniſhment may be ſpeedily inflicted upon thoſe Parricides already apprehended, as it is reported, and committed to Cuſtody, who have not only preſum'd to wound our ſelves through his ſides, but have alſo dar'd to Stabb, as it were, to the very heart▪ your Faith of Word and Royal Honour. So that we make no queſtion but what we ſo ardently deſire would nevertheleſs be done effectually by a Prince of his own accord ſo Juſt and Pious, though no body requir'd it. As to what remains, we make it our farther ſuit, That the breathleſs Carkaſs may be deliver'd to his Friends and Attendants to be brought back and Enterr'd in his own Countrey, and that ſuch care may be taken for the ſecurity of thoſe that remain alive, as is but requiſite, till having obtain'd an Anſwer to theſe Letters, if it may be done, they ſhall return to us the Witneſſes of your Piety and Juſtice.

MAny Letters are brought us from our Merchants trading upon the Coaſt of Boruſſia, wherein they complain of a grievous Tribute impos'd upon 'em in the Grand Council of the Polanders, enforcing 'em to pay the Tenth part of all their Goods for the Relief of the King of Scots, our Enemy. Which in regard it is plainly contrary to the Law of Nations, that Gueſts and Strangers ſhould be dealt withal in ſuch a manner; and moſt unjuſt that they ſhould be compell'd to pay publick Stipends in a Foreign Commonwealth to him from whom they are, by God's Aſſiſtance, deliver'd at home; we make no queſtion but that out of reſpect to that Liberty, which as we underſtand you your ſelves enjoy, you will not ſuffer ſo heavy a Burthen to be laid upon Merchants in your City, wherein they have maintain'd a continual Amity and Commerce, to the extraordinary Advantage of the place for many years together. If therefore you think it convenient to undertake the Protection of our Merchants trading among ye, which we aſſuredly expect as well from your Prudence and Equity, as from the Dignity and Grandure of your City; We ſhall take that care, that you ſhall be ſenſible from time to time, of our grateful Acceptance of your Kindneſs, as often as the Dantzichers ſhall have any dealings within our Territories, or their Ships, as frequently it happens, put into our Ports.

WE receiv'd your Letters dated from Hampton the 15th of this Month, wherein you ſignify, That you are ſent by the King of Portugal to the Parlament of the Commonwealth of England; but ſay not under what Character, whether of Embaſſador, or Agent, or Envoy, which we would willingly underſtand by your Credential Letters from the King, a Copy of which you may ſend us with all the ſpeed you can. We would alſo further know, whether you come with a Plenary Commiſſion, to give us ſatisfaction for the Injuries, and to make Reparation for the Damages which your King has done this Republick, protecting our Enemy all the laſt Summer in his Harbours, and prohibiting the Engliſh Fleet, then ready to aſſail Rebels and Fugitives, which our Admiral had purſu'd ſo far; but never reſtraining the Enemy from falling upon ours. If you return us word that you have ample and fu • l Commiſſion to give us ſatisfaction concerning all theſe matters, and ſend us withal a Copy of your Recommendatory Letters, we ſhall then take care, that you may with all ſpeed repair to us upon the Publ • ck Faith: At what time, when we have read the King's Letters, you ſhall have liberty freely to declare what further Commands you have brought along with you.

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.

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.

THe Council of State, upon mature deliberation of that Paper which they receiv'd from your Excellency, 27 May 6 of June 1652. as alſo upon that which your Excellency at your Audience the 6/16 of this Month deliver'd to the Council, return this Anſwer to both thoſe Papers. That the Parlament, &c. was always very deſirous of preſerving the firm Friendſhip and good Peace ſetled at preſent between this Republick and his Royal Majeſty of Spain, from the time that firſt your Excellency ſignify'd the tendency of his Majeſty's Inclinations that way, and was always ready to ratify and confirm the ſame to the Benefit and Advantage of both Nations. And this, the Councel of State in the Name, and by Command of the Parlament, in their Papers oftimes made known to your Excellency; and particularly, according to your Excellency's deſire, made choice of Commiſſioners to attend and receive from your Excellency ſuch Propoſals as might conduce to the ſame purpoſe. At which meeting. inſtead of making ſuch Propoſals, it ſeem'd good to your Excellency onely to propound ſome general Matters, as it were previous to a future Conference, concerning which it ſeem'd to the Council that the Parlament had in former Papers fully made known their Sentiments. Nevertheleſs, for more ample and accumulative ſatisfaction, and to remove all ſcruples from your Excellency concerning thoſe matters which they at that time propos'd, the Council in that Paper, dated 31 March, 10 April, declar'd themſelves ready to come to a Conference with your Excellency concerning thoſe things which you had in charge from his Royal Majeſty, as well in reference to the priſtin Amity, as to any farther Negotiation; as alſo touching ſuch matters as ſhould be exhibited by us, in the name of this Republick; and when we came to ſuch particulars as were to the purpoſe, and the nature of the thing requir'd, then to give convenient Anſwers. To which it ſeem'd good to your Excellency to make no Reply, nor to proceed any farther in that Affair for almoſt Two Months. About that time the Council receiv'd from your Excellency your firſt Paper, dated 27 May, 6 June, wherein you onely made this Propoſal, That the Articles of Peace and League between the Late King Charles and your Maſter, dated the 6/16. of Novemb. 1630. might be review'd, and that the ſeveral Heads of it might be either enlarg'd or left out according to the preſent condition of times and things, and the late Alteration of Government. Which being no more then what we our ſelves briefly and clearly ſignify'd in our foreſaid Paper of the 31 March, 10 April, the Council expected that ſome particular Articles would have bin Propounded out of that League, with thoſe Amplifications and Alterations of which you made mention; ſince otherwiſe it is impoſſible for us to return any other Anſwer concerning this matter then what we have already given. And whereas your Excellency in your laſt Paper ſeems to charge us with delay, the Council therefore took a ſecond review of your foreſaid Paper of the 27 of May, 6 of June, and of what was therein Propounded, and are ſtill of Opinion, That they have fully ſatisfy'd your Excellency in that former Paper, to which they can only farther add, That ſo ſoon as your Excellency ſhall be pleas'd, either out of the Leagues already made, or in any other manner, to frame ſuch conditions, as ſhall be accommodated to the preſent ſtate of Things and Times, upon which you deſire to have the foundations of Friendſhip laid on your ſide, they will immediately return you ſuch Anſwers as by them ſhall be thought Juſt and Reaſonable, and which ſhall be ſufficient Teſtimonials that the Parlament ſtill perſeveres in the ſame deſires of preſerving an untainted and firm Amity with the King your Maſter, and that on their parts they will omit no honeſt endeavours, and worthy of themſelves, to advance it to the higheſt perfection.

Furthermore the Council deems it to be a part of their duty, That your Excellency ſhould be put in mind of that Paper of ours, dated Jan. 30. 1651. to which in regard your Excellency has return'd no Anſwer as yet, we preſs and expect that ſatiſfaction be given to the Parlament, as to what is therein mention'd.

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.

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 Commonwealth of England will be always ready to make the ſame returns of Friendſhip and Civility upon all occaſion offer'd.

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 in a more eſpecial manner ty'd the Parlament to your Serenity; ſo will they, on the other ſide, take care, as often as opportunity offers, that all their Offices of ſincere Friendſhip and good-will toward your Highneſs may be ſolidly effectual and permanent; withal recommending your Highneſs to the Divine Benignity and Protection of the Almighty.

THE Parlament of the Commonwealth of England has receiv'd your Highneſs's Letters, dated June 1. 1652. and deliver'd by Lorenzo Pallutio, wherein they not onely, gladly perceive both yours, and the cordial Inclinations of the Senate toward this Republick, but have willingly laid hold of this opportunity to declare their ſingular Affection and good Will toward the Moſt Serene Republick of Venice; which they ſhall be always ready to make manifeſt both really and ſincerely, as often as opportunity offers. To whom alſo all the ways and means that ſhall be propounded to 'em for the preſerving or encreaſing mutual Friendſhip and Alliance, ſhall be ever moſt acceptable. In the mean time we heartily pray that all things Proſperous, all things Favourable, may befall your Highneſs and the Moſt Serene Republick.

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.

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.

BY your Letters, dated January 20. 1654. I have bin given to underſtand, That the Noble Frederick Matthias Woliſog, and Chirſtopher Griphiander were ſent with certain Commands from your Illuſtrious Lordſhip into England, who when they came to us, not onely in your Name Congratulated our having taken upon us the Government of the Eogliſh Republick, but alſo deſir'd that you and your Territories might be comprehended in the Peace which we are about to make with the Low Countries, and that we would confirm by our preſent Authority the Letters of ſafe Conduct lately granted your Lordſhip by the Parlament. Therefore in the firſt place we return your Lordſhip our hearty thanks for your Friendly Congratulation, as it becomes us; and theſe will let you know that we have readily granted your two Requeſts. Nor ſhall you find us wanting upon any opportunity, which may at any time make manifeſt our Affection to your Lordſhip. And this we are apt to believe you will underſtand more at large from your Agents, whoſe Fidelity and Diligence in this Affair of yours, in our Court, has bin eminently conſpicuous. As to what remains, we moſt heartily wiſh the Bleſſings of Proſperity and Peace, both upon you and your Affairs.

YOUR Love of Religion, apparently made known in your Letters to us deliver'd, and your excelling Piety and ſingular Affection to the Reformed Churches, more eſpecially conſidering the Nobility and Splendor of your Character, and in a Kingdom too, wherein there are ſo many and ſuch abounding hopes propos'd to all of Eminent Quality that revolt from the Orthodox Faith, ſo many Miſeries to be undergone by the Reſolute and conſtant, gave us an occaſion of great joy and conſolation of Mind. Nor was it leſs grateful to us that we had gain'd your good Opinion, upon the ſame account of Religion, which ought to render your Highneſs moſt chiefly belov'd and dear to our ſelves. We call God to Witneſs, That whatever hopes or expectations the Churches, according to your Relation, had of us, we may be able one day to give them ſatisfaction, if need require, or at leaſt to demonſtrate to all men how much it is our deſire never to fail 'em Nor ſhould we think any fruit of our Labours, or of this Dignity or Supream Employment which we hold in our Republick, greater, then that we might be in a condition to be ſerviceable to the enlargement, or the welfare, or which is more ſacred, to the Peace of the Reformed Church. In the mean time, we exhort and beſeech your Lordſhip to remain ſtedfaſt to the laſt minute in the Orthodox Religion, with the ſame reſolution and conſtancy, as you profeſs it receiv'd from your Anceſtors with Piety and Zeal. Nor indeed, can there be any thing more worthy your ſelf, or your Religious Parents, nor in conſideration of what you have deſerv'd of us, though we wiſh all things for your own ſake, that we can wiſh more Noble or Advantagious to your Lordſhip, then that you would take ſuch Methods and apply your ſelf to ſuch Studies, that the Churches, eſpecially of your Native Countrey, under the Diſcipline of which your Birth and Genius have render'd you Illuſtriouſly Happy, may be ſenſible of ſo much the more aſſur'd ſecurity in your Protection, by how much you excel others in Luſtre and Ability.

LEtters have bin ſent us from Geneva, as alſo from the Dauphinate, and many other Places bordering upon your Territories, wherein we are given to underſtand, That ſuch of your Royal Highneſs's Subjects as profeſs the Reformed Religion, are Commanded by your Edict, and by your Authority, within three days after the Promulgation of your Edict, to depart their Native Seats and Habitations, upon pain of capital Puniſhment, and Forfeiture of all their Fortunes and Eſtates, unleſs they will give ſecurity to relinquiſh their Religion within Twenty days, and embrace the Roman Catholick Faith. And that when they appli'd themſelves to your Royal Highneſs in a moſt Suppliant manner, imploring a Revocation of the ſaid Edict, and that being receiv'd into priſtin favour, they might be reſtor'd to the Liberty granted 'em by your Predeceſſors, a part of your Army fell upon 'em, moſt cruelly Slew ſeveral, put others in Chains, and compell'd the reſt to Flye into Deſert places and to the Mountains cover'd with ſnow, where ſome Hundreds of Families are reduc'd to ſuch Diſtreſs, that 'tis greatly to be fear'd, they will in a ſhort time all miſerably Periſh through Cold and Hunger. Theſe things, when they were related to us, we could not chuſe but be touch'd with extream Grief and Conpaſſion for the Sufferings and Calamities of this Afflicted People. Now in regard we muſt acknowledge our ſelves link'd together not onely by the ſame tye of Humanity, but by joynt Communion of the ſame Religion, we thought it impoſſible for us to ſatisfie our Duty to God, to Brotherly Charity, or our Profeſſion of the ſame Religion, if we ſhould onely be affected with a bare ſorrow for the Miſery and Calamity of our Brethren, and not contribute all our endeavours to Relieve and Succour 'em in their unexpected Adverſity, as much as in us lies. Therefore in a greater meaſure we moſt earneſtly Beſeech and Conjure your Royal Highneſs, that you would call back to your thoughts the moderation of your moſt Serene Predeceſſors, and the Liberty by them Granted and Confirm'd from time to time to their Subjects the Vaudois. In Granting and Confirming which, as they did that, which without all queſtion was moſt grateful to God, who has bin pleas'd to reſerve the Juriſdiction and Power over the Conſcience to himſelf alone, ſo there is no doubt but that they had a due conſideration of their Subjects alſo, whom they found Stout and moſt Faithful in War, and always Obedient in Peace. And as your Royal Serenity in other things moſt laudably follows the footſteps of your Immortal Anceſtors, ſo we again and again beſeech your Royal Highneſs not to ſwerve from the path wherein they trod in this particular; but that you would vouchſafe to Abrogate both this Edict, and whatſoever elſe may be Decreed to the Diſturbance of your Subjects upon the account of the Reform'd Religion; that you would ratifie to 'em their conceded Privileges and priſtin Liberty, and command their Loſſes to be repair'd, and that an end be put to their Oppreſſions. Which if your Royal Highneſſ ſhall be pleas'd to ſee perform'd, you will do a thing moſt acceptable to God, revive and comfort the miſerable in dire Calamity, and moſt highly oblige all your Neighbours that Profeſs the Reformed Religion, but more eſpecially our ſelves, who ſhall be bound to look upon your Clemency and Benignity toward your Subjects as the fruit of our earneſt Solicitation. Which will both engage us to a reciprocal return of all good Offices, and lay the ſolid foundations not only of eſtabliſhing, but encreaſing Alliance and Friendſhip between this Republick and your Dominions. Nor do we leſs promiſe this to our ſelves from your Juſtice and Moderation; to which we Beſeech Almighty God to encline your Mind and Thoughts. And ſo we cordially Implore Juſt Heaven to beſtow upon your Highneſs and your People the Bleſſings of Peace and Truth, and proſperous Succeſs in all your Affairs.

WE make no queſtion but that the ſame of that moſt rigid Edict has reach'd your Dominions, whereby the Duke of Savoy has totally Ruin'd his Proteſtant Subjects Inhabiting the Alpine Valleys, and commanded 'em to be extirminated from their Native Seats and Habitations, unleſs they will give ſecurity to renounce their Religion receiv'd from their Forefathers, in exchange for the Roman Catholick Superſtition, and that within Twenty days at fartheſt; ſo that many being kill'd, the reſt Strip to their Skins and expos'd to moſt certain deſtruction, are now forc'd to wander over deſert Mountains and through perpetual Winter, together with their Wives and Children, half dead with Cold and Hunger; and that your Majeſty has laid it to heart with a Pious ſorrow and compaſſionate conſideration we as little doubt. For that the Proteſtant Name and Cauſe, although they differ among themſelves in ſome things of little Conſequence, is nevertheleſs the ſame in general and united in one common Intereſt, the hatred of our Adverſaries, alike inſenc'd againſt Proteſtants, very eaſily demonſtrates. Now there is no body can be ignorant, that the Kings of the Swedes have always joyn'd with the Reformed, carrying their Victorious Arms into Germany in Defence of the Proteſtants without diſtinction. Therefore we make it our chief requeſt, and that in a more eſpecial manner to your Majeſty, that you would ſolicit the Duke of Savoy by Letters, and by interpoſing your intermediating Authority, endeavour to avert the horrid Cruelty of this Edict, if poſſible, from People no leſs Innocent then Religious. For we think it ſuperfluous to admoniſh your Majeſty, whither theſe rigorous begininnings tend, and what they threaten to all the Proteſtants in general. But if he rather chuſe to liſten to his Anger then to our joynt Intreaties and Interceſſions, if there be any Tye, any Charity or Communion of Religion to be Believ'd and Worſhipp'd, upon Conſultations duly firſt communicated to your Majeſty and the chief of the Proteſtant Princes, ſome other courſe is to be ſpeedily taken, that ſuch a numerous multitude of our Innocent Brethren may not miſerably Periſh for want of Succour and Aſſiſtance. Which in regard we make no queſtion but that it is your Majeſties Opinion and Determination, there can be nothing in our opinion more prudently reſolv'd, then to joyn our Reputation, Authority, Councels, Forces, and whatever elſe is needful, with all the ſpeed that may be, in purſuance of ſo Pious a deſign. In the mean time we beſeech Almighty God to Bleſs your Majeſty.

WE make no queſtion but the late Calamity of the Piemontois, Profeſſing our Religion, reached your Ears, before the unwelcome News of it arriv'd with us. Who being a People under the Protection and Juriſdiction of the Duke of Savoy, and by a ſevere Edict of their Prince Commanded to depart their Native Habitations, unleſs within Three days they gave ſecurity to embrace the Roman Religion, ſoon after were aſſail'd by Armed Violence, that turn'd their Dwellings into Slaughter-houſes, while others, without Number, were terrifi'd into Baniſhment, where now Naked and Afflicted, without Houſe or Home, or any Covering from the Weather, and ready to periſh through Hunger and Cold, they miſerably wander thorough deſert Mountains, and depths of Snow, together with their Wives and Children. And far leſs reaſon have we to doubt, but that, ſo ſoon as they came to your knowledge, you laid theſe things to heart, with a Compaſſion no leſs ſenſible of their multipli'd Miſeries, then our ſelves; the more deeply imprinted perhaps in your minds, as being next Neighbours to the ſufferers. Beſides, that we have abundant proof of your ſingular Love and Affection for the Orthodox Faith, of your conſtancy in retaining it, and your Fortitude in defending it. Seeing then, by the moſt ſtrict Communion of Religion, that you, together with our ſelves, are all Brethren alike, or rather one body with thoſe unfortunate People, of which no member can be Afflicted without the feeling, without pain, without the detriment and hazard of the reſt; we thought it convenient to Write to your Lordſhips concerning this matter, and let you underſtand, how much we believe it to be the general Intereſt of us all, as much as in us lies, with our common Aid and Succour, to relieve our extirminated and indigent Brethren; and not only to take care for removing their Miſeries and Afflictions, but alſo to provide, that the miſchief ſpread no farther, nor incroach upon our ſelves in general, encourag'd by Example and Succeſs. We have Written Letters to the Duke of Savoy, wherein we have moſt earneſtly beſought him out of his wonted Clemency, to deal more gently and mildly with his moſt faithful Subjects, and to reſtore 'em, almoſt Ruin'd as they are, to their Goods and Habitations. And we are in hopes, that by theſe our Intreaties, or rather by the united Interceſſions of us all, the moſt Serene Prince at length will be atton'd, and grant what we have requeſted with ſo much Importunity. But if his mind be obſtinately bent to other determinations, we are ready to communicate our Conſultations with yours, by what moſt prevalent means to relieve and re-eſtabliſh moſt Innocent men, and our moſt dearly beloved Brethren in Chriſt, tormented and overlaid with ſo many Wrongs and Oppreſſions; and preſerve 'em from inevitable and undeſerved Ruin. Of whoſe welfare and Safety, as I am aſſur'd, that you according to your wonted Piety, are moſt cordially tender, ſo, for our own parts, we cannot but in our opinion prefer their preſervation before our moſt important Intereſts, even the ſafeguard of our own life. Farewel.

BY your Majeſty's Letters which you Wrote in anſwer to ours of the 25th of May, we readily underſtand, that we fail'd not in our Judgement, that the inhuman Slaughter and barbarous Maſſacres of thoſe men, who profeſs the Reformed Religion in Savoy, perpetrated by ſome of your Regiments, were the Effects neither of your Orders nor Commands. And it afforded us a ſingular occaſion of Joy, to hear that your Majeſty had ſo timely ſignifi'd to your Collonels and Officers, whoſe violent precipitancy engag'd 'em in thoſe inhuman Butcheries without the encouragement of Lawful Allowance, how diſpleaſing they were to your Majeſty; that you had admoniſh'd the Duke himſelf to forbear ſuch Acts of Cruelty; and that you had interpos'd with ſo much Fidelity and Humanity, all the high Veneration paid you in that Court, your near Alliance and Authority, for reſtoring to their ancient Abodes thoſe unfortunate Exiles. And it was our hopes, That that Prince would in ſome meaſure have condeſcended to the good Pleaſure and Interceſſions of your Majeſty. But finding not any thing obtain'd either by your own, nor the Intreaties and Importunities of other Princes in the Cauſe of the Diſtreſſed, we deem'd it not foreign from our duty, to ſend this noble Perſon, under the Character of our extraordinary Envoy, to the Duke of Savoy, more amply and, fully to lay before him, how deeply ſenſible we are of ſuch exaſperated Cruelties inflicted upon the Profeſſors of the ſame Religion with our ſelves, and all this too out of a hatred of the ſame Worſhip. And we have reaſon to hope a ſucceſs of this Negotiation ſo much the more proſperous, if your Majeſty would vouchſafe to employ your Authority and Aſſiſtance once again with ſo much the more urgent importunity; and as you have undertaken for thoſe Indigent People that they will be Faithful and Obedient to their Prince, ſo you would be gratiouſly pleas'd to take care of their Welfare and Safety, that no farther Oppreſſions of this nature, no more ſuch diſmal Calamities may be the portion of the Innocent and Peaceful. This being truly Royal and Juſt in it ſelf, and highly agreeable to your Benignity and Clemency, which every where protects in ſoft ſecurity ſo many of your Subjects profeſſing the ſame Religion, we cannot but expect, as it behoves us, from your Majeſty. Which Act of yours, as it will more cloſely bind to your Subjection all the Proteſtants throughout your ſpacious Dominions, whoſe Affection and Fidelity to your Predeceſſors and your ſelf in moſt important Diſtreſſes have bin often conſpicuouſly made known; ſo will it fully convince all Foreign Princes, that the Advice or Intention of your Majeſty were no way contributory to this prodigious Violence, whatever inflam'd your Miniſters and Officers to promote it. More eſpecially, if your Majeſty ſhall inflict deſerved puniſhment upon thoſe Captains and Miniſters, who of their own Authority, and to gratifie their own Wills, adventur'd the perpetrating ſuch dreadful Acts of Inhumanity. In the mean while, ſince your Majeſty has aſſur'd us of your juſtly merited averſion to theſe moſt inhuman and cruel Proceedings, we doubt not but you will aſſord a ſecure Sanctuary and Shelter within your Kingdom to all thoſe miſerable Exiles that ſhall flye to your Majeſty for Protection; and that you will not give permiſſion to any of your Subjects to aſſiſt the Duke of Savoy to their prejudice. It remains that we make known to your Majeſty, how highly we eſteem and value your Friendſhip: In teſtimony of which, we farther affirm there ſhall never be wanting upon all occaſions the real aſſurances and effects of our Proteſtation.

AS it has bin always a great occaſion of rejoycing to us when ever any proſperous Succeſs attended your Arms, but more eſpecially againſt the Common Enemy of the Chriſtian Name; ſo neither are we ſorry for the late Advantage gain'd by your Fleet, though as we underſtand, it happen'd not a little to the Detriment of our People. For certain of our Merchants, William and Daniel Williams and Edward Beale, have ſet forth in a Petition preſented to us, that a Ship of theirs, call'd the Great Prince, was lately ſent by them with Goods and Merchandize to Conſtantinople, where the ſaid Ship was detain'd by the Miniſters of the Port, to carry Soldiers and Proviſions to Creet; and that the ſaid Ship being conſtrain'd to Sail along with the ſame Fleet of the Turks, which was ſet upon and vanquiſh'd by the Gallies of the Venetians, was taken, carri'd away to Venice, and there adjudg'd Lawful Prize by the Judges of the Admiralty. Now therefore in regard the ſaid Ship was preſs'd by the Turks, and forc'd into their Service without the Knowledge or Conſent of the Owners directly or indirectly obtain'd, and that it was impoſſible for her, being Ship'd with Soldiers, to withdraw from the Engagement, we moſt earneſtly requeſt your Serenity, That you will remit that ſentence of your Admiralty, as a Preſent to our Friendſhip, and take ſuch care that the Ship may be reſtor'd to the Owners, no way deſerving the diſpleaſure of your Republick by any Act of theirs. In the obtaining of which requeſt, more eſpecially upon our Interceſſion, while we find the Merchants themſelves ſo well aſſur'd of your Clemency, It behoves us not to queſtion it. And ſo we beſeech the Almighty God to continue his proſperous Bleſſings upon your Noble, Deſigns and the Venetian Republick.

CErtain of our Merchants, by name, Samuel Mico, William Cockain, George Poyner, and ſeveral others, in a Petition to us have ſet forth, That in the year 1650. they Laded a Ship of theirs, call'd the Vnicorn, with Goods of a very conſiderable value; and that the ſaid Ship being thus Laden with Silk, Oyl and other Merchandize, amounting to above Thirty four thouſand of our Pounds, was taken by the Admiral and Vice-Admiral of your Majeſty's Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Now it appears to us, that our People who were then in the Ship, by reaſon there was at that time a Peace between the French and us, that never had bin violated in the leaſt, were not willing to make any Defence againſt your Majeſty's Royal Ships, and therefore over-rul'd beſides by the fair Promiſes of the Captains Paul, and Terrery, who faithfully engag'd to diſmiſs our People, they paid their Obedience to the Maritime Laws, and produc'd their Bills of Lading. Moreover, we find that the Merchants aforeſaid, ſent their Agent into France to demand Reſtitution of the ſaid Ship and Goods: And then it was, that after above Three years ſlipt away, when the Suit was brought ſo far that Sentence of Reſtitution or Condemnation was to have bin given; that his Eminency Cardinal Mazarine acknowledg'd to their Factor Hugh Morel, the wrong that had bin done the Merchants, and undertook that Satisfaction ſhould be given, ſo ſoon as the League between the two Nations, which was then under Negotiation, ſhould be Ratifi'd and Confirm'd. Nay, ſince that, his Excellency M. de Bourdeaux, your Majeſty's Embaſſador, aſſur'd us in expreſs Words, by the Command of your Majeſty and your Council, That care ſhould be taken of that Ship and Goods in a particular Exception, a part from thoſe controverſies, for the deciſion of which a general proviſion was made by the League; of which promiſe, the Embaſſador, now opportunely arriv'd here to ſolicit ſome buſineſs of his own, is a Teſtimony no way to be queſtion'd. Which being true, and the Right of the Merchants in redemanding their Ship and Goods ſo undeniably apparent, we moſt earneſtly requeſt your Majeſty, that they may meet with no delay in obtaining what is juſtly their due, but that your Majeſty will admit the grant of this Favour, as the firſt fruits of our reviv'd Amity and the lately renew'd League between us. The refuſal of which, as we have no reaſon to doubt, ſo we beſeech Almighty God to Bleſs with all Proſperity both your Majeſty and your Kingdom.

IN what condition your Affairs are, which is not the beſt, we are abundantly inform'd, as well by your publick Acts tranſmitted to us by our Agent at Geneva, as alſo by your Letters from Zurick, bearing date the 27th. of December. Whereby, although we are ſorry to find your Peace, and ſuch a laſting League of Confederacy broken; nevertheleſs ſince it appears to have happen'd through no fault of yours, we are in hopes that the Iniquity and perverſeneſs of your Adverſaries are contriving new occaſions for ye to make known your long-ago experienc'd Fortitude and Reſolution in Defence of the Evangelick Faith. For as for thoſe of the Canton of Schwits, who account it a Capital Crime for any perſon to embrace our Religion, what they are might and main deſigning, and whoſe inſtigations have incens'd 'em to reſolutions of Hoſtility againſt the Orthodox Religion, no body can be ignorant, who has not yet forgot that moſt deteſtable Slaughter of our Brethren in Piemont. Wherefore, moſt beloved Friends, what you were always wont to be, with God's aſſiſtance ſtill continue, Magnanimous and Reſolute; ſuffer not your Privileges, your Confederacies, the Liberty of your Conſciences, your Religion it ſelf to be trampled under foot by the Worſhippers of Idols; and ſo prepare your ſelves, that you may not ſeem to be the Defenders onely of your own Freedom and Safety, but be ready likewiſe to Aid and Succour, as far as in you lies, your Neighbouring Brethren, more eſpecially thoſe moſt deplorable Piedmontois; as being certainly convinc'd of this, that a Paſſage was lately intended to have bin open'd over their Slaughter'd bodies to your ſides. As for our part, be aſſur'd, that we are no leſs anxious and ſolicitous for your Welfare and Proſperity, then if this conflagration had broken forth in our Republick; or as if the Axes of the Schwits Canton had bin ſharpen'd for our Necks, or that their Swords had bin drawn againſt our Breaſts, as indeed they were againſt the boſoms of all the Reformed. Therefore ſo ſoon as we were inform'd of the condition of your Affairs, and the obſtinate Animoſities of your Enemies, adviſing with ſome ſincere and honeſt Perſons, together with ſome Mininiſters of the Church moſt eminent for their Piety, about ſending to your Aſſiſtance ſuch Succour as the preſent poſture of our Affairs would permit, we came to thoſe Reſults, which our Envoy Pell will impart to your conſideration. In the mean time we ceaſe not to implore the Bleſſing of the Almighty upon all your Counſels, and the Protection of your moſt juſt Cauſe as well in War as in Peace.

JOhn Freeman and Philip Traveſs, Citizens of this Republick, by a Petition preſented to us, in their own and the Name of ſeveral other Merchants of London, have made a complaint, That whereas about the Month of March in the year 1653. they Freighted a certain Ship of Sunderburgh, call'd the Saviour, Nicolas Weinskinks Maſter, with Woollen Cloth, and other Commodities to the Value of above Three thouſand Pound, with Orders to the Maſter, That he ſhould Sail directly up the Baltick for Dantzick, paying the uſual Tribute at Elſenore, to which purpoſe in particulor they gave him Money; nevertheleſs that the ſaid Maſter, Perfidiouſly and contrary to the Orders of the ſaid Merchants, ſlipping by Elſenore without paying the uſual Duty, thought to have proceeded in his Voyage, but that the Ship for this reaſon was immediately Seiz'd and detain'd with all her Lading. After due conſideration of which Complaints, we Wrote in favour of the Merchants to your Majeſty's Embaſſador reſiding at London, who promis'd, as they ſay, that as ſoon as he return'd to your Majeſty, he would take care that the Merchants ſhould be taken into conſideration. But he being ſent to Negotiate your Majeſty's Affairs in other Countries, the Merchants attended upon him in vain, both before and after his departure, ſo that they were forc'd to ſend their Agent to proſecute their Right and Claim at Copenhagen, and demand Reſtitution of the Ship and Goods; but all the Benefit they reap'd by it, was onely to add more expences to their former damages, and a great deal of labour and pains thrown away; the Goods being condemn'd, to Confiſcation, and ſtill detain'd: Whereas by the Law of Danemark, as they ſet forth in their Petition, the Maſter is to be Puniſh'd for his Offence, and the Ship is to be Condemn'd but not the Goods. And they look upon this misfortune to lye the more heavy upon 'em, in regard the Duty which is to be paid at Elſenore, as they tell us, is but very ſmall. Wherefore ſeeing our Merchants ſeem to have given no cauſe of Proſcription, and for that the Maſter confeſs'd before his death, that this damage befel them onely through his neglect; and the Father of the Maſter deceas'd, by his Petition to your Majeſty, as we are given to underſtand, by laying all the blame upon his Son, has acquitted the Merchants, we could not but believe the detaining of the ſaid Ship and Goods to be moſt unjuſt; and therefore we are confident, that ſo ſoon as your Majeſty ſhall be rightly inform'd of the whole matter, you will not only diſapprove of theſe Oppreſſions of your Miniſters, but give command that they be call'd to an account, that the Goods be reſtor'd to the Owners or their Factors, and Reparation made 'em for the Loſſes they have ſuſtain'd. All which we moſt earneſtly requeſt of your Majeſty, as being no more then what is ſo juſt and conſentaneous to reaſon, that a more equitable demand or more legal ſatisfaction cannot well be made, conſidering the Juſtice of our Merchants Cauſe, and which your own Subjects would think but fair and honeſt upon the like occaſions.

JOhn Dethic Mayor of the City of London for this Year, and William Wakefield Merchant, have made their Addreſſes to us by way of Petition complaining, That about the middle of October 1649. they freighted a certain Ship, call'd the Jonas of London, Jonas Lightfoot Maſter, with Goods that were to be ſent to Oſtend; which Veſſel was taken in the mouth of the River Thames, by one White of Barking, a Pyrate Robbing upon the Seas by Vertue of a Commiſſion from the Son of King Charles deceas'd, and carri'd to Dnnkirk, then under the Juriſdiction of the French. Now in regard that by your Majeſty's Edict in the year 1647. renew'd in 1649. and by ſome other Decrees in favour of the Parlament of England, as they find it recorded, it was Enacted, That no Veſſel or Goods taken from the Engliſh, in the time of that War, ſhould be carri'd into any of your Majeſty's Ports to be there put to Sale, they preſently ſent their Factor Hugh Morel to Dunkirk, to demand Reſtitution of the ſaid Ship and Goods from M. Leſtrade then Governor of the Town; more eſpecially finding them in the Place for the moſt part untouch'd, and neither Exchang'd or Sold. To which the Governor made Anſwer, That the King had beſtow'd that Government upon him of his free Gift for Service done the King in his Wars, and therefore he would take care to make the beſt of the Reward of his Labour. So that having little to hope from an Anſwer ſo unkind and unjuſt, after a great Expence of Time and Money, the Factor return'd home. So that all the remaining hopes which the Petitioners have, ſeem wholly to depend upon your Majeſty's Juſtice and Clemency, to which they thought they might have the more eaſie acceſs by means of our Letters. and therefore that neither your Clemency nor your Juſtice may be wanting to People deſpoil'd againſt all Law and Reaſon, and contrary to your repeated Prohibitions, we make it our requeſt. Wherein, if your Majeſty vouchſafe to gratifie us, ſince there is nothing requir'd but what is moſt juſt and equitable, we ſhall deem it as obtain'd rather from your innate Integrity, then any intreaty of ours.

JOhn Brown, Nicholas Williams, and others, Citizens of London, have ſet forth in their Petition to us, that when they had every one brought in their Proportions and Freighted a certain Ship call'd the Good-Hope of London, bound for the Eaſt-Indies, they gave Orders to their Factor to take up at Amſterdam Two thouſand four hunder'd Dutch Pounds, to inſure the ſaid Ship; that afterwards this Ship in her Voyage to the Coaſt of India was taken by a Ship belonging to the Eaſt-India Company; upon which they who had engag'd to Inſure the ſaid Veſſel refus'd to Pay the Money, and have for this Six years by various delays eluded our Merchants, who with extraordinary Diligence and at vaſt Expences endeavour'd the recovery of their juſt Right. Which in regard it is an unjuſt Grievance that lies ſo heavy upon the Petitioners, for that ſome of thoſe who oblig'd themſelves are Dead or become Inſolvent, therefore that no farther Loſſes may accrue to their former Damages, we make it our earneſt requeſt to your Lordſhips, that you will vouchſafe your Integrity to be the harbour and refuge for People toſs'd ſo many years, and almoſt ſhipwrack'd in your Courts of Juſtice, and that ſpeedy judgment may be given according to the rules of Equity and Honeſty in their Cauſe which they believe to be moſt juſt. In the mean time we wiſh you all Proſperity to the Glory of God and the Welfare of his Church.

THE ſame Perſons in whoſe behalf we wrote to your Lordſhips in September the laſt year, Thomas and William Lower, the lawful Heirs of Nicholas Lower, deceas'd, make grievous complaints before us, that they are oppreſs'd either by the Favour or Wealth of their Adverſaries, notwithſtanding the Juſtice of their Cauſe; and when that would not ſuffice, although our Letters often pleaded in their behalf, they have not bin able hitherto to obtain Poſſeſſion of the Inheritance left 'em by their Father's Will. From the Court of Holland, where the Suit was firſt Commenc'd, they were ſent to your Court, and from thence hurri'd away into Zealand (to which three Places they carry'd our Letters) and now they are remanded, not unwillingly, back again to your Supream Judicature; for where the Supream Power is, there they expect Supream Juſtice. If that hope fail 'em, eluded and fruſtrated, after being ſo long toſs'd from poſt to pillar for the recovery of their Right, where at length to find a reſting place they know not. For as for our Letters, if they find no benefit of theſe the Fourth time Written, they can never promiſe themſelves any advantage for the future from ſlighted Papers. However, it would be moſt acceptable to us, if yet at length, after ſo many contempts, the injur'd Heirs might meet with ſome Relief by a ſpeedy and juſt Judgment, if not out of reſpect to any Reputation we have among ye, yet out of a regard to your own Equity and Juſtice. Of the laſt of which we make no queſtion, and confidently preſume you will allow the other to our Friendſhip.

WHereas there is a conſiderable Sum of Money owing from certain Portugal Merchants of the Braſile Company to ſeveral Engliſh Merchants, upon the account of Freightage and Demorage, in the years 1649 and 1650. which Money is detain'd by the ſaid Company by your Majeſties Command, the Merchants before-mention'd expected that the ſaid Money ſhould have bin paid long ſince according to the Articles of the laſt League, but now they are afraid of being debarr'd all hopes and means of recovering their Debts; underſtanding your Majeſty has order'd, That what Money is owing to 'em by the Braſile Company, ſhall be carri'd into your Treaſury, and that no more then one half of the Duty of Freightage ſhall be expended toward the Payment of their Debts; by which means the Merchants will receive no more then the bare Intereſt of their Money, while at the ſame time they utterly loſe their Principal. Which we conſidering to be very ſevere and heavy upon 'em, and being overcome by their moſt reaſonable Supplications, have granted 'em theſe our Letters to your Majeſty; chiefly requeſting this at your hands, to take care that the aforeſaid Braſile Company may give ſpeedy Satisfaction to the Merchants of this Republick, and pay 'em not onely the Principal Money which is owing to 'em, but the Five years Intereſt; as being both juſt in it ſelf, and conformable to the League ſo lately concluded between us; which on their behalf in moſt friendly manner we requeſt from your Majeſty.

CErtain Merchants of London, Richard Baker and others, have made their complaint in a Petition to us, That a certain hir'd Ship of theirs, call'd the Endeavour, William Jop Maſter, Laden at Tenariff with Three hundre'd Pipes of rich Canary, and bound from thence for London, in her Voyage between Palma and that Iſland, upon the 21ſt. of November in the year 1655. was taken by Four-French Veſſels, ſeeming Ships of Burthen, but fitted and mann'd like Privateers, under the Command of Giles de la Roche their Admiral, and carri'd with all her Freight, and the greateſt part of the Seamen to the Eaſt-Indies, whither he pretended to be bound (Fourteen excepted, who were put aſhore upon the Coaſt of Guiney) which the ſaid Giles affirm'd he did with that Intent, that none of 'em might eſcape from ſo Remote and Barbarous a Countrey to do him any harm by their Teſtimony. For he confeſs'd he had neither any Commiſſion to take the Engliſh Veſſels, neither had he taken any, as he might have done before, well knowing there was a firm Peace at that time between the French and our Republick: But in regard he had deſign'd to revittle in Portugal, from whence he was driven by contrary Winds, he was conſtrain'd to ſupply his neceſſities with what he found in that Veſſel; and believ'd the Owners of his Ships would ſatisfie the Merchants for their Loſs. Now the Loſs of our Merchants amounts to Sixteen Thouſand Engliſh Pounds, as will eaſily be made appear by Witneſſes upon Oath. But if it ſhall be Lawful upon ſuch trivial Excuſes as theſe, for Pyrates to violate the moſt Religious Acts of Princes, and make a ſport of Merchants for their particular benefits, certainly the ſanctity of Leagnes muſt fall to the ground, all Faith and Authority of Princes will grow out of date and be trampl'd under foot. Wherefore we not onely requeſt your Majeſty, but believe it mainly to concern your Honour, that they who have adventur'd upon ſo ſlight a pretence to violate the League and moſt Sacred Oath of their Sovereign, ſhould ſuffer the Puniſhment due to ſo much Perfidiouſneſs and daring Inſolence; and that in the mean time the Owners of thoſe Ships, though to their Loſs, ſhould be bound to ſatisfie our Merchants for the vaſt Detriment which they have ſo wrongfully ſuſtain'd. So may the Almighty long preſerve your Majeſty, and ſupport the Intereſt of France againſt the Common Enemy of us Both. From our Palace at Weſtminſter, Auguſt—1656.

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.

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 onely 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WE have bin abundantly ſatiſfi'd of your Affection to us, as well at other times, as when you kindly entertain'd our Embaſſador in his Journey to the Duke of Muſcovy, for ſome days together making a ſtop in your Territories: Now we are no leſs confident that your Highneſs will give us no leſs obliging Teſtimonies of your Juſtice and Equity, as well out of your own Good nature, as at our requeſt. For we are given to underſtand, That one John Johnſon, a Scotchman, and Maſter of a certain Ship of yours, having faithfully diſcharg'd his Duty for 7 years together in the Service of your Highneſs, as to your Highneſs is well known, at length deliver'd the ſaid Ship, call'd the Whale, in the Mouth of the River, according as the Cuſtome is, to one of your Pilots, by him to be carried ſafe into Harbour. But it ſo fell out, that the Pilot being ignorant of his Duty, though frequently Warned and Admoniſh'd by the ſaid Johnſon, as he has prov'd by ſeveral Witneſſes, the ſaid Ship ran aground and ſplit to pieces, not through any fault of the Maſter, but through the want of Skill, or Obſtinacy of the Pilot. Which being ſo, we make it our earneſt requeſt to your Highneſs, That neither the ſaid Shipwrack may be imputed to the foremention'd Johnſon, the Maſter, nor that he may upon that account be depriv'd of the Wages due to him; by the onely enjoyment of which, he having lately ſuffer'd another misfortune at Sea, he hopes however to ſupport and comfort himſelf in the extremity of his Wants. From our Court at Weſtm. March—1657.

THE moſt Honourable William Jepſon, Collonel of Horſe, and a Senator in our Parlament, who will have the Honour to deliver theſe Letters to your Majeſty, will make known to your Majeſty, with what diſturbance and grief of Mind we receiv'd the News of the fatal War broke out between your Majeſty and the King of Danemark, and how much it is our cordial and real endeavour, not to neglect any labour or duty of ours, as far as God enables us, that ſome ſpeedy remedy may be appli'd to this growing Miſchief, and thoſe Calamites averted, which of neceſſity this War will bring upon the Common Cauſe of Religion; more eſpecially at this time, now that our Adverſaries unite their Forces and pernicious Counſels againſt the Profeſſion and Profeſſors of the Orthodox Faith. Theſe and ſome other Conſiderations of great importance to the Benefit and Publick Intereſts of both Nations, have induc'd us to ſend this Gentleman to your Majeſty under the Character of our Extraordinary Envoy. Whom we therefore deſire your Majeſty kindly to receive, and to give Credit to him in all things which he ſhall have to impart to your Majeſty in our Name; as being a Perſon in whoſe Fidelity and Prudence we very much confide. We alſo farther requeſt, That your Majeſty will be pleas'd fully to aſſure your ſelf of our Goodwill and moſt undoubted Zeal, as well toward your Majeſty, as for the Proſperity of your Affairs. Of which we ſhall be readily prepar'd with all imaginable willingneſs of mind to give unqueſtionable Teſtimonies upon all occaſions. From our Court at Weſtminſter, Auguſt—1657.

HOW great our Affection is toward your City, how particular our Good-will, as well upon the account of your Religion, as for the celebrated Splendor of your City, as formerly you have found, ſo when occaſion offers, you ſhall be farther ſenſible. At preſent, in regard the moſt Accompliſh'd Collonel, William Jepſon, a Senator in our Parlament, is to Travel through Bremen with the Character of our Envoy Extraordinary to the King of Sweden, 'tis our Pleaſure that he ſalute your Lordſhips lovingly and friendly in our Name: and that if any accident fall out, wherein your Aſſiſtance and Friendſhip may be ſerviceable to him, that he may have free Admiſſion to deſire it, upon the ſcore of our Alliance. Wherein we are confident you will the leſs be wanting, by how much the more reaſon you will have to be aſſur'd of our ſingular Love and Kindneſs for your Lordſhips. From our Court at White-Hall, Auguſt —1657.

THE Company of our Merchants, Trading to the Eaſtern Coaſts of the Mediterranean Sea, by their Petition to us have ſet forth, That William Ellis, Maſter of a Ship call'd the Little Lewis, being at Alexandria in Egypt, was hir'd by the Baſha of Memphis, to carry Rice, Sugar, and Coffee, either to Conſtantinople or Smyrna, for the uſe of the Grand Seignior; but that contrary to his Faith and Promiſe given, he bore away privately from the Ottoman Fleet, and brought his Ship and Lading to Leghorn; where now he lives in Poſſeſſion of his Prey. Which Villanous Act, being of dangerous Example, as expoſing the Chriſtian Name to ſcandal, and the Fortunes of our Merchants living under the Turks to Violence and Ranſack; we therefore make it our requeſt to your Highneſs, That you will give Command that the ſaid Maſter be Apprehended and Impriſon'd, and that the Veſſel and Goods may remain under ſeizure, till we ſhall have given notice of our care, for the reſtitution of thoſe Goods to the Sultan: Aſſuring your Highneſs of our readineſs to make ſuitable returns of gratitude whenever opportunity preſents it ſelf. From our Court at Weſtm. Septemb.—1657.

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.

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 onely 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.

YOUR Majeſty may call to mind, that at the ſame time, when the renewing the League between us was in agitation, and no leſs auſpiciouſly concluded, as the many Advantages from thence accrewing to both Nations, and the many Annoyances thence attending the Common Enemy, ſufficiently teſtify, thoſe dreadful Butcheries befel the Piedmontois, and that we recommended with great fervency of mind and compaſſion, their Cauſe on all ſides forſaken and afflicted, to your Commiſeration and Protection. Nor do we believe, that your Majeſty, of your ſelf, was wanting in a Duty ſo pious, that we may not ſay, beſeeming Common humanity, as far as your Authority, and the Veneration due to your Perſon, could prevail with the Duke of Savoy. Certain we are, that neither our ſelves, nor many other Princes and Cities were wanting in our Performances, by the Interpoſition of Embaſſies, Letters, aud Intreaties. After a moſt bloody Butchery of both Sexes, and all Ages, at length Peace was granted, or rather a certain Clandeſtine Hoſtility cover'd over with the name of Peace. The Conditions of Peace were agreed in your Town of Pignerol; ſevere and hard; but ſuch, as thoſe miſerable and indigent Creatures, after they had ſuffer'd all that could be endur'd that was oppreſſive and barbarous, would have been glad of, had they been but obſerv'd, as hard and unjuſt as they were. But by falſe Conſtructions, and various Evaſions, the Aſſurances of all theſe Articles are eluded and violated: Many are thruſt out from their ancient Abodes; many are forbid the Exerciſe of their Religion; new Tributes are exacted; a new Citadel is impos'd upon them; from whence the Soldiers frequently making Excurſions, either plunder or murther all they meet. Add to all this, That new Levies are privately preparing againſt 'em; and all that embrace the Proteſtant Religion are commanded to depart by a prefix'd day; ſo that all things ſeem to threaten the utter extermination of thoſe deplorable Wretches, whom the former Maſſaker ſpar'd. Which I moſt earneſtly beſeech and conjure ye, Moſt Chriſtian King, by that RIGHT HAND, which ſign'd the League and Friendſhip between us, by that ſame goodly Ornament of your Title of MOST CHRISTIAN, by no means to ſuffer; nor to permit ſuch liberty of Rage and Fury uncontroul'd, we will not ſay, in any Prince, (for certainly ſuch barbarous Severity could never enter the breaſt of any Prince, much leſs ſo tender in years, nor into the female thoughts of his Mother) but in thoſe ſanctifi'd Cut-throats, who profeſſing themſelves to be the Servants and Diſciples of our Saviour Chriſt, who came into this World to ſave Sinners, abuſe his meek and peaceful Name and Precepts to the moſt cruel ſlaughter of the Innocent. Reſcue you that are able, in your towring Station worthy to be able, reſcue ſo many Suppliants proſtrate at your feet, from the hands of Ruffians, who lately drunk with Blood, again thirſt after it, and think it their ſafeſt way to throw the Odium of their Cruelty upon Princes. But as for you, great Prince, ſuffer not, while you reign, your Titles, nor the Confines of your Kingdom, to be contaminated with this ſame Heaven-offending Scandal, nor the peaceful Goſpel of Chriſt to be defil'd with ſuch abominable Cruelty. Remember that they ſubmitted themſelves to your Grandfather Henry, moſt friendly to the Proteſtants, when the Victorious Leſdiguieres purſu'd the retreating Savoyard o're the Alpes. There is alſo an Inſtrument of that Submiſſion regiſter'd among the Publick Acts of your Kingdom, wherein it is excepted and provided among other things, That from that time forward the Piemontois ſhould not be deliver'd over into the Power of any Ruler, but upon the ſame Conditions upon which your Invincible Grandfather receiv'd them into his Protection. This Protection of your Grandfather, theſe Suppliants now implore from you as Grandchild. 'Tis your Majeſty's part, to whom thoſe People now belong, to give 'em that protection which they have choſen, by ſome exchange of Habitation, if they deſire it, and it may be done: Or if that be a Labour too difficult, at leaſt to ſuccour 'em with your Patronage, your Commiſeration, and your admittance into Sanctuary. And there are ſome Reaſons of State to encourage your Majeſty not to refuſe the Piemontois a ſafe Aſylum in your Kingdom: But I am unwilling that you, ſo great King, ſhould be induc'd to the defence and ſuccour of the miſerable by any other Arguments then thoſe of your Anceſtor's pledg'd Faith, your own Piety, Royal Benignity and Magnanimity. Thus the Immaculate and intire Glory of a moſt Egregious Act will be your own, and you will find the Father of Mercy, and his Son, King Chriſt, whoſe Name and Doctrine you have vindicated from nefarious Inhumanity, ſo much the more favourable and propitious to your Majeſty, all your days. The God of Mercy and Power infuſe into your Majeſty's Heart a Reſolution to defend and ſave ſo many Innocent Chriſtians, and maintain your own Honour.

HAving ſent the moſt Illuſtrious Thomas Bellaſis, Viſcount Falconbridge, our Son-in-Law, to Congratulate the King, upon his arrival in the Camp at Dunkirk, I gave him Order to attend and wiſh your Eminency long Life and Health in our Name, and to return Thanks to your Eminency, by whoſe Fidelity, Prudence and Vigilancy, it chiefly comes to paſs, that the Affairs of France are carri'd on with ſuch Succeſs in ſeveral parts, but more eſpecially in near-adjoining Flanders, againſt our common Enemy the Spaniard; from whom we hope that open and Armed Courage now will ſoon exact a rigorous account of all his Frauds and Treacheries. Which that it may be ſpeedily done, we ſhall not be wanting, either with our Forces, as far as in us lies, or with our Prayers to Heaven. From our Court at White-Hall, May—1658.

CHarles Harbord, Knight, has ſet forth in his Petition to Us, that having ſent certain Goods and Houſhold-Stuff out of Holland to Bruges under your Juriſdiction, he is in great danger of having them arreſted out of his hands by Force and Violence. For that thoſe Goods, were ſent him out of England in the Year 1643. by the Earl of Suffolk, for whom he ſtood bound in a Great Sum of Money, to the end he might have wherewithal to ſatisfy himſelf, ſhould he be compell'd to pay the Debt. Which Goods are now in the Poſſeſſion of Richard Greenville, Knight, who broke open the doors of the place where they were in Cuſtody, and made a Violent ſeizure of the ſame, under pretence of we know not what due to him from Theophilus Earl of Suffolk, by Vertue of a certain Decree of our Court of Chancery, to which thoſe Goods, as being the Earls, were juſtly liable; whereas by our Laws, neither the Earl now living, whoſe Goods they are, is bound by that Decree, neither ought the Goods to be ſeiz'd or detain'd; which the Sentence of that Court, now ſent to your Serenity, together with theſe Letters, poſitively declares and proves. Which Letters the ſaid Charles Harbord has deſir'd of us, to the end we would make it our Requeſt to your Highneſs, that the ſaid Goods may be forthwith diſcharg'd from the violent ſeizure, and no leſs unjuſt action of the ſaid Richard Greenville, in regard it is apparently againſt the Cuſtom and Law of Nations, that any Perſon ſhould be allow'd the liberties to ſue in a Foreign Juriſdiction upon a plaint wherein he can have no relief in the Country where the Cauſe of Action firſt aroſe. Therefore the Reaſon of Juſtice it ſelf, and your far Celebrated Enquanimity encourag'd us to recommend this Cauſe to your Highneſs. Aſſuring your Highneſs, that whenever any diſpute ſhall happen in our Courts concerning the Rights and Properties of your People, you ſhall ever find us ready and quick in our Returns of Favour. Weſtminſter—