(_Continued from_ Vol. ix., p. 267.)
Through the great kindness of my old friend at this island, Frederick
Sedley, Esq., and the continued and constant assistance of Dr. Vella, I am
now enabled to forward correct translations of the seven remaining letters
bearing the autograph of Charles II. Mindful of the space which will be
required for their insertion in "N. & Q.," I shall confine myself to a few
preliminary remarks.
The first letter in the following list is the earliest in date, as it is of
the greatest interest. In it we have, for the first time, found a curious
statement recorded by an English monarch, making known that he not only
built his galleys for the protection of trade in this sea in different
ports of the Mediterranean, _and purchased the slaves to man them of the
Order of Malta_, but also complaining to the Grand Master for permitting
the collector of customs to charge an export toll of "five pieces of gold
per head," which he considered an unjust tax on this _kind of commerce_,
and the more especially so, because it was not demanded from his neighbours
and allies, the Kings of France and Spain. That the Knights of St. John
made their prisoners slaves, disposing of some to the wealthy residents or
natives of the island, and employing others in the erection of their
dwellings, palaces, and fortifications, is well known.
Historians have stated that when Dragut landed at Malta, in July, 1551,
with Sinam, his admiral, who was in joint command, they went to the summit
of Mount Sceberras to reconnoitre before an attack should be made on the
convent. When employed on this service, Sinam, who was opposed to any
hostile movement, pointing to the castle, thus remarked, "Surely no eagle
could have chosen a more craggy and difficult place to make his nest in.
Dost thou not see that men must have wings to get up to it, and that all
the artillery and troops of the universe would not be able to take it by
force?" An old Turkish officer of his suite, addressing Dragut, thus
continued,--"See'st thou that bulwark which juts out in the sea, and on
which the Maltese have planted the great standard of their order? I can
assure thee that whilst I was a _prisoner with them, I have helped to carry
the large stones of which it is built_, and am pretty sure that before thou
canst make thyself master of it, thou wilt be overtaken by the winter
season; and probably likewise prevented from succeeding by some powerful
succours from Europe." There can be little doubt that this remark was {418}
feelingly made, and that the aged Turk who uttered it had experienced,
during his residence as a prisoner at Malta, all the horrors of slavery.
That no consideration was given to the comfort of a slave, and little value
set on his life, will be briefly shown by the following anecdote:--On the
13th of April, 1534, an accusation was made against an English knight of
the name of Massimberg, to the effect that he had unwarrantably drawn his
sword and _killed four galley slaves_; and being convicted of the crime on
the 18th of May of the same year, he was asked why judgment should not be
given against him. Massimberg thus replied, "_In killing the four slaves I
did well, but in not having at the same time killed our old and imbecile
Grand Master I did badly._" This plea not being _considered satisfactory_,
he was deprived of his habit; but two days afterwards, that is, on the 20th
May, 1534, he was reinstated in the Order, though for a time not permitted
to enjoy his former dignity of a commander. This knight was also accused of
having stolen a slave from a Maltese; but this accusation he stoutly
denied, giving, in proof of his innocence, that the man _bore on his
shoulder a brand, or mark_, by which he could be easily known as belonging
to him. (Vide Manuscript Records of the Order.)
The next letter in the following list to which I would briefly call
attention is that under date of June 21st, 1675, in which His Majesty
Charles II. refers to a misunderstanding which had taken place between his
admiral, Sir John Narbrough, and the Order of Malta. The nature of this
difficulty is well explained by giving a correct copy of the admiral's
letter to the Grand Master, which I have taken from the original now on
file in the Record Office of this island. It reads as follows:--
To the most eminent Prince, the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of
the Order of Malta.
Most eminent Sir,
After the tender of my humble service, with my hearty thanks for the
manifold favours vouchsafed unto my Master, the King of Great Britain,
&c., and for your highness' extraordinary kindness manifested to
myself--and, most eminent sir, since your favour of _product_, I have
sent on shore one of my captains to wait upon your highness with the
presentment of this my grateful letter, and withal to certify to your
eminence _that I did, and do expect, a salute to be given by your
highness to my Master's flag which I carry_, correspondent to the
salutes which you give to the flags of the King of Spain and the King
of France, which are carried in the same place, _it being the
expectation of the King my Master_.
Formerly your eminence was pleased to make some scruple of my command
as admiral, which I humbly conceive your highness is fully satisfied
in, since you received the last letter from the King of Great Britain.
Sir, I have, since my arrival at your eminence's port, often employed
the Consul Desclaous to wait upon your highness _concerning the
salutes_, but have not received any satisfactory answer thereto, which
I now humbly desire may be returned unto me by my officer; and withal,
that your eminence will be pleased to honour me with your commands
wherein I may serve you, which shall be most cheerfully embraced, and
readily performed by,
Most eminent Sir,
Your highness' most humble
And faithful Servant,
JOHN NARBROUGH.
On board His Majesty's Ship Henrietta,
Malta, October 17, 1675.
That the complaints of Sir John Narbrough, with reference to the Grand
Master's refusal to salute the English flag, were, in the end,
satisfactorily explained and removed, will be seen by the following
extracts taken from the _Diary of Henry Teonge_, published in London in
1825. The reverend writer was serving as chaplain on board H. M. S.
"Assistance" at the time (1675-76) his notes were written.
"_August 1, 1675._--This morn wee com near Malta; before wee com to the
cytty, a boate with the Malteese flagg in it coms to us to know whence
wee cam. Wee told them from England; they asked if wee had a bill of
health for prattick, viz., entertaynment; our captain told them he had
_no bill but what was in his guns' mouths_. Wee cam on and anchored in
the harbour betweene the old towne and the new, about nine of the
clock; but must waite the governour's leasure to have leave to com on
shoare, which was detarded _because our captain would not salute the
cytty, except they would retaliate_. At last cam the Consull with his
attendants to our ship (but would not com on board till our captain had
been on shoare) to tell us that we had leave to com on shoare six, or
eight, or ten, at a time, and might have anything that was there to be
had; _with a promise to accept our salute kindly_. Wherupon our captain
tooke a glasse of sack, and drank a health to King Charles, and fyred
seven gunns: the cytty gave us five againe, which was more than they
had don to all our men of warr that cam thither before."
"_August 2._--This cytty is compassed almost cleane round with the sea,
which makes severall safe harbours for hundreds of shipps. The people
are generally extreamly courteouse, but especially to the English. A
man cannot demonstrate all their excellencys and ingenuitys. Let it
suffice to say thus much of this place: viz. Had a man no other
business to invite him, yet it were sufficiently worth a man's cost and
paines to make a voyage out of England on purpose to see that noble
cytty of Malta, and their works and fortifications about it. Several of
their knights and cavaliers cam on board us, six at one time, men of
sufficient courage and friendly carriage, wishing us {419} good
successe in our voyage, with whom I had much discourse, I being the
only entertainer, because I could speak Latine; for which I was highly
esteemed, and much invited on shoare again."
"_August 3._--This morning a boate of ladys with their musick to our
ship syd, and bottels of wine with them. They went severall times about
our ship, and sang several songs very sweetly; very rich in habitt, and
very courteous in behaviour; but would not com on board, though
invited; but having taken their friscs, returned as they cam. After
them cam, in a boate, four fryars, and cam round about our ship, puld
off their hatts and capps, saluted us with congjes, and departed. After
them cam a boat of musitians, playd severall lessons as they rowed
gently round about us, and went their way."
"_August 4._--This morning our captain was invited to dine with the
Grand Master, which hindered our departure. In the mean time wee have
severall of the Malteese com to visit us, all extreamly courteous. And
now wee are preparing to sail for Tripoly. Deus vortat bene.
"Thus wee, th' 'Assistance,' and the new Sattee,
Doe steare our course poynt blanke for Trypoly;
Our ship new rigged, well stord with pigg, and ghoose a,
Henns, ducks, and turkeys, and wine cald Syracoosa."
The Rev. Mr. Teonge, having returned to Malta on the 11th of January,
1675-6, thus continues:--
"This morning wee see the famous island of Malta; coming under Goza, a
small island adjoyning to Malta, wee discover a sayle creeping closse
to the shoare; we hayle her with a shott--she would not budge; we sent
a second, and then a third, falling very neare her; then the
leiuetenant cam aboard us, and payd for the shott; it proved a
pittifull Frenchman."
"_January 12._--A little after one a clock wee are at anchor in Malta
harbour, _and have many salutes_. But we have no prattick by reason of
the plague, which is begun heare."
"_January 15._--This morning wee warp out of the harbour with six
merchantmen and a doggar, which wee are to convoy towards the strait's
mouth. Here also wee took in two mounths' provisions and fresh water.
And as wee goe out wee meete six gallys of Malta coming in in all their
pompe, and they salute us, and wee them, and part. And heare at Malta
(which was very strainge to mee), at this time of the year, wee have
radishes, cabbiges, and excellent colly flowers, and large ones for a
penny a-piece."
On the 29th January, 1675-6, the reverend writer again returned to Malta,
and made under this date the following note:--
"This day David Thomas and Marlin, the coock, and our master's boy, had
their hands stretched out, and with their backs to the rayles, and the
master's boy with his back to the maine mast, all looking one upon the
other, and in each of their mouths a mandler spike, viz., an iron pinn
clapt closse into their mouths, and tyd behind their heads; and there
they stood a whole houre, till their mouths were very bloody, _an
excellent cure for swearers_."
"_February 4._--This day dined with us Sir Roger Strickland, Captaine
Temple, Captaine Harrice, and one gentleman more. Wee had a gallant
baked pudding, an excellent legg of porke, and colliflowers, an
excellent dish made of piggs' petti-toes, two roasted piggs, one turkey
cock, a rosted hogg's head, three ducks, a dish of Cyprus burds, and
pistachoes and dates together, and store of good wines."
"_February 5._--God blesse those that are at sea! The weather is very
bad."
"_February 11._--Sir John Narbrough cam in from Trypoly, and four more
ships with him. The noble Malteese _salute him with forty-five gunns_;
he answers them with so many that I could not count them. And what with
our salutes, and his answers, there was nothing but fyre and smoake for
almost two hours."
The great length of this communication prevents my taking other extracts
from a "Diary" which contains much interesting information, and is written
in a quaint and humorous style.