(_Concluded from_ Vol. ix., p. 419.)
No. XI.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and
Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most illustrious and most high Prince, the Lord Nicholas Cotoner,
Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and
friend--Greeting:
It having appeared to us a matter of interest, not only to ourselves, but
likewise to the whole Christian world, that we also should keep in the
Mediterranean sea a certain number of galleys ready to afford prompt aid to
our neighbours and allies against the frequent insults of the barbarians
and Turks, we lately caused to be constructed two galleys, one in Genoa,
and the other in the port of Leghorn; in order to man these, we directed a
person well acquainted with such affairs to be sent, as to other parts, so
also to the island of Malta, subject to the rule of your highness, in order
to _buy slaves and procure other necessaries_. He having purchased some
slaves, it has been reported to us that your highness' collector of customs
demanded five pieces of gold of Malta money per head before they could be
permitted to embark, under the title of toll; at which proceeding we were
certainly not a little astonished, it appearing to us a new proceeding, and
one contrary to custom, especially it being well known to us that our
neighbours and allies, the Kings of France and Spain, are never accustomed
to pay anything under the title of toll {443} for the slaves which they
cause yearly to be transported from your island.
We therefore beg your highness, by the good and long friendship existing
between us, to grant to us the same privilege in _regard to this kind of
commerce_ within the territories of your highness, as is enjoyed by both
our said neighbours and allies, which although it ought to be conceded to
us simply on account of our mutual friendship and our affection towards
your highness and the illustrious Order of Malta, still we shall receive so
gratefully, that if at any time we can do anything to please your highness,
we shall be always ready to do it, with all attention, and most willingly.
In the meantime we heartily recommend your highness and all the members of
the illustrious Order of Malta, as well as all your affairs, to the Divine
keeping.
Given from our palace of Westminster on the 12th day of February, in the
year of our Lord 1673, and of our reign the 25th.
Your Highness' good Cousin and Friend,
CHARLES REX.
No. XII.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and
Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent Prince, the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the
Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend--Greeting:
Most eminent Prince, our well-beloved cousin and friend.
The military order over which your eminence most worthily presides, having
always used its power to render the navigation of the sea safe and
peaceable for Christians, we in no way doubt that our ships of war, armed
for the same purpose, will receive from your eminence every office of
friendship. We therefore are desirous of signifying to your eminence by
these our letters that we have sent a squadron of our royal fleet to the
Mediterranean sea under the command of Sir John Narbrough, knight, to look
after the safety of navigation and commerce, and to oppose the enemies of
public tranquillity. We therefore amicably beseech your eminence that if
ever the above-named Admiral Narbrough, or any of our ships cruising under
his flag, should arrive at any of your eminence's ports or stations, or in
any place subject to the Order of Malta, that they may be considered and
treated as friends and allies, and that they may be permitted to purchase
with their money, and at just prices, and to export provisions and
munitions of war, and whatever they may require, which, on similar
occasions, we will abundantly reciprocate to your eminence and to your most
noble Order.
In the mean time we heartily recommend your eminence to the safeguard of
the Most High and Most Good God.
Given from our palace of Whitehall the last day of November, 1674.
Your Highness' Cousin and Friend,
CHARLES REX.
No. XIII.
Charles the Second by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and
Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the
Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend.
Most eminent Prince, our cousin and well-beloved friend--Greeting:
Although we in no way doubt of the sincere readiness of your eminence and
of your holy Order of Malta to do everything which might be known to be
expedient for our interests, still we could not read your eminence's
letters under date of 24th March last, in which such readiness is fully set
forth, without the greatest pleasure. Our affection is sharpened and
excited by the mention of the good will of our predecessors, the Kings of
Great Britain, evinced in every age towards your most illustrious Order,
which, as your eminence in your said letters so honourably commemorates, so
will we studiously endeavour to imitate, and even to surpass. From our
admiral, Sir John Narbrough, knight, and also from other parties, we have
heard with how much benignity your eminence lately received him, and caused
him and the other officers of our fleet to be supplied with what was
requisite for our ships of war, which we consider not less worthy of the
piety and valour of your Order than of our friendship; and we on our part,
on opportunity presenting itself, will be careful to abundantly reciprocate
by every kind of good offices.
It remains to recommend your eminence and the whole of your holy Order
militant to the safeguard of the God of Hosts.
Given from our palace of Whitehall the 19th day of May, 1675.
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend,
CHARLES REX.
No. XIV.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and
Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the
Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend--Greeting:
Most eminent Prince, our well-beloved cousin and friend.
We know not how it came to pass that our admiral in the Mediterranean sea,
Sir John Narbrough, knight, should have given such cause of complaint as
mentioned in your eminence's letters addressed to us under date of the 5th
of April, as to have refused to give the usual salute to the city {444} of
Malta, unless, perhaps, he had thought something had been omitted on the
part of the Maltese which he considered due to our dignity, and to the flag
of our royal fleet. Be it, however, as it may, your eminence may be
persuaded that it is our fixed and established intention to do and perform
everything both ourselves and by our officers amply to show how much we
esteem the sacred person of your eminence and the Order of Malta.
In order, therefore, that it should already appear that we do not wish
greater honour to be paid to any prince than to your eminence and to your
celebrate Order, we have directed our above-mentioned admiral to accord all
the same signs of friendship and good will towards your eminence's ports
and citadels as towards those of the most Christian and catholic kings; and
we no way doubt your Order will equally show that benevolence towards us
which it is customary to show to the above-mentioned kings, or to either of
them.
It only remains to us to heartily recommend your eminence and all your
military Order to the safeguard of the Most High and Most Good God.
Given from our palace of Whitehall on the 21st day of June, 1675.
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend,
CHARLES REX.
No. XV.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and
Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the
Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend--Greeting:
Most eminent Prince, our well-beloved cousin and friend.
Not only by the letters of Sir John Narbrough, knight, whom we appointed in
right and power to be the admiral of our fleet in the Mediterranean sea,
but also from other sources, we have heard how benignantly your eminence,
both by command and example, and all the sacred Order of Malta, have
treated him and the other commanders of our ships, so much so that they
could not have been better at home, and in our dockyards, than in your port
of Malta. This is, indeed, a sign of great friendship, and the more so that
our kingdoms and seas are so far distant from the usual navigation of the
sacred Order of Malta, that few occasions could be expected to offer
themselves to us of reciprocating the friendship of your eminence. Some
other mode, therefore, must be sought by which we may testify our gratitude
and affection towards your eminence and the other members of your most
sacred Order, to do which we shall willingly embrace and studiously search
after every opportunity which may offer.
In the mean time we heartily recommend your eminence and all your military
Order to the safeguard of the Most High and Most Good God.
Given from our palace of Whitehall the 26th day of January, 1675-6.
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend,
CHARLES REX.
No. XVI.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Greet Britain, France, and
Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the
Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend.
Most eminent Prince, our most dear cousin and friend.
Our well-beloved and faithful Sir John Narbrough, knight, latterly admiral
of our fleet in the Mediterranean sea, conveyed to us your eminence's
letters written under date of the 7th of April last, which being most full
indeed of affection and gratitude on your part, we received and perused
with equal feelings and satisfaction. The acknowledgments of benefits
conferred by us, which your eminence so frequently expresses, causes us
also to return similar thanks to your eminence and to the whole of your
sacred Order, for all those offices of humanity and courtesy with which you
assisted our above-mentioned admiral and other our ships stationed in that
sea, of which we shall always preserve the memory indelibly engraved in our
hearts. It is equally a source of pleasure to us that our arms have been of
help to your eminence and to your Order; and if the expedition had been of
no other benefit, we consider it ample compensation in having restored to
their homes so many persons celebrated through the whole Christian and
Infidel world who were recovered from the power and chains of the
barbarians.
May your eminence continue to desire that we should freely divide the glory
of rendering peaceful the Mediterranean sea with the illustrious Order of
Malta!
May the Most Good and Great God sustain and preserve your eminence with all
your religious Order!
Given from our palace of Whitehall the 28th day of October, 1676.
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend,
CHARLES REX.
No. XVII.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and
Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the
Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend--Greeting:
Most eminent Prince, our well-beloved cousin and friend.
The thanks which your eminence, by your {445} letters written under date of
the 15th of August last, returns to us on account of the fifty knights of
your Order liberated by our assistance from the slavery of the barbarians,
could hardly be more acceptable to us than the prayers adjoined in the
above-mentioned letters for the liberation from the slavery of the
Algerines of another member of your holy Order, the German, John Robert A.
Stael. We in consequence, in order that we my not appear to be wanting
either in the will or in affection towards your eminence, have communicated
our orders to our well-beloved and faithful subject, Sir John Narbrough,
knight, commanding our fleet in those seas, that if the city of Algiers
should be constrained to agree to a treaty of just peace and submission by
the force of our arms, assisted by Divine help, he should use every effort
in his power, so that the liberty of the said John Robert A. Stael be
obtained.
Your eminence is already well aware of the fidelity and zeal of our
above-mentioned admiral, and we have no doubt that he will willingly and
strenuously observe our orders on that head.
It remains for us to heartily recommend your eminence and the whole of your
military Order to the safeguard of the Most High and Most Good God.
Given from our palace of Whitehall the 2nd day of November, in the year of
our Lord 1678.
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend,
CHARLES REX.