said Ship being in her way thither taken upon the very East India Coast by a certain Ship belonging to the 〈◊〉 East India Company the Ensurer's denyed to fulfill their Contract in paying the ensured Summe and have so far prevailed as to be capable by various delays to elude our People now after the expensive consumption of Six yeares in prosecution of their Right Which in regard they looke upon as an usage of great oppression and injustice and that some obliged for the Payment of the Money agreed for are either already dead or become insolvent We earnestly pray that you would to prevent â—…urther expences in addition to the said Losses be pleased to suffer your equity to be a safe Port and refuge to them after so many Yeares stormy useage and almost Shipwrack in your Court of â—…udicature and that Sentence be with all speed awarded concerning their cause in whose â—…ustice they seeme very confident Wishing in the meane time that happineâ—…s and prosperity may attend all you undertake to the Glory of God the safety of his Church Your High and Mighty Lordships most affectionally OLIVER Protector c. OLIVER Protector of the Commonwealth of England To the High and Mighty Lords the States of Holland S D. THomas and William Lower lawfull Heires of Nicholas Lower lately deceased on whose account you have had some former trouble giveu you about the â—…des of September last I thinke do bawl now a fresh again alleadging that they still labour under the oppression of their Adversaries whoâ—…e power or other private Intrest has notwitstanding the integrity of their claimes and when that coud not doe our Letters sent in favour of their cause â—…o far prevailed as to hinder them from entering upon the benefit of their Father's will That being rejected by the Court of Holland where the action first began and thrown upon yours pack'd thence to Zee-land and thence hurryed back again to your high Court of Judicatorie to their content accompanyed to each place with our Letters For where the hight and power is there they depend upon the dispensation of Justice proportionably If that fails they are at a losse to know where to cast anchor for reliefe after the pains they undertoke in pursuit of Justice For if they find that this our fourth recomendation of their cause can do no good it will be to little purpose for 'em to extend their hopes any further Wee shall reckon it as a true instance of kindnesse if after so many rejections you let them see that your apprehension of our Authority cou'd contribute somewhat to their Reliefe in bringing their claime to a speedy determination as well altogether as have them believe it to be the intire effect of your own Justice and equity As we can no way dispond of your allowance of the former of which so we are confident that the consideration of our Friendship will incline you to the later Your's c. OLIVER Protector OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England To the most Serene Prince John King of Portugal Most Serene Prince WHereas several Merchants belonging the Brazil Company in Portugal did in the Yeares 1649. and 1650. becom indebted unto sundry English Merchants in a considerable Sume of Money upon the account of freight and Moorage that the said Society respit the Payment thereof pursuant to an order of your Majesties to that purpose notwithstanding that they did truly depend upon the Payment thereof conformable to the Tearmes and conditions of the league lately ratified But fear they may be frustrated in their hope and other meanes of recovering their Right as being informed of your Majesty hayeing seized and sent to the Exchequer their said debt and assigned the repayment thereof upon the moity of your Customes so that the Merchants are like to have no more then the bare Interest of their Money the principal lying in the mean while wholly dead Haveing taken the hardship of which under our strict consideration the conviction of their just importunities prevailed upon our giveing your Majesty this trouble on their behalfe requireing that instant satisfaction be by the Brazil Company made the Merchants of his Republick in reference as well to each ma ns demand respectively as five Yeares Intrest This as it is a thing in it selfe consistent with lustice and conformable with the league lately contracted with you let me on their behalfe desire in an amicable manner that it be complyed with without further delay From our pallace at Westminster July 1656. Your Maâ—…esties most affectionally OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER P. of the Republick of England To the most Sereâ—…e Prince Charles Gustavus by the Grace of God King of Sweedland Gothes and Vandalls Great Prince of Finland c. Most Serene King AS the alliance of so great a Prince and so famous for his actions as Your Majesty is hath â—… just Title to the height of our esteeme so that person thrô whose means we have been so strictly allyed I mean that most â—…llustrious Gentleman Christernus Bondur your Embassadour Extraordinary must have been upon that very consideration necessarily gratful and welcome unto us Whom therefore having laudably discharged this Embassy we cou'd not dismisse hence without accompanying him with a Testimony of our being highly satisfied in the rest of â—…is singular vertues as being one who seemes to entertâ—…ine a belâ—…efe that this our recommendation of him may add ' considerably to that value and esteeme which he is already in possession of with Your Majesty in reference 〈◊〉 particularly to the diligence and prudence he exerted in this affair What remaines to be further transacted we have resolved to send Your Majesty an Embassadour soone about Whose health God in the mean time preserve for the defence of his Church and that of the Kingdome of Sweedland From our Court at Westminster July An. Dom. 1656. Your Majestie 's most affectionally OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Repbul of England c To the most Serene Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene Prince Friend and dearest Consederate WE have had a petition in the names of Richard Baker and severall other Merchants of London and his Associates wherein they humbly complaine that an English built Ship called the Endeavour William Jopp Master and hired into their service was about the 21. of Novemder 1655. set upon in her way between a place called the Palm and the Island of Tenerif where shee put out for London from seized by four French Vessels who in appearance looking like Merchant-men but arm'd like Men of War and under the chiefe comand of one Egedius de la Rocke carried her with her whole freight consisting in Medera wines to the East Indy's whether they said they were bound together with most oâ—… the Mariners saveing fourteen which they landed upon the shore of Guiny Which the said Egidius declared the intenâ—… of to be to prevent
study the Peace of both Nations appointed to inquire into this affront whereby the whole may receive a thro inspection and the Authors of the villany and those that employed'em punisht with the great or severity the better For without which it will 〈◊〉 raine your Majesty laws of â—…njustice nor will the reputation of this Republick be vindicated nor can any true friendshipp subsist between both Nations without its correction We wish Your Majesty all felicity and good luck remaining Erom our Court at Westminster August 1656. Your Maiesties most affectionately OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most â—…llustrious Lord Connt Mariano S. D. Most illustrious Sir THE indication of Your singular Love both to me and this Republick contained in Your Letter of the 25. of June last to me as also the import of others sent me from Phillip Meaddow whom I sent to the King of Portugal to treat with him about the conclusion of a Peace wherein he gives us a full account of your extraordinary Parts and endeavour in the Transaction thereof has obliged us very much by what I 〈◊〉 from the Import of the said Letters This last consirmation I have received with very much content and am so farr satisfied in the Issue of things as that you shall never have cause to repent of whatever you have 〈◊〉 contributed 〈◊〉 the promotion of this Peace 〈◊〉 your sincerity to the English nor of your faithfulness exerted in this point to His Majesty It 〈◊〉 thro Gods assistance to be hoped that this Peace may be very advantagious to both Nations as well as of contrary effects to the Enemy All the misfortune and ill luck that attended thiâ—… affair consists in that wicked attempt basely projected against our Envoy Philips Meaddow Against whose unknowne Authors there ought to be no lesse care taken then in Instances of manifest Roguery Nor 〈◊〉 I doubt of Your Kings Justice and severity in punishing soo deepe a piece of villany nor of your 〈◊〉 promotion thereof in particular as one whose practice is Justice and Piety and make it your businesse to continue both Nations in amity and peace Which can no way subsist if such wicked attempts shall be suffer'd to escape unpunishd and unvindicated But your knowâ—… detestation of that villany renders it unnecessary for me to enlarge any further upon it for the present As I have therefore assured you how ready I shall at all times be to demonstrate my sincerity towards you That that remains is to let you know of my haveing recommended very fervently both you and all yours to the favour and protection of the Almighty From our Court at Westminster August 1656. Yours c. OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene Prince Charles Gustavus King of Sweedland Gothes and Vandals c. Most Serene King Friend and dearest Confederated WHen I consider that Your Majesty and I concur both in disposition and resolution in reference to the defence of the Protestant Religion against it s now if never before malignant Enewys Thence it comes to passe that as your prosperous Successes Tideings of your dayly almost Victories adds to our satisfaction so I am very much troubled at that one thing which disquiets and destroys this our united content and that is to hear among other news that your former understanding with the States of Holland doth not stand as well as it did and that things 〈◊〉 carry'd to that State 〈◊〉 you 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Zea especially as to draw seemingly towards a Rupture The causes I know not I must confesse I visibly see that without it please God divert it it will very much devolve the Protestant Intrest Wherefore we thought it becomeing that neerest relation wherein we are united to you both and pursuant to that love and affection to the Reformed Religion which ought to be a principall inducement to us all to repeat unto Your Majesty now those perswaâ—…ions which we highly pres'st upon the States of Holland to listâ—…n unto of Peace and Quietnesse Every Corner swells with Envy against the Protestants they seeme to have conspired our destruction as being never pregnant with more malice Witnesse Piedmont loaded but yesterday as it were with the blood and Massacre of those miserable wretches Germany quashed by the late Edicts and proscriptions of the Emperour witnes Switzâ—…rland What need there many words to overhall the memory and griefe of so many fresh calamity's Who knowes not but that those Massacres Distractions and Vexations to which the Protestants were for three Yeares together exposed were the effects of Spanish Couucils and those of Roman Pontificates If to so many mischiefs a civill dissention among Protestant Brethren be added among you more especially in whose Power Riches and constancy the greatest safety left to the Reform'd Churches is as farr as human help is to be depended upon lodged It vvill unavoidably hasard the Reform'd Religion it selfe plunge it into the depth of danger Whereas on the other side if the Protestants universally joine in that brotherly unity vvhich becomes them to doe vve neede fear nothing that the arts or povver of our Enemy's can doe to hurt us vvhom our Concord alone vvill baffle and disappoint I therefore in an extraordinary manner pray and beseech Your Majesty that you vvould be pleased to apply a vvilling and vvell disposed mind to the confirming the former understanding vvith the States of Holland if in any point the same bâ—… slacken or abated If in any thing my endeavour faith diligence can be thought of use towards an accommodation I do promised and tender you the same God in the mean time bless and prosper the success of vvhat I vvish vvhich is that Your Majesties affaires may prosper and run in an interrupted stream of felicity From our Court at Westminster August 1656. Your Majesties most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the States of Holland High and mighty Lords dearest Frirnds WIlliam Cooper a Londoneâ—… and our Subject made his complaint that John la Mair an Amsterdamer his father in Law did about thirty yeares agoe invent a meanes of raiseing the Revenue of your Republick â—…arr higher then it was and that without any extraordinary burthen to the people and made a Covenant with one John van den Brooke importing that upon some consideration between 'em he should receive the moity of such 〈◊〉 as should redound from the said Invention which was the 〈◊〉 of the small seal in the Provinees In consideration of which your mighty Highnesse were pleased to settle the yearly allowance of three thousand Guilders which amounts to three hundred pounds in English money to be paid annually to the said van den 〈◊〉 and posterity But now albeit the said Invention of the small seal has
so the Parliament is on it's part well disposed to the takeing care that as often as there is occasion for it no offices of sincere Friendship or love towards Your Excellency shall need to be complain'd of Comendig You in the mean time fervently to the Tuition of Divine Providence Dated at Westminster November 1652. Subscribed bâ—… the Speaker of the House of Comons whose seale he caused to be affixed thereto The Representatives of the Republick of England To the Most Serene and Porent Prince the King of Denmarke Most Serene and Poâ—…ent King THE Comander in chiefe of the Fleet laâ—…ely â—…ent hence to give Convoy homewards to such of our Merchant-men as attended to that purpose at the Port of Hasnia haveing advised our Parliament that upon his arrivall thore he found an Embergo laid upon the departure of the said Merâ—…hant men pursuant to an order of Your Majesties comanding that none of them shoud be suffered to budge notwithstanding his haveing produced your Majesties letters signifiing your pleasure to the contrary and demanding the reason of such detention To prevent therefore any ill consequences that may arise therefrom to either of the Nations so palpably concerned and which may be pursued by a worse the Parliament has directed Richard Bradshaw Esq. a worthy Gentleman of knowne fidelity and their Orator now at Hamburgh to wait upon Your Majesty under the same Character with expresse commands directing him to discourse and treat concerning that affair Praying that Your Majesty would therefore please curteously to listen unto allow him full credit in what ever he shall propose unto Your Majesty in our Name râ—…lating to this affair Whom we in the mean time heartily recomend to the care and protection of God Dated at Westminster November 1652. Signed and sealed by the Speaker in pursuance of the Parliaments direction The Representatives of the Commonwealth of England to the most Serene Duke of Venice greeting LAurence Paulet has delivered the Parliament Your Highness Letter dated the first of June 1652. which as it testifys the good disposition of Your Senat as well as Your Highnesses towards this Republick so they on their parts have thought fit to make known by this occasion the respect affection they bearto the most Serene Commonwealth of Venice and shall not grudge their continueing so to do and makeing no difference between their performances and promises as often as they are furnished with occasions that may enable them to act suitably and also cheerfully pursue such meanes as may be employed towards the support and improvement of the Amity and mutual comerce now existent wishing and praying in the meane time that all happiness and prosperity may attend Your Highness and most Sâ—…rene Republick Dated at Westminster December Anno Domini 1652. Signed and sealed by the Speaker pursâ—…ant to the comand and authority of the Parliament The Representatives of the Commonwealth of England to the most Serene Prince Ferdinando the II. Great Duke of Toscany WHereas the Representatives of the Commonwealth of Englaud have in former â—…nstructions to their Sea Comanders strictly charged them upon their touching at any Port within Your Highnesses Empire to behave themselves peaceably modestly and suitable to that observance which Your Civilityes to this Government justly call for from us to whose Kindnesses they cannot but owne themselves much obliged Yet it proved matter of great Surprize to them to find all forgot in the comportment of one of their said Officers named Appleton whose demeanour to the watch at Livorne is said to have been very insolent and that contrary as well to the allegiance wherin be is indebted to this Republick as well as the regard every Prince ought to have shewn him within his owne Territories Which the Parliament had an account of as it happend not onel from Your owne Letters under the 7. and 9. of December last from Florence but more particularly from Master Almericus Salvetus Your Resident â—…ere who is a very worthy Gentleman Your Highnesses honour which seemes to be involved in this matter lies under that veneration with the State as that this matter is wholly and particularly recommended to tâ—…e care of the Council with direction to write fortwith to Captain Appleton for his repaiting home by land to answer the insolency of this unpresidented misbehaviour of his of which the inclosed is a Coppy who upon hiâ—… arrival shall be examined and such punishment awarded him as shall testify that we are no lesse concerned than if it were done in contempt of our owne Government As concerning the Phenix taken at â—…vorne Your Excellency and Resident seem to say and urge that the same was committed contrary to Appletons promise who was obliged to make no attempt upon the Dutch vvithin sight of the Port or its Lantborne that Your Eâ—…cellency relying thereon entred into the like engagement to the Dâ—…ch and that therefore they ought to depend upon satisfaction for the damage susteind from their depending upon Your protection and promise The Parliament assure You that as the same vvas comitted vvithout their Council or aduice so it is a thing very distant from their inclination and mind to expose Your Excellency to any manner of inconveniency or diminution of honour upon the score of that Deed Nay shall endeavour that away be found out of makeing You such satisâ—…ction as shall seem suitable to the demerit of the cause after inquiry first made To be more fully informed wherein they thinke it a very necessary point to have Appleton himselfe examined before them who was obliged by his promise and consequently believed by Your Excellency to have a betted at least in that violation especially considering that he is to returne in so short a time who when ever he is heard by the Parliament and further debate had thereon with Your Oratour shall have such sentence awarded him upon this so considerable a crime as shall consist with equity and the extraordinary affection which they bear Your Excellency and finally not unworthy Your Kindnesses To confirme Your Excellencies beliefe of which they have directed this present messenger to be forthwith dispatched away with these Letters least they shoud be said to Sâ—…ip any opportunity that may be improved into a real Testimony of their sincerety towards You. Dated at Westminster 14. December Anno Domini 1652. By authority and Command of Parliament signed and sealed by the Speaker The Councill of State to the most Serene Prince Frederick Heir of Norway Duke of Slesvice Alsace Haâ—…mar Ditmarse Earle in Oldenburgh and Delmhorst greeting ALtho it has been the Decree of the all knowing God and most mercifull Ruler of the universe to engage us beyond that duty susteined by and transmitted unto us from our Ancestors in a most just quarrell for the resuceing our Liberty's from the oppression of Tyrany and lend us such singnall Marks of his divine help and assistance in preferrence to them as to have enabled us