not onely to lay the fury of a civill warr but destroy the future growth thereof as also withstand and repell the unexpected assaults of forreign Enemys Yetunder as sincere acknowledgments as we can be of the favour and loue of the most high Diety towards us we are not neverthelesse so far transported with the consideration of our prosperity as pursuant to the singular providence and Justice of God which we have had a plentifull experience of not rather to declare all we can our aversnesse to warr and readinesse to embrace a willing peace with all people then otherwise Therefore as we our selves have not hitherto nor leaded nor promoted in others the violation of such friendship and Tearmes of alliances as have formerly interceded between us and all forreign People and Princes whatever so your Excellency may rest assured on behalfe of your people as well as your owne of all fair dealings from us pursuant to the antient correspondence settled by your Ancestors with the English And as we are ready to returne all due acknowledgments for those affectionate offices already bestowed by your Highnesse upon us soe our worke shall be to render you and yours sensible of the want of none on our part Recomending the while as much as may be your Excellency to the omnipotenty and Diety of Almighty God Dated at Whitehall July Anno Domini 1653. Sign'd and sealed ut supra by the President To the Earle of Oldenburgh Most Illustrious Sir THE Representatives of the Comonwealth of England have received your many Salutes very carefully and curteously comunicated by Harmanus Miles Your Councellour Deputy and Sollicitor who in your name wished that all happinesse might attend England and it's Parliament and sollicited the continuance of the friendship now in being between this Republick and you as also the grant of our letters of safe conduct to the end your people might trade the securer and navigate and exercise comerce together with our comands to be transmitted to our publick Ministers abroad in order to their being aiding with their councills and offices to you and yours Which we have freely assented unto and granted as well what his demand was in referrece to an alliance as the other two under the Parliaments seale Albeit some monthes are slipt since our sirst receipt of your Ministers address unto us Yet that delay canot be properly imputed to any difficulty of ours to assent to your petition nor neglect in your servant of pressing it who to â—…ave his sollicitations answered and he dismissed master of his errand behaved himselfe dilligently and with all pressure imaginable it springing wholly from the great weighty concernes of the Republick whose Transactions have taken up most of this winâ—…er Which we thought fit to acquaint your most serene Honour with that none by inter preting this demurr otherwise then as it is occasioned may take the liberty of saying that what the Parliament of England has freely granted might be said to have been extorted therefrom in whose name this was directed to be signed by HENRY SEOBELE Cl. of the Parliament The Parliament of the Comonwealth of England to the Illustrious and most noble Counsellours and States of the Cantons of Switzerland c. greeting WEE have Illustrious and dearest Friends received yours Letter dated the 24 Decemb. 1652 pregnant with all humanity kindness and great assection towards us and our Government and which ought to sway more with us breathing brotherly and truly Christian Charity And must be more particular in our acknowledgments to the most good and great God for that he has been pleased to raise and secure as a most firme bulwarke to the safety of the protestant Intrest there you and your so many most noble Corporations surrounded and munified not so much by those muontains with which you are impaled as your naturable Courage Piety Prudence and most just administration of publick affaires together with the mutuall reputation of alliances You afterwards who after the removeall of the Tirany of Barbarous Kings from the North have been almost the sirst of all Europe who God favouring your Enterprise purchased your Libertys and mainteind it so purchased untainted with no lesse prudence and moderation thro the difficulty of so many yeares to judge so charitably of us and our lately purchased liberty being such sencere Admirers of the Gospell to be so constant in your opinion of the love and affection we bear to the Orthodox Faith is a thing which we canot but value at aâ—… extraordinar rate And as to the affection with vvâ—…ich you sollicit us to a peace vve novvay question the sincerity thereof but that it proceeds from piâ—…ty and true affection That intepposition ought to influence us very much as vvell for vvhat it leades unto vvhich is in it selfe verâ—… desireable as the Authority vvhich in prefâ—…ence to all others is justly applicable to you vvho among all the Stormes of warr blovving from every Corner have mainâ—…aind so long your peace abroad and at home and vvere examples vvithout exception and Persvvaders of peace to all other people And because you Persvvade that vvhich vve endeavoured more then once not so much oâ—…t of regard to our ovvne as the Intrest of the protestants universally and sollicitted by Embassys and other publick Ministers to effect that is to contract astrict alliance and Friendship vvith the States Generall of the vnited Provinces But they or as vve ought to stile them that Orange Faction our perpetuall enemys addictâ—…d to the Royall party and among their owne club of knowne affection to Tyranny how have they entertained our Embassadours not as people that came to discourse of Peace but brotherly kindnesse and most strict alliance what provocations have they given to a war afterwards may plentifully appear from what we publickly writ concerning it and herewitâ—… transmit nnto you of their haveing while their owne Embassâ—…dours were treating surprised and Saulted our ships with a fleet of theirs and that at a time when ours lay in their stations without as much as imagining such a thing But thro Gods help such has been our care hitherto as that altho matters happened to fall out so well yet we do not take the glory to our selves our strength or Number of hands but give all to God alone Nor are wee troubled with the least extraordinary fit of Transportation upon the score of our prosperity Wee are still the same people very ready to embrace all occasions of makeing a just honourable peace In the mean time Illustrious and most noble Sirs you who under the impulse of Evangelicall love make it your pious and sincere endeavour to reconcile and compose brotherly misunderstandings and who worâ—…hy the esteeme of all mankind entitle your selves doubtless to that Blessing awarded by the divine Sentence of Gods decree to the peace makers and to whose most lofty affection and grace we do most sincerely and heartily recommend you if in any thing our
Corporations a considerable Reliefe advantage in a matter of this consequence as being truly bent upon all opportunity administred by God which we shall not thro the good help of the 〈◊〉 God decline the doing our part in the improvement of We cannot in the mean time without very great griefe observe unto Your Highnesse with what inclemency the Duke of Savoy persecutes such of his Subjects as inhabitingabout the Alps professe the Protestant Religion and whom he has not onely 〈◊〉 as many of as denyed to embrace the Roman Religion to quit their nature Country and abandon all their Possessions but also set upon them with his Forces who exposed many to most cruel murthers dispatched others with barbarous and invented Tortures and drove great Multitudes of 'em into the mountains there to be consumed with hunger and cowld having sett fire to their Houses and goods if these Butchers did chance to leave any unplunderd for want of conveyance And are very apt to believe that Your Highnesse could not decline being much displeased at so great a cruelty when first you heard it which I presume may be some time past and that you did what you could towards the Reliefe assiâ—…tance of those miserable wretches if inhuman Murthers and Miseries have left any surviveing We have writ to the Duke of Savoy to divert his Rage from off his People as also the King of France that he might do so too together with the neighbouring Protestant Princes to let them understand how we resented so inhumane an instance of cruelty Which albeit it was begun upon these needy wretches yet its designe seemes to extend to all that are of the same Judgment in Religion And so heightens the necessity conveyed unto them so much the morâ—… of taking care of hemselves and consulting the welfare of all their Friends Which pursuant to that light which God has inspired us with shall always be the very levell of our pursuit A thing Your Highness may depend upon the sincerity of as that of our love and affection wherewith we heartily wish you a properous issue in all things Praying that all Your Enterprises and Approaches towards the asserting the Liberty of the Gospel and its adherents may determine happily Whitehall May 1655. OLIVER Protector c. To the most Serene Prince Charles Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweedland Greeting YOur Majesty has ere this and to Your great trouble we presume had an account of that most bitter Proclamation reported to have bâ—…en lately published whereby the Duke of Savoy has afflicted to the marrow such of his Subjects inhabiting about the Alpes as stile themselves Reformed Protestants and directed that if in case they did not renounce their owne and embrace the Roman Catholick Religion within twenty dayes they should be rooted out of their Native Country habitations so that after the murther of many the rest plunder'd exposed to invented Deaths they wander now with their Wives and small Children over the wild Mountains in a continual Winter Consum'd witâ—… hunger and cowld For the universall hatred of the contrary party even unto all Protestants Demonstrates that albeit they differ in some frivolus things among themselves their cause and intrest yet in the main ought to be the same and almost one And there is none but knowes that how upon all occasions the Kings of Sweedland have joyned with the Reformed and powred their Forces into Germany to defend without distinction the Protestant Religion there Wee therefore and that with more then ordinary earnestnesse pray that Your Majesty would in the first place if You have not already done it in imitation of Us and other Protestant Republicks write to the Duke of Savoy concerning this matter and endeavour to reverse if it be possible by the interposition of Your Authority the severitd of this so cruel a proclamation from off of a People that are innocent as well as religious For these so cruel beginnings what do they mean what may they threaten Us all is a thing which we judge very unnecessary to advise Your Majesty of If this man will sligth all our prayers to gratify his owne peevish humour truly we shall after haveing first conâ—…ulted with Your Majesty and the rest of the Protestant Princes as we ought â—…f there be any obligation any love or community of Religion to be regarded or observed fix upon some speedy resolution that may serve timelily to prevent the miserable destruction of a multude of our most innocent Brethren destitute of all help Which as vve do not in the least question to have beeu Your Majesties sense and resolution too nothing can in our opinion be more adviseable in this point than that vve all vvithout the least losse of time unite our povver Council Purses and if there be any thing else that can be judged to stop the further groâ—…vth of this evil In the mean time we heartily recommend Your Majesties to the Tuitionof the most great omnipotent God OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England to the high and mighty Lords the States Generall of the united Provinces RUmor and the frequent advices and Tideings which letters bring you from your correspondents abroad have ere this we judge informed you of the Duke of Savoyê°s late proclamation issued against such under his subjection about the Alpes as have been antient professors of the Protestant Religion by verture of which proclamation they unlesse they embrace the Roman Catholick Religion â—…ithin twenty daâ—…s are comanded to quit their Lands and houses being first stript of all they have besides â—…nd with what cruelty the Authority â—…f tâ—…at Edict has tyranyzed over inocent persons and which very much concernes us our helplesse friends and Brethren in Christ. Many of them being destroyed by a Limb of his forces appointed to that purpose the rest plundred forc't from home so that they with their wives and smalle Ones have been for some time driven into the roughest of mountains covered with continual snow where they now labour under the oppression of hunger cowld But your concernednesse whereat how you Symphathyzed these calamities of our Brethren is a thing we can easily guesâ—… at by our own griefe which is truly very great For we that are but One as it were in point of Religion why should not we be equally such in our concernednesse at so unworthy a misuseage of our Brethren And truly many are the experiences of your apparent piety to the Orthodox people in times of oppression and no lesse favourable to many Ecclesiasticall difficultys and adversitys As for my part I had if I know my owne mind rather been outon in any thing elce then in love and charity to Brethren labouring under affliction and persecution upon the account of their Religion For that I would freely give way to the health repose of the Church in preferrence to my owne par ticular safety What we coud therefore hitherto act in it was to writ
England to the high and mighty States of Holland c. High and mighty Lords dearest Friends THomas Bushell and Richard Bear with severall other of our Subjects have made their joint complaint unto us setting forth that a shipp of theirs called the Edmond and John did being set upon in her way between Brasile and 〈◊〉 submit to the assault of a certain Privateor belonging to Vlushing called the Red Lyon whose Comander went by the name of Lambert Bartelson but upon such conditions and Tearmes 〈◊〉 by the said Lamberts hand and seale as that upon their arrivall at Vluissing restitution shoud be made of such Goods as shoud appear to belong unto the English That upon their arrivall there the shipp was acquitted and the seamen their respective goods restored them but the Merchants effects taken out and exposed to imediat sale That they namely the Merchants who had this affront put upon did upon their repair to Vlushing to demand their effects at the Admiralty Court there after five yâ—…ares expensive prosecution loose the cause with vast charges thro amost wicked sentence awarded against them by those Judges namely they who concern'd in the said Privateer were themselves both Juges and Jury in the thing That they have no other hope left 'em except it be in your equity and incorrupted uprightnesse which they now at length fly unto whom they judge some reliefe favour from if back'd with our 〈◊〉 of their complaint to you And truly this is a thing pardonable in the people if in so great a hasard of their fortunes as this seemes to be they under an uuiversall dread from all hands consider what they ought to fear from your power and authority as wel as what they were to hope from the integrity of Judges especially in a case where they were themselves 〈◊〉 We do not doubt but that the influence you are under of Religion Justice and Integrity may in preferrence to any sollicitation of Ours become an Incentive to you of comeing to such a determination herein as you may 〈◊〉 to consist with Equity and justice and an act that may become you God preserve both your selves and Republick to tâ—…e service of his Glory and the comfort of his Church Westminster April 1. 1656. OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Comonwealth of England To the most Serene Prince Charles Gustavus King of Sweedland Gothes and Vandalls Great Prince of Finland Duke of Esthon Carelia Bremen Verda Stetin Pomerania Cassubia and Vandalia Prince of Russia Lord of Ingry Wismar as also Count Pallatine of the Rhine Bavaria Jul Clevia and Duke of the Mounains c. Most Serene Prince PEter Julius Coitus haveing discharged his Embassy here and so discharged it as that I thought it a thing unfit to dismisse him hence without accompanying him with my opinion of his just merits which he now returnes to your Majesty with as being a person who upon your score who have a just Right to our highest esteeme was as well as for that of his owne meritts very acceptable unto us and no lesse praise worthy by the most dilligent discharge of this Trust. Therefore we freely certify if any Testimony can add thereto that he has answerd that character which he brought Us as your Majestys most just gift to him who may with the same fidelity and integrity relate the singular respect which we bear towards your Majesty What we have to add is to breath our wishes to the Omnipotent Great God to bless your Majesty with all prosperity and continue the influence of your victorys over the enemys of the Church to perpetuity Westminster Aprill 17. 1656. Your Majestie 's most affectionately OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England To the most Serene and potent Prince Lewis King of France S. D. APplication being by petition made us in the names of John Dethicke present Lord Mayor of tâ—…is Citty of London and William Wackfield Merchant setting forth that haveing about the Calends of the month of October Auno 1649. loaded a certaine shipp called the 〈◊〉 of London one Ligâ—…tbagh Master the whole freight consisting of their owne proper goods to be transported to Ostend the said shipp was seised upon in the mouth of the River of Thames carryed away and disposed of at Dunkirk then under the obedience of the Crowne of France and that by the contrivance of a certaine Privateer called White belonging to Berkin who exerciseth piracy by vertue of a Comission from the son of Charles the late deceased King contrary to the purport of your Majestâ—…s proclamations published to the contrary Annis 1647. and 1649 besides some resolutions of Councill in favour of the Parliament of England whereby they understanding that the transportation of any Goods or ships taken from the English dureing that 〈◊〉 into any place under your Majesties jurisdiction or suffered to be in any such place exposed to sale was provided against as unlawfull dispatched Hugh Morrell their solliciter to Dunkirke with directions to apply to Mr Lestrado Governour of that Citty and demand restitution of the said shipp and Goods as knowing that they were in a great measure yet untoucht in Towne who upon such application replyed not like a gentleman nor one that woud seem to be very observable of the Comands of his prince that his present employ was a benefit comferr'd upon him in consideration of publick past services perform'd in the King of France s Service that he therefore intended to make as much improvement thereof as he coud as if comisionated to Robb his neighbours Upon which disappointment the said sollicitour after a great expence both of money and time comeing home the petiâ—…ioners destitute of all other hopes other then what they imagin'd they might meet with upon appeal to your Majesties Clemency and Justice and believing that our recomendatory Letters in their favour might render their access to your Majesty more facile pray that you woud not decline your help from a people robbed in defiance of all Justice and in derision of your repeated Comands to the Contrary Which if obtainable at our importunity albeit it is truly a thing which seemes ver equitable yet we shall believe it to be rather the effect of your naturall 〈◊〉 to Justice then the fruit of my soâ—…licitation Westminster May 1656. Your Majestie 's most affectionately OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c. To the high and mighty Lords the States General of the United Provinces S. D. High and mighty Lords Dearest Friends IOohn Browne Nicolas Williams with other Londoners have in a Petition humbly shewed unto us that having severally ventured to the East Indies by the Ship Good Hope of London then bound thither directed their Correspondents at Amsterdam about the Month of February 1644. to ensure there two thousand and forty Pounds Flemish That the
by planting them in so remote and inhumane a place the escape of any who might by a declaration of the fact hurht him For he did owne that he had no directions to meddle either with the English or others which he might have troubled before and with all that he was not ignorant of the English and French's being at Peace at that vety time But designing to revictual at Portugal but was prevented therein by contrary Winds was necessitated to supply his Wants with what he found in that Ship That he moreover believed he might content the Owners thereof in what damage they didthem Which by sworne Testimony will appear to amount to above sixteen thousand Pounds damage to the Merchants But yet if People will upon such slender temptations venture upon the rash violation and turn into scorne as it were the Decrees of Princes whose force ought to be of utmost weight so as to exercise 〈◊〉 licentiousnesse upon Merchants to serve their own Ends it truly acts towards a totall dissolution of the Ty of alliances for the future the word and authority of Princes will decline and signify just nothing We do therefore not onely pray but â—…udge it very much concerning Your Majesty's Intrest that those who have dared to make so slight a matter of being the first Breakers of their King's Contract and most sacred Word have speedy punishments executed upon them suitable to the nature of their perfidiousnesse and insolency and that the Owners of the said Ships do in the mean time make our Merchants full satisfaction for the damage and prejudice which this act has injuriously exposed 'em unto Gods care be Your Majesties continual Guard and become the defence of the affaires of France against both our comon Enemy From our Court at Westminster August An. Dom. 1656. Yâ—…ur Majesty's most affectionally OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c To Cardinal Mazarine Most Eminent Sir WHen the imporatance of any affair gives me a necessary Invitation of writeing to the King I do judge the same expediently to include an occasion of doing the like to your Excellency for to conceale from his knowledge whose singular prudence alone moderates with suitable fidelity advice and vigilancy the weightyest affaires of France what I write about is apoint I reckon ' of utmost Inconsistency That Treaty most strictly establisht by you whose sinceriry were a sin to dispute we complain of the violation and contempt of and that thro the Meanes of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 called Egidius who with his Abettors broake the same the very sameday almost of its confirmation as our Letters to the King and the applications from the Merchants themselves can make appear to your Excellency who must in particular know how much it concernes not onely the Magistrates but his Majestys owne Intrest to see the originall Infringers of this Contract brought to Justice But these perhaps upon their arrivall in the Indies whether they went may looke upon the Goods of our Subject seised upon upon the heeles if so fresh an alliance contrary to all Justice and truth as Prised Goods lawfully forc't from the Enemy That that we woud have your Excellency in the mean time do amounts to no more then that 〈◊〉 Owners of the said shipps woud make good the promise of this Comander in chiefe in returning to our people that that may be equivalent to what he has taken from 'em to supply the necestary occasiâ—…ns oâ—… his voyage wherein we understand Your Excellency to be able to do much by vertue of Your Authority From our Court at Westminster August A. D. 1656. Your Eminency's most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the High and mighty States of the united Provinces High and mighty Friends and dearest Confederates WEE doe not truly doubt but that all persons will say that nothing has been more the designe of our making Friends abroad then in order to the raising of them as such for the Intrest of the Protestant Religion nor that has appear'd more the subject of our aim then the uniteing of their hearts who either were Friends and champions for the Protestants or who were not their Enemys at least Which raises our griefe and trouble of mind so much the higher when we heare of their suspecting and entertaining of suspitions and animositys against each other who as Protestant Princes and Republicks ought to Cherish one another in all imaginable Sincerity especially You and the Kingdome of Sweedland two of the principallest Defenders of the Protestant Religion and the best Friends this Republick hath not to have that confidence in each other whick you were wont to have yea to â—…et appear signes either of a growing difference or an evident decay of your Friendship What the causes were or how farr this alienation of mind has extended of either hand are things which we profess our ignorance of We coud not neverthelesse but be much troubled at these thô never so inconsiderable sparcks of disagreements between Brethren which must necessarily convey a deal of inconveniency to the repose of the Protestant Religion's Intrest and whichif sufferd to goe on which God Farbidd how will it endanger the Reform'd Churches how will the Enemy swell and tryumph thereat the spaniards more especially is a thing that canot escape the prudent Ey of one of your experience The Spaniard will certainly so swell and swagger hereat as not to faile of rendering it the business of his Embsssadour with you to obtrude his advices and that more Confidently upon you to be guided by and with the apprehension of raiseing new warr partly and by the prospect of a false advantage partly tempt to sollicit you to forsake at his Instance your old and faithfull Friends the French English and Sweedes and engage in a very strict fellowshipp with one formerly your Enemy and Tyrant thô now a seeming Friend and which is much to be feared a a conterfeited One. Truly he who from a most canker'd Enemy shall upon so slight an occasion presse of a sudden to become your Councellour what is it that such a Man will not assume unto himselfe what confidence will he raise to if he can but once see with his Eys such things as are now onely the bâ—…re conceptions and imaginations of his heart namely to plant discord and civill Warr amongst the Protestant Confederates Wee know that you often pursuant to your wisedome take the State of all Europe and the condition of the Protestant Religion more especially into your consideration that such of the Cantons of Switzerland as profess the Orthodox faith are amused â—…nd grow pregnant with the apprehension of new troubles from their neighbours the Papists wâ—…le yet scare cowld from the heat of that Wart levyed upon them by the Spaniard upon the bare score of their Religion who haveing inflamed and kindled that warr supplyed their
Testimony of our thought of him God prosper your affaires in subserviency to his owne Glory the defence of the true Protestant Religion and perseverance of friendshipp From our Court at Westminster Nomember Anno Dom. 1657. Your Highnesses most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the High and Mighty Lords the States Generall of the United Provinces High and Mighty Lords Friends and dearest Confederates WEE have in consideration of the long and clear experience had of his fidelity in several affaires uprightness and knowledge sent you George Downing Gentleman under the Character of our Envoy and furnished him with ample directions accordingly We therefore pray that you wou'd according to your wont receive him kindly and give credit to what he shall say as often as he shall signify his haveing ougt to be in our name comunicated to Your Excellency and likewise comit to him with as little distrust as if it were to ourselves whatever you wou'd have imparted unto us What we have to add is fervently to wish you all prosperity in subserviency to tâ—… Glory of God and the keeping up of the Church From our Court at Westminster December 1656. Yours Highnesse's most affectionatly OLIVER Protector of England c. To the States of Holland Wherâ—…as such is the correspondence between this Republick and Yours and such is the mutuall Trasficq that unless an Envoy or Agent be sent hither thence or hence thither matters of that great importance to tâ—…e advantage of both Nations canot be so conveniently carryed on We have in pursuance of comon Custome determin'd upon the sending you under that Character George Downing Gentleman a Person whom in the discharge of many and various former Trusts we found of great faithfullnesse integrity and knowledge To continue there in our name and spend his time in such offices as may seem most conduceing to the inviolable preservation and continuance of our alliance Haveing comunicated these things in writeing to the High and Mighty States we have thought it requisit to do the like to you also who in your Province bear so great a part of the government and are so considerable a limb of the States of Holland to the end you might receive our Envoy with all convenient decency And assure yourselves that what ever he treates with the States Generall about or conclude we shall stand thereto as imoveable and steddy as if we our selves were personally present there at God direct all your Councils and Actions to his owne Glory and the Repose of the Church Westminster c. Deeember 1657. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene Prince Ferdinando Great Duke of Toskany Most Serene Great Duke much to be honoured Friend YOur Highness s Letter of the 10. of November from Florence has added considerably to our delight in that the contents thereof shew much of your affection towards us and that in a nature so extraordinary as to 〈◊〉 the true Image oâ—… a sincere mind Your Excellency writes of itâ—… haveing with all imaginable care we understand performed our Request which sollicited that you woud â—…ssue forth your comands for the appreâ—…ending of Wiliam Ellis Master of the ship called the Little Lewis who very dirtily broake his word to the Turcks and stopping in port the said shipp and Goods till the Turcks had restitution made them to prevâ—…nt any disgrace that might ariâ—…e from such Theft to the reputation of Christianity Wee therefore both thanke you for this kindnesse and withall desire this that in regard thè Merchants undertooke to satisfy the Turkes you forthwith discharge the said Master shipp and Goods least we shoud seem to take more care of the concernes of Infidels then those of our owne people Your Highness es affection has been in the mean time so apparent so 〈◊〉 and so acceptable unto us that to deferr our wishes of being supplyed with an occasion of makeing you suitable Returnes were to own the stain of being reputed ungratefull persons and whereby we might also demonstrate our dispofition of mind in the ready returne of our effectuall acknowledgments From our Court at Westminster December An. Dom. 1657. Your Highness's most affectionately OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c. OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Charles Gustavus King of Sweedland c. Most Serene c. YOur Majesties Letter of the 21. of February from your Court at Selandia came pregnant with matter enough to fill us with satisâ—…action of no small degree in reference as well to our own private as the concerne of the intire welfare of Christendome First that the King of Denmarck to gratify I believe no private Inclination or end of his owne but driven into hostility rather by the artifice of the comon Enemy shoud be upon your entry into the bowles of his Countrâ—… suddainly so reduced and that without much blood that as the case stood he judged his takeing up of armes against you might be ameanes of his atteining at length to a more advantagious peace Next concluding that the onely means of accomplishing such a peace was to make use of our interposition if he coud obteine it that your Majesty prevailed upon at the single â—…nstance of our Envoy in his letter shoud in so easy a condescention shew what value it had for the interposition of our friendshipp and Intrest and to have been pleased to lodge my endeavour in the front of so pious aworke so as to become the main Instrument and author my selâ—…e of a peace so promiseing as this I hope may be to the Protestant Intrest For whereas the Enemys of Religion dispaired of disuniteing yours by any other meanes then that of setting you by the Eares among your selves they must now certainly have reason to apprehend that this suddain conjunction of your forces and of your minds we hope may turne to the destruction of the kindlers of this Warr Go on in the mean time most valiant King in prosperity and see that the Enemys of the Church smart now thro Gods help under the weight of that felicity which they lately admired in your exploits and stream of victories against a King now your friend OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene Prince Ferdinando Great Duke of Toskany Most Serene Prince OUr answer to your Envoy here may we suppose prove of satisfaction to your Highnes concerning the Comander in chiefe of our fleet lately arrived in your Roade Wee have been in the mean time petitioned unto by John Hosier a Londoner and Master of a certain vessell called the Mistriss wherein he says that haveing in the Month of Aprill 1656 comited by charter party his shipp to one Joseph Harman an Italian and finding that the said Italian apparently broake the Termes of the said Charter party was forc't to prevent the losse
particular pressure to you relateing thereto pursuant to the Parliaments said comands in order to the obtaining of Justice upon these villains yet when we found our selves disâ—…ppointed in our said expectation and likewise considering the danger which our Merchants and Estates should be alwayes exposed unto â—…or want of a guard against the restlesse malice of their Enemies we have comanded him to represent a fresh our sense of that affair And that he shou'd in the name of this Common-wealth sollicit your taking care of the preservation oâ—… the amity and alliance ratified between this Republick and your Citty and the considerable Comerce which intercedes between both and with all to protect as well our Marchants themselves as their Priviledges without suffering them to be lyable to any violation what ever and that in a particular degree in referrence to One Garmet whose deportment to this Commonwealth has appear'd very insolent and whâ—… to the great dislquiet oâ—… our Merchants and in contempt of this Republick has publickly cited certain Merchants of the English Company resi â—…eing in your Citty into the Chamher of Spire Wherein we depend upon such reparation as may consist with equity and Justice All these Particulars and if there be any thing further that may affect the â—…riendship novv on foot betvveen this Repubblick and your Citty vve have directed the said Resident to vvait upon you vvith Whom vve desire that you give ample Credit unto in such things relating the reto as he shall propose Westwinster 12. March 1651. Subscribed by the Speaker of the House whose 〈◊〉 be fixed thereto To the most serene CHRISTIANA Queen of Sweedland c. the Parliament of England greeting THis comes to your Majesty with an account of our recept and peruseall of your letters dated the 26. of September last from Stokholme directed to and delivered the Parliament of England by Peter Spiering Silvercroon and to intimate that we earnestly and cordially wish that the alliance commerce and great traffick anciently observed between England and Sweedland be permanent and dayly thrive Nor do we doubt but that an Embassadour had come from your Mâ—…jesty furnished with full power of makeing such proposalls as principally tended to the mutuall Intrest and reputation of both Governments and such as we shoud very freely have received from him and that should seem to imply more particularly the health and profit of both and who shou'd have return'd upon the speedy accomplishment thereof But it haveing pleased God The câ—…iefe Moderator of things to remove that person out of this world whose losse we have as bitterly and sharply lamented as consisted with our due deferrence to the will of God beâ—…ore he could have made knowne unto the Parliament the message he came upon from your Majesty the same has kept them hitherto from the knowledge of your Majesties mind so that the further progresse thereof lies under present suspence wherefore we have thought fit to let you know by our Envoy expresly dismissed herewith to that purpose what welcome your Majesty Letters and publick Minister may depend upon from the Parliament of England and how ambitious we are of your Majesties â—…riendshipp as also what weight we shall as we ought be found to lay upon the â—…avour of so great a Prince And our regard to the augmentation of that commerce now in beiâ—…g â—…etween this Government and your Majesties shall appear to be such as we ought to retaine in re errence to a point in it selâ—…e every way valuable and which for that very reason shall be of ultimat acceptance to the Parliament of England in whose name and pursuant to whoseauthority first recommending your Majesty to the protection of God their speaker has fixed their seale and counter signed this letters Dated at Westminster March Anno Domini 1651. The Parliament of the Comonwealth of England To the Most serene and potent Prince Philip the IV. King of Spaine greeting GReat complaints have been made us from such of our people as exercise the faculty of merchandizeing within your Majesties Dominions of great violence and injurious practises and of proportionably new customes imposed upon them by the magistrates and other officers of your respective ports and other places where the trade and more particularly in the Canaery Islands and that contrary to the Articles wherein both Nations have engaged each â—…ther for the Support of Trade The Truth of whick complaints they have by oath made appear and tell us that if in case they are not justly treated and their damages repaired as also their Persons and Estates secured against such oppressions and affronts they purpole to withdraw and trade no longer into those places Which haveing seriously considering and judgeing that the misbehaviours of your Ministers were not at all known or represented to your Maj. otherwise then as they really stood They thought fit to transmit herewith their said complaints to your Majesty not questioning but that your Majesty may out of regard to Justice as the incentive consideration of Trade wherein your own people's as well as the advantage of ours is equally involved be pleased to â—…ssue such directions to your officers as may wean such vexatious practises and that the English Merchants have speedy Justice done them in consideration of the damages sustain'd thro the meanes of Mr Peter de Carillo de Gusman and other persons contrary to the said Articles and that your Majesty may please to order that the said Merchants receive the benefiâ—… of the said Articles and so to be retain'd in your Majesty's Ey as that they in their persons and estates be lyableto no future oppression what ever This they thinke they may in a great measure attaine unto if your Majesty will grant them back again that Charter which protected them in cases of this kind Otherwise they may be for want of a due refuge from Injurys 〈◊〉 to the discontinuance of that comerce which is of no small advantage to both thrô these kind of violations and encroachments upon the Articles of peace To the most Serene Prince the Duke of Venice The Councell of State constituted by the Authority of the Common wealth of England greeting JOhn Dickons and John Throgmorton with severall others of our Merchants have complain'd that haveing pursuant to the constitution Authority of our Admirality Court about the 28. of November 1651. Seized upon a quantity of Camphire of about one handred Fatts on board a certain ship called the swallow under the Command of Isaac Tayler then in the downes but loaded thereon at a place in Muscovy called the Archangel obtein'd according to Law adecrre in that Court directing the delivery of the said Goods to the receipt of the said petitioners upon Caution first enter'd into by them of standing to the award of the Court that the said Court by whom this matter was to be determin'd writ according to Custome to the Magistrates and Judges of Venice praying that John Perat
to you whose prudence and known integrity shew how much he deserves the honour of your present favour to him Dated at Westminster Aprill Anno Domini 1652. Sign'd and sealed pursuant to the authority of Parliament by the speaker The Representatives of the Comon-wealth of England to the Illustrious and noble Corporation of Hambroug greeting Most noble renowned and Worthy Gentlemen Dearest Friends THE Representatives of the comonwealth of England have received and perused your Letters dated at Hambrough the â—…5 of January last brought them by a noble Gentleman Mr Leo ab Aisem who stiles himselfe under the character of yours and the rest of the Hanseatique Cittys Resident who has had audience allowed him pursuant to the Import of the said letteas and what he had further in comand on the particular behalfe of your Citty transmitted to â—…he Councill of State whom having directed to receive such proposalls as he had to offer and transact with him forthwithabout such thing as shoud consist with equity Justice treated with him since accordingly And as the Parliament has demonstrated the just regard that shoud be always had to such things as came from you and testified it's singular affection to your City in the appointment of a Resident sent to reside there so it canot but depend upon and justly challenge a suitable returne to such practicable proposalls as their said Resident either already hath or which he may for the future make in their name to your Citty so long in amity and confederacy with us Westminster April 1652. Subscribed ut supra The Council of State c. To the most Serene Prince FERDINANDO the II. Great Duke of Toskany greeting WHereas Charles Longland Sollicitour for the English Merchants at Livorne having advised thence that upon the arrival there of a fleet consisting of about fourteen Sailes of Dutch men of warr publickly declareing that the Errand they came upon was to burne within your Port or otherwise destroy such English Ships as they found there Your Highness was upon application made on behalfe of the English pleased to disappont the said Designe by recommending them to the protection of your Governour there The Council of State has judgedit becoming her duty and office to observe unto Your Highnesse how gratefully that kindnesse and protection so seasonably and curteously done the English Merchants is accepted of by the Republick of England promising and engageing unto Your Highnesse that the Memory of this good turne has made such an impression as is never to be forgot and their Readinesse to improve all opportunities that may offer of effectually returning Your People the like frindship and office and performing all other things that may conduce to the support of the usual benevolence and commerce of this and Your Nation And whereas the Dutch Fleet have even while conferences of their owne dictation concerning an alliance were under debate made perfidious attempts upon ours and that not onely in our owne harbours even in which wicked attempt God as a most just Arbitrator prevented their wickedness but in forreign Ones also where they would take or sinke our Merchant Men We have thought it necessary to transmit unto Your Highnesse this Paper on behalfe of the Parliament of England which some controversies lately arisen between this Government and Holland have occasioned the sending of Whereby how much the iniquity of that people in their behaviour to this Republick has been and how void of regard to all Justice and the Law of Lands themselves is what may be very obvious to your Highnesse and how studious the Parliament's endeavours have been to shew their Tenderness to the publick peace coud the former friendship and society of that people be any way continued Dated at Whitehall July 29. 1652. Signed and sealed by the President of the Councill To the Spanish Embassadonr THE Council of State having considered the two Memorials exhibited thereto by your Excellency the one dated the 6. of June or 27. May and the other the 6 or 16. current return the following Answer to both that the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England is very wâ—…ll disposed towards the continuance of that Amity and well constituted peace now in Existency between this Republick and the King of Spaine's Royal Majesty since Your Excellency has intimated that to be the Bent of his said Majestiâ—… too and that all imaginable Readiness should be met with of improving the same to the common Good of both Nations The which the Council of State has in the Name and by the direction of the Parliament so often demonstrated in their written replys to Your Excellency and particularly in conformity to Your Excellencies desire has appointed a Comittee to give Your Excellency a meeting and receive such proposals as you had to offer conduceing to the aforesaid End Which meeting afterwards has in liew of other expectations produced some things Consisting in general Tearmes and as it were previous to a future conference which the Council believed the Parliament had in former replies made plaine its opinion concerning Yet to give further satisfaction and to remove any doubt which Your Excellency may pretend to remaine under concerning the particular Instances of the Overtures you then made the Councils Reply of the 31. March or 10. April shewes that when all steps necessarily previous thereto such as what Your Excellency had to offer on behalfe of his said Royal Majesty in reference to the sormer as any other stricter alliance to be entered into on the one hand as what we should exhibit on behalfe of this Republicke were discoursed about determined on the other hand yea when all things were truely debated as they ought to be and that Your Excellency came to confer accordingly they were ready To which Your Excellency made no reply nor proceeded further in the matter these almost two months past And Your Excellencie's of the 27. May or 6. June 52. is the first that the Council heard of since that time which seemes to signify no more then to desire that the Articles of peace and alliance entered into by Charles the late King and your Master dated the 6. or 16. of November 1630. might be reviewed and such alterations made in the heads thereof in reference to an addition to or diminution therefrom as the frame of the government and time now alter'd should call for which as it amounted to no more then what we in our aforesaid Reply of the 10. Aprile or 31. March fully and plainly signified the Council did ere this expect some application from Your Excâ—…llecy with an account of those particular Articles and alterations which you mention you would have made in the League considering that it is otherwise impossible for us to give any other Reply different from what we have already done But whereas Your Excellency seemes by your late Memorial to lay the fault at our doore the Conncil therefore resolved made a fresh inspection into your said
of that importance as we hope we may in very little time Wee did in the mean time judge it inconsistent with conveniency to suspend any longer the letting you know for a truth how much our thoughts and Care are taken up and that in an imoderat measure for the present State of Europe Wee haveing from severall Yeares observation collected to our great 〈◊〉 matter enough to inferr from that the principall Protestant Princes and Corporations who out of regard to their comunity in Religion and its support ought to use all meanes tending to its confirmation and defence grow dayly more and more animated against each other and suspect or put an ill meaning upon whatever the rest attempt or project freightening their friends while on the contrary they dictat hopes to the Enemy of ensuing Enmity and dissent in this Bent of affaires rather then a firme union of minds to the mutuall safeguard and defence of each other And truly this anxiety made the deeper figure in our minds and continues to gaine daily from some sparkes of Jealousy which seem to remain unquelled between Your Majesty and the King of Sweedland or at last from your being at greater distance in your minds then our comon love and affection to the Orthodox Religion seemes to call for whilest your Majesty entertains by what fate I know not a Jealousy that the Trade of your Kingdome may receive some prejudice from the King of Sweedland who is likewise little better satisfied but that you may aggravat the warr wherein he is now engaged and render the Termes of peace which he might otherwise make more intricat Your Majesty canot but from that great prudence exerted in all your affaires know how much it will expose the protestant Religion if such suspition continues long among you and how much more if which God forbidd any token of hostility shoud breake out However these things stand we as we have earnestly sollicitted both the King of Sweedland and States of Holland to peace and moderat resolutions and shou'd be extraordinarily gladd to see you reconciled to peace and concord the States haveing sent us the heads of that league so we reckon'd it our part and very consistent with our friendshipp not to coâ—…ceale from your Majesty what ever we thought of this matter especially when we consider the most friendly invitation given us by your Majesties Letters so to do a thing we looke upon to be a singular argument and embrace it as one of your good disposition towards us And lay before your Majesty what a charge divine providence has laid upon the professors of Protestancy of maintaining peace among our selves when our Enemyes now especially if never before seeme so violent against us as to have conspired as it were from all places to our destructiom It helps not to overhall the Blood and Massacre wherein these at Piedmont lately Swam nor those of Germany tore to pieces by the Edicts and proscriptions of the Emperour nor finally the furious assaults of the Popish Swittsers upon their Protestant Neighbour If to these misfortunes a falling ouâ—… among protestant Brethren be added as Oyle to quench fire especially among you who are so great a part of our strength and in whom so much oâ—… the Protestant Protection and strength is reposed in tickelish times Reformation must as farr as human power can reach go downe and be destroyed When on the contrary if you cherish peace among your selvas as Neighbours and the rest of the Protestant Princes if brotherly concord be of all hands studyed we shall have no reason to fear with Gods help what the artifice or force of our enemy can do Us. The dissipation of whose designes depending wholly upon our agreement Nor do we truly fear but that your Majesty will contribute all it can and that 's much towards that end Wherein I shall my selfe be very ready to joyne Issue with your Majesty as a Professor of true friendshipp and one whose study shall be not only in maintaining the peace already so happily establisht but also go as farr as God shall be pleased to suffer me to go towards the improveing that now existent God in the mean time bless and prosper all your undertakeings Iam in friendship alliance and affection From our Court at Westminster Decemb. An. Dom. 1656. Your Majesties most affectionately OLIVER Protector of the Republick of England c OLIVER Protector of the Republ. of England c. To the most Serene and Illustrious Prince and Lord the Lord William Earle of Hasnia Prince of Herefield Counte in Cattimelibock Decia Lingehain Nidda and Schaumburgh c. Most Serene Prince WEE woud not have respitted the answering your highnesses Letters so long of which we are almost ashamed did not many other affairs of utmost importance truly which our charge in the administration of this Government wou'd not suffer us to deferr the dispatch of much against our inclination prevent it For what Letters ought I to entertaine with more regard then such as come from a most vertuous Prince and related to a Race suitably Religious and which concerne nothing so much as the Repose of Religion and the reconcileing of Curches to concord and which also not onely in your but in the opinion and judgment of the Christian world ought to be generally attributed unto me as an honour to be the promoter of the Christian peace And truly what we have endeavoured'd towards it thro these three formerly Kingdomes what have we accomplished thro divine help by perswadeing suffering and conquest is a thing not unknowne to most of our owne people and that which they are very sensible of in the great tranquility of their conscience We have studyed the repose of all the Churches thro out Germany more especially where they have been most and longest at variance and have been for a considerable time past wanting in nothiâ—…g that coud contribure thereto We continue the same inclination still We wish the said churches may be united among themselves in brotherly charity But we are to our very great griefe more then sensible how difficult a Taske he undertakes who takes upon him the reconciliation of such as pretend onely to be Sons of peace For it is a thing to be scarce hoped ever to see the Resormed and Augustins brought to one Church nor preaching nor writeing will be able to reconcile their opinion nor prohibitted without violence But violence is a thing inconsistent with the peace of the Church dissenters may be prevailed upon by Prayers to act more meekly and moderately at least nor ought they to grow the cowlder among themselves Differing not as enemys but friends 〈◊〉 at variance in frivolous matters yet most united in the main point of Faith We shall never own our selves weary in the repeating and perswadeing of these things which the strength nor councell of man can exceed God whose peculiar worke it is will in his time do it You have in the