Licencer were in the Hands of the late Earl of Anglesey while he liv'd where at present is uncertain It cannot certainly be concluded when he wrote his excellent Tragedy entitled Samson Agonistes but sure enough it is that it came forth afert his publication of Paradice lost together with his other Poem call'd Paradice regain'd which doubtless was begun and finisht and Printed after the other was publisht and that in a wonderful short space considering the sublimeness of it however it is generally censur'd to be much inferiour to the other though he could not hear with patience any such thing when related to him possibly the Subject may not afford such variety of Invention but it is thought by the most judicious to be little or nothing inferiour to the other for stile and decorum The said Earl of Anglesy whom he presented with a Copy of the unlicens'd Papers of his History came often here to visit him as very much coveting his society and converse as likewise others of the Nobility and many persons of eminent quality nor were the visits of Foreigners ever more frequent than in this place almost to his dying day His Treatise of true Religion Heresy Schism and Toleration c. was doubtless the last thing of his writing that was publisht before his Death He had as I remember prepared for the Press an answer to some little scribing Quack in London who had written a Scurrilons Libel against him but whether by the disswasion of Friends as thinking him a Fellow not worth his notice or for what other cause I know not this Answer was never publisht He died in the year 1673. towards the latter end of the Summer and had a very decent interment according to his Quality in the Church of St. Giles Cripplegate being attended from his House to the Church by several Gentlemen then in Town his principal wellwi-shers and admirers He had three Daughters who surviv'd him many years and a Son all by his first Wife of whom sufficient mention hath been made Anne his Eldest as abovesaid and Mary his Second who were both born at his House in Barbican and Debora the youngest who is yet living born at his House in Petty-France between whom and his Second Daughter the Son named John was born as above-mention'd at his Apartment in Scotland Yard By his Second Wife Catharine the Daughter of Captain Woodcock of Hackney he had only one Daughter of which the Mother the first year after her Marriage died in Child bed and the Child also within a Month after By his Third Wife Elizabeth the Daughter of one Mr. Minshal of Cheshire and Kinswoman to Dr. Paget who surviv'd him and is said to be yet living he never had any Child and those he had by the First he made serviceable to him in that very particular in which he most wanted their Service and supplied his want of Eye-sight by their Eyes and Tongue for though he had daily about him one or other to Read to him some persons of Man's Estate who of their own accord greedily catch'd at the opportunity of being his Readers that they might as well reap the benefit of what they Read to him as oblige him by the benefit of their reading others of younger years sent by their Parents to the same end yet excusing only the Eldest Daughter by reason of her bodily Infirmity and difficult utterance of Speech which to say truth I doubt was the Principal cause of excusing her the other two were Condemn'd to the performance of Reading and exactly pronouncing of all the Languages of what ever Book he should at one time or other think fit to peruse Viz. The Hebrew and I think the Syriac the Greek the Latin the Italian Spanish and French All which sorts of Books to be confined to Read without understanding one word must needs be a Tryal of Patience almost beyond endurance yet it was endured by both for a long time yet the irksomeness of this imployment could not be always concealed but broke out more and more into expressions of uneasiness so that at length they were all even the Eldest also sent out to learn some Curious and Ingenious sorts of Manufacture that are proper for Women to learn particularly Imbroideries in Gold or Silver It had been happy indeed if the Daughters of such a Person had been made in some measure Inheritrixes of their Father's Learning but since Fate otherwise decreed the greatest Honour that can be ascribed to this now living and so would have been to the others had they lived is to be Daughter to a man of his extraordinary Character He is said to have dyed worth 1500 l. in Money a considerable Estate all things considered besides Houshold Goods for he sustained such losses as might well have broke any person less frugal and temperate then himself no less then 2000 l. which he had put for Security and improvement into the Excise Office but neglecting to recal it in time could never after get it out with all the Power and Interest he had in the Great ones of those Times besides another great Sum by mismanagement and for want of good advice Thus I have reduced into form and order what ever I have been able to rally up either from the recollection of my own memory of things transacted while I was with him or the information of others equally conversant afterwards or from his own mouth by frequent visits to the last I shall conclude with two material passages which though they relate not immediately to our Author or his own particular concerns yet in regard they hapned during his publick employ and consequently fell most especially under his cognisance it will not be amiss here to subjoin them The first was this Before the War broke forth between the States of England and the Dutch the Hollanders sent over Three Embassadours in order to an accommodation but they returning re infecta the Dutch sent away a Plenipotentiary to offer Peace upon much milder terms or at least to gain more time But this Plenipotentiary could not make such haste but that the Parliament had procured a Copy of their Instructions in Holland which were delivered by our Author to his Kinsman that was then with him to Translate for the Council to view before the said Plenipotentiary had taken Shipping for England an Answer to all he had in Charge lay ready for him before he made his publick entry into London In the next place there came a person with a very sumptuous train pretending himself an Agent from the Prince of Conde then in Arms against Cardinal Mazarine The Parliament mistrusting him set their Instrument so busily at work that in Four or Five Days they had procured Intelligence from Paris that he was a Spy from K. Charles whereupon the very next Morning our Author's Kinsman was sent to him with an Order of Councel commanding him to depart the Kingdom within Three Days or expect the
Usurpation signally also to succour us with those Auspices and that Divine Assistance beyond what he afforded to our Predecessors that we have bin able not only to extinguish a Civil War but to extirpate the Causes of it for the future as also to repel the unexpected Violences of Foreign Enemies Nevertheless with grateful minds as much as in us lies acknowledging the same Favour and Benignity of the Supreme Deity toward us we are not so puft up with the success of our Affairs but that rather instructed in the singular Justice and Providence of God and having had long experience our selves we abominate the thoughts of War if possible to be avoided and most eagerly embrace Peace with all men Therefore as hitherto we never were the first that violated or desir'd the violation of that Friendship or those ancient Privileges of Leagues that have bin ratifi'd between us and any Princes or People whatever so your Highness in consideration of your ancient Amity with the English left us by our Ancestors may with a most certain assurance promise both your self and your People all things equitable and all things friendly from us Lastly as we highly value which is no more then what is just and reasonable the testimonies of your affection and good offices offer'd us so we shall make it our business that you may not at any time be sensible of the want of ours either to your self or yours And so we most heartily recommend your Highness to the Omnipotent Protection of the Almighty God White-Hall July 1653. Seal'd with the Council-Seal and Subscrib'd President To the Count of Oldenburgh Most Illustrious Lord THE Parlament of the Common-wealth of England have receiv'd an extraordinary Congratulation from your Excellency most kindly and courteously deliver'd to us by word of mouth by Herman Mylius your Councellor and Doctor of Laws who wish'd all things Lucky and Prosperous in your Name to the Parlament and English Interest and desir'd that the Friendship of this Republick might remain inviolable within your Territories He also desir'd Letters of safe Conduct to the end your Subjects may the more securely Trade and Sail from place to place together with our Orders to our publick Ministers abroad to be Aiding and assisting to your Excellency and your Interests with their good Offices and Counsels To which Requests of his we willingly consented and granted both our Friendship the Letters desir'd and our Orders to our Publick Ministers under the Seal of the Parlament And though it be some Months ago since your Publick Minister first came to us however that delay neither arose from any unwillingness on our part to assent to the request made in your Excellency's Name or that your Deputy was at any time wanting in his Sedulity whose Solicitations were daily and earnest with all the Diligence and Importunity that became him to the end he might be dispatch'd but onely it happen'd so that at that time the greatest and most weighty Affairs of the Republick were under Debate and serious Negotiation Of which we thought meet to certifie your Illustrious Lordship lest any body through a false construction of this delay should think those Favours unwillingly or hardly obtain'd which were most gladly granted by the Parlament of the Common-wealth of England In whose Name these are commanded to be Sign'd Henry Scobel Clerk of the Parlament To the Most Illustrious and Noble Senators Scultets Landam and Senators of the Evangelick Cantons of Switzerland Zurick Bern Glaris Bale Schaffhusen Appenzel also of the Confederates of the same Religion in the Countrey of the Grisons of Geneva St. Gall Mulhausen and Bienne our dearest Friends YOUR Letters most Illustrious Lords and Dearest Confederates dated December 24. full of civility good-will and singular affection toward us and our Republick and what ought always to be greater and more sacred to us breathing Fraternal and truly Christian Charity we have receiv'd And in the first place we return Thanks to Almighty God who has rais'd and establish'd both you and so many noble Cities not so much intrench'd and fortifi'd with those enclosures of Mountains as with your innate Fortitude Piety most prudent and just Administration of Government and the Faith of mutual Confederacies to be a firm and inaccessible shelter for all the truly Orthodox Now then that you who over all Europe were the first of Mortals who after deluges of barbarous Tyrants from the North Heaven prospering your Valour recover'd your Liberty and being obtain'd for so many years have preserv'd it untainted with no less Prudence and Moderation that you should have such noble sentiments of our Liberty recover'd that you such sincere Worshippers of the Gospel should be so constantly perswaded of our Love and Affection for the Orthodox Faith is that which is most acceptable and wellcome to us But as to your exhorting us to Peace with a Pious and Affectionate intent as we are fully assur'd certainly such an Admonition ought to be of great weight with us as well in respect of the thing it self which you perswade and which of all things is chiefly to be desir'd as also for the great Authority which is to be allow'd your Lordships above others in this particular who in the midst of loud tumultuons Wars on every side enjoy the sweets of Peace both at home and abroad and have approv'd your selves the best example to all others of embracing and improving Peace and lastly for that you perswade us to the very thing which we our selves of our own accords and that more then once consulting as well our own as the interest of the whole Evangelical Communion have begg'd by Embassadors and other publick Ministers namely Friendship and a most strict League with the Vnited Provinces But how they treated our Embassadors sent to 'em to Negotiate not a bare Peace but a brotherly Amity and most strict League what Provocations to War they afterwards gave us how they fell upon us in our own Roads in the midst of their Embassadors Negotiations for Peace and Alliance little dreaming any such Violence you will abundantly understand by our Declaration set forth upon this subject and sent you together with these our Letters But as for our parts we are wholly intent upon this by God's assistance though prosperous hitherto so to carry our selves that we may neither attribute any thing to our own Strength or Forces but all things to God alone nor be insolently puft up with our Success and we still retain the same ready Inclinations to embrace all occasions of making a Just and Honest Peace In the mean time your selves Illustrious and most Excellent Lords in whom this Pious and Noble Sedulity out of meer Evangelical Affection exerts it self to reconcile and pacifie contending Brethren as ye are worthy of all applause among men so doubtless will ye obtain the Celestial Reward of Peace-makers with God to whose Supreme Benignity and Favour we heartily recommend in our Prayers both you and yours
of the Council to it the Council have thought it necessary to add this following Article to their following Demands That the People and Inhabitants of the Republick of England Trading into any Kingdoms Regions or Territories of the King of Danemark and Norway shall not for the future pay any more Customs Tribute Taxes Duties or Stipends or in any other manner then the People of the Vnited Provinces or any other Foreign Nation that pays the least coming in or going out of Harbour and shall enjoy the same and as equally ample Freedom Privileges and Immunities both coming and going and so long as they shall reside in the Countrey as also in Fishing Tradeing or in any other manner which any other People of a Foreign Nation enjoys or may enjoy in the foresaid Kingdoms and throughout the whole Dominions of the said King of Danemark and Norway Which Privileges also the Subjects of the King of Danemark and Norway shall equally enjoy throughout all the Territories and Dominions of the Republick of England The Council of State of the Republick of England to the most Serene Prince Ferdinand the Second Grand Duke of Tuscany Greeting Most Serene Prince our dearest Friend THE Council of State understanding as well by your Highness's Agent here residing as by Charles Longland chief Factor for the English at Leghorn with what Affectiou and Fidelity your Highness undertook the Protection of the English Vessels putting in to the Port of Leghorn for shelter against the Dutch Men of War threatning 'em with nothing but Ransack and Destruction by their Letters of the 29th of July which they hope are by this time come to your Highness's hands have made known to your Highness how grateful and how acceptable it was to 'em and at the same time sent to your Serenity a Declaration of the Parlament of the Commonwealth of England concerning the present Differences between this Republick and the Vnited Provinces And whereas the Council has again bin inform'd by the same Charles Longland what further Commands your Highness gave for the security and defence of the English Vessels notwithstanding the opposite endeavours of the Dutch they deem'd this opportunity not to be pass'd over to let your Highness understand once more how highly they esteem your Justice and singular Constancy in defending their Vessels and how acceptable they took so great a piece of Service Which being no mean testimony of your solid Friendship and Affection to this Republick your Highness may assure your self that the same offices of Kindness and good Will toward your Highness shall never be wanting in us such as may be able to demonstrate how firmly we are resolv'd to cultivate both long and constantly to the utmost of our Power that Friendship which is between your Serenity and this Republick In the mean time we have expresly commanded all our Ships upon their entrance into your Ports not to fail of paying the accustom'd Salutes by Firing their Guns and to give all other due Honours to your Highness White Hall Sep. 1652. Seal'd with the Council Seal and Subscrib'd President To the Spanish Embassador Alphonso de Cardenas Most Excellent Lord YOUR Excelleny's Letters of the 1 11 of November 1652. deliver'd by your Secretary together with Two Petitions inclos'd concerning the Ships the Sampson and Sun Salvadore were read in Council To which the Council returns this Answer That the English Man of War meeting with the foresaid Ships not in the Downes as your Excellency Writes but in the open Sea brought 'em into Port as Enemies Ships and therefore Lawful Prize and the Court of Admiralty to which it properly belongs to take Cognizance of all Causes of this nature have undertaken to determin the Right in dispute Where all Parties concern'd on both sides shall be fully and freely heard and you may be assur'd that Right shall take place We have also sent your Excellency's request to the Judges of that Court to the end we may more certainly understand what progress they have made in their proceeding to Judgement Of which so soon as we are rightly inform'd we shall take care that such Orders shall be given in this matter as shall correspond with Justice and become the Friendship that is between this Republick and your King Nor are we less confident that his Royal Majesty will by no means permit the Goods of the Enemies of this Commonwealth to be conceal'd and escape due Confiscation under the shelter of being own'd by his Subjects White-Hall Nov. 11. 1652. Seal'd with the Council Seal and Subscrib'd William Masham President To the Spanish Embassador Most Excellent Lord BUT lately the Council has bin inform'd by Captain Badiley Admiral of the Fleet of this Republick in the Streights that after he himself together with three other Men of War had for two days together engag'd Eleven of the Dutch put into Porto Longone as well to repair the Damages he had receiv'd in the Fight as also to supply himself with Warlike Ammunition where the Governor of the Place perform'd all the good Offices of a most just and courteous Person as well toward his own as the rest of the Men of War under his Conduct Now in regard that that same Place is under the Dominion of the Most Serene King of Spain the Council cannot but look upon the singular Civility of that Garison to be the copious fruit of that stricter mutual Amity so auspiciously commenc'd and therefore deem it to be a part of their duty to return their thanks to his Majesty for a Kindness so opportunely receiv'd and desire your Excellency to signify this to your most Serene King and to assure him that the Parlament of the Common-wealth of England will be always ready to make the same returns of Friendship and Civility upon all occasion offer'd Westminster Nov. 11. 1652. Seal'd with the Councel Seal and Subscrib'd William Masham President The Parlament of the Commonwealth of England to the Most Serene Prince Ferdinand the Second Grand Duke of Tuscany Greeting Most Serene Prince our dearest Friend THE Parlament of the Commonwealth of England has receiv'd your Letters dated from Florence August 17. concerning the restitution of a certain Ship laden with Rice which Ship is claim'd by Captain Cardi of Leghorn And though the Judges of our Admiralty have already pronounc'd Sentence in that Cause against the foresaid Cardi and that there be an Appeal depending before the Delegates yet upon your Highness's Request the Parlament to testify how much they value the good Will and Alliance of a Prince so much their Friend have given Order to those who are entrusted with this Affair that the said Ship together with the Rice or at least the full Price of it be restor'd to the foresaid Captain Cardi the fruit of which Command his Proctor here has effectually already reap'd And as your Highness by favourably affording your Patronage and Protection to the Ships of the English in your Port of Leghorn has
Splendid Embassy sent to us some time since after certain Negotiations begun by the Parlament in whom the Supreme Power was vested at that time as it was always most affectionately wish'd for by us with the assistance of God and that we might not be wanting in the Administration of the Government which we have now taken upon us at length we brought to a happy conclusion and as we hope as a sacred Act have ratifi'd it to perpetuity And therefore we send back to your Majesty your extraordinary Embassador the Lord John Roderigo de Sita Meneses Count of Pennaguiada a person both approv'd by your Majesty's judgment and by us experienc'd to excel in Civility Ingenuity Prudence and Fidelity besides the merited applause which he has justly gain'd by accomplishing the ends of his Embassy which is the Peace which he carries along with him to his Country But as to what we perceive by your Letters dated from Lisbon the second of April that is to say how highly your Majesty esteems our Amity how cordially you favour our Advancement and rejoyce at our having taken the Government of the Republick upon us which you are pleas'd to manifest by singular Testimonies of Kindness and Affection we shall make it our business that all the world may understand by our readiness at all times to serve your Majesty that there could be nothing more acceptable or grateful to us Nor are we less earnest in our Prayers to God for your Majesty's safety the welfare of your Kingdom and the prosperous success of your Affairs Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the High and Mighty States of the United Provinces Most High and Mighty Lords our dearest Friends CERTAIN Merchants our Countrey-men Thomas Bassel Richard Beare and others their Co-Partners have made their complaints before us That a certain Ship of theirs the Edmund and John in her Voyage from the Coast of Brasile to Lisbon was set upon by a Privateer of Flushing call'd the Red-Lyon Commanded by Lambert Bartelson but upon this condition which the Writing Sign'd by Lambert himself testifies That the Ship and whatsoever Goods belong'd to the English should be restor'd at Flushing where when the Vessel arriv'd the Ship indeed with what peculiarly belong'd to the Seamen was restor'd but the English Merchants Goods were detain'd and put forthwith to Sale For the Merchants who had receiv'd the Damage when they had su'd for their Goods in the Court of Flushing after great Expences for Five years together lost their Suit by the pronouncing of a most unjust Sentence against 'em by those Judges of which some being interested in the Privateer were both Judges and Adversaries and no less Criminal altogether So that now they have no other hopes but onely in your Equity and uncorrupted Faith to which at last they fly for Succour and which they believ'd they should find the more inclinable to do 'em Justice if assisted by our Recommendation And men are surely to be pardon'd if afraid of all things in so great a struggle for their Estates they rather call to mind what they have reason to fear from your Authority and high Power then what they have to hope well of their Cause especially before sincere and upright Judges Though for our parts we make no question but that induc'd by your Religion your Justice your Integrity rather then by our Intreaties you will give that Judgment which is Just and Equal and truly becoming your selves God preserve both you and your Republick to his own Glory and the defence and Succour of his Church Westminster April 1. 1656. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland c. To the most Serene Prince Charles Gustavus King of the Swedes Goths and Vandals Great Prince of Finland Duke of Esthonia Carelia Breme Verden Stettin Pomerania Cassubia and Vandalia Prince of Rugia Lord of Ingria and Wismaria Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria Juliers Cleves and Monts Most Serene Prince PEter Julius Coict having accomplish'd the Affairs of his Embassy with us and so acquitted himself that he is not by us to be dismiss'd without the Ornament of his deserved Praises is now returning to your Majesty For he was most acceptable to us as well and chiefly for your own sake which ought with us to be of high consideration as for his own deserts in the diligent acquittal of his Trust The Recommendation therefore which we receiv'd from you in his behalf we freely testifie to have bin made good by him and deservedly given by your self as he on the other side is able with the same Fidelity and Integrity to relate and most truly to declare our singular Affection and Observance toward your Majesty It remains for us to beseech the most Merciful and All-powerful God to Bless your Majesty with all Felicity and a perpetual course of Victory over all the Enemies of his Church Westminster Apirl 17. 1656. Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene Prince JOhn Dethic Mayor of the City of London for this Year and William Wakefield Merchant have made their Addresses to us by way of Petition complaining That about the middle of October 1649. they freighted a certain Ship call'd the Jonas of London Jonas Lightfoot Master with Goods that were to be sent to Ostend which Vessel was taken in the mouth of the River Thames by one White of Barking a Pyrate Robbing upon the Seas by Vertue of a Commission from the Son of King Charles deceas'd and carri'd to Dnnkirk then under the Jurisdiction of the French Now in regard that by your Majesty's Edict in the year 1647. renew'd in 1649. and by some other Decrees in favour of the Parlament of England as they find it recorded it was Enacted That no Vessel or Goods taken from the English in the time of that War should be carri'd into any of your Majesty's Ports to be there put to Sale they presently sent their Factor Hugh Morel to Dunkirk to demand Restitution of the said Ship and Goods from M. Lestrade then Governor of the Town more especially finding them in the Place for the most part untouch'd and neither Exchang'd or Sold. To which the Governor made Answer That the King had bestow'd that Government upon him of his free Gift for Service done the King in his Wars and therefore he would take care to make the best of the Reward of his Labour So that having little to hope from an Answer so unkind and unjust after a great Expence of Time and Money the Factor return'd home So that all the remaining hopes which the Petitioners have seem wholly to depend upon your Majesty's Justice and Clemency to which they thought
setling of those Affairs In the mean time Almighty God preserve in safety so great a Pillar of his Church and of Swedeland's welfare From our Palace at Westminster July 1656. Your Majesties most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. to the most Serene Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene King our most dear Friend and Confederate CErtain Merchants of London Richard Baker and others have made their complaint in a Petition to us That a certain hir'd Ship of theirs call'd the Endeavour William Jop Master Laden at Tenariff with Three hundre'd Pipes of rich Canary and bound from thence for London in her Voyage between Palma and that Island upon the 21st of November in the year 1655. was taken by Four French Vessels seeming Ships of Burthen but fitted and mann'd like Privateers under the Command of Giles de la Roche their Admiral and carri'd with all her Freight and the greatest part of the Seamen to the East-Indies whither he pretended to be bound Fourteen excepted who were put ashore upon the Coast of Guiney which the said Giles affirm'd he did with that Intent that none of 'em might escape from so Remote and Barbarous a Countrey to do him any harm by their Testimony For he confess'd he had neither any Commission to take the English Vessels neither had he taken any as he might have done before well knowing there was a firm Peace at that time between the French and our Republick But in regard he had design'd to revittle in Portugal from whence he was driven by contrary Winds he was constrain'd to supply his necessities with what he found in that Vessel and believ'd the Owners of his Ships would satisfie the Merchants for their Loss Now the Loss of our Merchants amounts to Sixteen Thousand English Pounds as will easily be made appear by Witnesses upon Oath But if it shall be Lawful upon such trivial Excuses as these for Pyrates to violate the most Religious Acts of Princes and make a sport of Merchants for their particular benefits certainly the sanctity of Leagnes must fall to the ground all Faith and Authority of Princes will grow out of date and be trampl'd under foot Wherefore we not onely request your Majesty but believe it mainly to concern your Honour that they who have adventur'd upon so slight a pretence to violate the League and most Sacred Oath of their Sovereign should suffer the Punishment due to so much Perfidiousness and daring Insolence and that in the mean time the Owners of those Ships though to their Loss should be bound to satisfie our Merchants for the vast Detriment which they have so wrongfully sustain'd So may the Almighty long preserve your Majesty and support the Interest of France against the Common Enemy of us Both. From our Palace at Westminster August 1656. Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England To his Eminency Cardinal Mazarine Most Eminent Lord HAving an occasion to send Letters to the King we thought it likewise an offer'd opportunity to Write to your Eminency For we could not think it proper to conceal the subject of our Writing from the sole and onely person whose singular Prudence Governs the most important Interests of the French Nation and the most weighty Affairs of the Kingdom with equal Fidelity Council and Vigilance Not without reason we complain in short to find that League by your self as it were a crime to doubt most sacredly concluded almost the very same day contemn'd and violated by one Giles a French-man a petty Admiral of Four Ships and his Associates equally concern'd as your Eminency will readily find by our Letters to the King and the Demands themselves of our Merchants Nor is it unknown to your Excellency howmuch it concerns not only Inferiour Magistrates but even Royal Majesty it self that those first Violators of solemn Alliances should be severely punish'd But they perhaps by this time being arriv'd in the East-Indies whither they pretended to be bound enjoy in undisturb'd possession the Goods of our People as Lawful Prize won from an Enemy which they Robb'd and Pilledg'd from the Owners contrary to all Law and the pledg'd Faith of our late sacrd League However this is that which we request from your Eminency That whatever Goods were taken from our Merchants by the Admiral of those Ships as necessary for his Voyage may be restor'd by the Owners of the same Vessels which was no more then what the Rovers themselves thought Just and Equal which as we understand it lies within your Power to do considering the Authority and Sway you bear in the Kingdom From our Palace at Westminster August 1656. Your Eminencies most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces Most High and Mighty Lords our dear Friends and Confederates WE make no doubt but that all men will bear us this Testimony That no considerations in contracting Foreign Alliances ever sway'd us beyond those of defending the Truth of Religion or that we accounted any thing more sacred then to Unite the Minds of all the Friends and Protectors of the Protestants and of all others who at least were not their Enemies Whence it comes to pass that we are touch'd with so much the more grief of Mind to hear that the Protestant Princes and Cities whom it so much behoves to live in Friendship and Concord together should begin to be so jealous of each other and so ill dispos'd to mutual Affection more especially that your Lordships and the King of Sweden then whom the Orthodox Faith has not more Magnanimous and Couragious Defenders nor our Republick Confederates more strictly conjoyn'd in Interests should seem to remit of your confidence in each other or rather that there should appear some too apparent signs of tottering Friendship and growing discord between ye What the causes are and what progress this alienation of your Affection has made we protest our selves to be altogether ignorant However we cannot but conceive an extraordinary trouble of mind for these beginnings of the least dissention arisen among Brethren which infallibly must greatly endanger the Protestant Interests Which if they should gather strength how prejudicial it would prove to the Protestant Churches what an occasion of triumph it would afford our Enemies and more especially the Spaniards cannot be unknown to your Prudence and most industrious experience of Affairs As for the Spaniards it has already so enliven'd their confidence and rais'd their Courage that they made no scruple by their Embassador residing in your Territories boldly to obtrude their Counsels upon your Lordships and that in reference to the highest concerns of your Republick presuming partly with Threats of renewing the War to terrifie and partly with a false prospect of Advantage