DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE PROTECTORS OLIVER AND

RICHARD CROMWELL.

LETTERS WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF THE PARLIAMENT.

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The Senate and People of ENGLAND, to the most noble letters sent you, and to have had some respite from the Senate of the City of HAMBOROUGH. injuries of a sort of profligate people; yet since the coming of the same Coc--m to your city, (of whom we complained before,) who pretends to be honoured with a sort of embassy from the son of the lately deceased king, they have been assaulted with all manner of ill language, threats, and naked swords of ruffians and homicides, and have wanted your accustomed protection and defence; insomuch, that when two or three of the merchants, together with the president of the society, were hurried away by surprise aboard a certain privateer, and that the rest implored your aid, yet they could not obtain any assistance from you, till the mer chants themselves were forced to embody their own strength, and rescue from the hands of pirates the persons seized on in that river, of which your city is the mistress, not without extreme hazard of their lives. Nay, when they had fortunately brought them home again, and as it were by force of arms recovered them from an ignominious captivity, and carried the pirates themselves into custody; we are informed, that Coc--m was so audacious, as to demand the release of the pirates, and that the merchants might be delivered prisoners into his hands. We therefore again, and again, beseech and adjure you, if it be your intention, that contracts and leagues, and the very ancient commerce between both nations should be preserved, (the thing which you desire,) that our people may be able to assure themselves of some certain and firm support and reliance upon your word, your prudence, and authority; that you would lend them a favourable audience concerning these matters, and that you would inflict deserved punishment as well upon Coc--m, and the rest of his accomplices in that wicked act, as upon those who lately assaulted the preacher, hitherto unpunished, or command them to depart your territories;

FOR how long a series of past years, and for what important reasons, the friendship entered into by our ancestors with your most noble city has continued to this day, we both willingly acknowledge, together with yourselves; nor is it a thing displeasing to us, frequently also to call to our remembrance. But as to what we understand by your letters dated the twentyfifth of June, that some of our people deal not with that fidelity and probity, as they were wont to do in their trading and commerce among ye; we presently referred it to the consideration of certain persons wellskilled in those matters, to the end they might make a more strict inquiry into the frauds of the clothiers, and other artificers of the woollen manufacture. And we farther promise, to take such effectual care, as to make you sensible of our unalterable intentions, to preserve sincerity and justice among ourselves, as also never to neglect any good offices of our kindness, that may redound to the welfare of your commonwealth. On the other hand, there is something likewise which we not only required, but which equity itself, and all the laws of God and man, demand of yourselves; that you will not only conserve inviolable to the merchants of our nation their privileges, but by your authority and power defend and protect their lives and estates, as it becomes your city to do. Which as we most earnestly desired in our former letters; so upon the repeated complaints of our merchants, that are daily made before us, we now more earnestly solicit and request it: they complaining, that their safety, and all that they have in the world, is again in great jeopardy among ye. For although they acknowledge themselves to have reaped some benefit for a short time of our former

may be taken of his safety and honour, while he resides a public minister with your majesty; to the end he may freely propose what he has in charge from us, for the benefit, as we hope, of both nations; and certify to us with the soonest, what are your majesty's sentiments concerning these matters.

Westminster, Feb. 4, 1649.

AFTER we had suffered many, and those the utmost, mischiefs of a faithless peace, and intestine war, our being reduced to those exigencies, that if we had any regard to the safety of the republic, there was a necesssity of altering for the chiefest part the form of governFment; is a thing which we make no question is well known to your majesty, by what we have both publicly written and declared in justification of our proceedings.gus: that there they practise furious piracy, taking and

ALMOST daily and most grievous complaints are
brought before us, that certain of our seamen and offi-
cers, who revolted from us the last year, and treacher-
ously and wickedly carried away the ships with the
command of which they were entrusted, and who,
having made their escape from the port of Ireland,
where, being blocked up for almost a whole summer
together, they very narrowly avoided the punishment
due to their crimes, have now betaken themselves to
the coast of Portugal, and the mouth of the river Ta-

plundering all the English vessels they meet with sail-
ing to and fro upon the account of trade; and that all
the adjoining seas are become almost impassable, by
reason of their notorious and infamous robberies. To
which increasing mischief unless a speedy remedy be
applied, who does not see, but that there will be a
final end of that vast trade so gainful to both nations,
which our people were wont to drive with the Portu-
guese? Wherefore we again and again request your
majesty, that you would command those pirates and
revolters to depart the territories of Portugal: and
that, if any pretended embassadors present themselves
from *******, that you will not vouchsafe to give them
audience; but that you will rather acknowledge us,
upon whom the supreme power of England, by the
conspicuous favour and assistance of the Almighty, is
devolved; and that the ports and rivers of Portugal
may not be barred and defended against your friends
and confederates fleet, no less serviceable to your emo-
lument than the trade of the English.

To which, as it is but reason, if credit might be rather
given than to the most malicious calumnies of loose
and wicked men; perhaps we should find those persons
more amicably inclined, who now abroad have the
worst sentiments of our actions. For as to what we
justify ourselves to have justly and strenuously per-
formed after the example of our ancestors, in pursuance
of our rights, and for recovery of the native liberty of
Englishmen, certainly it is not the work of human force
or wit to eradicate the perverse and obstinate opinions
of people wickedly inclined concerning what we have
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done. But after all, in reference to what is common
to us with all foreign nations, and more for the general
interest on both sides, we are willing to let the world
know, that there is nothing which we more ardently
desire, than that the friendship and commerce, which
par people have been accustomed to maintain with all
ur neighbours, should be enlarged and settled in the
most ample and solemn manner. And whereas our
people have always driven a very great trade, and
gainful to both nations, in your kingdom; we shall
Jake care, as much as in us lies, that they may not
meet with any impediment to interrupt their dealings.
However, we foresee that all our industry will be in
vain, if, as it is reported, the pirates and revolters of
our nation shall be suffered to have refuge in your
ports, and after they have taken and plundered the
laden vessels of the English, shall be permitted to sell
their goods by public outeries at Lisbon. To the end
therefore that a more speedy remedy may be applied to
this growing mischief, and that we may be more clearly
satisfied concerning the peace which we desire, we
have sent to your majesty the most noble Charles Vane,
under the character of our agent, with instructions and
commission, a plenary testimonial of the trust we
have reposed, and the employment we have conferred
upon him. Him therefore we most earnestly desire
your majesty graciously to hear, to give him credit,
and to take such order, that he may be safe in his per-
on and his honour, within the bounds of your domi-
nions. These things, as they will be most acceptable

To the most Serene Prince, JOHN the Fourth, King of
PORTUGAL: the Parliament of the Commonwealth of
ENGLAND, Greeting.

to us, so we promise, whenever occasion offers, that the
same offices of kindness to your majesty shall be
mutually observed on all our parts.
Westminster, Feb. 4, 1649.

To the most Serene Prince, JOHN the Fourth, King of
PORTUGAL: the Parliament of the Commonwealth of
ENGLAND, Greeting.

To the most Serene Prince LEOPOLD, Archduke of
AUSTRIA, Governor of the SPANISH Low Countries,
under King Philip.

So soon as word was brought us, not without a most
grievous complaint, that Jane Puckering, an heiress of
an illustrious and opulent family, while yet by reason
of her age she was under guardians, not far from the
house wherein she then lived at Greenwich, was vio-
lently forced from the hands and embraces of her at-
tendants; and of a sudden in a vessel to that purpose
ready prepared, carried off into Flanders by the trea-
chery of one Walsh, who has endeavoured all the
ways imaginable, in contempt of law both human and

divine, to constrain a wealthy virgin to marriage, even
by terrifying her with menaces of present death: We
deeming it proper to apply some speedy remedy to so
enormous and unheard of piece of villany, gave orders
to some persons to treat with the governors of Newport
and Ostend (for the unfortunate captive was said to be

landed in one of those two places) about rescuing the | tious manners of those people, of their audaciousness, freeborn lady out of the hands of the ravisher. Who, their fury, and their madness. Which is the reason we both out of their singular humanity and love of virtue, are in hopes, that we shall more easily obtain from lent their assisting aid to the young virgin in servi- your majesty, first, that you will, as far as in you les, tude, and by downright robbery rifled from her habita- be assistant to the most illustrious Edward Poplar tion so that to avoid the violence of her imperious whom we have made admiral of our new fleet, for and masters, she was as it were deposited in a nunnery, subduing those detested freebooters; and that you wil and committed to the charge of the governess of the no longer suffer them, together with their captain, society. Wherefore the same Walsh, to get her again guests, but pirates, not merchants, but the pests into his clutches, has commenced a suit against her in commerce, and violaters of the law of nations, to ha the ecclesiastical court of the bishop of Ypre, pretend-bour in the ports and under the shelter of the fortresses of your kingdom; but that wherever the confines of Portugal extend themselves, you will command them to be expelled as well by land as by sea. Or if you are unwilling to proceed to that extremity, at least that with your leave it may be lawful for us, with ear proper forces to assail our own revolters and sea rob bers; and if it be the pleasure of Heaven, to reduce them into our power. This, as we have earnestly desired in our former letters, so now again with the great

ing a matrimonial contract between him and her. Now in regard that both the ravisher and the ravished person are natives of our country, as by the witnesses upon their oaths abundantly appears; as also for that the splendid inheritance, after which most certainly the criminal chiefly gapes, lies within our territories; so that we conceive, that the whole cognizance and determination of this cause belongs solely to ourselves; therefore let him repair hither, he who calls himself | the husband, here let him commence his suit, and de-est ardency and importunity we request of your majesty. By this, whether equity, or act of kindness, you will not only enlarge the fame of your justice over all well-governed and civil nations, but also in a greater measure bind both us and the people of England, who never yet had other than a good opinion of the Portuguese, to yourself and to your subjects. Farewel Westminster, April 27, 1650.

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mand the delivery of the person, whom he claims for his wife. In the mean time, this it is that we most earnestly request from your highness, which is no more than what we have already requested by our agent residing at Brussels, that you will permit an afflicted and many ways misused virgin, born of honest parents, but pirated out of her native country, to return, as far as lies in your power, with freedom and safety home again. This not only we, upon all opportunities offered, as readily prepared to return the same favour and kindness to your highness, but also humanity itself, and that same hatred of infamy, which ought to accompany all persons of virtue and courage in defending the honour of the female sex, seem altogether jointly to require at your brands.

Westminster, March 28, 1650.

To the HAMBURGHERS.

MORE than once we have written concerning the controversies of the merchants, and some other things which more nearly concern the dignity of our repub lic, yet no answer has been returned. But understanding that affairs of that nature can hardly be de termined by letters only, and that in the mean time certain seditious persons have been sent to your city by *******, authorized with no other commission than

that of malice and audaciousness, who make it their
business utterly to extirpate the ancient trade of our
people in your city, especially of those whose fidelity
to their country is most conspicuous;
have commanded the worthy and most eminent
Richard Bradshaw, to reside as our agent among t
to the end he may be able more at large to treat and

UNDERSTANDING that your majesty had both honourably received our agent, and immediately given him a favourable audience, we thought it became us to assure your majesty without delay, by speedy letters from us, that nothing could happen more accept able to us, and that there is nothing which we have de-negotiate with your lordships such matters and affairs

therefore we

creed more sacred, than not to violate by any word or
deed of ours, not first provoked, the peace, the friend-
ship, and commerce, now for some time settled between
us and the greatest number of other foreign nations,
and among the rest with the Portuguese. Nor did we
send the English fleet to the mouth of the river Tagus
with any other intention or design than in pursuit of
enemies so often put to ht, and for recovery of our
vessels, which being carried away from their owners by
force and treachery, the same rabble of fugitives con-
ducted to your coasts, and even to Lisbon itself, as to Most Noble, Magnificent, and Illustrious,

as are interwoven with the benefit and advantages
both republics. Him therefore we request ye
with the
soonest to admit to a favourable audience; and that
all things that credit may be given to him, that honour
paid him, as is usual in all countries, and among 1
nations paid to those that bear his character.

Westminster, April 2, 1650.

To the HAMBURGHERS.

the most certain fairs for the sale of their plunder. But we are apt to believe, that by this time almost all the Portuguese are abundantly convinced, from the flagi

To the most Serene Prince, JOHN the Fourth, King of

PORTUGAL.

our dearest Friends;

THAT your sedulities in the reception of our agent were so cordial and so egregious, we both gladly un

T

We have received advice from those most accomplished persons, whom we lately sent with our fleet into Portugal, in pursuit of traitors, and for the recovery of our vessels, that they were most civilly received by your excellency, as often as they happened to touch