133

(WITH LETTER CCXIX)

(1) To the Grand Seigneur

1657, August 11.-"Our Palace of Westminster. Oliver, by the Grace of God Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland and the dominions and territories thereto belonging, to the High and Mighty Emperor, Sultan Mahomet Han, Chief Lord and Commander of the Mussulman Empire, Sole and supreme Monarch of the Eastern Empire, greeting." Would be very unwilling that the amity and traffic between "both nations" should be disturbed, desiring nothing more than a continuance and increase of that friendship which hath been established, yet this has been too frequently interrupted by pirates who find retreat and succour in his Majesty's dominions. An instance whereof (to omit many others) appears in the late surprisal of an English ship called the Resolution, bound for Scanderoon, which has been assaulted by ships of Tripoli (part of his Majesty's fleet) and carried into Rhodes, where ship, goods, and all on board of her have been seized. Cannot pass over so barbarous and dishonourable an act, and so manifest a breach of the peace, and presumes so much of his Majesty's wisdom and justice that he will order complete restitution, and also, for his own honour, take course for suppressing and punishment of pirates, and a general redress of all former injuries. Has given orders to his Ambassador at the Porte to inform his Majesty more particularly, and desires to know his resolution therein, in order to take course for the protection of his people.*

(2) To the High and Excellent Lord, the Vizier Azem

[1657, August 11].-On the same subject. Remonstrates against this act of violence and injustice, and demands punishment of the offenders, restitution of the ship and goods and release of the master, mariners and passengers; otherwise the Sultan must expect ruin and desolation of all trade, besides confusion and danger to his own state.

*The original, signed by Oliver "in a tremulous hand," is amongst Mr. G. H. Finch's MSS. at Burley on the Hill, and would therefore appear not to have been delivered to the Sultan. See Eighth Report of the Hist. MSS. Commissioners, Appendix 1, p. 640. This letter and the next are printed from copies in Ellis, 2nd series, part iii., 377, 381.

VOL. III.-32

134

(AFTER LETTER CCXXIV)

ON September 9, 1657, Henry Cromwell wrote to Thurloe concerning the cashiering of one Lieut.-Col. Brayfield-"A busy aud turbulent person. a promoter of seditious papers" and worst of all, a supporter of Colonel Hewson's. He harks back to his old grievance, his father's letter to Hewson, and declares that Brayfield " compares in his frequent and familiar discourses the present times to those of David and Absalom; insinuates that His Highness liked well of the letter," and consequently that he (Henry), like Absalom, is trying to steal away the hearts of the people. This having been proved in a court of well-reputed and indifferent persons, Brayfield has been cashiered. About October 6, Thurloe wrote defending him, assuring the Major-General that Brayfield denies all words against him and is "a sober Independent and no ways factious," and praying his Lordship to pardon him. Unfortunately the letter of Henry Cromwell to which the Protector's is an answer, does not appear to have been pre

served.

For the Lord Henry Cromwell at Dublin: These

HARRY CROMWELL,

October the 13th, 1657.

I have seriously thought of your letter, and thank you for your care expressed in the business which I imparted to you under the caution of secrecy, of which I suppose you will hear more hereafter.

I am sorry you wrote me some sad apprehensions of some enemies of yours to be about me; truly none dare appear so, and I am persuaded if you think your B. Fleetwood to be so, you are mistaken. It were dangerous for you to think so and he not be so, and safer for you to be mistaken, for indeed none (I hope) can wrong you with me, and though all things answer not, be you humble, and patient, place value where it truly lies, viz., in the favour of God, in knowing Him, or rather in being known of Him. If your heart be truly here, you cannot miscarry.

I am sorry you gave me not one word about Lieutenant-Colonel Brafeild's business. I did see my Lord Broghill's account thereof. It was as fair as I believe the business would bear, but yet, though he solicited a trial, he should not have had it. I would not have put him upon men,2 or I would have after restored him. I would not

1 He was in Hewson's regiment. See p. 396 above. 2 over "

those" erased.

believe 2 carnal men against one such protesting innocency, it1 being in a case concerning myself, where it is in my power to pardon without injustice.

I am afraid you have erred in this. If you can, I pray you give a remedy for my sake,' and let the poor man be handsomely restored. My love to your wife and children. I rest,

Your loving Father,

OLIVER P.*

Endorsed: His Highness' Misapprehensions. Lt.-Col. Brayfield.

135

(AFTER LETTER CCXXIV)

IN 1657 the Sieur de Belliévre, former Ambassador to England, died. He was president of the Parliament of Paris, and Cromwell took the daring step of writing to urge the appointment of Bordeaux as his successor. Mazarin must have been as much surprised as Oliver would have been if the Cardinal had suggested a fresh Lord Chief Justice for England, and was probably irritated moreover by the Protector's assumption of equality with "such as formerly governed in these nations." To his Eminence, Cardinal Mazarin

December 4th, 1657.

MY LORD, The satisfaction which I have taken in my Lord Ambassador Bourdeaux his management of the affairs of England, for the conserving a good intelligence between the two nations, has obliged me to take the first favourable opportunity to express the esteem I have of him, and having understood that by the death of the Sieur Bellieure, heretofore Ambassador in England, there is a place void in the Parliament of Paris, which the King of France has used to fill with persons of the rank of Monsieur de Bourdeaux, I was willing to believe that your Eminence would not take it ill from me, if I took hold of this occasion to recommend him to your favour, and to desire your Eminence that in bestowing the said place, you have respect to him as

*

1 minde this "inserted in a different hand and ink.

2 minde this allsoe" in the same hand as the other.

Holograph, very neatly and firmly written, at the British Museum. Add. MS. 36,652, f. 1. Printed in the English Historical Review, April, 1901.

one that has exceeding well merited ¡of the Crown of France, and in particular of your Eminence. I should have desired this favour of the King himself, out of a confidence of his willingness thereto, but that I resolved to be indebted herein to your Eminence only, persuading myself that seeing I do recommend a person who is already so many ways obliged to serve your interest, as well the King as your Eminence may think this a fitting way to witness the satisfaction which you have received in the success of his negotiation, and to recompense him for his care and fidelity therein; besides, I have observed that such as have formerly governed in these nations have made the like requests with very good success, none of which have wished better to France or had a more particular affection for your interest than myself; and I assure your Eminence the regard you shall have to my recommendation in the disposal of this place upon this person will be received by me as a great token of your friendship toward me, and lay a great obligation upon

Your affectionate friend,

OLIVER P.*

Endorsed: M. le Protecteur a son Eminence du 2 (sic) Decembre,

1657.

On December

The Protector's letter was not at all well received. 19-29, Lockhart wrote to Thurloe: "Upon Thursday last I went to Bois de Vincennes, and delivered to his Eminence his Highness' letter concerning M. de Bordeaux. I found him much surprised with it, and (after long discourse upon this subject) ready to have returned his Highness an answer under his own hand. I besought him to pay so much respect to his Highness' mediation as to defer his last resolution, till I had the honour to entertain him further about it at my next audience. I forbear to mention the particulars that passed in our reasonings for and against the thing [but] I am like to meet with greater difficulties than I could foresee, and that your lordship [sic] may remember that I did apprehend some, when you took first notice of his Highness' resolutions that way; though it was my opinion (of which I do not yet repent me) that his Highness had reason to demand that favour." 1 Apparently the Cardinal did not reply to the letter until April 6 (new style) of the following year, when he wrote regretting that he was not able to comply with the desire expressed by the

*With superscription and seal. Original, holograph, in the Morrison Collection (stated to have been acquired from the Fillon Collection); reproduced in facsimile in the Calendar of Mr. Alfred Morrison's MSS.

1 Thurloe, vi. 695.

Protector in favour of M. Bordeaux for the presidency, as there were difficulties in the way, which he had explained to Mr. Lockhart.1

Meanwhile, it appears from a letter from Lord Fauconberg, that the Cardinal had held out hopes that Bordeaux might have the second place, called "president dù mortier.” 2

136

Probably to Ahmad VI., Dey of Algiers. The title of Basha was very loosely employed.

To Hamet Basha

[1657]-Oliver, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England etc., to the lord Hamet Basha wisheth health and peace from God. We received two letters from you, dated both on the third day of the second moon of Rabia, in the year 1066, according to your account. Both those letters contained in them the same matter, to which we now return our answer.

And first, we rejoice, as you do, at the peace which we have made with you, the covenants whereof you recite truly in your letter, and we acknowledge them, and shall cause them to be observed faithfully through all our government. We also return you thanks for the kind reception and refreshment which you have given to our fleet and ships sailing to and fro, or trading in your ports.

Whereas you write that the Flemish, being your enemies, do oft wear English flags and colours in their ships, whereby your ships are deceived and sometimes lost, we will speak thereof to the Flemish or Dutch Ambassador residing with us, that it may no more be so done; and this is all we can perform herein, for the Flemish are not under our authority.

Lastly, whereas you write that many Flemish and French mariners go in English ships and land on your shore, and in particular that Captain Griffith of the ship Acorn and Mr. Francis Butcher, merchant, coming into your harbour with some of their mariners that were Flemish, carried away with them a Fleming who was slave to a Masulaga'; we will strictly forbid the merchants to take with them to your 1 Documents inedits sur l'Histoire de France. Lettres du Cardinal Mazarin, viii. 692.

2 Thurloe, vi. 757.

3 The year of the Hegira 1066 began on Oct. 10, 1656 English style. Rabia II. was the fourth month.

Written as one word. Quaere, some official person.