No. XIII
Charles the Second by the grace
of God, of
To the most eminent Prince the
Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of
Most eminent Prince, our cousin
and well-beloved friend—Greeting:
Although we in no way doubt of
the sincere readiness of your eminence and of your holy Order of Malta to do
everything which might be known to be expedient for our interests, still we could
not read your eminence's letters under date of 24th March last, in which such
readiness is fully set forth,
without the greatest pleasure. Our affection is sharpened and excited by the
mention of the good will of our predecessors, the Kings of Great Britain,
evinced in every age towards your most illustrious Order, which, as your
eminence in your said letters so honourably commemorate, so will we studiously
endeavour to imitate, and even to surpass. From our admiral, Sir Join Narbrough, knight, and also from other parties, we have
heard with how much benignity your eminence
lately received him, and caused him and the other officers of our fleet to be
supplied with what was requisite for our ships of war, which we consider not
less worthy of the piety and valour of your Order than of our friendship; and
we on our part, on opportunity presenting itself, will be careful to abundantly
reciprocate by every kind of good offices.
It remains to recommend your
eminence and the whole of your holy Order militant to the safeguard of the God
of Hosts.
Given from our
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend,
CHARLES REX.