No. XIV.
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
well-beloved cousin and friend.
We know not how it came to pass
that our admiral in the Mediterranean sea, Sir John Narbrough,
knight, should have given such cause of complaint as mentioned in your
eminence's letters addressed to us under date of the 5th of April, as to have
refused to give the usual salute to the city of Malta, unless perhaps, he had
thought something had been omitted on the part of the Maltese which he
considered due to our dignity, and to the flag of our royal fleet. Be it,
however, as it may, your eminence may be persuaded that it is our fixed and
established intention to do and perform everything both ourselves and by our
officers amply to show how much we esteem the sacred person of your eminence
and the Order of Malta.
In order, therefore, that it
should already appear that we do not wish greater honour to be paid to any
prince than to your eminence and to your celebrated Order, we have directed our
above-mentioned admiral to accord all the same signs of friendship and good
will as towards those of the most Christian and catholic kings; and we no way
doubt your Order will equally show that benevolence towards us which it is
customary to show to the above-mentioned kings, or to either of them.
It only remains to us to heartily
recommend your eminence and all your military Order to the safeguard of the
Most High and Most Good God.
Given from our
Your Eminence’s good Cousin and
Friend,
CHARLES
REX.