No. XVII
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.
The thanks which your eminence,
by your letters written under date
of the 15th of August last, returns to us on account of the fifty knights of
your Order liberated by our assistance from the slavery of the barbarians,
could hardly be more acceptable to us than the prayers adjoined in the above-mentioned
letters for the liberation from the slavery of the Algerians of another member of
your holy Order, the German, John Robert A. Stael. We in consequence, in order
that we may not appear to be wanting either in the will or in affection towards
your eminence, have communicated our orders to our well-beloved and faithful
subject, Sir John Narbrough, knight, commanding our
fleet in those seas, that if the city of Algiers should be constrained to agree
to a treaty of just peace and submission by the force of our arms, assisted by
Divine help, he should use every effort in his power, so that the liberty of
the said John Robert A. Stael be obtained.
Your eminence is already well
aware of the fidelity and zeal of our above-mentioned admiral, and we have no
doubt that he will willingly and strenuously observe our orders on that head.
It remains for us to heartily
recommend your eminence and the whole of 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.