Your Highness' good Cousin and Friend,
Charles Rex.
No. X.
Charles by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. &. &c.
To the most eminent Prince, the Lord Nicholas Cottoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our very dear cousin and friend, Greeting:
We apprehend that long since it must have come to the knowledge of your eminence, that a vessel of war of our Royal fleet, named the "Sapphire," went ashore some months ago on the coasts of Sicily; and was so much damaged, that she became entirely unseaworthy. We have however heard, that some guns which belonged to the said ship have been taken to the island of Malta, and there preserved. Having, in consequence, ordered our well-beloved and faithful subject Rudolf Montague, the Master of the Horse of our most serene Consort, and our Minister near his most Christian Majesty, to send there some fitting person to inquire after any remains of the said wreck, and to depose of them in a manner most advantageous to Us, we, as friends, beg your eminence to be pleased to interpose your authority; so that the persons already sent, or hereafter to be sent by our said Minister, may experience no delays nor impediments, but rather find all favour and due aid from each and every chief of the arsenal, ports and customs, and other officers to whom it may appertain; which we, in a similar case, will endeavour fully to reciprocate to your eminence.
In the mean time we recommend, with all our heart, your eminence to the protection of the Most Good and Most Great God.
Given from our Palace of Whitehall, on the 28th day of November, 1670.
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend,
Charles Rex.