Your Highness' Cousin and Friend,
Charles Rex.
No. XIII.
Charles the Second by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend.
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 commemorates, so will we studiously endeavour to imitate, and even to surpass. From our admiral, Sir John 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 palace of Whitehall the 19th day of May, 1675.
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend,