Charles Rex.
No. XVI.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Greet 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 most dear cousin and friend.
Our well-beloved and faithful Sir John Narbrough, knight, latterly admiral of our fleet in the Mediterranean sea, conveyed to us your eminence's letters written under date of the 7th of April last, which being most full indeed of affection and gratitude on your part, we received and perused with equal feelings and satisfaction. The acknowledgments of benefits conferred by us, which your eminence so frequently expresses, causes us also to return similar thanks to your eminence and to the whole of your sacred Order, for all those offices of humanity and courtesy with which you assisted our above-mentioned admiral and other our ships stationed in that sea, of which we shall always preserve the memory indelibly engraved in our hearts. It is equally a source of pleasure to us that our arms have been of help to your eminence and to your Order; and if the expedition had been of no other benefit, we consider it ample compensation in having restored to their homes so many persons celebrated through the whole Christian and Infidel world who were recovered from the power and chains of the barbarians.
May your eminence continue to desire that we should freely divide the glory of rendering peaceful the Mediterranean sea with the illustrious Order of Malta!
May the Most Good and Great God sustain and preserve your eminence with all your religious Order!
Given from our palace of Whitehall the 28th day of October, 1676.
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend,