Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/367

Rh Cottoner Grand-Master of the Order of Malta our well beloved cousin and friend, greeting.

“It having appeared to us a matter of interest not only to ourselves but likewise to the whole Christian world that we should keep in the Mediterranean Sea a certain number of galleys ready to afford prompt aid to our neighbours and allies against the frequent insults of the barbarians and Turks; we lately caused to be constructed two galleys, one in Genoa and the other in the port of Leghorn. In order to man these we directed a person well acquainted with such affairs to be sent, as to other parts, so also to the island of Malta subject to the rule of your highness in order to buy slaves and procure other necessaries. He having purchased some slaves it has been reported to us that your highness’s collector of customs demanded five pieces of gold of Malta money before they could be permitted to embark, under the title of toll at which proceeding we were certainly not a little astonished, it appearing to us a novel arrangement and one contrary to the usual custom, especially since it is well known to us that our neighbours and allies the kings of France and Spain are never accustomed to pay anything under the title of toll for the slaves whom they cause yearly to be transported from your island. We therefore beg your highness by the good and long friendship existing between us to grant to us the same privilege in regard to this kind of commerce within the territories of your highness as is enjoyed by both our said neighbours and allies which, although it ought to be conceded to us simply on account of our mutual friendship and our affection towards your highness and the illustrious Order of Malta, still we shall receive it so gratefully that if at any time we can do anything to please your highness we shall be always ready to do it with all attention and most willingly. In the mean time we heartily recommend your highness and all the members of the illustrious Order of Malta as well as all your affairs to the Divine keeping.

“Given from our palace at Westminster on the 12th day of February in the year of our Lord 1673 and of our reign the twenty-fifth. Your highness’s good cousin and friend Charles Rex.”

From the terms of this letter it is clear that the deportation