do which we shall willingly embrace and studiously search
after every opportunity which may offer.

In the mean time we heartily recommend your eminence and all your military
Order to the safeguard of the Most High and Most Good God.

Given from our palace of Whitehall the 26th day of January, 1675-6.

Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend,
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,
CHARLES REX.

No. XVII.

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