Most eminent Sir,
Your highness' most humble
And faithful Servant,
JOHN NARBROUGH.

On board His Majesty's Ship Henrietta,
Malta, October 17, 1675.

That the complaints of Sir John Narbrough, with reference to the Grand
Master's refusal to salute the English flag, were, in the end,
satisfactorily explained and removed, will be seen by the following
extracts taken from the _Diary of Henry Teonge_, published in London in
1825. The reverend writer was serving as chaplain on board H. M. S.
"Assistance" at the time (1675-76) his notes were written.

"_August 1, 1675._--This morn wee com near Malta; before wee com to the
cytty, a boate with the Malteese flagg in it coms to us to know whence
wee cam. Wee told them from England; they asked if wee had a bill of
health for prattick, viz., entertaynment; our captain told them he had
_no bill but what was in his guns' mouths_. Wee cam on and anchored in
the harbour betweene the old towne and the new, about nine of the
clock; but must waite the governour's leasure to have leave to com on
shoare, which was detarded _because our captain would not salute the
cytty, except they would retaliate_. At last cam the Consull with his
attendants to our ship (but would not com on board till our captain had
been on shoare) to tell us that we had leave to com on shoare six, or
eight, or ten, at a time, and might have anything that was there to be
had; _with a promise to accept our salute kindly_. Wherupon our captain
tooke a glasse of sack, and drank a health to King Charles, and fyred
seven gunns: the cytty gave us five againe, which was more than they
had don to all our men of warr that cam thither before."

"_August 2._--This cytty is compassed almost cleane round with the sea,
which makes severall safe harbours for hundreds of shipps. The people
are generally extreamly courteouse, but especially to the English. A
man cannot demonstrate all their excellencys and ingenuitys. Let it
suffice to say thus much of this place: viz. Had a man no other
business to invite him, yet it were sufficiently worth a man's cost and
paines to make a voyage out of England on purpose to see that noble
cytty of Malta, and their works and fortifications about it. Several of
their knights and cavaliers cam on board us, six at one time, men of
sufficient courage and friendly car