THE ADDRESSE OF Don Alfonso de Cardenas Lord Ambassadour for the King of SPAIN TO THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMON-WEALTH OF ENGLAND, As also a true ACCOMPT OF THE Totall Overthrow of Prince Ruperts Fleet by General Blake at Carthagena in the Medeterranian Sea.
Pri [...]ted is Edinburgh by Evan Tyler[?], [...]
THE SPEECH OF THE Lord Ambassadour of Spain, to the Parliament on Thursday, the 26. of December, 1650.
THe King, my Master, being desirous to shew to the World how great is the Affection, and Good will, with which on his part hath alwayes been continued a sincere and secure Friend ship with the English Nation, and to give hereof a royall and conchading proof; It hath seemed good unto him to quallifie for the acknowledging this State, whose Authority and Soveraignty resides in this Parliament of the Common-Wealth of England, and to write by way of Credence on my behalf, this Letter the which I here present.
And his Catholique Majesty being the Greatest and First King of Christendom, hath thought fit to oblige this Common Weal [...]h, by being also the First, who should make this Acknowledgement by me his Ambassadour, and quallified to this effect, being moved hereunto, only out of good will, which in Spain hath ever been conserved toward this Nation, and out of a naturall propension, whereunto his royall minde inclines him, to continue, establish, and Close up a good Friend-ship with this Common-Wealth.
And I have speciall Order from the King, my Master, to declare as from him, the lively resentment, that unhappy [Page 4] Accident of Anthony Ascha [...], Resident of this Common-Wealth [...]ed him [...], and to lay open what his Majesty hath done in prosecution of the Cause, against those who were guilty of his Death, in which they have proceeded on the part of his Majesty and his Ministers to do, not obely all that the Lawes and Customs of those Kingdoms permits to be done in the like Cases, but have also exceeded by those particalar demonstrations and diligence they have used, as well with the Ecclesiasticall Judge, to make him declare in point of Appeal, they are not to enjoy the benefit of the Church; as with the Seculat, to the end nothing may be omitted in execution of the Chastisement, which the highest rigour of Justice permits; And he will not draw off his Hand untill he bring the businesse to an End, for which reason, so much care is had of their Persons, that being as they are in a Common Gaole, he hath herein for greater Security, put Guard upon them: In all which, and what is doing, I doubt not but it will be shortly declared, that the Case could not be pressed more, if the dead Person [...]e a Prince, Heire to the Crown of Spain; All which [...]ht to assure the Parliament of the Care and Appli [...]on had to give it full satisfaction in this point, as is [...] desired may be given in whatsoever else shall happen; An which are Effects of a secure Friendship and good Correspondence, such hath been the entertainment and Shelter, which in the Havens of Spain, was given to the Ships of the Navy of this Common-Wealth; The which shall be continued with that fidelity, they have hitherto found in all his Majesties Havens: where he hath also given Order, that neither Prince Rupert nor his Ships be admitted, for having failed at Veles Malaga in point of that reverence and respect due to his Majesties Standard, the which set up in the Fort and Castle gave security to the English Merchant Ships, as the Parliament will understand more at large by the Relation which was sent me, and I have thought fit to Communicate.
The King of Spains Letter to the Parliament of England.
We have received three Letters, not at the same, but at severall times from you; the one whereof gave Credit to Anthony Ascham, whom you nominated your Resident in this our Court; the other came unto Us by means of Robert Blake Admirall of your Fleet [...] lately, the third was sent by Don Alfonso de Cardenas our Ambassador there: Wherein you grieve at the [...]expected Accident of the aforesaid Resident, and withall earnestly entreat, that such as have committed the Fact be punished: Certainly you will have clearly understood from our Ambassador (and the same do I again command him to make known unto you) how much that Accident did displease Us, and so he will further lay open unto you what We have thereupon Commanded to be done, least such a like Accident unpunished, may prove a future bad Example: And when as the said Don Alfonso de Cardenas shall have manifested unto you more at large this our minde, nothing will remain to be said, whereby to Imprint in you an Assurance of this Affection of our Will, with wh [...]ch we will take a Care of whatsoever may concern you: And for this reason your Admirall, Souldiers, and Ships have found, and shall hereafter finde that shelter in our Havens which is fit, and we Commanded to be given unto them: Concerning which and whatsoever else shall occur to be said, We desire you to give entire Credit unto the aforesaid Don Alfonso de Cardenas resting secure of our good Will, and most certain Friendship.
A true Accompt of the totall Overthrow of Prince Ruperts Fleet by General Blake at Carthagena in the Mediterranean Sea.
TOuching the advice you have of Prince Ruperts being in the Streights it is very certain; for about twenty dayes past, Prince Maurice his Brother arrived at Thollone with the Marmaduke, which they took coming from Russia, he left Prince Rupert by himself off Mayork, having lost the rest of the Fleet [...] Cape Sagat; they were in all seven Ships, and intended for Thollone, but since Prince Maurice his arrival, although the rest have been daily expected, yet no news of them, which makes them begin to doubt what is become of them, and indeed not without some reason, although they know nothing of it: For two dayes past here arrived a bark from Genoah, who brings news of a great Fight that hath been about Cape Sagat between the English Frigots and Prince Ruperts; they report of six Ships sunke and one taken, but of which side not yet known, that they have met it is most certain: From Barcelona this last Post came advice of fifteent Parliament Ships that were arrived at Carthagena, and that they had fought with Prince Rupert, and sunke the Admirall and Vice Admiral, of which we expect to hear further by a Ship that [...]s to come in hourly from Allegant.
At this day instant is come newes for certain that Prince Ruperts Fleet, was at or neer Carthagena, where they fell upon them, and have sunk, burnt and taken them all; whether the Prince himself in Person be amongst them it is [Page 7] not known, but here is no newes of him, and therefore do believe he is with the rest.
Prince Maurice is left in the Swallow 11 Thollone, who intended for Villa Franke, and not to go forth any more; and therefore now we hope there will be less danger for poor Merchants Ships then before▪ For the French there is onely two Ships abroad, and no news of them, so it is thought the English Ships have also met with them: There are four or five more that are Arming at Thollone, but cannot be ready this six weeks or two moneths, and when they shall have beard what is become of their Associates, I beleeve they will give over their designe, knowing General Blake to be so neer them. Prince Maurice attempted to take the Daniel of London going into the Ports of Thollone, but the People of the Country hindred him, and told him plainly, that he should not think to spoil the Trade of the Country.
Marcellia December 20. 1650.
A more particular and full [...] of the [...] of P. Ruperts Fleet, from [...] Commander of [...] of the States Ships under Generall B [...]ke.
SInce the sending home of the Sugar Pri [...]es taken [...] Portugall, with Captain [...] our R [...] Admi [...]al, [...] the return of General Potham; there were remaining [...]th us of the Parliam [...]nts Ships seven S [...], viz. The Leopard, [...] Evoc [...]tion El [...]abeth, Phenix, and Con [...]an. Warwick: On the 26. of October, we took near the Streights mouth one of [...] King of Frances men of War with [...]6. br [...]ss Guns. Th [...] [...] had intelligence that Prince Rupert with h [...]s [...] w [...]s two dayes since before Maliga: The thirt [...]th of O [...]ber we came to Maliga, and there heard th [...]t [...] toward Allegant, and had burnt four E [...]glish Ships at [...] Malliga and thereabouts; we staid not two hours but made after him. The 2. of November, between Cape Sagat and Cape de Paulo we took another French [...] [...]ith 20[?] Guns: The [...] vve took the Rowbuck one of [...] Cape de Paulo, being a Ship of 24. Guns. The 4 of November, the John of our Fleet being ready to lay aboard the Black Prince of P. Ruperts Fleet, being a Ship of [...]2. Guns she run ashore 3. leagues to the East of Carthagena, and there fired[?] and blew up her self. The [...] of November, four more of Ruperts Ships run ashore in the Bay of Carthagena for fear of our Ships, and there are all cast away and bilged, having not a Mast standing. The 9. of November Generall Blake set sail to seek for the remainds of Ruperts Fleet, being now only two Ships, viz The Swallow and the Reformation and left me in the Bay of Carthagena with the John and two F [...]nch Prizes to attend the K. of Spains Answer, concerning the Guns, Ammunition, &c. belonging to those of Ruperts Ships that run ashore. This day the Viceroy of Murcia was aboard the John, and signified to me, that I should have all that could be saved, for the use of the Common-wealth of England. The King of Spain h [...]th also written a Letter to our Gener [...]ll, [...] [...]spect to him and our Fleet.
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