MRP: 30th December 1657, Letter from Mr. Longland, agent at Leghorne, to secretary Thurloe
30th December 1657, Letter from Mr. Longland, agent at Leghorne, to secretary Thurloe
Source: Vol. lvi. p. 219[1]
Editorial history
20/12/11, CSG: Created page & posted letter
Suggested links
Assorted letters of Charles Longland, Livorno (Various)
Letter
Right honorable,
Here is not any further nois of the French men of war, so I suppos they ar retyred to Thollon: yet here is som reports, that in March they wil set out thence what seaforce they can mak, which is of litle consideration. It is very observable, that the two esteemed greatest princes in Europ cannot now ether of them mak any great appearance at sea, wheras formerly they hav bin very potent both. The cherishing of merchants certainly maks sea-men, as is very clear by Ingland and Holland, wher they abound; and consequently theyr sea-forces ar the greatest in the world, as theyr merchandyzing is. By which your honor may consider, how much it does import a state to cherish and protect them. Merchants wryt generally both from Ingland and Holland, that a breach wil sudenly follow betwixt them. In such case, I am confident the wisdom of his hyhnes will be such, ether to advertiz our merchants of it, that they may ly close, or to affourd them a squadron for protection. Six good ships or frigates of war sent early into the seas might pick up twys as many good merchant-ships, which at Thollon myht be furnisht with men and soldiours; al which joining with the French might mak up a fleet of 30 sail, sufficient to maintain the sovereignity of the Mediterranean-seas. The lyk providence myht be used at the South-Cape; ten Inglish ships, to head and countenance the Portugues, myht command therabouts.
The Duch here do so frequently talk, how theyr fleets shal command the Streits mouth and al the Mediterranean, which maks me speak of things so far abov me, wherin I humbly desyre your honor's pardon; beseeching you not to think I utter this discourse as a bisy-body, but out of a harty and humble desyre to serv his hyhnes and my country. It is writ me this week from Amsterdam, that theyr bank has disburst that week six hundred thousand guilders for the king of Denmark. Seing the Duch do underhand furnish and serv the advers party, it maks the world beleiv, they will not long forbear to shew themselves openly. Nothing else occurs. I am,
Right honorable,
Your most humble and faithfull servant,
Charles Longland.
- ↑ Thomas Birch (ed.),, 'State Papers, 1657: December (5 of 6)', A collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, vol. 6: January 1657 - March 1658 (London, 1742), pp. 695-705. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=55630 Date accessed: 20 December 2011
