"I have read and seriously pondered the petition of Roger Fowke, transmitted to me by your {264} Majesty's special mandate; as also the letters written by your Majesty to the Grand Master of the Order of Malta in favour of the above-mentioned, and those from the said Grand Master in reply; and it is evident to me, after mature examination, that your Majesty has done so much, and that it is proved that the sentence of the Maltese Tribunal against the said Roger Fowke was pronounced contrary to right and justice (as is clearly shown in the letters written by your Majesty to the Grand Master); that therefore it appears to be incumbent on me only to set forth to your Majesty, and to the Lords of the Privy Council, whether it be my opinion that sufficient satisfaction has been given by the Grand Master's letters to your Majesty, who by the above-cited letters demand restitution; and if not, whether in consequence it be lawful to your Majesty to grant the so-called letters of reprisal, on which subject I beg humbly to submit to your Majesty, and to the singular prudence and judgment of the above-mentioned Lords, this my opinion; that is to say, that the answers of the Grand Master are so far from being in any way satisfactory, that from them it may be easily perceived that the above-mentioned Grand Master, although he does not deny in express terms reparation for his loss to the above Roger, nevertheless does not decree anything certain on this head; from which your Majesty may reasonably conclude that the said reparation was refused. Nor does it tend to his defence that he asserts that all that was done by his tribunal was done by solemn sentence, that the judges were men of great reputation, and that it is to be believed that the reasons produced by both sides were justly considered; for judicial authority is not of the same value as regards foreigners and subjects. It is not lawful for subjects to demand a re-examination of the sentence pronounced by their superiors, although to foreign princes it entirely appertains to make such demand, in cases interesting themselves or their subjects; otherwise, if all given sentences were considered as freeing nations from reprisals, such decrees might perhaps be obtained in any case, even though manifestly unjust; and consequently it is by all agreed to be a just cause for reprisals, not only when justice is not rendered, but also when in any case, not of a doubtful nature, judgment may have been given against right; although certainly, in cases of a doubtful nature, the presumption would be in favour of those who may have been elected as public judges. Had the Grand Master indicated to your Majesty that the said Roger Fowke might have preferred an appeal against the sentence pronounced against him to a superior tribunal, and