that by the negligence of the said Roger the first sentence had become affirmed, in that case the remedy demanded by your Majesty would have been untenable; but the said Grand Master makes no mention of such appeal: I am therefore of opinion that nothing in the law of nations could militate against the lawfulness of your Majesty's granting letters of reprisal in the manner demanded. (Signed) ROBERT WYSEMAN." Without doubt the law of nations would warrant our extorting from the hands of your highness' subjects, by issuing letters of reprisal, that which we have not been able to obtain after so many years by means of the letters written in favour of our beloved subject and friend; and the deplorable state of the said Roger requires that we should now exact by our own authority that which we have in vain sought to obtain by means of simple communications. But taking into serious consideration the lamentable present state of Christianity, and the daily augmentation of the large empire of our common enemy, and how distinguished has been the valour of the Maltese knights, always constantly exposing themselves as a bulwark to so pertinacious an enemy, it would be very painful to us to be compelled to have recourse to reprisals, or to any such severe mode of proceeding, for the reparation of the loss. The glory also of the Christian name, so often valiantly defended, has caused us willingly to believe that we must not yet despair of obtaining from your highness' authority that reparation for his loss which our subject hopes to obtain by reprisal, and therefore, putting aside the remedy of right, and our Privy Council persuading us to milder measures, we have thought proper by this letter to seriously request your highness, by that justice which is the duty of princes, and of the defenders of Christianity, to deign to procure without delay to our trustworthy subject, who has suffered so great an injustice from the Maltese Tribunal, and who is exhausted by the delays of so many years, full compensation for all his losses, including also the amount of his expenses; so that we may never have cause to regret that we, putting aside the law of nations, have till now abstained from reprisal, and so that henceforth the world may eulogise the Maltese as not being less just than valiant. We have only now to recommend your highness and all your Knights to the most good and most great God. Given in our Palace of Whitehall on the 29th day of April, of the year of Human Redemption 1668, and of our reign the twentieth. Your Highness' Good Cousin and Friend, CHARLES REX.