To the most eminent Prince, the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta. Most eminent Sir, After the tender of my humble service, with my hearty thanks for the manifold favours vouchsafed unto my Master, the King of Great Britain, &c., and for your highness' extraordinary kindness manifested to myself--and, most eminent sir, since your favour of _product_, I have sent on shore one of my captains to wait upon your highness with the presentment of this my grateful letter, and withal to certify to your eminence _that I did, and do expect, a salute to be given by your highness to my Master's flag which I carry_, correspondent to the salutes which you give to the flags of the King of Spain and the King of France, which are carried in the same place, _it being the expectation of the King my Master_. Formerly your eminence was pleased to make some scruple of my command as admiral, which I humbly conceive your highness is fully satisfied in, since you received the last letter from the King of Great Britain. Sir, I have, since my arrival at your eminence's port, often employed the Consul Desclaous to wait upon your highness _concerning the salutes_, but have not received any satisfactory answer thereto, which I now humbly desire may be returned unto me by my officer; and withal, that your eminence will be pleased to honour me with your commands wherein I may serve you, which shall be most cheerfully embraced, and readily performed by, 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.