Greeting. Our subjects trading into your Kingdome have by their humble Petition represented unto us that there are considerable debts due unto them by you for moneys and commoditys by them furnished, which the whole Government owned to be so just and reasonable that as an addition to the former articles of the late Peace, the Bashaw, Day and Duvan under their respective hands promised to make full satisfaction for them within twelve months then next ensuing with this further clause, that if within six months the French Customs which were abated upon your last Treaty with France from ten to three per Cent were not reduced to the former usance, Our subjects should be dealt with in the same manner, so as in point of Trade to be on equall termes with the French. And We not doubting of yr readinesse to comply with what you have in so solemne a manner agreed unto, We have thought fit to direct Our Trusty and Well beloved Sr William Turnbull Our Ambassador to the grand Signor in his passage to Constantinople to call at your Port, as well to assure you of Our desire to continue a Peace and friendship with you, as to demand and see the performance and execution of your said Agreement, which we must expect according to right and justice. Given etc etc the 12th day of May 1687 Your loving friend JAMES R. Sunderland P. Muhamed Baktache was succeeded by Ali Raïs, a corsair, who for nearly half a century had been the terror of the Mediterranean. Yet this pirate captain lived to see his alliance courted by Great Britain, and to receive the following curious letter from his “loving friend,” King William III., the object of which is fully explained in Lord Shrewsbury’s despatch which accompanied it.