Translated out of Spanish.
A Copy of prince Ruperts Declaration written the 8. of June 1651 on the
Coasts of Ayamonte, and sent unto a certain Governor.
WE doe testifie that a certain ship belonging unto the Republick
and subjects of the king of Spain, coming from the
Indies, was met with the taken by the ships of the King of
great Britain, and is by us detained for the reasons following,
which these presents doe make known, and providence unto all
those which are interested therein.
First, in regard that many ships of warre, and other prizes
inhitch were taken in the beginning, and since the warre, were
protected by his Catholick Majesty in the Bay of Carthagena,
and in the province of Murcia, and received a great navy of the
Rebels, and granted unto them the priviledges of the Crown
of England & spain, and took violently from us what we had taken:
And then the Governor of Carthagena in the name of his
Catholik Majesty, took possession of the Guns, & other things
belonging unto the men of warre of the King of great Britain:
And since in the same Bay hath freed many merchandizes
which were in the said ships, and delivered them unto those of
the Parliament, which by law of Arms ought to have been the
King of great Britains; and forced the major part of our ships
company aboard of the rebels, to serve against their will.
The second is, in regard that his Catholick Majesty hath for
a long time given commission unto his men of War to permit
the rebels of England to come into any of his ports in his Dominions,
whereby the King of great Britain hath suffered great
dammage.
The third, in regard that his Catholicks Majesty without any
reason given, hath prohibited the ships of the King of great Britain
under my command, to come into any of his Ports, which is
against the intent of the Articles of Peace between the two
Crowns. And hath given commission to his Governors and
Officers to take the ships under my command in case we come
into any of his Ports.
For these reasons we have taken the said ship appertaining
unto the subjects of the K. of Spain, the which we do detain to the
end to give the K. of great Britain satisfaction for the dammage
which be hath sustained by his Catholick Majesty, and doe conceive
that we cannot otherwise in duty to our King do, till such
time as his said Majesty hath notice thereof. In testimony of
which we have subscribed these presents the day aforesaid.
R[unr]pert.
By this dealing Rupert hath made the Spaniard his utter enemy, who hath hereupon
[unr] him a Pirat, [unr] is setting, our divers Gallions to [unr]ea against him.