Folio 101: Senate of Hamburg to Charles II. Refer to report of their London agent...

Folio 101: Senate of Hamburg to Charles II. Refer to report of their London agent [sic] according to which London commissioners appointed to investigate and judge incident at New Mill in 1666 not merely attempted to examine circumstances of attack on English merchant vessels on Elbe, but, upon complaint by company of merchant adventurers and others, requested resident to state why Hamburg refused to assist those ships in their need and did not consider themselves obliged to defend them, and thereby made a more 'exact' inquiry whether a charge of omission or commission could be 'fastened' on Hamburg; defend their attitude and action, to the 'sincerity' of which Queen of Sweden 'and other illustrious persons' then residing at Hamburg could testify; not only were they in no position to oppose attacking force, but would, in doing so, have violated law of nations and neutrality; aver that English had timely warning from Hamburg about two Dutch ships at Glückstadt, but warning was not heeded; Emperor had not found magistrates guilty: he had three times offered justice to merchant adventurers who indeed exhibited their complaint in Emperor's court through earl of Carlingford to whom Hamburg's defence was delivered; thus merchants are held to prosecute their suit where they had begun it; senate hope King will not force Hamburg to submit to an incompetent judge: they require King to remit English merchants to courts of defendants [i.e. imperial jurisdiction], according to law of nations; however, should protest fail, they would find themselves well excused if Emperor resorted to such measures as re-enforcement of edicts against company of merchant adventurers which, though dormant, were never annulled.

Date and Place: 1668 Dec. 4 Hamburg