A SPEECH, OR COMPLAINT, LATELY Made by the Spanish ambassador to his majesty at Oxford, upon occasion of the taking of a Ship called Sancta Clara in the Port of Sancto Domingo, richly laden with Plate, Cocheneal and other commodities of great value, By one captain BENNET STRAFFORD, and by Him brought to Southampton. Being a matter of high concernment betwixt the two Kings of Spain and England. Also a Proclamation prohibiting the buying or disposing of any the lading of the ship called the Sancta Clara, lately brought into Southampton.  
Translated out of the Spanish, in OXFORD, BY Sir TORRIANO, an Italian.  
LONDON, Printed for Nathaniel Butter, Jan. 17. 1643.   


Don Alonso de Cardenas, The ambassador Ordinary for the King of Spain, His Speech unto His majesty at Oxford, Decemb. the 30. 1642. occasioned by the taking out of the Port of Sancto Domingo one of the King of Spain his Ships called Sancta Clara, laden with Plate, and other merchandise of rich value, by Cap. Bennet Strafford, by him brought unto Southampton, and there made prize; together with the answer of his Majesty sent on newyears day unto the said ambassador, by the Lords Mowbray and Faulkland.  
SIR,  
THe unsufferable wrong the King my Master hath lately sustained by a Subject of your Majesties (wherein many of his own Merchants have likewise borne some share, and what your Majesty for the future may do is not yet known) have in obedience to my Master's commands (who is but too sensible of this affront, and his people's losses,) constrained me to make this my repair unto your Majesty, and to trouble you in these your most serious and important affairs of your kingdoms, it having not been my unhappiness since I had first the charge of this honourable employment, to provoke discontent by such messages unto your Majesty, especially at such a time wherein my Master perfectly understanding how it fareth with your Majesty, for the cordial reference he ever bore unto your Majesties own person, had rather afford your Majesty a cordial than a corrasive: yet this in brief must be the sum of my complaint unto your Majesty.  
That on the eighth of October Stilo veteri, there arrived in the harbour, or rather close port of Sancto Domingo of the West Indies (the very centre of my Master's Dominions) a Ship of your Majesties, and a Pinnace, under the command of Captain Bennet Strafford, an English man, and a member of your majesty's Fleet at Sea, which letting fall anchor under colour of ●aking in fresh water, & some other necessary provision, about one or two of the clock the same evening (the Master and other Officers of my Masters fair Ship, called La Sancta Clara, lately having taken in her lading of Silver Ingots, to the number of 2000 with Coucheneale, Tobacco, Indie hides, to eight hundred ton weight) was in a thievish and piratic manner stolen out of the said harbour by the captain of your majesty's Ship above mentioned, that is, Bennet Strafford, whose men coming aboard the said Ship, under pretence of cheering and merry making, observing the wind served for their design, cut the cables, and let her drive, till such time that the Captain perceiving his advantage, forthwith seized and boarded the said Ship, clapping all my Master's sailors and other Officers there aborad her under the hatches, carried the ship unto Cape de bona Speranza there landed them ashore in his long boat like slaves and captives, manned my Master's Ship with his own men, unto your town of Southampton, and there made prize of her, exposing my Master's goods to most unconsiderable rates and valuation, to make the better dispatch of his unlawful attempt. Sir, I am rigorously commanded by the King of Spain my Master, to intimate to your majesty, that an affront of this kind hath never been committed against him by the crown of England, or by any other crown or State, during the time of their league and amity, neither during his peace, sworn either between your majesty's father or yourself, can any evident proof be brought of the least appearance of violation either betwixt crowns or kingdoms on his Catholic majesty my Master's part: For instance whereof, my Master desireth your Majesty to consider his sincere and princely dealing with your majesty's self, as touching your Rebels in Ireland, whom he hath been any way so far from succouring, aiding, or countenancing, that he hath straightly charged all his Subjects of all his Territories and Dominions, by open proclamation, upon pain of death, not only not to aid or relieve them with any arms, shipping, ammunition or victuals; but not to trade with them during the time of their rebellion against your Majesty, upon any terms, semblances, or pretences whatsoever; having further given in command unto the officers of his Finances and Excheate, that the pensions usually paid unto certain of the nobility of Ireland, in way of acknowledgement that they or their fathers have done him any memorable service, either in the Low-countries or any other his Dominions, shall in no wise be any longer paid to any of them, either father, child, or any of the lineage that stand at this time, or ever shall stand in opposition against your Majesty or undoubted issue; and hath in particular disabled Sr. Philomie O neal of the large gratuite annuity of 4000 ducats per annum, though granted not by his now Majesty & my Master of Spain, but by his father unto the Earl of Tyrone his heirs & successors by patent; by all which I earnestly desire your Majesty to weigh my Masters high discontent, and in that regard his just demands: a Ship of that estimate is taken in such a daring scornful manner, not upon the main (that in some sort had qualified the affront though not the damage) but out of my Master's Port, laden with bullion for his own particular use, by a Subject, yea, a servant of your majesty's crown arriving there (as it seemed) for relief; and having partaken of all the favour the haven than could afford, his Subjects and servants turned ashore as villains and slaves; his Ship and goods made prize. My Master's demands unto your Majesty in a wrong of so high a condition are these: That the said captain may receive condign punishment, as who (what lay in him) hath broken the league on your majesty's behalf; that full restitution be made both to my Master and the owners, according to the just valuation of the goods, as by bill of lading shall be made manifest; that strict orders may forthwith pass from your Majesty, for the staying of farther havoc, and embeselling of the goods yet remaining in the Ship at Southampton; that full reparation be likewise made for stay of the Ship, and frustration of her voyage; upon refusal of which I am expressly to declare unto your majesty, that the King my Master will cause speedy stay and arrest to be made upon all the English Merchants ships throughout his ports, which must needs occasion great discontent, loss and inconvenience to both the crowns, if no other worse thing arise.  
This Speech, or rather Complaint of the ambassadors ended, the King withdrew him unto the window in his presence-chamber at Christ Church; there spoke certain words in private, and after (before certain Lords there about him) told him, that unto his message or complaint some time to morrow he would by his Secretary, or some other, send him an answer; whereat the ambassador took leave of the King, and repaired unto his lodging in New-college.   

New-year's Day (being Sunday, january 1.) about four of the clock in the afternoon, the Lord Mowbray and the Lord Faulkland brought from the King unto the ambassador this Answer following.  
My Lord, The King Our Master hath commanded us to return this Answer as touching your heavy complaint unto Him yesterday.  
THat His Majesty hath with deep discontent resented the particulars of your lordship's Message, or Complaint. Yet neither himself, nor any Ministers, Agents, or Servants of His, by Sea or Land, are in any wise (as from Him) to be blamed of any breach of amity; much less of this, being in so high a nature as his Lordship had lately related it.  
That Captain Bennet Strafford was never employed by Him in any of His Ships or Pinnaces: and therefore (when time should serve) should not only answer for what he did in His majesty's Ships, but by whose authority he came there.  
That His Majesty further desired, that what at this time, above all other, might be done against the League, either by Sea or Land, might not be imputed unto Him; his majesty (through the distempers of some of his Subjects) having as little command over his ships, as he had over his Towns and Castles.  
That He would issue forth a Proclamation, with all convenient speed, to prevent the further embezelling of the Merchandizes of the Ship; and likewise for the restoring what should be found in the hands of any of His Subjects or Officers, and therein would give especial command unto the judge of His admiralty. But would be sorry the King of Spain should make all his Subjects trading under him to suffer, for the villainous act of one person, authorized by he knew not whom.    


C R  
HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
By the King.  
A Proclamation prohibiting the buying or disposing of any the lading of the Ship called the Sancta Clara, lately brought into SOUTHAMPTON.  
COmplaint having been made unto His Majesty, by Don Alonco de Cardenas Ambassador from the King of Spain, that a Ship called the Sancta Clara, belonging to the said King and his Subjects, hath been lately treacherously brought to Southampton, by one captain Bennet Strafford and others, from Sancto Domingo, the said Ship being laden with Silver, Cocheneal, and other Wares and Merchandizes, to a very great value; And that the said Ship and Goods being by the said ambassador arrested, and the said Bennet Strafford apprehended, whilst a suit for the said Ship and Goods is depending in the Court of Admiralty, the Silver (part of the lading of the said Ship, to a very great value) hath been disposed of, contrary to Law, without any other security given for the same, than the empty name of public Faith; which without His Majesty cannot (as is well known to all the world) be engaged; or if engaged without His Majesty is not valid, or to be relied on for satisfaction. And it is further complained by the said ambassador, that the Cocheneale, and other Merchandizes formerly sequestered at London and Southampton, albeit they are not perishable, but have rather increased in their price and value, are likely to be sold against the will of those who pretend to be the Owners, (Parties to the suit depending in the said Court of Admiralty) which is alleged to be apparently against the Rules of Law, and practices of that Court in such cases. His Majesty well weighing what may be the ill consequences of such injurious Proceedings, manifestly contrary to the Law, and the Articles of treaty between the two crowns, and plainly foreseeing how heavily it may light upon such of His good Subjects who have estates in Spain, and how destructive it may prove to the Trade and Commerce of His Subjects and kingdoms, doth hereby not only expressly charge and command the Judge of His admiralty, and all others whom it may concern, to proceed in a business of such value and consequence, with Care, Expedition, and according to Justice: But doth also expressly prohibit all persons, of what condition soever, upon pretence of any Order or Warrant from one or both Houses of Parliament, or any authority derived from thence, to buy, meddle with, or dispose of any part of the said Cocheneale, or other Goods or Merchandizes belonging to the said Ship, until the propriety thereof shall be judicially decided and determined, upon pain of His majesty's high displeasure, and of being responsible and liable to payment and satisfaction for whatsoever damage shall happen to any of His majesty's good Subjects, whose Goods or Estates shall for that cause be embargued or seized in Spain.  
Given at the Court at Oxford, the second day of January, in the eighteenth year of His majesty's reign.  
God save the King,  
FINIS.