A MESSAGE SENT FROM His Highness the Lord Protector, TO THE GREAT TURK, WITH His Demands and Proposals; and the releasing of the English Captives.  
LIKEWISE, The new Edict, and Decree of the Governor of Argier; the redeeming of all Englishmen from Thraldom and Slavery, and the bringing of them in to Gen. Blake; the seizing of the Salley men of War, and a Narrative of the general proceed of the English, in order to the French, Dutch, and Spaniards.  
EXtracted out of the Original Papers; Licenced and published by special Authority.  
London, printed for Peter Mitchel, 1654.   

A Message sent from his Highness the Lord Protector to the Turks, etc.  
HIs Highness the Lord Protector having taken into serious consideration, the most deplorable & suffering condition of the poor captivated English at Argier, and other places in Turkey, graciously vouchsafed to send an Express to the Governor of Argier, requiring a Restauration of the English Captives; and withal, adjuring him to desist from any such future violence, against the English Subjects: This Message was resented with so much terror and astonishment, that the Governor immediately gave Order, for the release of all the English; and set forth an Edict, or Proclamation, prohibiting the seizing of any English Vessel whatsoever, upon pain of death; and to incur the seizure of their whole Estate, in case of any obstructing, or interposing any English man whatsoever, in their free Trade and Commerce; etc.  
By an Express from General Blakes Fleet, thus. Sir, When we came into Cales Road, we saluted the Town with 21 pieces of Ordnance, they returned us 7 for one, both English, Spaniards, and Hollanders. The Dutch Admiral vailed his Flag and saluted. Our General assured the Spaniards we intended nothing prejudicial to them, who before suspected us. We sailed from thence to the straits, anchoring in Gibraltar Road; where we went on shore, and were very courteously received by the Governor, who promised us accommodation in whatsoever we wanted, and the Country afforded: We were very courteously saluted by the Clergy, and had four Officers of their Army went bare before us, conducting us through the Town, and to the Customhouse, at the request of the Goxernour, who had there provided a very stately Collation for us. He also made proclamation (having received Order from the King so to do) That none whatsoever should affront the English upon pain of present Death. We had not been long here, but one of our Victualling ships (the Dolphin) who by the late storms was separated from us, came to us: In her way she fell among 7 great French ships, who took her; the Admiral then called our Captain on board his ship (which carried 56 pieces of Brass Ordnance) demanding of him where Gen. Blake was, and what strength he had with him? He replied, That he was gone to the Steights with 30 Men of War. The Admiral therewith was troubled; and proffered him a great sum of money to satisfy for what his men had taken from him, and desired him to stay, and he would inquire after those that had plundered him, and execute them: but our Capt. refused both Whereupon drinking General Blakes Health, they discharged him, and he came to us with all speed.  

A Letter from the Navy.  
UPon our advance from Cadiz, further into the Levant sea, We met with many difficulties, not only by stomy and unseasonable Wether, but by some obscure Rocks, which our Pilots were not very well acquainted with: But having for some time waited upon the Series of Divine Providence, we then immediately found the Omnipotent workings of the most high Protector, and great Jehovah of Heaven for Us; who, even in an instant, when we were all toiling and plunging through the Deep, caused the winds to cease, and the Seas to become calm; so that our whole Fleet (blessed be God) in few hours came within sight of each other, who bearing up to the Ambral, our General commanded forth Captain Sacheverel with the Pearl Frigate, and Cap. George Crapnel in the Merlin Galley, as Scouts; who after 5 hours' sail discovered a Fleet with French colours, consisting of 17 in number, which Cap Sacheverel haled; but the French refused to answer: whereupon, he bore up to them, being accompanied by valiant Ca Crapnel, and having the windward, gave them seven broad sides; which thundering Echo arriving the Ears of our heroic General, he presently bore up with the George, & the rest of the Fleet to the very head of them, & charged them through and through five times together; insomuch, that the French tacked about, and declined Engagement; but we embraced the pursuit, & in the chase sunk 3, fired two, and took 5, which we deserted, they being so leaky, that suddenly they sunk also. The rest fled towards Naples, where the D. of Guise is with his Fleet; whom we are under sail to visit. But by a stratagem ('tis said) his Highness, with the Lord St. Paul, and divers other chief Commanders, are surprised in the City, upon a pretence of surrender; in the mean time, confident I am, (by divine permission) that we shall suddenly engage them; for our men are resolved to fight them, though they be five to one. Our General hath set up the English Standard, bearing St. George's Cross, at the Head of all the Flag ships; which carries no little terror to the Pirates in these parts; who abounded very much upon the Levant; but are now pretty well dispersed; for we have put a period to above 100 of them within the space of a month; and have taken 11 Turkish Galleys, in which Atchieument, Capain Hill with the Worcester Frigate, and Capt. Cattens in the Lamport performed singular service; but the Pearl lost her Mast, and some other ships their Bolt-sprit, and Tackling.  
As touching the influence the Lord Protector hath gained by his Message to the Turks, 'tis a thing wonderfully to be admired; and indeed, it causeth no little admiration throughout all Christendom; for, true it is, the Argier men of War are become Associates with the English, and will not permit a man of our Nation to be carried captive into thraldom; but seize and takes all their Sally ships, and others, that have any English them, and brings them in to Gen. Blake, who at this very instant, rides tryumphat in the Levant Ocean.  
FINIS.