A. C. refolv'd to arreft him; which was done according 1708. ly, on the 21ft of July, in the open Street, with fome aggravating Circumstances. For the Ambaflador, not knowing, at first, the Reafon of his being feized, and imagining he was fet upon by Villains, ftruggled, in his own Defence, and was ill ufed and overpower'd by the barbarous Bailiffs, who carried his Excellency to a Spunging-Houfe, at the Sign of the Black-Raven, where he was detain'd till the Earl of Feverfham, and a City Merchant had bail'd him. The Ambaffador juftly incens'd at this Infult, in Violation of the Law of Nations, apply'd himself for Redrefs to the Government, and wrote the next Day, the following Letter to Mr. Secretary Boyle:

SIR

LONDON, the 22d of July, 1708. 0. S.

His fi fi Let-Hour of being Ambaffador Extraordinary Aving obferv'd, (ever fince I had the Hon

ter to Mr.

Secretary
Boyle.

.

6

of his Czarif Majefty, the Emperor of Great Ruffia, at the Court of the Queen of Great-Britain) the fincere and particular Affection, which her Majefty has fhew'd to my Mafter, and her earnest Defire of maintaining a good Correfpondence be 'tween the Two Crowns of Great Ruffia, and Great Britain; alfo the Queen's Zeal for Juftice, fo well $ known throughout the Univerfe; and laftly, the fingular Favour and Benevolence her Majefty has been pleafed to confer on me: I have all the Reafon in the World to hope, That fhe will vouchfafe to give me a Satisfaction proportionable to the unparallel'd Affront, which was put upon me yefterday in the Evening, in the Street call'd CharlesStreet.

"The Matter of Fact fpeaks of it felf; and I fhall only fay, in fhort, That the Bailiff of that City had the Rafhnefs to arrest me in my Coach, and to carry me Prifoner to the Black Raven, a fcanda'lous Houfe, without notifying to me the Reafon; and to abufe me, by thrufting himself into my Coach, and feizing on my Perfon, after having taken away my Sword, Hat and Cane, as it were from a Malefactor; not only contrary to the Law

of

of Nations, but even the Right of private Perfons. A. C. The Immunity of Ambaffadors, and their facred 1708. Privileges, are fufficiently known; and as for the reft, if the Pretence of Debts be alledg'd, it is impudently done; for I have appointed this very Day for the Time of Payment, and I am fo far from going away without Difcharging them, that I have not as yet received any Letter of Credence, nor Paffport, nor other Things neceffary for my Departure; fo that this Snare has been laid for me, purely with a Design to infult the Honour of his Czarish Majefty, in the Perfon of his Reprefentative. Therefore, I folemnly protest against this Violence offer'd to the Law of Nations, and demand that all those who are guilty of it be feverely · punish'd.

The Queen, who is fo jealous of the Refpect due to the Ambaffadors of Crown'd Heads, and "has fo gloriously vindicated the Honour of the Earl of Manchester, her Ambaffador at Venice, and caus'd "a rigorous Punishment to be inflicted on the Offi. cers of the Cuftom-Houfe, fome of whom were fet in the Pillory, and others condemn'd to the Gallies, only for infulting the Gentlemen of his retinue; cannot but most justly revenge the Affront lately put upon me, by a corporal Punishment.

"Count Zobor, who was deliver'd up to the Dif cretion of the King of Sweden, for picking a Quarel with his Envoy, likewife affords an Inftance of the Satisfaction I require; as being defirous of "nothing with greater Earneftnefs, than to avoid all the ill Confequences of this Affair: For in cafe 'the Criminals are conniv'd at, under any Colour 'whatsoever, I fhall be oblig'd to take other Meafures, and retire without Recredentials; leaving the whole Matter to the Management of his Cza'rish Majefty, my Mafter, as the Protector of his injur'd Honour, and of his abufed Minifter. Sir, : I am, &c.

6

Sign'd,

A. de MATVEOF.

At the fame time Count Gallas, Imperial Envoy Extraordinary; the Baron Spanheim, Ambaffador Extraordinary from the King of Pruffia, and feveral

other

held at

A. C. other Foreign Ministers, thinking themselves con1708. cern'd in the Affront put upon their Character, demanded a due Reparation for the fame: All which An Extra- having been laid before the Queen, who ftill conrdinary tinued at Windfor; her Majefty exprefs'd a very Council great Refentment for the Indignity offer'd to the Muscovite Ambaffador, and commanded an ExtraWindfor, ordinary Council to be fummon'd upon that Occaupon the fion; which was held, accordingly, the * Sunday Affront of ferd to bis Night following; and Mr. Morton, and fome other Excellency, Creditors, with the Attorney, Bailiffs, and other Perfons concern'd in the Arreft of his Excellency, having been examin'd, were immediately committed to the Cuftody of feveral Meffengers, and order'd to be profecuted with the utmost Severity according to Law. The next Day, before Mr. Secretary Boyle was return'd from VVindfor, the Muscovite Ambaffador wrote to him the following Letter:

*July 25.

Letter to 6

SIR,

London, July 26. 1708. O. §.

as I

The AmbafcOrafmuch as I have not receiv'd any Teftifador's ad. mony of Concern or Regret, neither on the Part of the Queen's Majefty, nor from any of her Mr. Secre- Minifters, fince Thurfday laft, the 22d Inftant, BaryBoyle. when I fent to you in Writing, my Complaints ⚫ about the wicked Attempt made upon my Character; and in regard, that no Refentment has 6 been in any wife fhew'd, upon Occafion of the Indignity which the Honour of his Czarish Majefty my Mafter, has fuffer'd, after an unheard of manner: I find my felf oblig'd more than ever, to prefs for my Departure; and you cannot take it ill, that I entreat you to get a Paffport for me as foon as poffible, and without Delay, to the end, That I may forthwith go out of this Kingdom. I am, Sir, &c.

6

Sign'd,

A. de MATVEOF

Hereupon, Mr. Secretary Boyle, fent his Excellency, the next Day, the following Answer:

Whitehall

SIR,

VVhitehall, the 27th of July, 1708.

A. C. 1708.

Mr. Secre

Aur Ccording to what I had the Honour to tell tary Boyles your Excellency, the first time I was with Answer. you, after the great Affront that was put upon you; I have us'd my utmoft Endeavours, with all the Zeal I profefs for your Excellency's Perfon and Character, to find out the most effectual Means for caufing a due Reparation to be made. As foon as I arriv'd at VVindfor, I inform'd the Queen of the Outrage committed against your Excellency, and her Majefty order'd me to affure you, That The is extreamly concern'd upon Account of that enormous Procedure, and highly difpleas'd with her Subjects, who were the Authors of it. And forafmuch, as the Queen has all the Refpect ima ginable for his Czarish Majefty, whofe Friendship and good Correfpondence have been at all times, and ever will be, moft dear and precious to her; and in regard, that fhe has a very particular Efteem for your Excellency's Perfon and Merit; She will omit nothing that lies in her Power, to give an ample Satisfaction for the extraordinary Affront which has been put upon your Excellency,' and to fhew her own Refentments. On Sunday laft, an Extraordinary Affembly of her Majefty's Privy-Council, was call'd at VVindfor, and Seven of the principal Accomplices in that defperate Attempt, were taken up and committed to Prifon; and the Council is to meet again about that Affair, as foon as poffible, which will be on Thursday next, to treat, in the fame manner, the reft, who fhall be found guilty of that infolent Prefumption: And further, the Queen has order'd her AttorneyGeneral to draw up an Indictment against all 'thofe Perfons; to the end, that they may be punifh'd after the most severe and rigorous manner that can be, according to the Laws of this Realm: And I am very forry that your Excellency exexpreffes fo much Earneftnefs to depart; fince every one would be glad that you would ftay, to fee with what Strictnefs, Endeavours will be us'd to give you Satisfaction.

6

As

A. C 1708.

The Ambaf

As for my part, I am extreamly troubled that the Occafion is fo fad, and the Subject fo difagreeable, upon which I profefs my self devoted to your Service: But as I always took great delight when "I was otherwife employ'd; fo your Excellency ⚫ will permit me, even on this unfortunate Account, to declare how much I am concern'd, for your Intereft, and with what Affection and Efteem, I am your, &c.

Sign'd,

H. BOYLE.

The Mufcovite Ambaffador being impatient to

fador's 3d leave the Kingdom, wrote the fame Day the folLetter to lowing Letter to Mr. Secretary:

the fame.

Mr. Secre

London, this 27th of July, 1708. O. S.

SIR,

Pur

Urfuant to your Word, which I obtain'd this Day, I waited from Noon, till half an Hour after Three a Clock, for the Refolution in Writing, about the folemn Complaints I brought to you the 22d Inftant: But forafmuch as the Bu⚫finefs very much resembles fo many former Promifes, which prov'd ineffectual in other Affairs; I fhall leave it to your Difcretion, and only en'treat you to fend me a Paffport for my felf and Family. Sir, I expect at leaft this Favour from your kind Difpofition; who am, &c.

In Anfwer to this, Mr. Secretary Boyle fent his tary's An Excellency the following Letter: Swer.

Whitehall, the 29th of July, 1708. O S.

SIR

'I

Have fent to your Excellency this Morning, 'the Paffport you defire: And as for the Orders concerning your Moveables, having writ ⚫ about them fome time ago, I have fince got further Information in the Treafury; where they affure me, That the Orders are iffu'd out, and that the

Officer