A GREAT FIGHT AT SEA, Between the Engliſh, French, Dutch, and Portugals, neer Gibralterre in the Streights: With the manner of their Engagement; the particulars of the Fight; and the number of Ships ſunk and taken by Captain Pen, Vice-Admirall for the Parliament of England
Alſo a bloudy Fight in Ireland between the Parliaments Forces, commanded by Collonel Axtel, Col. Pretty, Col. Zanchey, and Col. Cooke; and the Iriſh under the command of Commiſ. General Dungan.
With a Liſt of the Colonels, Lieutenant-colonels, Majors, Captains, and the reſt of the Officers and Souldiers, killed and taken priſoners on both ſides.
Imprinted at London, for G. •amuel, 1651.
ON the 13. of this inſtant (after a tempeſtuous ſtorm) it pleaſed God to admit us a fair Gale, and a ſeaſonable calm, untill ſuch time that we had coaſted neer the point of Gibralterre, where we made a diſcovery of the reſt of our Fleet under the Conduct of Vice-Admirall Pen; and coming up to them, our Captain was called aboard the Fairfax Frigat, where a Councel of Officers were preſent; and after ſome ſerious conſultation touchin the French and Portugal Fleet in the4 Streights, unanimouſly reſolved to ſteer towards that coaſt, and fight them; and accordingly on the 14 inſtant, we weighed anchor, and after 9 hours ſayl came within ſight of them; which they perceiving, immediatly prepared to receive Us, opening their port-holes, put forth their Guns, and man'd their Decks; for indeed they were at leaſt three to one; being about 33 Sayl, and moſt conſiſting of thoſe Bankers which were the onely Pyrats that had moſt annoy'd the Engliſh and Dutch: Our Fleet conſiſted of but nine ſayl, but very reſolved men; as appears by the enſuing Narrative, viz.
When we came within a league of their Rear. Admirall, Orders were given for each man to make ready to man the Decks, the Gunners and their Aſſiſtants to prepare and open their port-holes; and ſo each man according to his place and calling, to endeavour what in him lay to perform that duty and ſervice which God had called him unto: This was with great care and prudence obſerved; and immediatly the Red Flag in every ſhip was put forth; which being done, the Trumpets ſounded, the Marriners ſhouted, and ſoon after the Canons plaid; for when we came within half a league of them, about 13 of their beſt ſhips were manned forth, who gave us ſeveral broad ſides; which Captain Pen perceiving, immediatly made up to them with the Fairfax, the Lyon, the Dolphin, and the George, and gave them eight broad ſides; inſomuch that the Enemy declined engagement, and would fain have deſerted us; but C. Pen keeping cloſe up with them to the reſt of their ſhips, the whole Fleets became engaged; and a bloudy fight enſued, which continued for the ſpace of two hours, and very gallantly maintained on both ſides: For the Lyon laid the French Admiral aboard three times, and was ſtill repulſed and beaten off; but the fourth time ſhe carryed it, and5 hailing her cloſe, entred the ſhip, and put moſt of the men to the ſword, for they denied quarter. During this diſpute, the valiant Fairfax, and the reſt of our Fleet, plyed them cloſe with great and ſmall ſhot, and killed many of them, eſpecially the Portugals, who lay the moſt open to out ſhot, for they charged their Canon on the out-ſide of their ſhips: In this conflict we ſunk 7, and boarded five more; and at laſt diſpierſed the whole Navy, taking about 15 ſayl of them; ſo that there are not many got off, but ſome few Pickroons, which were too ſwift for us; but I am confident, they cannot be very ſerviceable; for the ſhips that we have taken are exceedingly torn, and moſt of the men either killed or wounded; ſo reſolutely did they fight it out. And truly I may ſay, that ſuch a mercy never did God beſtow upon his poor ſervants at Sea, as he hath done upon Us, in giving of Us Victory over our Enemies, and making Us inſtrumental for the vanquiſhing ſuch a formidable pyratical power as theſe were, with ſo little loſſe; for from the beginning to the ending, we loſt not above 20 men, ſome few wounded, and our ſhips not much defaced or torn: God grant that we may live to praiſe & glorifie the Name of the Lord for this happy deliverance: And likewiſe for the many and wonderful deliverances which He hath diſpenſed to his ſervants.
Two Dutch men of War came in to our aſſiſtance about the middle of the fight; but its conjectur'd, that it was more for their own ends, then for any love they bare to us: however, I ſhall cenſure charitably; for we have loſt nothing, but they haue gain'd; having by this means inlarg'd their liberty upon theſe Coaſts.
From aboard the DolphinNovember the 19. 1651.
From Ireland we have received certain particulars of the manner of the Rebels falling upon the Parliaments Forces at Roſſe, and how•hey carried ſcaling ladders with them, entred the Town, and took Col. Mackworth, and divers others, priſoners: as appears by the enſuing Letter.
ON the 19. of this inſtant Novemb. 1651. Commiſſary Generall Dungan with about 600 Horſe and 800 Foot drew neer to Roſs, nity, g•t-over that place about 300 Foot, who marched down to the main Guard of the Town, and ſecures them without fire on either ſide, ſo that the Church and the Block-houſe had not yet received the allarm, that from thence they went to the great gate, and made ſhift to break it open to let in their Horſe, that before the Gariſon had received alarm both horſe and foot were poſſeſſed of the Town, from whence they marched down, beating Drums, and ſounding Trumpets, by which the Blockhouſe and Church received an alarm, and being overpowred, endeavoured onely to keep what they had, and left the Town to their mercy, where they took Col. Markham, Lieu. Abbot, Enſign Brown, and about 12 private ſouldiers: killed about 15 plundered the Town, ſparing neither friend nor foe; ranſackt the Magazine, ſeiz•d 12 barrels of powder, match and bullet proportionable; with ſome Hats, ſtockings, and other good booty. About 9 a clock the next day they ſent to the Governour for a ceſſation, who finding it would be no wayes prejudicial to him to delay time, he being in want of proviſion and accomodation, (they coming ſo unexpectedly upon them,) they agreed upon a ceſſation, until 7. a Clock next morning. We had no intelligence of the buſineſs at Waterford, until 4. a Clock on the Lords day, but upon notice thereof we made out with all the Boats and Veſſels we could procure, and fell down that night within a mile of the Town, and about 10. or 11. a Clock at night the Enemy quitted the place and marched away, having agreed with the Townſmen to pay them 400 l. to ſave the Town from burning. Since which time we have received intelligence that Col. Cook, and Col. Axtel, with Col. Prette, have given the ſame Enemy a repulſe, comming upon them in the County of Kildare, fell upon their reare as they were going over a paſſe, put them to the run, purſuing them 4. or 5. miles, about7 100. kil•d in the purſuit, ſome priſoners taken, beſides Col. Zankey hath fallen upon the Enemy about Clonmel, took about 50. priſoners: we alſo hear that Col. Axtel hath lately had ſome ſuch ſucceſs, and ſeveral ſmall things of this kind, which though it be worth our praiſing the Lord for, yet not worth troubling you with unleſs places and perſons were better known to you; the Enemy took advantage of the Armies being ingaged before Galway and Limrick to make a great deal of buſling and noiſe up and down the Country, but the greateſt buſineſs that they can effect, is to meet at a Randezvouz ſome thouſands of them together, and have the advantage of intelligence, the Country being ſo wholly theirs, that preſently they diſperſe and vaniſh away in their Woods and Boggs, upon the leaſt intelligence of any party coming towards them.
POSTSCRIPT.Waterford22 Novemb. 1651.
I Had no ſooner drawn to a concluſion of my Letter, but immediatly here arrived a Poſt, giving a further account of what was before recited; and alſo preſenting a Liſt to the Governour touching the particulars thereof; a Copy whereof I have hereunto annexed.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A85593)
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