A MESSAGE SENT To the Councel of State, from his Excellency General Blake, concerning the laſt bloudy fight at Sea between the Engliſh and the Dutch.
ON Sunday laſt being the firſt of this inſtant Auguſt, came Letters to the Councel of State (to the great joy of their long expectance) from General Blake, intimating, That upon the return of his Scouts with advertiſements, of the neer4 approach of Vantrump, preparations were made to receive them; and accordingly on the 24 of July laſt, both Navies engaged, and the Generals bearing up to each other, let fly ſeveral broad ſides; inſomuch that great execution was done on both ſides; Major Bourn (the Rear-Admiral) ſeeing the Reſolu•ion ſomewhat engaged, bare up to the head of Vantrump, and preſented him with ſeveral thundering ſalutes; and with great fury and reſolution was the conflict diſputed, which continued for the ſpace of ſeven hours; during which time, Victory ſeemed dubious; but about the eighth hour, the Lord was pleaſed graciouſly to appear for Us, and to crown Us with a glorious ſucceſs, to wit: That although they far exceeded us in number; yet it pleaſed God (after a bloudy fight,) that we took nine, ſunk two, fir'd one, the reſt declined engagement, untill ſuch time that the reſt of the Fleet came up, theſe being onely two particular Squadrons; We ſhall expect the deciſion of the fatal blow ſuddenly; for both Navies are engaged.
Our General even upon this very inſtant of time likewiſe engaged their other Fleet, who conſiſted of 25 Men of War, being a Guard for the Buſſes, and for ſafety betook them to a Bay, called Braſeys Sound in Shotland; who bearing up to them, at the Mouth of the Sound the Dutch-men prepared to5 receive them; ſo that upon engagement, the diſpute was maintained with great alacrity and reſolution, yet the ſucceſs proved fatal to Mr. Launſman; For after a deſperate engagement, we ſunk three gallant Men of War, took twelve, beſides one hundred and fifty Buſſes; but not without loſs; for many of our men are killed and wounded, and divers of our ſhips rent and torn: theſe Seas have plenty of Maſts and pieces of ſhips floting. We have taken abode four thouſand priſoners, and at leaſt two hundred and fifty pieces of Ordnance.
The Herring-Buſſes in regard they are too low a ſubject for the reſolution of our gallant Navy, are releaſed, and an Oath tendered to the Maſters and Marriners, never more to act or engage any th•ng that may prove to be either prejudicial or deſtructive to the Common-wealth of England. This uncouth dealing from an enemy, has ſo wrought upon the Dutch ſpirits, that they begin to be almoſt aſhamed of their attempts; firſt, againſt ſo truſty a friend; ſecondly, againſt ſo gallant an enemy, who unlading what fiſh they had taken, honorably diſmiſt them. Sir, the darkneſs of the night, commands the ſubſcription of
6Since which time, the French men of War, which lay upon the catch between Cantire and Knockfergus, for the ſurpriſal of thoſe Horſe to be conveyed from Ayre to the Highlands, miſſing their purpoſe, by divine Providence, it happened they fell upon an Engliſh Frigot of 20 Guns commanded by Captain Thompſon, immediatly they let fly their broad ſides upon him, and the Engliſh men being willing to entertain the hazard, joyned iſſue with them from ten of the clock in the forenoon, till eight in the evening; the conflict was diſputed with great Reſolution on both ſides, but by reaſon of the great advantage of number, they put Captain Thompſon hard to it; yet notwithſtanding he ſo handſomly ply'd them with ſmal ſhot and Vollies, that he got off with abundance of honour, and made his retreat good to the Harbor of Knockfergus, with the loſs of 23 men.
7Vantrump lies with 120 ſail of ſhips upon the Coaſt of Scotland, and truſſes up the Fiſherboats and Colliers, as a Falcon does wild Ducks; not one can peep out of Newcaſtle or Tinmouth Harbour, but he goes immediatly to the pot. They have chaſed three Merchants, and forced them to run on ground; but that which ſeems moſt direful, is, their taking of the Sampſon of London, a ſhip valued four hundred thouſand pounds, whoſe Lading was ſilkes of rich value. In lieu whereof, Gen. Blake hath taken three Dutch Merchants ſhips, coming from the Eaſt Indies, valued worth nine hundred thouſand pounds.
Thus may we judge by the ſeries of theit Actions, that the Dutch are no more then jugling Timeyſts; and as one ſide takes ſhips and ſecures them, the other takes Buſſes but never opens them; ſo that in the end the game may prove like a Southwark8 prize (ſay ſome) at the Hope; where a man ſuffers himſelf to be beaten, to gain the halfs of the Cheat; but the acting of this Tragedy, ſeemes to be no ſuch Theater; for we are in daily expectation of the deciſion of the fatal blow.
Letters from ſir George Ayſcue to the Councel of ſtate advertize, that he hath conveyed and brought ſafe into Plymouth five of the Engliſh Merchants ſhips, richly laden from the Eaſt Indies, and of great value.
The Lord Shandoys hath received his Tryal at Kingſton upon Thames; and, by the Jury, quitted.