A MESSAGE Sent to Admiral Vantrump From The High and Mighty Lords the States General of the Vnited Provinces.

THe Lord Paw, Embaſſadour extraordinary from the States General of the United Provinces, hath made a large report to his Maſters, touching his Embaſſie to the Common-wealth of England, ſince which he hath ſent a meſſenger to the Parliament to gra­tifie the reſpects and civilities uſed by them towards him,4 he alſo aſſures them, that in all probability, the States will ſend yet another meſſenger. Upon his report, and a mo­tion by him made to that purpoſe, the States have ſent a Meſſage to the Lievt. Admiral Vantrump, wherein They expreſſely charge, require, and forbid him, or any of the Fleet under his command, to meddle with, hinder, or disturb by any hostile act, any Engliſh ſhip whatſoever, not offering injury or affront to them; but to let them paſſe freely without let or molestation, untill they have made their full reſolutions, touching the report made by the Lord Embaſſa­dour Paw. So that all hopes of a peace with England is not quite taken away, notwithſtanding the ſtrong endea­vors of a hot ſpirited party among us, who deſire nothing more then to ſee the two nations imbroyled in a cruel and bloudy war.

The people notwithſtanding are arming every where, and every Stadt re-inforced both with Cavalry and Infan­try; even the Hague it ſelf is made a garriſon; and all ſhips fit for ſervice are ſtopt and entertained, although the men have ſmall ſtomacks to engage with your men of war, who they know want not courage to receive and en­tertain them; many of the Eaſt-India Fleet are rigging and preparing for war, that Company apprehending, that if matters go not according to their expectation, they ſhal be called to an account for the buſineſſe of Amboina: and for the defence of our frontier towns, we have ſent abroad to forraign Princes to aſſiſt us, who will (no doubt) be as ready to ſupply us, as we to deſire their aid, though but to ſerve their own ends.

Much ſcuffling there is among the States, for the ma­king the young Prince of Orange Governour, and very violently hath the motion been followed by all the Pro­vinces, Holland onely excepted, which ſtrongly appoſeth it: Count William hath been named for Lievt. General;5 but many fear if this motion ſhould take effect, he would introduce forraign forces amongſt us, and ſo betray our liberty, having the D. of Brandenburgh, and the Grave of Embden his brothers. But while theſe things were in deep conſultation at the Hague, the element of fire raged in this City in a double misfortune both on the water and on the land: on the water we had a new ſhip fired, how, or by what means we cannot certainly learn, but this I am ſure of, that if great pains and induſtry had not be•n uſed for the ſpeedy extinguiſhing thereof, it would〈◊〉all li•e­lihood have fired and burnt our fire ſhips, which the•lay near them, but are ſince gone out to our Fleet. To ſe­cond this, the State-houſe of this City was ſudd••ly fired and burnt down to the ground, we having as little k•ow­ledge of the author or cauſe of this as of the〈◊〉. Many there was that cried out Treaſon, Treaſon,〈◊〉conjecturing it could be nothing elſe, and that〈◊〉that envied the glory and riches of that City,〈◊〉on purpo•e out of malice done it; however much they•ow to heaven that there was ſo little wind, had the wind been•igh, the pride of this City had been laid in the duſt. Much o•the Bank-money lay in that place; and is melted to the great grief (no doubt) of thoſe that laid it for ſecurity and pro­fit in that place; generally the people ſtill continue high in their language, and ſeem loth to truſt thoſe Engliſh that ſo faithfully ſerved them againſt the Spaniard, but rather rely upon ſuch forraign auxiliaries, as it is belie­ved will rather ſeek the way to ruine us, thereby to ad­vantage themſelves, then endeavour to put a period to our troubles.

Amsterdam,Iuly 16, ſtil. novo. 1652.

A Letter f•om the Downs, containing a full and perfect Narrative of Admiral Vantrumps facing of Sir George Aſcue with a Fleet of above an hundred Sail.

I Received yours of the 12 inſtant, wherein you de­ſire to be informed touching the tranſactions betwixt our Fleet under Sir George Aſcue, and the Dutch un­der Vantrump; for your ſatisfaction take this accompt. Some of the Scouts Sir Geo. Aſcue had ſent out, retur­ned the 8 of this inſtant July, declaring that they had de­ſcried above 60 ſail of Dutchmen in the Downs, Sir George then riding with part of his Fleet near Deal Ca­ſtle, the other part was in the Hope, intending towards him. The enemy ſeemed to deſign an interception of that party, and then to fight Sir George. But Sir Geo know­ing they were not well provided for fight, ſent to them, commanding them to continue there till he ſhould ſend them further Order; and with thoſe he had (being not 20 ſail) he reſolved to fight it out, what ever Fleet ſhould attempt to engage him, and prepared himſelf in the beſt manner he could to receive them, howbeit there was no attempt made upon him that night nor the next day, du­ring which time he received aboard him 200 foot ſoul­diers, diſtributing them among his Fleet.

On Saturday the Dutch came in ſight, we conceived them to be about an hundred and two Men of War, and ten or twelve fire ſhips; they were divided into 3 ſqua­drons, viz. 35 ſail with the Admiral on the back of the7 Goodwin; Three leagues Eaſtward of him was another ſquadron conſiſting of 40 ſail, and the third at Longſands-head, which lay in a poſture to intercept our ſhips as aforeſaid, and to keep Sir George from ſteering Weſt­ward. The next day being Sunday, very early, the intent of the enemy being fruſtrated, thoſe ſhips which were comming forth being returned into the River according to Order, he divided his Fleet into two parts, the greateſt part (conſiſting of about 75 ſail) bore up directly to­wards Sir George between the Brake head, and North ſands head, whileſt the reſt of the Fleet, being about 35 ſail, lay upon the back of the Goodwin, to intercept Sir George, if their Fire-ſhips ſhould conſtrain him to quit his anchors. But the Tide of Ebb being done, and but lit­tle wind, the enemy was compelled to anchor about a league diſtant from our Fleet, expecting the opportuni­ty of the next Tide of Ebb to fall upon Sir George, who knowing that both his Officers, Mariners and Souldiers were filled with courage and reſolution, prepared him­ſelf for their reception. In the mean time ſix peeces of Ordnance were mounted on two Platforms between tween the Caſtles of Deal and Sandown, which might annoy the enemy if he ſhould engage; The Militia of the Countrey, both horſe and foot, were alſo on their march thitherwards.

Whileſt all things were thus diſpoſed, and our ſoul­diers both Seamen and Landmen, with great chearfulneſs and courage attended the falling on of the enemy, the wind turned, ſo that the Dutch could not come in as they intended, and at Ebb it came to South-weſt, which was very diſadvantageous to the enemy, who finding that pro­vidence fought againſt them, weighed, and ſtood back a­gain to the back of the Goodwin about 5 a clock, where meeting altogether, they ſteered away.

I cannot omit to tell you, that above two hundred Seamen, to ſhew their good affection and zeal to the Par­liament, came voluntarily and freely in to aſſiſt our Fleet, there were alſo divers fire-ſhips preparing at Dover, to be made uſe of for entertaining of the Hollanders Navy, had they approached any nearer; They thought to have performed Wonders upon our Fleet here in the abſence of General Blake, but the Lord was pleaſed to diſappoint them, and bring to nought their Counſels.

From the Downs,Iuly 14. 1652.

His Excellency Gen. Blake hath been all this while, and is yet Northwards with a very gallant fleet of ſhips, and ſome letters I have ſeen from the North, which ſay, That there hath been a great Fight between a part of General Blakes Fleet, and the Dutch in the Northern ſeas, and that Gen. Blake hath taken divers Dutch ſhips, fiſhermen and others, but no letters are yet come from his navy to con­firm it. It was conjectured by many that a ſquadron of Vantrumps Fleet ſailed Northwards, but we underſtand ſince that they are all together, and are gone Weſtward, thinking thereby to draw Gen. Blake from the North.