c. Most Serene Prince Admiral de Ruiter's Letter to his Highness MY last written to your Highness was dated the 6th Instant After noon the air begun to clear up a little and towards evening we could see the Enemies again During the night the ill weather was quite appeased On the 7th in the morning it was fair Weather and the Wind was North-West That day the Enemies Fleets begun to move I fired the usual signal to call a Council of War where it was resolved to keep our Anchors a-peak to be ready to be weighed up at the first approach of the Enemies The Officers that had assisted at the Council of War were not yet gone away from on board me when the Royal Fleets advanced towards us in the form of a Crescent The White Squadron that was turned towards the North was the first that engaged with Lieutenant Admiral Tromp and both of them tackt to the North-East-ward The Squadrons that were under mine and Lieutenant Admiral Bankert's Command could not be so soon attackt by the Enemies However to prevent them from separating us we made likewise to the North-East-ward till about two in the afternoon and then we thought it time to tack about to the Southward after we had given the signal for it and sent notice to Lieutenant Admiral Tromp by an Advice-Yacht of that motion and then I engaged with the Red Squadron and Bankert with the Blue one I was more fortunate in breaking in amongst the Enemies than Bankert for his main Top-mast being shot down he had much ado to advance however he got a great way in we broke quite through the Enemies and we cut several of their ships from the main of their Fleet by getting the Weather-gage of them We thought not fit to pursue them but rather to make a motion towards the North in Order to veer back towards Lieutenant Admiral Tromp We joined him towards evening When we charged the Enemies they tackt about to the South-ward and we made the same motion and fought till the night parted us After the Battle we went and anchored within two miles of West-Kappel As for the particular passages of the whole time of the fight it is impossible for us to give an exact relation of them because we have not yet had time to be informed of them But however it be we presume that God be praised the Victory is on the side of the States and of his Highness And in order to make it a Compleat one we will put our selves in readiness to fight with all the vigour imaginable hoping that God will bless our arms more and more The fight was furious on both sides and on our side some did better than others according as the Wind was more or less favourable to them and 't is like the same hapned also amongst the Enemies There were a great many ships endamaged on both sides We have lost some Officers viz. Vice Admiral Schram Rear Admiral Vlug as likewise the Captains Van Bergen and Bakker Captain Nassaw is dangerously wounded The Fire-ships of both Fleets were able to do but little execution and yet a great many of them were either burnt or sunk We have named Rear-Admiral de Haan to the Vice-Admiralship vacant by the death of Schram under the Flagg of Lieutenant Admiral Tromp and the Commander Meuwen to the Rear-Admiral's place who came to the fleet Yersterday in the time of the fight He reported to us that he had taken a Yacht coming from London laden with refreshments and some Rich suits of Cloaths for the Count d' Estree There is likewise come to us another frigat from Friesland carrying 30 Guns and 150 men That there might arise no confusion by removing the flag I have ordered Rear Admiral Vlug to put it up in his ship till further order The Captain of a French fire-ship whom we saved Reports to us that the English fleet consisted of 60 men of War and 30 fire-ships and that the French Squadron was composed of 30 men of War the least of which carried 50 Guns and of 10 or 12 fire-ships and and that reckoning in the Advice-Yachts the Confederate fleets were composed of 140 sail That Prince Robert Commanded in chief that the Count de Estree had the Conduct of the White Squadron and Sir Edward Spragg that of the Blue and that the two fleets English and French were mingled together The Enemies are at present to the North-West and a quarter West-ward at about two miles distance from us busy in repairing their damages Here follows Tromp's Letter to the States High and Mighty Lords Tromp's Letter to the States WE are now more particularly informed of what passed in the last Battle fought between the Naval Forces of England and France and the fleet of the Vnited Provinces We are perswaded that the Enemies have lost 11 or 12 Ships that were burnt or sunk and several Fire-Ships We have God be thanked lost not one Ship except some fire-Ships to about the Number of 6 if I mistake not The fleet is still in a very good condition and if the Wind had not risen de Ruiter and I were resolved to attack the Enemies again But since God permitted us not to do that we are now labouring with speed to repair our damaged Ships I am returned again on board the Golden Lion which wants nothing but her main yard I have writ into Zealand to have another speedily sent me We have found on board the said Ship about 100 men killed or wounded whose places we will endeavour to supply again out of other Ships Rear-Admiral de Haan is likewise returned on board his Ship which is now also in a good condition he is named by way of Provision to fill up the place vacant by the death of Vice Admiral Schram in our Squadron and the Commander de Meuwen is to supply that of Rear Admiral de Haan c. Lieutenant Admiral Tromp gave likewise in this Battle as he had done in all the precedent ones in which he was present most signal proofs of his undaunted Courage The very Number of ships he was forced to change is enough to serve for his Elogium in that behalf for before the fight was over he had already changed his ships three or four times which were all so extreamly shattered that they were quite disabled Rear Admiral de Haan behaved himself likewise very gallantly having been forced to shift his ship three times De Ruiter and Tromp in that rencounter gave one another most noble and generous proofs of tenderness and affection By the assistance de Ruiter gave to Tromp he was delivered from the Eminent Peril under which he was ready to sink for being engaged in the midst of two Squadrons of the Enemies he endured a most Terrible encounter without any hopes of ever being able to go through it Tromp being sensible of his danger begun to despair of escaping it unless de Ruiter would come speedily to his
Zealand that they might have opportunity afterwards to execute their great design which was a descent And in effect they were not deceived for the next day towards evening the Royal Fleets appeared before the Meuse and a day after before Scheveling At that motion of theirs all Holland was in an alarm for fear the Enemies should enter into the heart of the Country to waste and destroy it and therefore in order to oppose them all the Companies of the Burghers of the Hague and of Delft and all the peasants of the villages round about were Commanded to march with all haste towards the Coasts Cannon was likewise sent down thither to furnish sufficient batteries of defence About 11 a Clock before noon 6 or 7 light Frigats approacht so near the Coasts by favour of the Tide that the Dutch on shore begun to play their Cannon at them which the English answered with the like but without doing much mischief After that the Enemies made off again into the main Sea and shew'd themselves the same day in the afternoon near Zandvoort and de Wikopzee about three miles from the shore and sending up 2 Frigats near to this last place they battered it for some time with their Guns The next day they appeared likewise before Egmond and Petten and lastly before Helder and the Texel The Prince of Orange hearing at the Army which was encampt at Ramsdonk that the Enemies Fleets hovered about the Coasts of Holland came with all hast to the Hague where he arrived on the 4th of the month very early in the morning He had ordered his Regiment of Guards and some Horse to follow him in order to relieve the Burghers that had guarded the Coasts of Scheveling under the Conduct of the Duke of Holstein The Prince of Waldee likewise came to the Brill at the same time to give the necessary orders there and General Wirtz was sent to Walcheren to look after the preservation of that post The Prince of Orange after he had been at several conferences held concerning the affairs of the Land Army went down to the Fleet to give likewise his orders there and he no sooner entred on board Admiral de Ruiter but they saluted him with 13 Guns in acknowledgment of the honour of his presence after which he assisted at the Council of War where it was resolved Battle should be given the Enemies as soon as it was possible in hopes thereby to force them at least to quit the Coasts and Harbours of the United Provinces Those Resolutions being taken his Highness represented to every one their duty and what great necessity there was in so pressing an occasion to fight courageously for the Honour and Interest of their Country That done he left the Fleet with the acclamations of the Seamen who cried out Long live the Prince and returned back towards the Hague The Dutch Fleet without any further delay weighed Anchor the very next day and steered away directly towards the Texel where the Royal Fleets were but by reason of contrary winds they could not get up with the Enemies Fleet till the 20th A third fi ht The next day in the morning the fight begun which proved one of the most furious and bloody ones that ever was recorded in History and that ever was fought upon the Ocean The Dutch having got the Weather gage in the night fell upon the Enemies about the break of day Lieutenant Admiral Tromp had the van-guard de Ruiter Commanded the main Battle and Bankert the Rear About half an hour after 7 the Royal Fleets made a motion to attack the Hollanders De Ruiter upon that presently gave a signal and made his Squadrons make another motion to preserve the advantage of the Weather-gage and to prevent the Enemies attack by attacking them first By that motion Bankert's Squadron that had the Rear before came to have the Van de Ruâ—ter's Squadron was still in the main Battle and Tromp's in the Rear About half an hour after 8 Bankert fell upon the Count d' Estree's Squadron which had the Van of the Royal Fleets de Ruiter attack'd Prince Robert's Squadron and Tromp the Blue one Commanded by Sir Edward Spragg Then the fight was general The French desert the English and the two contending Fleets were throughly engaged However the French excepting only Rear Admiral Martel who fought with all the bravery imaginable shew'd by their Conduct that their design was to husband and spare their forces and according to the opinion of most knowing men it was presumed the Count d' Estree tho' he made a shew of fighting bravely for a time had secret orders from his Master to act in that manner so that about 11 a Clock they very fairly made a tack about to the East-ward and stood off to the Wind-ward where they remained malicious spectators of the rest of the fight Admiral de Ruiter being engaged with Prince Robert those two Admiral 's and their Squadrons fought most desperately Lieutenant Admiral Bankert seeing the French were gone off thought not fit to pursue them any longer for fear of being drawn away too far off from the main of the Dutch Fleet but veered back towards the main Battle and went to the assistance of Admiral de Ruiter Prince Robert seeing the main force of the Hollanders falling upon him and that the French had left him in the Lurch and would not come in to his assistance to enable him to dispute the victory and being almost overwhelmed he and his by the furious firing of two entire Dutch Squadrons thought it time to provide for his and their safety by a prudent retreat and so steered away to the West-ward with all the sail he could make and quitted the fight leaving the advantage and claim of Victory to the Hollanders and was pursued by de Ruiter Van Nes and Bankert till two a Clock in the afternoon In the mean while the English Blue Squadron and that of Lieutenant Admiral Tromp having made a tack to the North in fighting were already gotten to such a distance from the main of their Fleets that they were out of sight Admiral de Ruiter fearing Tromp might be in danger thought fit to go and seek him out in order to assist him And accordingly he advanced with his own and Bankert's Squadron that way Prince Robert observing the motion made by de Ruiter begun to be in as much fear for Spragg as de Ruiter was in for Tromp And therefore without any further hesitation he ordered his Squadron to make the same motion as his Enemy that he might follow him the Count de Estree with his Squadron followed him but yet neither of them thought good to come near the Hollanders any more for fear of being obliged to come to a fresh engagement with them and therefore they prudently kept at a distance out of the reach of Cannon-shot The terrible and fatal fight beween Tromp and Spragg In the mean while Tromp and
two Fleets came all on a sudden to be Engag'd in a general Battle In the mean while Major Bourn being come out of the Downs with a Squadron of 12 men of War or Frigats whereof the first carried from 60 to 70 pieces of Cannon and the others from 38 to 50 came and fell thundring upon our Rear So the Fight being begun at 4 in the afternoon lasted till 9 and was not broken off but by the obscurity of the Night Then we made out into the Main Sea and the Ships of both Fleets tack't about towards their Admirals to refit themselves We remained all the Night hanging lights out in every Ship The 30th in the Morning we discovered the English Fleet to the Leeward making towards Dover We have lost two of our Ships that were in our Rear viz. Those Commanded by the Captains Tuynemans of Middleburg and Sipke Fokkes of Amsterdam this last having had all his Masts shot do vnclose by the Board The Master and other Officers reported to us that they were taken by three of the Parliaments Ships about 9 a Clock at Night who after they had taken out of her the Captain and Lieutenant with about 14 or 15 men put a great many English on board her but they being afraid she would sink under them after they had Plunder'd her quitted her They reported likewise that Captain Tuyneman's Ship was taken an hour before theirs We design now to Cruise along the Channel to seek out our Merchant Ships coming from the Streights and to Convoy them all together home to our own Country At the same time Tromp dispatcht away an Express into England with the Copy of his Letter to the States to be delivered to our Ambassadours there And to make it appear more Authentick he caus'd it to be sign'd by all the Officers of the Fleet. But it happen'd that their High and Mightinesses Ambassadors having left London because of the thick Fogs that usually infect the Air there were gone then to Reside at Chelsey and the Express being stopt Tromp's dispatches were not deliver'd to them The English Admiral Ship leaking on all sides and very much shatter'd had much ado to get into the Downs There Blake Buried his Dead in the Number of which were his Master and several other Persons of Note to whom he caused very particular honours to be rendred which done he put Pen to Paper to inform the Parliament of all that had passed Whereof here follows the Copy Most Honourable Lords Admiral Blake's Letter to the Paliamâ—nt I have written to you the present dispatches to inform you of what past yesterday between the two Fleets Upon the advice Major Bourn gave me that Tromp appear'd toward the Souther-sand with a Fleet of 40 sail I used all possible diligence to get up with him Yesterday we discovered him below Dover Rode and being come within 3 miles of him Tromp unmoored with an Easterly Wind which made us think he endeavoured to avoid us because of the dispute about the Flag About two hours after the Dutch Fleet changing it's course tackt about and stood right towards us Tromp being at the head of this motion We put our selves into a line of Battle not doubting but Tromp's intention was to Engage When the two Fleets were come within Musket shot of one another I made a shot at his Flagg which I Repeated three times After the third shot Tromp let flie at us a whole broad side In the mean while Major Bourn coming out of the Downs brought a new Squadron of men of War to the fight which ceased not till Night put an end to it and then our Ships not being able to keep the Sea any longer because of the great quantity of Masts Sails and Cordage we had lost it was Resolv'd by the advice of all the Captains to come to an Anchor at 3 miles off the Ness where we kept hard at work all night in Refitting our Ships The next Morning at break of day we discover'd the Dutch Fleet about 4 miles from us making towards the Coast of France We Judged fit in a Councel of War to keep the Weather gage of them to prevent a surprize in case they should Charge us again that so at the worst we might have nothing else to do but to cut the Cables of our Anchors As yet we have not been able to discover whither they are steering nor what damage they have sustain'd But however we are assur'd that one of their Ships is sunk and that we have taken another from them of 30 guns with two Captains The first of these Ships having her Main Mast shot by the Board and leaking on all sides Captain Laarsons was fain to quit her We had in this fight 6 killed 9 or 10 Mortally wounded and 25 less dangerously among which number are my Master one of his Mates and some other under Officers The Admiral Ship received in her sides and masts about 70 great shot and in her sails and Rigging almost an infinite Number I having been engaged with the Main body of the Enemies Fleet for about four full hours Notwithstanding which our happiness is to be admired at that we received no more damage and we have reason to hope that the protection of God will favour our Arms if a War should once break out between the two Nations The Hollanders are the Aggressours and watch all occasions to come and affront us and Brave us upon our own Coasts as Experience has newly shewn us The News of this Fight being brought to England so wrought upon the Mobb that they made an insurrection and went all in a fury to Chelsey where the Dutch Ambassadors were lodged with design to have sacrificed them to their Resentments if the Parliament had not provided before hand against the mischief by sending them a body of Horse to Guard all the passages about their lodgings with strict command to let no body go in or out And besides preventing by that means any disorder they designed by the same Expedient to cut off all ways of Correspondence from the Ambassadors In the mean while there was nothing to be heard but Complaints and Murmurings from all parts For the Country people in Kent and Suffolk were so alarmed at this news that many of them deserted their houses and others came and Complain'd to the Parliament Representing to them what great danger their Coasts were as being the most exposed to an Invasion and putting them in fear that the Hollanders would come and Ravage the whole Country Upon which Oliver Cromwell then General of all the Forces of England and who was the Primum mobile of that Infant-Republick immediately set out towards the Maritime places as well to appease the peoples disturbed Spirits as to inform himself of the particulars of the fight Some Regiments were likewise detach'd from the Army and order'd to march towards the Sea Coasts which were Quarter'd at Greenwich Gravesend Sandwich and Dover Cromwell
get them as soon as possible into a condition to be able to enter upon new enterprizes De Galen having a mind to render the last duties to his Dead The Governor Brancattio permitted him to bury them near to a Fountain which Frederick Barbarossa had caused to be built of white Marble for the refreshment of his Ships when coming from Constantinople with a Naval Army he landed on the Coasts of Italy The Bodies of the Vice Commander Jonge Hoen Jansâ— Bont and Swart were interred near the seven Fig-trees under the Rosemary attended by 40 Musketeers who paid several Vollies of Shot to the honour of the Memory of those brave Captains who newly died in the bed of Honour for the service of their Country After these Funerals were over de Galen considering it would be but to lose time in vain to stay any longer in that Harbour resolved to weigh Anchor in order to sail towards Legorn thinking thereby to draw the English out of the secure Post in which they then were After having related what passed in the Mediterranean we shall return to the Ocean The States Fleet Commanded by Vice-Admiral de Wit after the departure of the 10 Ships that were detacht from it consisted of 64 Men of War and that of the English under the Conduct of Admiral Blake was composed of 68. But the Ships of these latter were incomparably much better furnisht for the War than were those of the Dutch De Ruiter after he had well examined all things found so great a difference between the Naval Army of Holland and that of England that he saw there was an utter impossility to be able to attempt any thing without exposing the Fleet of the United Provinces to an inevitable Ruine De Wit slights de Ruiter's sage advice and rashly fights the English But de Wit was of another mind and assoon as ever he came to Sea affected to let the World know he had great designs in his Head His advice was to go and attack the English in the Downs and according to that project de Ruiter was to lead the Van-Guard But the English having gotten ready sooner than de Wit imagined appeared all on a sudden at Sea the 2d of October and coming up directly to him with a fair wind his surprise was so great that he had not time so much as to call a Council of War besides that he was in no readiness for a Fight because that many of his Ships having been scattered here and there by a Tempest that had happened the day before had not yet time to get together again A fight between the English and Dutch between Callis and Dover Octber 2. 1652. Vice-Admiral de Wit seeing there was no flying back sent by an Advice-Boat to exhort all the Captains of his Fleet to do their duty in their respective places The fight begun at three a Clock in the Afternoon and was fought at the entrance of Callis-strait De Ruiter had the Vanguard de Wit the main Body of the Fleet and de Wilde Commanded the Rear And Evertz attended besides with a Body of Reserve to be ready to give assistance to those that should have need The two Fleets piercing one into the other plied one another hotly with the Thunder of their Cannon the English loss being most in Men and that of the Dutch in Sails and Rigging De Ruiter and de Wit did wonders The Dutch Worsted but for all they could do in a little time they were so roughly handled that they had much ado to turn themselves De Ruiter had a great many killed and wounded he had received four shot between Winâ— and Water the Main-yard of his Ship was over-turned to the left side and his main and mizzen Sails as well as his Rigging were all torn to pieces Some Captains following his example signalized themselves whilst oâ—hâ—â—s gave all the marks of a shameful Cowardâ—ce and several kept at a great distance behind â—ill night coming on and parting the Combatants thâ—y could get together again by favour of thâ— darkness of the night in order to renew 〈…〉 â—gain the next day if the wind and opp◠〈…〉 â—â—ved favourable to them But the 〈…〉 â—â—ceived in the night a Re-inforcement of 16 Great Ships which Admiral Ayschew brought from the Downs whereas the Hollanders found themselves weaker by 20 Ships through the Cowardice of many Captains who stole from the Fleet by favour of the darkness Notwithstanding all these disadvantages Vice-Admiral de Wit was still obstinately bent to attack the English and was for that purpose making towards them when perceiving that he should be but very slenderly back'd he made a stop In the mean while the Weather falling to a Calm de Wit call'd together all the General and Under Officers of his Fleet to a Council of War to deliberate about the present State of affairs De Ruiter and Evertz that were in joint Command with him maintain'd that 't was a great Rashness to expose the Fleet to so imminent a danger because their Ships were so much scattered one from the other that it would be four a Clock in the afternoon before the forwardest and Dusk of night before the backwardest of them could come up with the body of the Enemies Fleet that the English had received a considerable Reinforcement whereas the Hollanders on the contrary were grown weaker That the former had a great advantage by their Fire-Ships whereas they could make no use of theirs that their Fleet was very ill manned and a great many of their men sick and wounded that two of their Ships had lost their Fore-Masts that the Main-Mast of the Ship call'd the Prince William was quite disabled and many other Ships much endamaged and in fine that there would be no manner of tolerable reason to be alledged in excuse of so great a fault as it would be at that time to put the States and the Government in imminent danger of ruin by so rashly exposing their Fleet. All these reasons were too evident to be rejected and therefore they tackt about to get away from the Enemies only 7 Ships that were kept back by a contrary Wind were forced to lag behind and endure the Force of the English Admiral and his Squadron who had the Weather-gage of them till the Dusk of Night hut without any great damage The Dâ—tch Fleet then having thus made a Retreat under the favourable covert of the Darkness Vice-Admiral de Wit who affected to shew courage out of season called another Council of War and proposed that the Fleet should keep to the leeward but all the Officers smelling out his design Unanimously maintained that it 't was not at all advisable to stand another attack from the English because they were too weak to cope with them and it would he too great a hazard to venture it but that it would be much safer to Retreat with all the sail they could towards Goree to recruit themselves and
being the 1st of March Admiral Tromp put up a White Flag and called together on board him the principal Officers of his Fleet and exhorted them to acquit themselves worthily of the duty they ow'd to their Country and to fight like men of Honour and Courage The English followed them close at the heels and the Battle begun again next day at 10 a Clock in the morning about 3 miles to the North Westward of the Isle of Wight The English had the Wind but coming near them we could not find they had any inclination to come to a close fight they contenting themselves only with shooting at our Masts Sails and Rigging as they had done the day before Tromp had drawn up his Fleet into the form of a Crescent to be the better able to cover the Merchant Ships and the English came up six several times to endeavour to cutoff those Ships from the main body of the Fleet but were always repulsed Tromp was ravish'd with Joy to see some of his Captains fight more couragiously that day then they had done the day before Captain Van Nes kept so close to Tromp that he could easily call him to his assistance in case of need De Ruâ—ter also gave upon this occasion New proofs of his bravery for after he had received his orders from the Admiral he engaged so far amongst the thickest of the Enemies that he was many times in danger of being opprest by them and after noon he was so grievously battered that he was not able any longer to move either forward or backward upon which Tromp Commanded Captain Duâ—n to assist de Ruiter to get off and go out of the Battle Almost at the same time the Admiral was informed that the Merchant Ships were standing to the South-East-Ward upon which Captain Van Nes was detatcht away to Command them by Tromps order to stand to the East-North East-ward in order to make towards the Strait of Callis Van Nes performed his Commission and bid them at the same time clap on more Sail but hapning to come too late and they having neglected to execute the orders given them the English took their opportunity to Snap some part of that Fleet together with two Men of War of which they made themselves Mrs. of which one that was Commanded by Le Sage yielded not till after a very stout Resistance Of the Merchant Ships there were 12 taken others were defended by the Men of War and part of them saved themselves in Havre de Grace as did likewise two Men of War that had lost their Masts At the coming on of the night an English Ship took fire and then the fight ended In the mean while some Captains sent word to Tromp that they wanted Powder and were not in a condition to make any longer resistance upon which Tromp ordered them to keep by the Merchant Ships and to make as fair a shew as they could with their presence to make the Enemy believe they were there to defend them and then all things were disposed to be in a readiness for a third fight The next morning at break of day the English were seen to come on again to charge them Upon which Tromp having put all things in order for that purpose advanced towards the Enemies Fleet with more Courage and Resolution than any Forces he had to fight them For at most he had but one poor Squadron under his Flag that had any Ammunition left whilst the Rest were unprovided of all things At 10 of the Clock in the morning the two Fleets came up with one another and commenced a third Battle which was very obstinate and Bloody yet without any great advantage to the Enemies The English Vice-Admiral of the Blew Braved for some time the Dutch Admiral thundring continually at him with his Guns but he forbearing to fire till he came up almost close to his side gave him then first one Broad-side and after that another so much to the purpose that he was forc'd to retire But whilst on one side the Valiant Tromp signalized himself many of his Captains basely deserted him on the other and betook themselves to a shameful flight besides several others that were constrained to it by pure necessity for want of Powder Towards the Evening the English took some more of our Merchant Ships Captain Van Ness at the beginning of the fight advertised them by order from the Admiral to clap on all the Sail they could and make towards the strait of Callis but those orders were neglected Tromp sent to them the Fiscâ—l or Treasurer of his Fleet to press them to make the more hast but all in vain it being impossible with all that could be done or said to make them to go forwards so that some of the Enemies Fregats appearing in the evening came and fell upon the main Body of that Fleet. Van Ness did all he was able to defend them More Dutch Merchant Ships taken but they falling into confusion and disorder one part of them blindly threw themselves among the Enemies Men of War whilst the others falling foul upon one another knockt themselves to pieces And for the Dutch Men of War that were there they alas could give them no assistance for want of Powder so that a considerable part of those Merchant Men fell into the hands of the English At the approach of the night Blake made a shew as if he would have come on again to charge the Dutch Fleet but Admiral Tromp keeping himself in a posture ready to stand the shock the English Admiral retired steering his Course towards the Coasts of England whilst the States Fleet made sail quietly without being pursued towards the Coasts of Flanders and came to an Anchor on the 3d of March within three Miles to the Northwestward of Dunkirk from whence they got into the Harbours of Holland and Zealand These three successive Battles as the Dutch would needs flatter themselves cost very nigh as dear to the English as the Dutch It s true the Hollanders confess they lost 24 Merchants Ships but the English reported them at London to be above 40. These Dutch Men of War viz. the Great St. Luke the Ostrich the Amity and the Golden Cock were taken and carried into Plymouth and Dover The Crown the Angel Gabriel and Keidyk were sunk and Schelten Wiglemo blown up Among the Captains that were killâ—d were reckoned Balk Van Zaanen Port Spanhem Allart Sipke Fokkes and Regemorter Schey Van Zeelst and Swers were made Prisoners The number of men kill'd was about 600 and that of the wounded somewhat more De Ruiter having lost all his Masts and most part of his Men was forced to retire before the end of the Battel On the side of the English the Rainbow the Saturn the Sampson the Rose and Captain Button's Ship were sunk and the Charles Burnt as was likewise the Fregat called the Fairsax but that was done by the English themselves at Chatham because she
the King of Portugal to make Reparation for all the Hostilities Committed by the Portugueses upon their Subjects in Brasile and other places For which effect they gave notice to de Ruiter that whilst he was waiting for Lieutenant Admiral Opdam's Fleet he should cruize against the Portuguese Fleet that was to come from Brasile and against all other Ships belonging to that Nation and should endeavour to take them in order to facilitate thereby an Accommodation with that Crown and force it to give an account for all its usurpations which obliged them likewise to send some Deputies along with Lieutentant Admiral Opdam into Portugal adding That if the Portuguese Ships offered to make any resistance de Ruiter should fight them and do his best to take or sink them The Fleet designed for the Ocean under the Command of Lieutenant Admiral Opdam sail'd then out of the Meuse the 5th of September Consisting of 12 Men of War 1 Advice Yacht and 1 Flute laden with Provisions They came to an Anchor on the 25th in the mouth of the Tagus near Lisbon The same day the Sieurs Ten Hove and de Wit Envoys from the States going into a Yacht went up the River and two days after were admitted to an Audience of the Queen Mother who then held the Reins of the Government assisted by some Grandees of the Kingdom during the minority of the King her Son The Envoys then Represented their Grievances and demanded restitution of all that had been taken from the States in Brasile and elsewhere and an indemnification for all their losses But the Portugueses after some Conferences answered that they were resolved to Restore nothing No not so much as one foot of Land So positive an Answer as that put an end in an instant to their Negotiation Some days before that Court had put out an Order to forbid all the Dutch Ships at Lisbon and St. Hubes to stir out of those Ports till further Order In the mean while the States Envoys set on work the Dutch Consul named Vander Hoeve who used all imaginable ipmortunities at the Court of Portugal to obtain a Liberty of Commerce since as he alledged the States Fleet had not yet Committed any Act of Hostility against the Portugueses Representing to them at the same time that the seizure and stoppage they had newly made of the Dutch Ships was like to be the Plreudium of a world of Mischiefs But with all he could say he could obtain nothing of them but a few fair promises without any effect The Envoys therefore seeing they did but lose their time there to no purpose Demanded their Audience of leave But Answer was made them that the Queen was so indisposed that she was not in a Condition to give them Audience at that time Upon which they delivered to Pedro Vierra de Silva the Secretary of State a Letter sealed up telling him withal that they were very sensibly troubled they could not take leave of the Queen in the usual Form by reason of her Majesties indisposition and that therefore they prayed him to deliver her Majesty that Letter which in substance imported that since they had used all the means they could to terminate the differences between the two Nations in an amicable manner without any success they had Order from the States their Masters to declare War against the Crown of Portugal as accordingly they did after which going again on board their Yacht they joyned the Dutch Fleet the 23d of October where they informed Lieutenant Admiral Opdam of all that had passed On the 26th of the same Month de Ruiter's Squadron joyned the Admirals Flag and the Fleet by that Junction was reinforced to the Number of 27 or 28 men of War During the time that Lieutenant Admiral Opdam continued on the Coasts of Lisbon some Portuguese Ships or other vessels laden with their Merchandizes were taken but the Booty taken off of Roxont was much more considerable For in the night time a Part of the Portuguese Fleet of about 40 sail coming from Brasile Laden with Sugar fell into the Dutch Fleet and tho the darkness of the night favoured their fight by stealing them from their Enemies fight yet 20 of them were taken There were still 44 more with their Convoy that remained behind being kept back by a Tempest against whom the Hollanders for some days cruiz'd watching for their coming but seeing they appeared not and being uncertain whether they were not already gotten into some safe Port they took a Resolution to prevent Winter by retiring home to their own Country before the Stormy Weather came in And accordingly they arrived in Holland with all their Prizes at the beginning of December The year following de Ruiter was sent again to the Coast of Portugal with a Fleet of 22 Ships of War But the Portuguese considering of what great Consequence it was for them to preserve their Sea Forces and how dangerous to hazard them in a Battle kept their Fleet within their Ports being perswaded that Winter would as it did last year force the Hollanders to quit their Coasts so that de Ruiter was able to do them no other harm that Expedition than only to interrupt their Commerce and alarm their whole Country We have above related what means the United Provinces used to break the designs of Swedeland in the year 1656 and to free Dantzick and the Baltick Sea from the oppression of that Power That War which had made the States so uneasie and put them to so much expence was followed by another much more bloody and dangerous For Frederick the III. King of Denmark seeing the Swedish Monarch Employed with his whole Forces in prosecuting the War he had with Poland and considering that was a fair occasion for him to strike in and Revenge his Father Christiern the Vth's Quarrel who about 15 years before was oppressed by his Arms and had part of his Dominions taken from him he without any hesitation declared himself being inflamed on one side with the desire of Revenge and on the other put forward by the secret allurements of a certain Foreign Power And accordingly marching his Army into the Country of Bremen under the Command of General Bilde he attackt and took several places belonging to the Swedes But Fortune that had gone along with his Arms in their happy beginning proving afterwards Jadish to him deserted him to that degree that he soon saw himself at the point of losing all his Dominions For Charles Gustavus King of Swedeland Quitting Poland immediately upon that News came hastning to the Assistance of what more nearly concerned him and fell with all his forces into Hostein belonging to Denmark so that by that Diversion he forced General Bilde to Quit the Dutchy of Bremen and to retire to Fredericksode But that place being situated upon the little Belt that separates the Isle of Funen from the Firm land of Jutland was soon reduced under the obedience of Swedeland King Gustavus stopt
to the pacifying of those two Crowns and to the maintaining a perfect Union between the two Republicks Answer was made him That the Dutch had no other Design neither but that Upon which the English Admiral set sail and after noon advanced further into the Belt The Dutch perceiving it unmoored likewise and stood after the English to hinder them from cutting off the Danish and some Holland Ships that lay at Anchor near Nyburg by separating them from the Body of the Dutch Fleet. But the English making off into the Main Sea retired to Kallundburg and the Hollanders towards the Isle of Rouse where the Danes came and joyned them In the mean time while the Ambassadors of the States that came with de Ruiter's Fleet were negotiating a Treaty of Peace between the Two Crowns at Copenhagen the English interrupted it by their underhand Practices in proposing a Cessation of Arms for Three Weeks which extremely troubled the Hollanders and obliged de Ruiter to write about it to the College of the Admiralty of Amsterdam intimating to them That the English as far as he was able to judge by their manner of Proceeding seemed ill intentioned notwithstanding all their fair Protestations and that he believed they turned Affairs in that manner with Design to favour Swedeland Three Days before the Term prefixed for the Suspension of Arms was to expire which was on the 10th of July Lieutenant-Admiral Opdam's Fleet in conjunction with the Danes making together about Thirty seven Sail of Men of War set sail directly for Copenhagen which the Swedes kept besieged with a Fleet of Thirty three Ships of War but at the Approach of the Admiral of Holland they retired without daring to stand a Fight which much surprized Opdam who expected not to be rid of them at so cheap a rate In the mean while the English Ministers that were endeavouring with those of Holland to mediate an Accommodation considering it was not necessary the two Mediating Powers should have such numerous and formidable Forces towards the North only to counterbalance Swedeland proposed that they might be diminished But the States suspecting there was some Mystery in the Matter on the English side ordered That but 20 of their Ships should be recalled causing private Notice to be given to Lieutenant-Admiral Opdam not to send them away neither till a like number of the English were gone before them But all those Precautions of the States became in short time needless by the Revolution that was ready to happen in England by the Intriegues of General Monk whose Aim was to pull down Cromwel's Party in order to restore King Charles to the Throne For Admiral Mountague who held Intelligence with Monk burn'd with an impatient Desire to quit the North with the English Fleet and to hasten home to the Assistance of King Charles's Party and seeking all the Pretences he could think on to promote his speedy departure he gave out That for want of Provisions his Fleet was able to subsist no longer abroad and so setting Sail on the 5th of September he returned back to the Coasts of England Vice-Admiral de Ruiter having weighed Anchor the same day moved and cast Anchor again at Amak near Copenhagen from whence he went ashore and went to a Tent set up between the Town and the Swedish Army where the States Ambassadors and those of Sweden and Denmark were in Conference about a Peace But Affairs going quite another way than towards an Accommodation Hostilities were begun again In the mean time Lieutenant Admiral Opdam having written to the States to desire leave to return home because of his indisposition he accordingly set sail at the beginning of November with a Fleet of 20 sail of Men of War and a great Number of Merchant Ships accompanied with the Vice-Admiral's Evertsz and Meppel De Ruiter then being left in the North to Command in chief in the absence of the Lieutenant Admiral joyned his Fleet with that of the Danes Commanded by Admiral Bielke and having taken on board a good Number of Troops both Horse and Foot steer'd directly towards the Isle of Funen To attempt a descent there and if it were possible to drive out the Swedes from thence On the 8th of November he advanc'd as far as before the Town of Nyburg situated in the East part of Funen upon the Belt Tho a great body of Swedish Horse appeared upon the Coast to oppose a descent yet Marshal Schak and other General Officers resolved to fall upon them notwithstanding the night was coming on But that Undertaking was not so well backt as it should have been because there was no body that was well acquainted with that place In the mean while the Swedes having raised some batteries begun to fire upon the Dutch Fleet and they fired no less briskly again upon the Swedes and upon the Ramparts of Nyburg The next morning before day the Officers Soldiers and Seamen that had passed the night in Boats and suffered much by the cold came back again on board the Fleet without having done any thing because it was so very dark that they could not see the Coast After this attempt the General Officers resolved to weigh Anchor and to draw towards Kortemunde another Town in the same Isle where they arrived on the 10th about noon De Ruiter thereupon gave order immediately to Evertsz de Wilde to Rear Admiral Bâ—akel and to the Captains Van Amstâ—l and Aldert Machysz to joyn him and to draw up in a line of Battle in Order to Batter the Town with their Artillery so that soon after it was seen all in flames and the Swedish Horse was forc'd to scamper here and there not knowing where to shelter themselves De Ruâ—ter observing that disorder without losing any time posted 4 men of War more in such a manner that their guns swept all the plain Country clear and gall'd the Flank of the Swedish Cavalry In the mean time the Danish Admiral Bielke and Vice Admiral Held coming to de Ruiter prayed him to be pleased to go to Marshal Schak to endeavour to perswade him upon that fair opportunity to put in Execution without delay the descent he before had designed to make because it was already 2 a Clock in the Afternoon After several deliberations the Danish and Holland Troops chosen to form the Van guard entred into Boats which landed them within Pistol shot of the Town Bridge The Swedes had retrenched themselves in two different places and had raised Forts from the Town to the Bridge having posted on one side 2 Regiments of Horse and on the other 3. Whilst the Dragoons were left in the Town to defend that At the approach of the Danes the Swedes fired hotly upon the Boats and killed some of the Hollanders De Ruiter being in Person in one of those Boats seeing the danger cried out My Boys Have Courage advance and march up to the Enemies Or else you are all lost men That discourse so extreamly revived