Sieur de Quesny by another way round the Island unperceived by the Dutch had conveyed the destin'd succours into Messina and foreseeing well the bad consequences of the disappointment being much displeased with the slow proceedings of the Spanish grave Phlegmatick circumspection and their conduct of affairs thought it not convenient further to pursue the French nor to abide longer in these quarters the six Moneths appointed by the States his Masters for that expedition being now expired and therefore having rejoyned Montesarchio with his eight Spanish Men of War he took his leave of him in order to his returning homeward This sudden departure threatned by de Ruyter put the Viceroys of Sicily and Naples in great perplexity and the Court of Spain in much trouble who judged thereby the businesse of Messina almost desperate so that all means possible were used by the Agents of Spain to retain him in these parts and particularly importunate instances in Holland for the prolonging the time of his Commission which prevailed New Orders from Holland being arrived at Naples the Viceroy the Duke de los Velos fearing that de Ruyter might pass without touching there and so misse of receiving of his Letters of so great concern to the Spanish interest sent off the Dutch Consul with some Galleys to meet him and to acquaint him with the will of the States and to invite him to Naples This occasioned de Ruyters coming to Naples where he was splendidly entertained by the Vice-roy and in visiting the City treated with the same honours as are usually rendred to his own person but hastened again aboard The advice sent from Holland of his Commission renewed and a re-inforcement of his Fleet promised set him at work to animate and push forward the slow and heavy march of the Spaniards in the execution of their Gounsils and so having cruised with his Fleet some time at Palermo and some time at Melazzo and had conference with the Viceroy of Sicily It was condescended on that Augusta a place that held for the Rebels should be invested by Sea and Land and accordingly de Ruyter with his fleet made haste for the Bay of Augusta a place to him too satal for so famous a name whilest he was there intelligence was brought him that the French were at Sea whereupon that night he sailed and next morning got sight of the Enemy they being about the Cape Spartivento and he himself with his fleet three Leagues from Augusta The morning was calm so that he could not come up with the Enemy but in the afternoon a fresh gale blowing from S. E. brought both fleets nearer together De Ruyter being in the Van the Spaniards in the body and Vice-Admiral de Haen in the Rear of the fleet which besides the Spanish consisted but of seventeen Dutch Men of War with other galleys fire-ships and small craft They bore down with great eagerness upon the French consisting of thirty Men of war and seven fireships with galleys and other Tenders About four in the afternoon the fight began and lasted till seven with obstinate resolution and courage betwixt the Dutch and French who sustained the whole brunt of this Engagement for the Spanish did but little only kept themselves out of harms way and did what mischief they could at a distance The Dutch had in this Engagement three Ships so disabled as to be towed off and one Captain killed but smaller losses are undiscernable when the great De Ruyter fell For here it was that pressing the French at the latter end of the Fight so as to make them give way a bold bullet from the Enemies Fleet stopt him in his carreer which having carried away part of his left foot and broke his left leg above the ancle threw him on the deck so as by his fall he was wounded in the head The Fleet hereupon slackened sail and stood for the Bay of Syracusa The wounded General was carried ashoar for the more conveniency of cure which then did not seem desperate but the greatness of his minde unacquainted with such checks of fortune encreased so that distemper of body which it patiently bore that the nineteenth of April having been speechless a day before between nine and ten of the Clock at night in the Seveniteth year and Second Moneth of his Age at the first violent summons of Fortune yeelded his last Duty to Nature and as he had lived died in the embraces of beloved honour This his Death as it filled his friends and Countrey with grief and lamentation and all men with pitty and regret so being a losse great enough to cast the ballance of advantage even to the most forlorn and despairing side gave the French a Victory not equalled by their confederate Adversaries unless when last year Triumphant Turene the only Paragon of his worth and fame upon a different Stage played his last Act which two great Champions much unlike in their Original the one being born to a great share of his honour and the other to make all his own did so resemble each other in the course of their Lives and Fortune and manner and Circumstances of dying that it seemed nature had framed them for two Subjects whereon Fortune might shew her skill in dispencing equally her inclinations to great and powerfull adversaries in the highest pitch of competition For as either had been the constant Favourite of their respective Masters and the often and long experieneed prop of their Victorious hopes the one at Land and the other at Sea so both fell by an interchanged great Shot in such a point of time when their actions gave great hopes and confidence to their several Parties and their death was attended with remarkable and dangerous consequences to either side and had Fortune proceeded from the beginning and should she still continue with so even and impartial a hand in all the occurrences and transactions of this formidable war both parties might have occasion to celebrate their triumphs with tears and with drawn stakes sit down and mutually confess that Iam sumus ergo pares De Ruyter was a person as most brave men have been of a middle stature a strong and well compacted body not fat but fleshy of a gracefull and majestick countenance his aspect pleasant and chearfull not terrible by too much fierceness nor by too great mildeness unawful of a complexion sanguine and a constitution temperate and healthfull sober in his diet and moderate though free in his words neither sullen with rigid and morose reservedness nor by loquacity affected or vain his gestures manly and natural and generally of a frame of temper so even and harmonious as rendred him sedate and constant and altogether free from the mistakes and waverings that accompany fickle and light natures in the greater vicissitudes of fortune He advanced to the height of Honour by the regular steps of merit and patience never importuning his destiny by untimely and precipitant ambition nor slighting or being out of the way when Fortune called him to preferment which he conducted by such wise and prudent measures as made him acceptable to all not staining the reputation of his great actions by vain-glorious ostentation and overweening pride but by being dutiful to his superiours respectfull to his equalls gratefull to his benefactors affable and courteous to his inferiours and in a word obliging to all he gained the love and esteem of all that knew him entertaining even the meanest of the acquaintances of his low estate with that civility that if in the top of honour they enjoyed not the ancient familiarity of his baser fortune they easily saw that it was his place and dignity and not the change of humour that altered the stile In fine he was so good a man so devout and pious a Christian so stout a Souldier so wise expert and successfull a General and so faithfull trusty and honest a Lover of his Countrey that he deserves justly to be recommended to Posterity as an ornament of his Age the darling of the Seas and the delight and honour of his Countrey FINIS These Books are Sold by Dorm Newman at the Kings Arms in the Poultrey Tachmas Prince of Persia an historical Novel which happened under the Sophy Seliman who reigns at this day A Treatise of the Gout Written originally in the French Tongue by Theodor Turquet de Mayerne Kt. Baron of Aubonne Counsellour and Chief Physician to the late King and Queen of England Englished by Tho. Sherly Physician in Ordinary to his Majesty Whereto is added Advice about Hypochoudriacal fits By the same Author A New and Easie English Grammar Dictionary and Nomenclator English and Dutch The Doctrine of Devils proved to be the grand Apostacy of these latter times An Essay tending to rectifie those undue notions men have about Daemons and evil Spirits Truth Vnveyled in behalf of the Church of England giving particular Instances of such amongst her profest Sons as have ventured upon Innovations in her Doctrine being a Vindication of Mr. Standish his Sermon before the King and published by his Majesties special Command By a Person of Quality The whole Body of Arithmetick made Easie wherein the Rules of that Art are briefly explained and illustrated with such familiar examples as may reach the capacity of any that desire to learn Dr Robert Bayfields Anatomy Kitchin Physick With Rules to prevent sickness and cure diseases by diet and such things as are daily sold in the Market By Tho Cocke Whereunto is added A Discourse of Stoving Letters of Advice from two Reverend Divines to a young Gentleman about a Case of Conscience The School of the Heart in 47 Emblemes Sixteen Sermons Preached on Sever all Occasions By Edvv. Boys B. D.
THE LIFE OF Michael Adrian De RVYTER ADMIRAL OF HOLLAND Licensed Octob. 1. Rog. L'Estrange LONDON Printed by J. B. for Dorman Newman at the Kings Arms in the Poultrey 1677. THE LIFE OF Admirall De Ruyter ARts in all ages have had their Chiefs and Grandecs who by inventing of new or improving of old devices have been esteemed whilst alive and renowned after death And as their attempts were no otherwise to be valued but as the prevailing genius of their times weighed the uses of them so several ages according to their predominating measures have placed or displaced their Artists in the Classis and Register of fame which ought indeed to be the Royal Standard of such Worthies praise though fond Posterity either over-affected with the advantages of their own or not throughly informed of the usefulness of elder-atchivements do for the most part unjustly rank the Illustrious of former times in that order that these have the precedency who seem most to favour the prerogative of the present applauded practices when antiquated contrivances being tryed by a true survey of their profitableness when they Flourished and the advances they gained beyond their respective Predecessors may appear to have made as high a rise above their antecedent hints as our Great Guns excell the Roman battering Rams or our roaring Trumpet-speaker old bauling Stentor who now with the great Heroes of distant ages are sent again to School Vt pueris placeant declamatio fiant The Masters of the Military Art as well as others being obnoxious to this severe and partiall Judgement the contemporaries of great men have in all ages laboured to vindicate the honour of their Heroes by bringing to a fair tryal of their Countrey the attainments and feats of such as they the only competent Judges thought worthy to be listed in the Roll of Fame and to crown them with such Verdant Bayes as nothing but a hotter season of newer attempts and more taking discoveries could ever blast or wither And as careful Navigators in coasting of new-found Lands or Ingenious Painters at the view of some rare and surprising beauty fail not to make some transient designes of the new objects that either misfortune might not altogether deprive the world of them or that the curiosity of others who should have better opportunities might be raised to finish and compleat their intended draughts So in all times some have been who have left to posterity the true and natural proportions and more discernable lineaments of the actions of famous men which others who lived nearer them might fill up and imbellish with the several colours and shaddows of smaller occurrences Now since our Age hath brought forth as many if not more Instances of this nature then any past and rewarded them with as suitable honours and titles as the most triumphant times whatsoever I thought it not amisse at this time when every little Ale and Coffee-house Virtuoso comes blustering upon us from the press to give the world a view of the Life and Death of the late Renowned Sea-General Michael Ad. de Ruyter Lieutenant-Admiral of the States of the United Netherlands whose rare Endowments and memorable Exploits have rendred him parallel to his most famed Competitors and the high pitch to which he grew from so low a root more conspicuous then all wherein if every little period of the several vicissitudes and changes of his fortune be not so distinctly and punctually handled as might be expected from an exact Diary or Memoires which is not the intent of this Treatise yet the more observable Circumstances of his whole life partly from Relations of his own mouth and partly from the authentick Testimonies of Witnesses Records shall be faithfully collected to the satisfaction of every Reader DUring the Wars betwixt the Spaniards and Dutch in Flanders there served for some years the States of Holland in quality of a private Trooper a stranger by some judged a scottish man so little known by his family that his profession gave him his Sirname the happy Father of this brave man who being disbanded from or displeased with that course of life with his wife his only then childe Michael Ad. de Ruyter born to him at Flushing in Zealand the subject of this present Discourse and serving-maid being the whole of his Family retired himself to a Countrey-house at two miles distance from Bergen ap Zome and there to the quieter employment of a husbandmans life where by his industrous endeavours with two horses the greatest part of his substance in the usuall labour of that Countrey he supplied the wants of his family with care and pains but neither the lowness of the poor mans fortune which commonly begets either contempt or pity nor yet the priviledge of his person as having sometime served under the same Ensignes could secure him or his beasts from the violence of licentious Souldiers his two horses are taken from him by force and carried to the Dutch Camp in Flanders by some of the Troopers of that Army this loss was too considerable to be neglected by him who thereby saw himself and family utterly ruined He therefore hastens after them to the camp but finding his addresses for justice fruitless by the delays and neglect of the Officers and being well acquainted with the proceedings of loosly disciplined or ill-paid Armies where the Commanders either share in or connive at the rapine of the Souldiers he resolved on a speedier and more effectual way of reparation by stealing from robbers what they had unjustly forced from him And so having discovered where his horses were at grass watching his opportunity he secretly conveyed them away and left them in a place somewhat remote from his own house where he judged them farthest from danger foreseeing as indeed it happened that these new Masters would not fail to look after the strays The souldiers missing there booty and concluding that the owner had them returned in the night with a purpose to finde them at his house but being by his provident care disappointed in barbarous revenge they set on fire the poor single thatcht Cot-house about the ears of the helpless Inhabitants In the horrour of this sudden surprise whilst the father mother and servant save themselves by breaking through the merciless flames with that care of self-preservation which is common to all creatures and astonishment usual in such unexpected frights the poor harmless childe the future darling of Neptune lay at the mercy of devouring Vulcan fast asleep in an upper room swadled in his cradle but the flames of Parental love towards an only childe stronger than those of fire soon scorcht the mothers heart with so great apprehensions of the danger of her Son that aided by that providence which saved the Children in the fiery furnace with more than masculine courage she threw her self into the house again to save or die with that childe by whose life and death fortune had decreed her honour and having
judged the farthest way about to be the nearest way home and so having ordered them to return by the back of Ireland and Scotland Leiutenant Admiral Van Trump and Vice-Admiral De Ruyter were set out from the Texel with Eighty Men of War to meet and Convoy a Fleet of Two hundred Sail of Merchant-men coming that way from France which being successfully effected without interruption from the English then in the Downs they kept out at sea expecting their Enemies The English then being commanded by a triumvirate of Generals of equal and joynt authority Blake Dean and Monck on the second of Iune came in sight of the Dutch Fleet and about eleven or twelve of the Clock engaged them It was fought till night with much blood and fierce resolution but the English accustomed to victory having lost Dean one of their Generals plyed them so warmly that they thought it safest to fly to Blanckenburgh General Monck pursuing them at the heels to seven fathom water During the whole fight Vice-Admiral De Ruyter and Rear-Admiral Lawson on the English side having singled themselves out fought singly with such courage and emulation as might be expected from two Commanders of so much Fame and Honour Hardly can there be shown greater struglings for Victory or stiffer ambition for greatness than appeared in the Dutch during all this War who the more they were beaten like balls against a wall the sooner they rebounded About the latter end of Iuly Van Trump and De Ruyter from Zealand and De Witt from Holland set out again to sea and being joyned made up a Fleet of Ninety Sail of Men of War and ten Fireships General Monck with a Fleet far less in number being then abroad the twenty nineth of Iuly towards night came up with them but the Master of his Ship fearing the enemies Fireships and advising him not to venture an Engagement the General in anger and in terms more of a stout Commander than expert Seaman bid him Turn again And so with prodigious courage gave them their last and most fatal defeat in these their Wars with the Commonwealth of England wherein besides the loss of Twenty six Men of War their Admiral Van Trump ended his daies and of all the Flagships of their Fleet only that of De Ruyter had the fortune to come into Port with the Flag standing After the death of Van Trump Opdam was made Admiral in his place a Land-Souldier and Officer of Horse the States probably thinking that by matching the quality of their Admiral with that of the English General Monck they might equal their fortune De Witt Vice-Admiral and De Ruyter Rear-Admiral of Holland But whilst the Dutch are fitting for new action though with somewhat slower procedure than formerly their heat and strength being much cooled and abated there starts up in England a new Statholder Oliver Cromwel General of the Army made Protector of the Common-wealth This New Usurper knowing that his authority being forced violent and against nature needed greater confirmation and support than he could expect from the free and voluntary obedience of an overpowered people and the States general finding themselves much weakened by the past War they both understood one another so well and their several interests that about the latter end of January 1653 4. a peace was concluded betwixt them which at that time stopt the troubled humours but removed not the causes of relapses After this peace De Ruyter transports himself with his Wife Son Engell De Ruyter two daughters and the rest of his family from Flushing where he had formerly lived to Amsterdam as the place of his future residence and more conspicuous stage of Honour but here he had hardly warmed his new House when the States found new business for him in the Old Streights The Pirates of these Seas after their wonted manner so incommoded Navigation in these parts that De Ruyter with a Squadron of Men of War in anno 1654. was sent by the States to suppress and tame their insolency In his Voyage thither he friendly met with his ancient enemy Blake who then was in the Streights with a Fleet of Ships upon the account of the Protector and Commonwealth of England where they saluted each other shook hands and parted in very good terms and De Ruyter continuing his course to Argiers in a short time so humbled the Corsairs of that place Tripoli and Tunnis that he brought them to a peace though of short duration and so with honour and applause returned back again to Holland where shortly after a greater field of honour was designed for him Men that would be great and rich by hook and by crook by potching and fishing where sometime they should not first grow envious and pettish and then angry and quarrelsome with their thriving Neighbours In the year 1657. the Victorious Arms of Swedland had lodged themselves in the very heart of Poland threatning danger if not ruine to that Kingdom The States of Holland fearing lest the prosperous success of that Crown with which their friendship and correspondence was always doubtful and uncertain might keep bread from their butter and much damnifie their traffick in the Baltick Sea perswaded the King of Denmark their ancient Allie who had more reason then force to break with Swedland promising him all assistance to regain from that King what he had wrested and detained from him some years before This instance of the States-General so prevailed with him that he declared War against the King of Swedland and invaded his Kingdomes wherewith the Swede being allarmed was forced to leave Poland and with all his forces return home against the Dane The bad success which the Danes had in these Wars both by Sea and land obliged the States of Holland to put a Fleet to Sea under the command of Admiral De Witt to assist them in the Sound But his Fleet being by the Swedes there routed the Admirals Ship the Bredrow sunk and De Witt himself either killed or drowned a fresh Recruit was dispatched with Admiral Opdam to re-inforce their Fleet Opdam arrived in the Sound but finding himself too weak to encounter the enemy was forced to secure himself and Fleet in Copenhagen then blockt up by the Swedes with a strait Siege both by Sea and land The King of Swedland in the mean time hearing of greater preparations in Holland for a stronger Fleet to be sent under the command of De Ruyter whose conduct and fortune was more apprehended then that of the others ordered his Ministers in England vigorously to prosecute with the Usurper Oliver their instances for assistance This they so accomplished that the intended succours his death preventing were by him recommended to the care of his Son Richard the short Successour to his Usurped authority Richard with the consent of the then pretended Parliament for that end and for the security of the English Trade in the Baltick in the beginning of the year 1659. sent the
harbour and De Ruyter recovered of his sickness some grudgings and animosities arisen betwixt him and Van Trump during the late actions proceeding partly as it was conceived from the byass of their differing factions the former being a declared re-publican and the latter a favourer of the interest of the Prince of Orange who was not then advanced to the dignity of Stat-holder broke forth into such open debate that they mutually accused and blamed each other for the ill success and miscarriages of the past Summers actions but Admiral De Ruyter highly esteemed by the States for his Valour prudence and fingular conduct and supported by the favour of the leading Party so far prevailed with his Masters that several Sea-Commanders were put to death for cowardise and himself confirmed with greater power and authority then before About the end of this year 1666. the Dutch being weary of the vast expences and weakned by the great losses of the war and the English much disheartned by the burning of the City of London which happened in September both seemed inclinanable to an accomodation and overtures of peace thereupon began to be set on foot on either side which seemed to some who thought themselves wise very hopeful In the beginning of the Spring De Ruyter was again speeded out to Sea and in April 1667 made an attempt with a good Fleet upon Brunt-Island a Town in the Scottish firth intending to have landed and spoyled the Countrey but by the vigilant care and conduct of the Earl of Rothoes Chancellour of that Kingdom with the Trained Bands of the Countrey he was bravely repulsed with loss After this De Ruyter to amuse the English who in a small Fleet were at sea sent off a detachment of twenty five sail of ships to cruise to the Northward who on the third of June falling in with Nineteen Sail of English Frigats off of Hull began a furious and bloudy conflict which was so stoutly and obstinately maintained on both sides that from twenty five the Dutch were reduc't to fourteen sail and the English from nineteen to fifteen Shortly after he made an attempt upon some Neighbouring parts of Harwich having put ashoar three thousand men near Felston-cliff and commanded two thousand of them to make an assault upon Langward-Fort which was twice essayed the first lasting about three quarters of an hour and the other one quarter but at last with the losse of an hundred men they were forced to retreat in so much haste and disorder that they left behinde them all their ladders whilest these actions continued at Langward-fort a party of twelve hundred Dutch being posted at the cliff their landing-place to secure and make good their retreat were attacked by the Trained Bands of the Countrey under the Command of the Earl of Suffolk and the Dutch being supplied with fresh recruits from the Fleet a very smart skirmish continued betwixt them till ten of the night but the English horse then coming in sight the Dutch thought it safest to quit the Land and so as soon as their boats were afloat in great haste they embarqued and returned to their Fleet. The day following this defeat at Langward-Fort de Ruyter with the Dutch Fleet was pursued by Sir Edward Spragg and Sir Joseph Jordan with about twenty sail of small Frigats but whether De Ruyter finding his Orders limited or for the reasons above-hinted notwithstanding he had a much stronger Fleet kept at distance and carefully avoided engagement taking his course through the channell for the Western parts of England In his passage he appeared before Portsmouth but knowing the strength of the place and finding the Countrey in arms he only shewed himself there and so continued his voyage to the Western coasts In Devonshire he endeavoured to have landed some men at Wenbury but the Militia of the Countrey being ready to receive them so warmly saluted them with some Volleys of small shot that they were forced with all speed to betake themselves back again to their ships The Admiral despairing to effect any thing here by force sent off a boat with a white flag desiring leave to come ashoar to buy fresh provisions but it was denied him by the Gentlemen and Officers that commanded there alledging that no such permission could be granted without the consent and authority of the Commander in chief who then was absent De Ruyter in this manner disappointed of his intent at Wenbury came with his whole Fleet before Couland in Cornwall and having anchored within musket shot of the shoar sent off twelve boats full of men with designe of landing whilst he in the mean time played on the land with his great guns from aboard but the Foot of the Countrey that were posted there purposely to oppose their landing charged them so briskly that they were forced to put off again without effecting anâ— thing By this time De Ruyter being informed from Holland of the progress of the Treaty of Peace which now was in a tendency to a speedy conclusion not willing with new hostilities to retard that which was so heartily desired by both parties relented a little in the ardour of his proceedings and began to heal the wounds which he had formerly made by prudent application of the politick plaisters of necessity and ignorance excusing some hostilities as thereto enjoyned by his Commission and others as committed without his Order And to that purpose sent off two officers with a flag of truce who being brought before Sir Jonathan Trelawny who commanded in chief under the Earl of Bath in these parts and having made the complement and apologies of the â—dmiral desired in his name a conference with some English aboard for whose safe coming and returning he was ready to engage the faith of the Seven Provinces Sir Jonathan having herewith advised the Earl of Bath by his Order De Ruyter was visited aboard of his own Ship by the same Sir Jonathan Trelawny Major Sparks and Mr. Windham The Admiral upon their approach courteously came over his Ships-side met and received them in their boat where after mutuall salutations having renewed the Apologies formerly made by his messengers he invited them aboard received them with a salute of Ordinance and entertained them with the Chief Officers of his Fleet at a magnificent dinner in the great Cabbin During which he gave honourable demonstrations of love and esteem for their persons and frequently repeated the expressions of the great honour he had for his Majesty and Kingdom of England and real and hearty wishes for a solid and permanent correspondence betwixt both Nations lamenting the great damages and loss which acorued to both by so ruinating a War The English entertained his civilities with reciprocal returns of honour and kindeness and having offered him supplies of all necessary provisions for his own Table refusing more untill the peace should be concluded they took their leave having been first assured by him that no more hurt should be done to