to be nearer hand to observe the Dutch Fleet that was expected on the English Coasts The Wind being easterly the English kept during the Night before Alborough at about 5 Miles distance from the Shore about Midnight the Duke of York received Advice That the Dutch Fleet steering towards the South-east was making directly up to him and was not above 6 Miles from him upon which News the English made all their loaden Ships retire towards the Shore and the Dutch on their side endeavoured to get the Weather-gage The 12th of the same Month the Wind being at East the Dutch were at about 5 Miles Distance from the English to the South-eastward and then the Wind turning to the South-west continued so all Night and the two Fleets met before Laystoff at about 8 Miles distance from the English Shore That Night a Dutch Fire-ship took Fire by the Imprudence of him that commanded it who was got drunk which Accident the English took for a happy Presage of Victory to them However the Dutch Fleet in spite of the Disadvantage of the Wind of which the English were Masters during the whole Fight fell upon Prince Robert's Squadron that was backt by Vice-Admiral Mings The Duke of York's Squadron formed the main Battle and that of the Earl of Sandwich made up the Rear The Battle begun at 3 in the Morning Admiral Opdam vigorously broke through Prince Robert's Squadron being followed by Lieutenant Admiral Kortenaar Lieutenant Admiral John Evertsz Vice-Admiral Cornelius Tromp Stellingwerf Bastian Senten c. The two Fleets engaged in streight Lines without throwing themselves into Crescents and so reciprocally broke through one another remaining still in Presence one of the other without rallying presently to make a fresh Charge The Wind was West and the English were towards the North-west and the Dutch to the South-westward the two Fleets broke through one another the second time at 6 in the Morning And because the Duke of York's Squadron kept still the Weather-gage without engaging in Fight it was impossible for the Dutch to win that Advantage from them but it fared not in the like manner with that of Prince Robert which was broken through by the Hollanders But the two Fleets having till then done nothing but canonaded one another afar off at length the Earl of Sandwich advancing about one in the Afternoon separated the Dutch Fleet in two and then the two Fleets coming to a closer Fight and firing at one another very fiercely Admiral Opdam boarded the Royal Charles in which was the Duke of York in Person and those two Admirals thundred at one another so furiously with continual Broad-sides that the Earl of Falmouth and the Lord Muskerry and Mr. Boyle and some of that Princes Footmen were killed by the Duke of York's Side and he himself was slightly wounded in the Hand which was dyed with the Blood of Mr. Boyle and just then as they were distributing the Cartridges in Admiral Opdam's Powder-room an unlucky Shot coming as is said from a small English Ship Admiral Opdum blown up commanded by one Smith afterwards Sir Jeremy Smith who in that nick of Time seeing the Duke's Danger had unperceivedly stole under the Dutch Admiral 's Side set Fire to his Powder and blew him up in a moment with all his Men excepting only 5 about 3 in the Afternoon Mr. Opdam had not as yet been wounded when this fatal Disaster happened to him but he perished on that unhappy occasion However the Hull of his Ship after having floated some time was towed off into the Vlie This sudden and unexpected Loss of Admiral Opdam put the Hollanders in a great Consternation and extremely raised the Courage and Hopes of the English and that so much the more because till then the Victory seemed to waver and to be uncertain for which Side to declare And that dismal Accident was soon followed by a second for 3 Dutch Men of War viz. the Marsseveen commanded by Captain Reus the Tergoes by Captain the Kruining and Swanenburg by Captain Kuiper happened to be intangled together so strongly and the two latter imprudently falling foul upon the Prow of the Marsseveen engaged themselves so fast to her Fore-mast that it was impossible to part them tho' 200 of their Seamen did all they could with their Axes to do it which Disorder being perceived by the English they resolving not to lose the Opportunity of making their Advantage of it immediately detacht away a Fireship to burn them which accordingly fastning upon the Tergoes and Swanenburg both new-built Ships presently set them on Fire and the Flames swiftly passing to the Marsseveen reduced them all three to Ashes At which Disaster the Seamen leapt all into the Sea and the Fire soon after gaining to their Powder the 3 Ships were blown up into the Air. Captain Reus leapt into a Boat but yet could not save himself In the mean while at that Spectacle the English cry'd out You Rogues you Fellows you must be killed The Master George Thomas with some others that could swim saved themselves in a deserted Boat and got to Scheveling At the beginning of the Fight Tromp being seconded by the Captains Tierk Hâ—ddes and Swart so miserably battered the English Ship called the Charity Captain Wilkinson Commander that soon after she became an easie Prey to Captain Haan and 90 of her Seamen leaping into a Long-boat were afterwards conducted to Harwich In the mean time the Duke of York observing that some Dutch Ships made shew as if they had no great Stomach to come on to charge again sent Lawson with some English Men of War to attack them but he found so much Resistance from them that having one of his Knees all shattered to pieces he was carried to Shore and died Bastian Senten that commanded the Ship called the Orange finding himself alone among the Enemies fought with all the Bravery imaginable For he had the Courage to board the Mountague and took her and pulling down her blue Flag he put up the Princes Flag in stead of it which he kept up above an Hour according to the faithful Report of all that were Spectators of so bold an Action But the Mountague was afterwards regained by the Royal James of the White Squadron where the Earls of Marlborough and Portland lost their Lives And at last the Orange after she had signalized herself against Captain Smith that commanded the Mary was burnt and blown up and her Captain Bastian Senten died of his Wounds Admiral John Evertsz stoutly attacked the Ships Speaker and Charles that seconded the Duke of York and did them very much damage and the Admiralship it self commanded by the Duke of York was very near being burnt by a Fireship had she not by a dextrous and nimble turn avoided it Captain Koenders likewise fought with much undauntedness as did also Stellingwerf This latter had his Body cut off in the middle with a Cannon Bullet Lieutenant-Admiral Kortenaar said at the
took in it were delivered them by the Rebellion or Cowardice of the Seamen who received in England the just reward of their infidelity by the miseries they were made to suffer there in the Prisons The Action of 85 Villains that surrendered to the English the ship Charles the 5th is a terrible and abominable Example of it They were some Soldiers who in the night of the Battle joining with some insolent and seditious Seamen seized of all the small fire Arms nailed up the Cannon struck their Flag spread their Sails turned their Barges and long Boats a drift to the mercy of the Waves and in that condition waited the approach of an English Fregat that was in chace of them to which they Voluntarily yielded themselves after they had with their drawn hangers and cockt pistols presented to their breasts forced the Captain and Officers that belonged to the ship who would have opposed them to remain in silence under pain of death and to be spectators of so detestable an Action without during to speak a word The men of the ships Helversum and Nagelboom as also some Officers of the Fleet of whom we shall speak more amply afterwards did the like without having any regard neither to their honour nor to the allegiance they had so solemnly sworn to their Country The English as the Dutch would have been in the same case and as they affected to do afterwards upon less occasions of Bragging than this being proud of all these advantages failed not to publish them with all the glorious Circumstances imaginable They Rung the Bells and made Bonfires every where and put every thing else in practice that might tend to add splendor and renown to the Memory of so great a Triumph 1500 Dutch Prisoners were carried to Colchester and it may well be judged by so great a Number what cruel and base Cowardice the Captains were guilty of who chose rather shamefully to leave their Companions exposed to the Flames or to a Lamentable shipwrack and drowning than to venture to snatch them from the devouring Jaws of death by receiving them on board them when they fled so that they must have perish'd if their Enemies had not taken more Compassion of them then their own unnatural Officers Amongst those persons there was a Woman named Willemite Gerrets a Native of Embden that had performed the function of Gunner in the ship Marsseveen who being discovered was released and set at liberty by King Charles the second for the rarity of the adventure She came afterwards to the Hague drest in the habit of an English Woman where she recited all the adventures of her life and how she was saved and the pleasant discourse she had with the King of England And it appeared that she had always carried her self very honestly and that she was present at the fierce Battle of Funen in the North no body on board the Marsseveen ever having discovered her to be a Woman Here follows an account of the losses on both sides in this fight On the English side The Duke of York Lord High Admiral of England was wounded in the hand with the splinters of the scull of Mr. Boyl and his face besmear'd with the blood of the Earl of Falmouth the Lord Muskerry and several of his Domestick servants that were kill'd by his side by a chain-shot from Admiral Opdam's ship The Earl of Portland kill'd The Earl of Marleborough kill'd Rear Admiral Mountague Samson kill'd Vice Admiral Lawson who feeling himself mortally wounded sent word to the Duke of York that he was uncapable of doing any further service who thereupon put Captain Jordan afterwards Sir Joseph Jordan in his place And Lawson being carried to Greenwich upon the Thames died there Captain Ableston of the ship Guinea killed Captain Kirby of the Breda kill'd The ship called the Charity carrying 46 Guns was taken by Captain de Haan and brought into the Texel but many of her men first saved themselves and the rest were kill'd before Besides these it was computed there were 800 men killed on board the English Navy and a great number wounded On the Hollanders side Lieutenant Admiral General Jacob de Wassenaar Lord Opdam was unfortunately blown up by a shot into his Powder-Room Lieutenant Admiral Kortenaar dead of his wounds Stellingwerf shot in sunder with a Cannon Ball. Schram killed in the Fight Captain Allert Matthysz of the Helversum being forced to yield himself by his mutinous Seamen that refused to fight was taken by the Bristol Frigat She carried 60 Guns The ship Charles the 5th commanded by Captain Kuiten shamefully yielded up likewise to the English by the Rebellion of the Seamen She carried 54 Guns The Delft Commanded by Captain Boshuizen taken by the Breda She carried 32 Guns The de Ruiter Yacht Captain Vogel Commander carrying 18 Guns taken by the Dolphin The Young Prince Commanded by Captain Halfhoorn carrying 36 Guns taken by the Martin The Mars Captain Kats Commander carrying 46 Guns taken by the Assurance The Nagelboom Captain Boon Commander carrying 52 Guns taken by the Colchester The Arms of Zealand Commanded by Captain Twineman carrying 44 Guns taken by the Centurion The Swarte Bull Captain Burger Commander carrying 36 Guns taken by the ships Anne and Ruby Ships burnt The ship Koeverden of 60 Guns Commanded by Captain Kampen burnt by the ship call'd the Renown The Prince Maurice Simon de Wit Commander of 50 Guns The Town of Vtretcht Commanded by Oudart of 44 Guns The Swanenburg Captain Kuiper Commander of 30 Guns The Tergoes of 34 Guns The Marsseveen of 78 Guns The Orange of 75 Guns being hampered all together were burnt or sunk Before we pass any further we will report here some remarkable Circumstances relating to this fight The States after the Battle being willing to provide against all Events had sent Orders to the Fleet to keep the Sea tho' they had had the worst as well to support the Reputation of their Arms as to lessen the Glory of the Victors that would have made that retreat pass for a total defeat And for that effect Mr. Witsen Vrybergen and Schrick being sent to the Texel in Quality of Deputies from the States went out of the Port and sent for Vice-Admiral Tromp on board them giving him Order to keep the Fleet out at Sea and not to suffer it to enter into any Harbours But Tromp being grieved at the disasters that had newly hapned by the Baseness and Cowardice of the Officers and Soldiers of the Fleet and his heart being ready to burst with indignation at them could not forbear Answering the Deputies that he could not execute their orders with men that had so basely deserted him in time of danger and upon whose Courage or Fidelity so little reliance could be made So that without minding the Orders of the Deputies the Fleet under the Conduct of Tromp and Cornelius Evertsz entred into port being in all about 60 Men of War of which the most part
appearance towards the Coasts of Guiney tho' he had given out that he was going to Sally And indeed the suspicions of the English in that point were not without some foundation for de Ruiter had received Express Orders from the States to sail towards Cape Verd and the Coast of Guiney to reduce the English to reason and make them restore by force what they had unjustly usurpt Upon that news all the Dutch Ships were stopt in England and Letters of reprisal were granted but all those Commissions granted in haste were recalled as well to shew all Europe that they would not be Aggressors as to gain time to Compleat the manning of their Navy It was thought more proper to let loose the men of War and Capers upon the Hollanders as well to encourage their press'd Seamen and to get men enough to furnish their Grand Fleet as the more effectually to interrupt the Commerce of the United Provinces by taking their Merchant Ships that went to and fro in the Channel And because they knew they in Holland expected about that time the return of their Ships from France and the Streights they thought it their best way to go and meet them and to endeavour to take them before they let the Privateers go out who in all likelihood would but have awakened the Hollanders and made them think the more of securing themselves And this project succeeded well with them For the Merchant Fleet consisting of 113 sail having quitted the Coast of France to pursue their way home along the Channel was taken and carried into the Ports of England But amongst so great a Number of Merchant Ships there being some Ships belonging to other Nations they were redemanded yet all the rest remained in their hands At the same time the King of England in Justification of that proceeding publish'd the following Declaration The King of Egland's Declaration about the taking of the Dutch Ships HIs Majesty having considered the Injuries Affronts and Damages suffered in the Persons of his Subjects by the loss of their Goods and Ships by the West-India Company and other Subjects of the United Provinces and those losses amounting to very considerable Sums for which no Reparation could yet be obtained notwithstanding the Complaints so often reiterated by his Majesty to the States General for that purpose which have had no effect His Majesty has thought fit by the Advice of his Privy Council to grant Letters of Reprisal against the Ships or Merchandizes belonging to the States of the United Provinces or their Subjects so that not only his Majesties Fleet and Ships of War but all sorts of Privateers shall have right by Letters of Reprisal or permission to be given him from his Royal Highness the Duke of York Lord High Admiral of England to arrest and seize all Ships and Effects belonging to the States of the United Provinces in Order to put them under the Jurisdiction of the Court of Admiralty which shall be Authorized to Act thereupon according to the Customs and Laws of Nations And whereas several Ships and Effects belonging to the United Provinces or their Subjects have been already taken according to his Majesties Orders and are kept in his Harbours His Majesty with the Advice of his Privy Council declares that the abovesaid Ships and Effects are Comprized in the aforesaid Letters of Reprisal and that they shall be proceeded against before the Admiralty according to the Customs and Laws of Nations till a final Judgment And the Present Declaration shall serve for warrant for all that the said Court of Admiralty shall do in that matter Dated at Whitehall December the 16th 1664. The United Provinces seeing themselves thus engaged in a War with England and the Proper season for putting out their Fleet to Sea being past they thought however that at least they ought to put a stop as much as 't was possible to all those Hostilities and to provide for the security of their Subjects Accordingly the States prohibited all their Merchant Ships to go out of their Ports and their Seamen to take service under any Foreign Prince They likewise rigorously prohibited the going out of any vessels and exportation of any Ammunitions and generally of all materials serving to the building of Men of War or furnishing their Equipages Then Mr. Van Beuningen was sent to the Court of France Mr. de Amerongen into Denmark and Mr. Ysbrands into Swedeland in Quality of Ambassadors Extraordinary to inform the Princes that were Allies of the State of all that had lately passed because the English by a fetch of their dissembling Policy endeavoured in all those Courts to make the Dutch pass for the Aggressors and to attribute all the wrong to them They resolved likewise to raise a fund of 14 Millions of Livers as well for the building of 48 men of War as for Levying of some Troops to Re-inforce their Companies and their Garrisons for the raising of a Marine Regiment and a new Regiment in reserve and lastly for defraying the expences of the fortifications of the Brill of Helvoet of Maesland of the Texel and of the other necessities of the State The East-India Company engaged to Equip 20 Men of War for the service of the United Provinces The Zealand Privateers received Letters of Reprisal so that the Capers in little time after took 30 prizes from the English They also appointed a day of Prayer which was celebrated the 21st of January 1665 to implore the Protection of Heaven against the Contagion then Reigning and to beg a Continuaâ—ion of Peace and of the Prosperity of the Prov ncâ— In the mean while the Sâ—â—ur de Goch used all imaginable instances with 〈◊〉 â—â—ng of England to endeavour to obtain the râ—â—ng of the Ships which had been taken But all in vain For the King made him Answer That he had caused to be arrested in his Ports or to be taken at Sea the Dutch Ships upon the certain Advice he had that de Ruiter was sent to Guiney to interrupt the Commerce of his Subjects and to seize on their Ships and Merchandizes so that he intended to indemnifie him for all those losses by the Confiscation of the goods that had been taken that for the same end he would stop all Dutch Ships that should come in his way till he heard further news of de Ruiter c. The Duke of York also declared in Quality of Lord High Admiral of the Kingdom that he would go next spring to Sea to maintain the Honour and Glory of the Crown And the Court of England was just ready to put out a Declaration of War against the Hollanders But that Turner and Walker two Famous Advocates of the Court of Admiralty Represented to the King that if he declared War at that time the Ships taken before the Declaration could not according to the Law of Nations be confiscated upon which 't was thought fit to defer it for some time However the Dutch Ships were declared Good
Reprisals or suffered any Proceedings against the Ships so stopt till we had a full Assurance that de Ruiter had put in execution the said Orders by the taking or several of our Subjects and of their Ships and Merchandizes Finding at present bv these new Offences and Attempts and by the Advices we have received of their Preparations for War and of their granting out Letters of Reprisal against our Subjects that our over-great Indulgence and all the other Remedies employed by us to induce them to entertain a true Amity with us have been ineffectual seeing they are resolved by Force of Arms to maintain their unjust Attempts we therefore have thought fit with the Advice of our Privy Council to testifie and declare to the Face of the whole Earth That the said States are the Aggressors and ought justly to be acknowledged such by all the World so that our Fleets and Ships as well as all other Ships that shall receive Commissions from our well-beloved Brother the Duke of York Lord High Admiral of England shall have Right and may by vertue of them Fight Take and make themselves Masters of all the Ships Vessels and Effects belonging to the Subjects or the Vnited Provinces or to them that shall be bound for their Country We also expresly forbid all our Subjects as we likewise advertise all other Persons of what Nation soever they be to carry or Transport any Soldiers Arms Powder Ammunition or other contraband Merchandizes into the Lands Countries Plantations or Provinces belonging to the said States for that such things when taken shall be adjudged good Prize And further we declare That every Ship of what Nation soever it be that shall be found to have on Board her any Effects Merchandises or any number of Persons belonging to the United Provinces or their Subjects shall be declared good Prize with her Lading Also That all the Effects and Merchandises of what Nation soever they be whether they belong to us or Foreigners it matters not which shall be found in any Ships belonging to the States or to any of their Subjects they all shall be declared good Prize unless the said Ships be provided with good Pass-ports granted to them by us or our Dear Brother And that this our Declaration may be publick and all the World may have perfect Knowledge of it our Will and Pleasure is That this present Declaration be publisht with all the usual formalities as it ought to be c. As soon as this Declaration appeared the States sent Copies of it into all the Courts of Europe which they directed to their Ministers there to present them to all the several Princes and Powers and to make them take notice at the same time what Losses and Damages they must expect from such a Declaration by the Interruption of their Commerce since by that not only the Merchandizes which should be found on Board the Dutch Ships were to be declared good Prize but also all the Vessels belonging to them if they were laden with Dutch Commodities or if they had on board them any of the Subjects of the Vnited Provinces The French and those of Hamburg and Ostend sufficiently felt the Effects of it since many of them tho' they were going toward Neuter-Places were seized and carried into the Ports of England from whence they were not released till a long time after and with much Difficulty and after great Expences The War then being declared the English Navy Royal under the command of the Duke of York consisting of above 100 Sail of Men of War great and small set sail the first Day of May and two Days after arrived before the Texel a little too soon and before it was well compleat The cause of that great Precipitation was a false piece of News sent to White-hall by the Earl of Ossory Son to the Duke of Ormond Vice-Roy of Ireland That a certain Bark had discovered behind Hitland a Fleet of 60 Sail which they thought at first to be de Ruiter's Fleet with some Prizes but on the 8th of the same Month the English Fleet was saluted with a violent Tempest in wnich some of their Ships were scattered and others very much damnified So that seeing de Ruiter appeared not they were forced to return back into their own Ports without having made any other Progress than the taking of 7 Ships laden with Wine with another Ship that served them for Convoy an English Prize taken by the Hollanders near the Caâ—ibee Islands and a Ship of Lisbon But the Men of War that were their Convoy being nimble Sailers escaped by the Favour of the Night Whilst the English were busie in repairing the Damages done to their Fleet by the ill Weather the Zealand Fleet consisting of 31 Men of War having set sail the 22d of May at break of Day joyned that of Holland under the Command of Lieutenant-Admiral Opdam After which junction the whole Fleet kept on their Course being composed of 103 Men of War 7 Yachts 11 Fire-ships and 12 Galliots carrying 4869 Guns and 21631 Men and was divided into 7 Squadrons The first was under the Conduct of Admiral Opdam Vice-Admiral Vander Hulst and Rear-Admiral de Graaf The second was commanded by Admiral John Evertsz Vice-Admiral de Liesde and Rear-Admiral Cornelius Evertsz The third was under the Command of Admiral Kortenaar Vice-Admiral Schey and Rear-Admiral Marceveld The fourth was under the Conduct of Admiral Stellingwerf Vice-Admiral Koenders and Rear-Admiral Bruensveld The fifth was under the Command of Admiral Cornelius Tromp of Vice-Admiral Koeverden and of Rear-Admiral P. Salomonsz The sixth was commanded by Admiral C. Evertsz Vice-Admiral Bankert and Rear-Admiral Bronsaart And lastly the seventh was under the Conduct of Admiral Schram Vice-Admiral Staghouwer and Rear-Admiral Hourtuin That Fleet one of the finest and most formidable that ever appeared on the Northern Seas seized and took soon after about 20 English Ships the News of which coming to London put the Merchants almost out of their Wits for Vexation Which made double Care and Diligence be used in Pressing of Men and arming out the English Fleet so that at length it put to Sea again consisting of 107 Men of War and of 14 Fire-ships or Advice-Yachts and was divided into 3 Squadrons Whereof the first under a Red Flag was commanded by the Duke of York Pen and Lawson The second being the White Squadron was under the Conduct of Prince Robert Mings and Samson And the third being the Blue Squadron was commanded by the Earl of Sandwich Cuttins and Sir George Ayschew The Two Fleets were not long before they engaged in a Battle that was cruel and bloody of which these were the principal Circumstances On the 8th of June the English Fleet A Fight between the Duke of York and Admiral Opdam being refitted put to Sea a second time unmoored from Gunfleet Bay near Harwich and came to an Anchor in Southwold Bay as well to take in a new Supply of Provisions as
to the Governours and Lieutenant Generals of his Majesty as well those of his Provinces as of his Armies to Camp Marshals Brigadeers Colonels Captains and other Commanders of his Troops as well Infantry as Cavalry French or Strangers and to all other Officers to whom it appertains to lend a hand to the Execution of these presents every one in his place and his Jurisdiction For such is the pleasure of his Majesty Who likewise wills that these presents be published and fixed up in all his Towns upon Sea and elsewhere in all the Ports and other places of his Kingdom where it is necessary that none may plead cause of Ignorance and that to the Copy of them duly compared the same credit be given as to the Original In the month of February following the United Provinces concluded another strict Alliance with Denmark in Consequence of which orders were sent to Funen into Holstein Jutland and Norway to lay an Embargo upon all Danish Ships and to forbid them to stir out of their Ports that so by that means the Danish Fleet might be the more expeditiously equipt and Armed out The Articles of that Treaty were I. THat each party should absolutely desist from all pretensions they might have one upon the other The Articles of the Dutch League with Denmark II. That all manner of mis-understanding in Norway should be laid asleep and forgot III. That the States General should engage to pay to his Danish Majesty 1500000 Livers per annum as long as the War against England should continue of which the French should be obliged to pay 300000 Livers yearly for their part For which sum the King of Denmark should engage on his side to maintain a Fleet at Sea of 30 Ships of War of which some should be furnished with a sufficient number of Regular Troops to be employed in the Service of the States when they should need them That Treaty was a stroke of Thunder to the English who were the more sensibly concerned at it because they had not heard the least inkling of it till they heard of its conclusion For Dreyer the Secretary of the King of Denmark's Embassy in Holland was sent incognito by the Ministers of that Prince that were at the Hague Mr. Catisius and Mr. Klingenberg immediately after the Conclusion of the Treaty to the King their Master to present it to him and get his Ratification after which the Secretary came back again with all expedition to the Hague This politick silence was the cause that the English Resident at the Court of Denmark had not time to advertise the Merchants of his Nation of it so that all their effects were seized and confiscated throughout the whole extent of the Kingdom It 's true the Danes proceedings on that occasion had some appearance of Justice and Equity because the English from the very time they made that Hostile attempt of which we have spoken upon the Port of Bergen in Norway had not only seized on the Danes Ships and Merchandizes but had likewise taken their men Prisoners so that the Crown of Denmark in that Rencounter seemed to do no more than to use Reprisals had it not afterwards appeared that they had dealt perfidiously in that matter with the King of England and secretly invited him to that Enterprize for which they afterwards declared War against him In the mean time the United Provinces in order to facilitate the Arming and manning out the Fleet publish'd on the 1st of February an Ordinance forbidding all Merchant Ships and Fishing vessels to stir out of their Harbours upon pain of Confiscation of their said Ships and Goods They likewise forbad the great and small Fishery under the same penalties and the Ordinance for forbidding the Greenland Fishery was also renewed But the States however declared that their intention in all those prohibitions was to find them subsistance all the year without any alteration even after the Fleet should be gone out c. About that time Tromp signified to the States that he should be glad if they would please to change his Quality of Lieutenant Admiral of Holland and West-Friesland or of the College of the Admiralty of the Meuse into that of Lieutenant Admiral of the College of the Admiralty of Amsterdam which request the States granted upon Condition he got the consent of both those Admiralties thereunto so that having obtained it on the 6th of February he was created Lieutenant Admiral of the College of the Admiralty of Amsterdam and on the 24th of the same month Vice Admiral Aart Van Nes succeeded him in quality of Lieutenant Admiral of the Meuse and Captain John Van Nes was made Rear Admiral In the mean while the English being sensible of the great Force of so powerfull a League made very great preparations for War on their side and exerted as we may say the utmost of their efforts to make a vigorous resistance But because money was wanting they were forced to borrow 1250000 l. Sterling more at great Interest and besides to help towards the defraying of the extraordinary charges of the War the two East India Ships viz. the Phoenix and the Fort of Huningen taken from the Hollanders were sold which yielded the sum of 1600000 l. And because the French King had first declared War against England the King of Great Britain who was no less Jealous of his honour than the Monsieur published likewise a Declaration against that Crown in the following Terms The King of England's Declaration of War against France WHereas the French under pretence of a defensive League concluded with the States General of the United Provinces accuses us of having violated the Peace though all Europe be well enough informed of the contrary And upon that Ground has declared War against us on the 26th of January last making himself thereby the Aggressor and Infractour of the Peace which we have always desired to preserve with the said States on whose behalf the Ambassadors of the most Christian King never offered any indemnification for the losses suffered by our Subjects nor given any Guarrantees for the security of their Commerce for the future We therefore trusting in the Almighty power of God and in the justice of our cause and being likewise assured of the Bravery and Fidelity of our Subjects have thought fit for their Common security to declare that we are resolved to carry on the War vigorously by employing all our Forces as well by Sea as by Land against France which has newly begun it with us against all the Laws of Justice And to that end we Command our Royal Brother Lord High Admiral of England and our Trusty and well beloved Cousin and Councellor George Duke of Albemarle General of our Armies by Land our Lords Lieutenants of Counties Governours of Provinces and all other inferiour Officers and Soldiers under their Commands as well by Sea as by Land to oppose all the Enterprizes of the French King and his Subjects And for
longer able to make resistance yet was so obstinately bent to fight that he would take no quarter and would have killed with his own hand 3 or 4 of his Enemies that had boarded his Ship but at last being shot into the throat with a Musket Bullet he retired into the Captains Cabbin where laying himself down at his length on a Table he was found in that posture dead by the Victors all over besmear'd with the blood flowing out of his wounds Rear Admiral Sweers having boarded Admiral Ayschew's Ship this Latter delivered to him the Keys of his and yielded himself up to the discretion of the Victour The Hollanders took out of his Ship 500 men and a little while after the flames getting to the Powder Room it blew up about 11 a Clock at night That Ship carried 92 Guns of which those of the lowest Tire were of thirty six Pounds Bore and there were 8 of 48. Her whole Compliment of Men was 620 and she was the same Ship that the King of England embark'd in when he returned to be Re-establish'd in his Throne in 1660. Vice Admiral Mings having received a Musket shot in his throat stood about half an hour holding his Finger upon the wound to keep it closed and to stop the blood but a second Musket shot taking him in the neck he died after having given most signal proofs of his Courage to the very last gasp Admiral Ayschew was carried to the Chatellany at the Hague on the 16th of June from whence he was Conducted to the Audience of their High and Mightinesses and afterwards carried to Louvestein under a good Guard of Horse from whence he writ the following Letter to His British Majesty SIR Admiral Ayschew's Letter to the King of England YOur Majesty without doubt has heard of the Battle fought on the 11th of this month between the two Fleets off of Duinkerden and the North Foreland The Enemies riding at Anchor cut their Cables at our approach We charged them fortunately two or three times but our Forces being much Inferiour to theirs and our Fleet falling into a Consternation at the very beginning of the fight we could not have all the success that was to be wisht for And therefore the Squadron of Ships under the Command of his Hâ—ghness your Majesties Nephew would have been a great help to us if they had not unhappily been sent to the Westward That day many of our Ships were extremely endamaged in the Number of which was that of the Duke of Albemarl Some Dutch Ships were reduced to Ashes as well by our Fire-ships as by their Powder taking Fire The next day we renewed the fight with much Resolution and Courage But on the 3d. day I was enclosed by the Enemies together with some other Ships of my Squadron and being vigorously attackt was forced to my great regret to yield through want of power to resist any longer I having 150 men killed on board me I am as yet in perfect health and was removed hither after I was made Prisoner When I came on board a Dutch Rear Admiral I heard that the Ship committed by your Majesty to my trust was burnt My Vice Admiral was also taken and Sir William Barkley kill'd As to what remains the Silence and Secrecy that prevails here keeps me in Ignorance at present of the other particulars of the fight The Reports that go abroad here make our losses to amount to 36 men of War taken burnt or sunk and 4000 Prisoners God grant they may prove false In the mean while I beseech your Majesty to take our misfortune with patience and to have compassion of our Family Postscript I Have received all imaginable civilities as well from the Officers of the Dutch Fleet as from the States General I was much suprized when I arrived at Rottendam to see the Streets so full of Seamen for I could not Comprehend how so powerfull a Fleet and that was so well mann'd should leave so many Seamen still in the Country The States considering the great worth and noble extraction of Sir William Barkley who was one of the Kings chief Favourites and Brother-in-Law to the Duke of York having married a Daughter of the Lord Chancellour Hide about two months before ordered his Body to be Embalm'd and deposited at the Hague And sent the following Letter to his British Majesty to inform him of it SIR WE always thought The States Letter to the King of England the honours due to the great men were not incompatible with the duties of War and that Virtue and Valour ought to be respected even in the persons of our Enemies Which induced us to give some singular marks of it in relation to the Body of S r Willaim Barkley Vice Admiral of the White Squadron in your Majesties Fleet. He gave such great proofs of his bravery and undaunted Courage in the last fight that we were willing to pay those best duties to his Illustrious memory For that effect we have Order'd his Body to be embalm'd till such time as his near Relations and those to whom his memory is dear can otherwise dispose of it as they shall think best In the mean while we have caused it to be placed in the great Church in a State suitable to his Birth Valour and the great Services he has render'd your Majesty who may please to send such order concerning it as you shall think fit And if it be your good pleasure to have it transported into England we desire you would be pleased to grant the necessary Passports for the security of the Yacht we intend to give for his Transportation But if on the contrary your Majesty shall chuse rather to have him Inter'd in the place where he now is you will be pleased to let us know your will to which we shall always endeavour to conform our selves as far as the present State of affairs will permit We recommend your Majesties Sacred person to the protection of God c. In the mean while the States to thank God for the gaining of so great an advantage and to pray him to bless their Arms in the rest of the Course of the War as he had done in those happy beginnings ordered a Thanksgiving-day which was solemnly observed the last day of June and followed by publick Rejoicings and Bonfires in which not only the people of the United Provinces had part but likewise all the Countries in which their High and Mightinesses had any Ministers residing All the Captains of the Danish Fleet fired all their Guns three times to the honour of the Hollanders their Allies And the Queen of Denmark gave a splendid Feast to all the Lords and Ladies of the Court at which the King was present And the same Rejoicings were celebrated at Stockholm at Ratisbonn at Paris at Madrid at Genua and at all the Courts of Europe where the States had any Ambassadors which were continued three days together with Feastings Fire-works and