War their Convoyers the other Merchants ships some upwards of Thirty Guns and some under so I bore with the Admiral and did send him by my Master That he should strike his Flag and did desire a right understanding might be between us before any Blood was shed in the controversie on this the Admiral took in his Flag and put abroad a Pendent he said he did belong to Amsterdam but his name I know not but the ship hath two wilde men or the like in her stern and some other things between them she hath some Thirty eight guns so then the Vice-Admiral came up with me with his Flag abroad being a ship of Forty two Guns so I called to perswade him to strike he bid me come on board and strike it so I sent my Boat on board to perswade him to it to prevent the loss of Blood if it might be but he sent me word by my Master he would not strike so then being fitted for it I came up very near on the Weather-quarter yet before I fired I called to the Captain my self to take in his Flag but he said he would not so then I commanded a Broad-side and a Volley of small shot to be fired on him and I received the like from him again Thus we past some four or five Broad-sides each at other though I was forced to be at some further distance from him then the first I fearing the Admiral would have laid me on Board on the Weather-side he having fitted his ship and come up Main-sail and all to gain the Wind of me forced me to keep the Wind of him then Captain Reynolds being come up fair within shot of his weather quarter having fired some six Guns before at the Rear Admiral as he came in amongst us so he fired part of a broad side at the Vice-Admiral just at that instant as he was taking in his Flag the Recovery being come up even within shot just as his Flag was in and the Rear-Admiral struck likewise So I sent aboard the Admiral That I did demand the Vice-Admiral either in his person or his ship to carry into Port to make good what damage was done He told my Master he did not meddle in the least himself as yet as long as it was onely about striking the Flag the which he said was now taken in but if I sought any further matter as the surprizal of him or the ship he was bound and would assist him she being the States ship as well as he not then knowing or could take any notice of any further intentions So I desired Captain Reynolds and Captain Chapman to come on board to consult with me what further to do in it it being near night and it was the judgment of us all not to proceed any further in it the Flags being taken in by reason the Treaty being between the Nations at present the case of Breach of the Peace might not be any way imputed on our part I have received some damage in my Hull sail and rigging the which I shall soon God willing get repaired again I had one man even as good as killed out-right dyed since and some Four wounded but I hope they will recover For my own part I bless the Lord for it I am very well I do believe I gave him his belly full of it for he sent me word he had Order from the States That if he struck he should lose his head but at length he did strike which makes me conceive he had enough of it President Plymouth Sound May 14. 1652. Your Honors humble Servant at command Anth Young A Paper delivered by the Lords Ambassadors to the Councel of State the Third of June 1652. new stile Most Honorable Lords WE are here by reason of and unhappy an unexpected Mischance An horrible Report hath amazed us That a Fight at Sea should have been betwixt the Fleet of this Commonwealth and of the United Provinces and That ours should have been the reason of this unfortunate business That we began the Fight and that thereupon is fought most cruelly and that from thence the Rumor of the breaking of the Treaty and of open War which should be very near at hand between the two Nations was spread We astonished by this sad Report direct our selves to this Honorable Assembly and do Declare before God and out of all our Hearts That the Fact so as it is reported is committed without the knowledge and against the will of the States of the United Provinces our Lords and of us their Ambassadors Moreover we do affirm That the Hearts of ours do desire nothing but Unity Peace League and a very near Friendship with this Commonwealth and hope that with all their wishes In the mean while we do think it not to be amiss if we give notice unto your Honors That we have received Letters from the Admiral of the Fleet of the United Provinces Dated the Thirtieth of the last Moneth wherein the occasion and reason of the said Fight-quite otherwise is declared then the common Report is For the truth of which business we suppose to be convenient to inquire exactly But this is worth observation in the mean time That our Admiral Trump in the same Letter doth declare plainly to have no other Order from the Lords the States then to sail about and to view the shore and coasts of our country as far as Ostend and Newport and no farther By which it doth appear as clearly as the Sun is under Heaven That by all means the States of the United Provinces have had no minde to attempt any thing against the Fleet or other ships of this Commonwealth If any thing then in this business be done otherwise then it ought to be this doth not concern the said States but them which have executed the said busines and let them make it good We have been here now almost six Moneths about the concluding of a League by special Order of the said States and have delivered some days ago to your Commissioners a Paper in which not onely the different Points touching the Treaty but also the means by which the same could be brought to a good Agreement and reconciled one with another were sufficiently declared so that vve did expect nothing every day but a happy end to so good a Work and truly that excellent matter may in very few hours be finished But who should ever believe that so Noble a Work and desired vvith so many vvishes of all honest men and especially of all the Churches of the Reformed Christian Religion should be cut off or hindred by any such imprudent and turbulent man whosoever he may be without knowledge and against the will of the Lords the States By Law of Nature and Customs of all Nations is very well known That he to whom a Charge is given in particular things an Ambassador in Publique Business going beyond the limit of their Commissions a General of an Army Depopulating
without order of his Superiors any Grounds of the Neighbors a wilde beast doing any mifchief after it hath broken its bond that not the Masters but those that have done the wrong are obliged especially if the disapproving of the same Masters followeth thereupon which without question if the business be so as it is related is to be expected from the States of the United Provinces In the mean while we make no doubt that to attempt any Hostility before the other party is heard cannot be approved neither by God nor by any men especially Christians It is a Custom by all reasonable Nations to demand restitution of their Goods if any trouble be done and in case Satisfaction be given or offered to lay aside all Hostility And it is no wonder that all Nations are so much against War and inclined to establish a Peace the War being plainly a cruel monster a world of evil and a meer deluge of innocent blood therefore the most holy Fathers of our Religion have expresly declared the War although just to be execrable especially in relation to the Christians who are taught by their meekest Savior to spare other mens blood as well as their own But amongst all kinde of Wars is this to be reputed the most detestable and horrible if between these Nations War be risen Truly the experience teacheth us that the best and strongest Wine if it be corrupted becomes the sowrest Vineger and indeed if two Nations having been friends of old times of the same Religion lovers of Liberty joyning upon the same Sea next Neighbors both Valiant and Warlike be clashed together what is to be expected but the Ruine of both and as the Proverb saith a Cadmean Victory And what else is this then to afflict and depresse your Friends and Companions in Religion to please our Enemies and to give occasion openly for to hurt them both An Author being none of the least amongst yours hath very well compared as we conceive both the Nations to two earthen Pots driving in the Sea with this device If we hurt we break He hitted it very well that honest man and we may believe you are of the same opinion But if the two Nations come to an Agreement Oh Lord what store of Happiness will this bring forth The true Gods Service will be established the Sea be quiet and Opportunity taken away from all Enemies to trouble them both all Companions in Religion be resoiled and which is to be reputed the chiefest of all To the most good and gracious Lord Praises and Thanksgiving will be lift up into the Heavens We conclude then most Honorable Lords and instantly demand and desire so as we have longed to propose to your Honors this three days since First That a Copy may be given unto us of the Relation of the things that are past Secondly That we may send that over by your leave to our Lords the States and that the other part being heard the truth of the Business may be known Thirdly That in the mean while all things may be kept whole and untouched Fourthly That by no means the Business of the concluding of the Treaty be put off and that such unfortunate Mischances may be avoided and an everlasting Peace may be established between both the Nations All which we desire of all our hearts the great and bountiful God the Author of Peace will be pleased to grant us Signed Cats G Schaep Vandeperre The Translation of the LETTER of the Admiral Trump to the States General mentioned in the precedent Paper High and Mighty Lords MY last Letter was of the twentieth instant sent by the Messenger that brought my Instruction aboard since when I crossed the Sea before the Mase Wislingen Ostend and Newport until the twenty four of the same Moneth when we were forced to cast our Anchor and stay there in a hard weather and a rough sea until the twenty six in the morning The weather growing fairer and being under Sail divers Captains of the Direction came aboard complaining That they lost their Anchors and Cables some having but two Anchors two Cables left It was resolved because the wind did grow big to go under the point of Dover for to prevent the loss of our Ships At one of the clock coming before Downs we did send the Commander John Thissen from Flissingen and Captain Peter Alders towards the Downs to the Commander Bourn who was there with some Ships of the Parliament whom they saluted in my Name advertising him that we were bound to cross the Sea about our coast and that having lost some Anchors by the last hard weather we were forced to Anchor under Dover to help one another and so to return to our appointed limits having also no other order but to protect our Merchants Ships and Fishermen and to maintain the honor of our Country That we therefore thought it fit to acquaint the said Commander with the same because he should not suspect any thing to the contrary who also with much courtesie did salute me and thank me for this notice Upon the twenty nine at two of the clock we made sail the wind North east good weather sailing towards Calice with intention to cross towards our coast for to provide us of Cables and Anchors Coming about Calice Cliff we met with Captain Ioris van Sanen of Amsterdam coming out the Streights with Captain Hugeluyt having in their Company seven rich Merchants Ships who are esteemed above fifty Tuns of Gold who he left the twenty nine at Anchor right against Feverley where about twelve Ships of the Parliament did lye and divers Frigots came to see them and for as much as the said Ioris van Sanen upon the twenty two of May about Goutstart was met a Frigot of the Parliament who fiercely set upon him for to make him strike and against whom he defended him neer about two hours and so was left by the said Frigot whereupon the said Commander Hugeluyt and the said Van Sanen should endeavor for to finde out our main Fleet and to give us notice of it as he did accordingly fearing much That the said Merchants Vessels already might be taken Whereupon I presently went thither to take them under my protection and if they were taken to put them at liberty if it was possible according to the seventh and eighth Articles of my Instruction of the sixteenth instant Upon the way we met fifteen Ships and Frigots of the Parliament among whom one was an Admiral whom I intended to view taking in all my Sails except both my Murshot Sails whom we did avail until the middest of the stangs Being within a Canon-shot he shot a Ball over our Ship we answered not he shot another to which we answered with one presently he gives me a broad side being within a Musquet shot and shot all his side through our Ship and Sails Divers were wounded some with the loss of their Arms some otherwise thereupon we
presently gave him our broadside not knowing what they intended which for as yet I know not because they did not speak a word to us neither we to them and we fell thereupon to a general fight In mean while came the Commander Bourn out the Downs with twelve of such like Ships and Frigots mounted as he told himself to the said Commander John Thyssen and Captain Peter Alders being aboard of him with sixty to seventy and the Frigots with thirty eight to fifty pieces of Ordnance who in the same while assaulted our Fleet from behinde and we fought thus from half an hour past four till nine of the clock the darkness departing us from another when both the Admirals a little beyond the reach of their Ordnance cast their Sails towards the Lee for to gather their Fleets and to mend what was shot to pieces we floated the whole night with a light on every Ship The thirtieth in the morning we saw the English Fleet driven windward from us who made Sail and went towards Dover We wanted two of our Ships who were in the rear of our Fleet The Captains Tuynmans of Middlebourgh and Siphe Fooks of Amsterdam both Ships of the Direction whereof we found that of Captain Siphe Fooks about noon floating without Mast The Skipper and the Officers declared unto us that they were taken by three Ships of the Parliament two hours after Sunset who took from aboard the Captain and the Lieutenant with fourteen or fifteen men more and putted instead of them many of the English but they fearing that the Ship would sink they took the flight after they had plundred all in Hostile maner They Declared also That they see that the said Tuynmans being with them in the rear of our Fleet an hour before was taken We intend with this Easterly wind to cross to and fro that we may finde out the said Streight fearders if it be possible and with all other Ships with whom we may meet to bring them safe in our Country So ending was subscribed M Harp Trump Dated the 30 of May 1652. from aboard the Ship The Lords Ambassadors second Paper 6 June 1652. To the Councel of State of the Commonwealth of England AS on Monday last the Ambassadors of the States of the United Provinces of the Netherlands have said before the most Illustrious Councel upon their honor and faith and have averred by the Witness of God That the unlook'd for and untimely Sea-fight of the two Fleets happened without the knowledge and the will of the said Lords States and withal treating with the Councel about it with all uprightness delivering them a Copy of Trump's Lettershimself whereby it might the better appear to the Commonwealth that the said Lords States had commanded the said Trump nothing else then to ship about the Coasts and Havens of their Dominions to shun all suspitions and Dissentions even so now again the same Lords Ambassadors assure the most Illustrious Councel That by the Ordinary Messenger they receive yesterday they have received all the Consultations handled by the said Lords States General from the 22th until the 29th day of the last Moneth new stile on which the said Fight happenned whereby it appears yet more clear and the said Lords Commissioners are more assured that their Superiors gave at all no occasion no cause nor counsel but rather they did breathe as it were and further with the same minde care and zeal a more strict Friendship and mutual Alliance betwixt these two Nations as it doth appear more clear then the sun at noon by their said Lordships sentence on the occasion of an Answer to be sent to the Protestant Swissers made on the 23th of the the said Moneth a Copy whereof they now also present and offer to the said most Illustrious Councel Therefore the said Lords Ambassadors intreat again this most ample Councel That yielding due faith to so many Protestations and to so many Testimonies they would now upon their Demands with the Parliament as is understood communicated two days since they would at the soonest give them such an Answer as the said Councel according to their Wisdom and Justice may seem good and necessary to prevent greater harm and already imminent Dangers And that to these Evils a more ready Remedy may be applied the same Lords Ambassadors would not have this Senate ignorant that the Lord Newport sent by the Lords States to deliver to the Lords Ambassadors their Consultations and signifie to them besides their sincere and plain Minde since it now seems things did happen otherwise and against their Hope and Trust to think upon and prepare his Return that so the better he might let them know in what state and condition matters now are and what Remedy there may be applied To which end the said Lords Ambassadors do intreat this Councel to give freedom and leave to the said Lord Newport that he may choose some one of the Lords â—tates General ships now either in the Thames or in other parts of this Commonwealth abiding for his Transportation or by any other means may return home Given at Chelsey 6 June 1652. stilo novo Signed J. Cats G. Schaep Vandeperre An Extract out of the Register of the Resolutions of the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Provinces Thursday the 28. of May 1652. AFter that the Letter of the Evangelical Cantons in Switzerland and there associated in Religion dated the 14. of April last past and yesterday received was this day again produced It is upon deliberation resolved and ordered to send them an Answer and signifie that their Lordships hath received the before mentioned Letter and return great thanks for the Affection which they shew unto this State and for their care for the Conservation of the Reformed Religion as also the Continuation of Peace and Concord amongst this State and the Commonwealth of England with a Declaration That their Lordships will not fail to contribute all things that shall be necessary to promote the one and the other And specially a good Correspondence with the said Common-wealth hoping the same of the said Commonwealth That it is true that some extraordinary preparation of Ships of War was made but to no other intention as to the safety of the Sea and security of the Navigation and Trade of these Countreys That to conclude Their Lordships did wish to the said Evangelical Cantons and their Religion-friends all kinde of Prosperity Peace Safety and mutual Union for the Exaltation of Gods most holy Name Conservation of the true Christian Reformed Religion and Prosperity of both sides States and Subjects The third Paper of the Lords Ambassadors exhibited 13 Iune 1652. To the Councel of State of the Commonwealth of England Most Illustrious Lords EVen as both by vvord of mouth and also by Writing we have signified to this Councel on the third and sixth days of this moneth taking God the searcher of Mans hearts to witness that the most unhappy Fight of the ships of both Commonwealths did happen against the knowledge and will of the Lords States General of the United Netherlands so also are we daily more and more assured both by Messages and Letters witnessing the most sincere hearts of our said Lords and that with grief and astonishment they received the fatal News of that unhappy rash Action and that upon what we thereupon presently sent them word of they did consult and endeavor to finde out what Remedy chiefly may be applied to mitigate that raw and bloody Wound To which end they have written out for to gather a solemn Meeting or Parliament of all the Provinces whereby we do not doubt but there will be provided for these Troubles by Gods favor such a cure and present help whereby not onely the outward cause of all further Evil may be taken away but also by an Intern comfort the mindes may be redressed and reduced again to a better hope of our Treaty in hand Which thing being now most earnestly agitated by our Lords for the common good of both Nations to shun that detestable shedding of Christian blood so much desired and would be dearly bought by their common Enemies of both Nations and of the Reformed Religion we again do crave this most Honorable Councel and beseech you by the Pledges both of the common Religion and Liberty mean while to suffer nothing to be done out of too much heat that afterwards may prove neither revocable nor repairable by too late idle Vows and Wishes but rather that you would let us receive a kinde Answer without further delay upon our last Request Which we do again and again desire so much the more because we understand that the Ships of our Lords and of our Shippers both on the broad Sea as in the Ports of this Commonwealth some by force some by fighting are taken by your men and kept Given at Chelsey 3 13 June 1652. Signed J. Cats G. Schaep Vanderperre
THE ANSWER OF THE PARLIAMENT of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND TO THREE PAPERS Delivered in to the COUNCEL of STATE By the Lords Ambassadors Extraordinary of the States General of the UNITED PROVINCES As also a NARRATIVE Of the late Engagement between the ENGLISH Fleet under the Command of General Blake And the Holland Fleet under the Command of Lieutenant Admiral Trump And likewise several LETTERS EXAMINATIONS and TESTIMONIES touching the same Together with the Three PAPERS aforesaid of the said Lords Ambassadors Extraordinary And the LETTER of Lieutenant Admiral Trump therein mentioned Translated into English London Printed by John Field Printer to the Parliament of England 1652. The ANSWER of the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England to Three Papers presented to them by the Councel of State from the Ambassadors Extraordinary of the Lords the States General of the United Provinces The First whereof is dated the Third of June the Second the Sixth of June and the Third the Thirteenth of June 1652. new Stile upon occasion of the late Fight between the Fleets THe Parliament of the Commonwealth of England calling to minde with what continued Demonstrations of Friendship and sincere Affections from the very beginning of their intestine Troubles they have proceeded towards their Neighbors of the United Provinces omitting nothing on their part that might conduce to a good correspondence with them and to a growing up into a more near and strict Union then formerly Do finde themselves much surprized with the unsutable Returns that have been made thereunto and especially at the Acts of Hostility lately committed in the very Roads of England upon the Fleet of this Commonwealth the matter of Fact whereof stated in clear Proofs is hereunto annexed Upon serious and deliberate consideration of all and of the several Papers delivered in by Your Excellencies to the Councel of State the Parliament thinks fit to give this Answer to those Papers The Parliament as they would be willing to make a charitable construction of the Expressions used in the said Papers endeavoring to represent the late Engagement of the Fleets to have hapned without the knowledge and against the minde of Your Superiors So when they consider how disagreeable to that profession the Resolutions and Actions of Your State and their ministers at Sea have been even in the midst of a Treaty offered by themselves and managed here by Your Excellencies the extraordinary Preparations of One hundred and Fifty sail of Men of War without any visible occasion but what doth now appear a just ground of Jealousie in Your own judgments when Your Lordships pretended to excuse it and the Instructions themselves given by Your said Superiors to their Commanders at Sea Do finde too much cause to believe That the Lords the States General of the United Provinces have an Intention by Force to usurp the known Rights of England in the Seas to destroy the Fleets that are under God their Walls and Bulwarks and thereby expose this Commonwealth to Invasion at their pleasure as by this late Action they have attempted to do Whereupon the Parliament conceive they are obliged to Endeavor with Gods assistance as they shall have opportunity To seek Repairation of the Wrongs already suffered and Security that the like be not attempted for the future Nevertheless with this minde and desire That all Differences betwixt the Nations may if possibly be peaceably and friendly composed as God by his Providence shall open a way thereunto and Circumstances shall be conducing to render such Endeavors less dilatory and more effectual then those of this kinde heretofore used have been Hen Scobell Cleric Parliamenti A Narrative of the late Engagement betwen the English Fleet under the Command of General Blake and the Holland Fleet under the Command of Lieutenant Admiral Trump near Dover UPon Tuesday the Eighteenth of May 1652. in the morning General Blake being gone to the Westward as far as Rye Bay eight days before with twelve or thirteen Ships leaving Major Bourn in the Downs with eight Ships onely there appeared upon the backside of the Goodwin a Holland Fleet of Men of War consisting of two and forty Ships one whereof had a Flag on the main-top-Mast head the rest Jacks and Ancients and being come unto the South-sands head two of them bore up towards the English Ships in the Downs whereupon Major Bourn sent out the Greyhound to examine them and to know the reason of their so near approach who answering That they had a Message to the Commander in chief in the Downs were permitted to come in and having saluted the Flag the two Captains named Tyson and Aldred came Aboard the said Major Bourn and acquainted him that they were sent by Van Trump to let him know that he had been Riding about Dunkirk with his Fleet where by reason of foul Weather they had lost many of their Cables and Anchors and the wind being Northerly were driven further to the Southward then they intended which Van Trump thought fit to signifie to prevent any misapprehensions or Jealousies And having said this and received for answer That the Reality of what they said would best appear by their speedy drawing off from this Coast they departed to their Fleet and immediately upon their arrival with them the whole Fleet stood up to Dover and came to an Anchor within little more then shot of the Castle the same day in the afternoon Upon their coming before Dover Castle and Riding there with Flag in the Main-top without saluting the Castle the Castle made three shot at them notwithstanding which the Dutch Admiral kept up his Flag and rode there at Anchor until the next day noon and exercised his Musquetiers by discharging Volleys of small shot many hours together Upon Wednesday about twelve a clock the Dutch Fleet weighed Anchor and stood off towards Calice some four Leagues into the South-east about the same time the English Fleet under General Blake coming from the West towards the Downs discovered them and supposed by their course they had been going back Major Bourn likewise was in sight coming from the Downs to joyn with General Blake About an hour or two after the Holland Fleet altered their course came back again made all the Sail they could and bore directly with General Blake Van Trump the headmost with his Flag in the Main-top and being come within shot the General shot a Gun at his Main-top and then two single shot more whereupon Trump shot a single shot through the Generals Flag and then immediately gave the first Broad-side and took in his Pendants and hung out his Red Flag under the Holland Colours which was the Signal on their part for their whole Fleet to ingage and so the Fight began which happened between four and five a clock in the afternoon and continued until nine of the clock In the Fight the English took two of the Holland Fleet one whereof having six foot water in the Hold they left