THe French resoluing to build some Ships for the strength­ning of their Nauy, and wan­ting materialls, and Shippe-wrights in the Kingdome, they determined to build them in Holland, at Amsterdame and Enchusen, a thing which the States of the Vnited Prouinces could not deny them, (it being at their pro­per coste) in respect of those obligements which binde them to that Nation.

The notice whereof, together with their supposed time of Launching, being aduerti­sed into England, His Maiestie to crush this Crocodile in the Shell, and to preuent the storme of the danger before it fell, sent out Sir Sacville Treuer, after his returne from the Ri­uer of Elve, where he made the Haumburgers come to reason, and searched their Shipps in despight of all opposition.

He had with him in this last expedition a Fleet of eight Saile, whereof foure were of the [Page 2] Kings Nauy Royall, the rest were Merchants.

His Commission inioyned him to ply vp and downe vpon the Coast of Holland, and to take all French Shipps which he could meete withall.

He obseruing carefully these Orders, vsed al possible speede, and on Friday the eight and twentieth of September, he arriued at the Tex­ell (a great Roade in North-Holland) about 8. of the Clocke at night, with all his Fleete in safety.

The names of his Ships were these.

The Kings good Ship called the Assurance, carrying 38. Peeces of Brasse Ordnance, wherein Sir Sackuille himselfe went as Admi­rall.

The Kings good Ship called the Aduenture, carrying 26. Brasse Peeces, wherein Captain George Allen commanded as Vize Admirall.

The good Shippe called the Ambrose, carrying 18. Peeces of Iron Ordnance, where­in Captaine Iohn Pette the Reare Admirall of the Fleete commanded.

The Kings good Ship called the St. Marie of Roane, carrying sixteene great Peeces, be­sides murderers, the Captaine whereof was Captaine Thomas Bardesey.

Captaine Cheineyes Shippe called the May flower of London.

[Page 3]Captaine Hookes Shippe called the Lyon of Ipswich.

Captaine Morgans Ship called the Iacob.

Captaine Neadham a Pinnace belonging to the King, called the Maria, carrying sixe Pee­ces of Brasse Ordnance.

These foure latter Shipps were of no great burthen, but were well manned, and of quick Steerage, and carried in all, besides the Mur­derers which they had vpon their vpper decks, twenty pieces of Brasse and Iron Ordnance.

Sir Sackuille Treuer got a Dutch Pilot vpon the Coast, who being demanded concerning the Ships that lay in the Texell, tolde him, that besides sixteene Hollandish men of Warre and diuerse other Vessells of good burthen, their lay one goodly French Shipp called the Saint Esprit, which was of the burthen of 800 Tunnes, the vpper works whereof are richly guilt with double Angell Golde in the inside and outside of her, in those places which were fittest to expresse pompe and statelinesse, as al­so the very Port-holes were curiously carued with Lyons heads gaping that were richly double guilt.

The Pilot after hee had bene fully questio­ned by Sir Sackuile Treuer concerning al parti­culars which might tend to the Seruice, tolde him, that if he would giue him him Gold, he would bring him to the side of her: whereup­on [Page 4] Sir Sackuile gaue him a double Portugue in golde, valuing foure pounds sterling.

We comming neere vnto their French Ship presently she sent out her long Boat being manned with French and Dutch to hale vs, and to see what we were: But our Admirall com­manding the men to come aboard vs, wee sur­prised the Long-boate, and pinioned the men and put them in the Hold.

Afterwards the Esprit discouering vs to bee Enemies, began to fight, and discharged (but without any effects of hurt) three great Shot and one hundred small shot. Then sir Sackuille Treuer being willing to take occasion by the foretop, and to slacke no time for feare of loo­sing aduantage, came vp close to her, and gaue her a whole broade side: so likewise did our Vize Admirall and Rere Admirall, and the St. Marie, where Captaine Thomas Bardesey com­manded: which Shotte was discharged with that quicke motion, and working aduantage, that their maine Maste and Bowe-sprit being pierc'd thorough, they cryed out for Quarter, which for good considerations was graunted them: so that by ten of the clocke at night, which was two houres after our comming in­to the Texel, we became Masters of this great and warlike Ship.

Before wee came vp close to her, but after they had discouered vs to be Enemies, those [Page 5] of the St. Esprit, made a traine in a Chest filled with Gunpowder and other combustible ma­terialls, to blowe vp the Ship and our men that should enter it. But this resolution was again altered, because their long Boat being taken by our Admirall, they sawe no other meanes of escape, but onely by submitting themselues vnto our mercie.

That night we disposed of her men seueral­ly in our Ships, being one hundred French and fiftie Dutch. We gaue all faire quarter to the Dutch, but the French were kept Prisoners vntil the day before we came out of the Texel, and then they were all set on land in North Holland.

After wee had taken this Ship, there came vnto vs Captaine Dupper in the true Loue of Ipswich, and Captaine Wall in the Susan of Al­borough, on the Sunday following, whom we welcommed after the manner of the sea.

There was another goodly French Shippe, which was newly come ouer Wearing Flatts distant eight miles from the Texel, who recei­uing intelligence of our strength, and of what we had done, got Hoyes, Lighters, and other small Vessels of transportation; in which ha­uing lighted her selfe of her Ordnance, she got ouer the Flats to Enchusen, before our men could come vp to her.

Wee came vp with eight saile of Shippes to [Page 6] take her, but loosing our labour, by meanes that she was safely harboured in Enchuisen, we returned backe againe vnto our Admirall, who expected our comming in the Texel roade.

Some of the States of the neighbour towns, came aboard vs, and demaunded peremptori­ly, by vertue of what commission we came to fetch that Ship out of their Rode. Our Ad­mirall tolde them, that he had commission to take all French Ships, which hee could meete withall, and hee was assured that this was a French Ship, and therefore hee aduentured to take her without any further commission.

Cap. George Allen our Vize Admiral & some others of this Fleete, stayes vpon the coast of Holland, for the intercepting of this and other French Ships: the rest vnder the conduct of Sir Sackuill Treuer brought home the surprised Ship to Harwich.

This goodly Ship taken on the 28. of Sep­tember, as is aforesaid, had 42. Peeces of Ord­nance mounted, twelue Peeces vnmounted in her hold, 2006. Armours, one hundred and fifty Muskets, and 60. barrels of Gunpowder.

The specification of her Ordnance [...]

• ITem, vpon her lower Tier 20. whole Cul­nerings of Brasse of full size, being in height fiue inches and a quarter. 20
• In her stearage two demie Culuerings of Brasse, in height foure inches, one quarter, and better. 2
• Item, two Drakes vpon the halfe decko, being brasse of Sacker bore. 2
• 24. Brasse.
• Item, vpon her vpper Tyer 12. Dema-Culuerings of Iron in height, foure inches and a quarter: 12
• Item, foure Sackers of Iron vpon the halfe decke. 2
• 18. Iron.

Summe totall mounted is 42.

• ITem, it is reported there is in hold twelue Peeces of Iron, all whole Culuerings, wee [Page 8] tooke the height of two, being fiue inches, the rest we could not come to. 12
• The length of the Shippe by the keele, is 105. foote: 105
• The breadth by her beame is 35. foote. 35
• From the Kilchin to the Deck in depth twelue foote. 12
• Item, 2006. Armours.
• Item, 150. Muskets:
• Item, 60: Barrels of Gunpowder:

[Page 9]COncerning the proceedings of our Armie and Nauie in the Iland of Ree (commonly called Saint Martins) there hath happened no memorable accident, as farre as we can vnder­stand, since the Wednesday sennight after Sir Iohn Burrowes was slaine, vpon the night of which day our men surprized diuers Boats as they were passing to the Fort with Victualls: the particulars of which exploite were related in our last Iournall: but concerning the occur­rences happening in the Maine, we haue recei­ued their aduertisements by Letters out of France on Wednesday last being the third of October.

That the French King being fully bent to follow his Designes against Rochell, and to plucke out that thorne, which (as the Cardi­nall intimated vnto him) had so long stucke in the sides of his Soueraigntie, continues the building of his new Fort, of purpose to debar the Townes-men from all ingresse and egresse by water. He followes this worke with great charge and greater labour, as well knowing how important the finishing thereof will bee for his farther ends and intentions. Hee hath caused twelue whole Cannons to be mounted before the breast of this Fort, with which his Canoniers make diuers randome shot into the Towne, but with more terrour then danger. [Page 10] Some Ships of our Fleet riding not farre from the Fort, haue bestowed diuers shot vpon the French, though without point blanke distance. One of which fell so fortunately for vs, and so vnfortunately for them, that it killed a base sonne of that great Henry the fourth, which he had by a sister of the Duke of Orleance. The same shot did likewise kill another Duke, of whose name wee are not as yet certaine. And the wind of that bullet struck downe the Mon­sieur (the legitimate Brother of the French King) as hee was conferring with the other two.

It is further confirmed that two principall men of the French Nobility were slaine by the late Ambush of the Rochellers. Which two Noblemen with diuers other braue Cheua­liers, were drawne within danger by a stale made by twenty common Souldiers in the ha­bite of Gentlemen, who sallyed forth of the Towne of Rochell.

The Rochellers are very carefull to furnish our Fleete and Armie, with all necessarie Pro­uisions, which their store or procuration can afford: and these they transport in twenty long Boates, which in token of the seruice that they owe vnto the King of England, carrie red crosses for the deuice of their colours. Di­uers English who haue beene either sicke or wounded are in the Towne, amongst whom is [Page 11] that honourable Knight Sir Charles Rich, who is cured of his wound, but hath not as yet re­couered the perfect vse of his arme. His pre­sence is much desired of my Lord Duke, and is expected in the Armie euery day.

His Excellencie to auoyde the extortion of Victuallers, who like the milt in mans body growe fat by the leanenesse of others, hath out of his Noble disposition published a Pro­clamation for the price of Bread, Wine, and other necessaries, according to the rates of which Proclamation, the Ilanders and others from the Continent doe bring in Victualls.

There is a confident report in all those parts of France, that there are appointed sorty Ships of Warre to come from Spaine, and twenty from Dunkerke, who are to ioyne with the French Fleete for the succours of the Iland, and the beating off of the English. The Ran­deuowe of all these Shippes was appointed at Blawet, a famous Port Towne in Brittanie, on the tenth of this present moneth.