I Received yours from Aboard the Van-herring, and doubtless there is no question to be made but the Mahometans and Algerines are as busie, not only of our great Ship the Van-herring, but of the Lyon Rampant, and the Golden Harp that attend her. You make me tremble to hear of the Contrivance which was among the Mahometans, to have blown up the Captain and his Council of Officers in the place it self, at what time both He and they should have been met together. We are not also ignorant how they would have Attack'd our single Vessel with a great Armado, having no other intention but to destroy and sink her.

These were their Villanous attempts some years ago. But to come closer to the point, as you well observe, it was but the other day, that they put fire to the great Cabin, and burnt it level with the water. And in­deed it brought such a Consternation upon the hon [...]st Mariners, that had in all probability done their work, had they been as nimble to second, as they were to act. [Page 2] As to the rest of their Malicious designs, and more par­ticularly of the discontented Mariners that were secur'd in the Gun-Room, and favour'd by the Lieutenant, I shall make no repetition thereof, but tell you how far we may rationally hope for an Alteration of affairs in our Ship. In the first place, The Person who is chiefly entrusted with the great Cabin, and the two Boatswains, are such now newly Chosen, for which the Mariners have a high respect, as being confident of their great Af­fection for the good of the Ship. There is one among them that has a great share in looking after the great Ca­bin, for whom the Mariners have not so great kind­ness, as believing him too much a favourer of the Lieu­tenant's designs. Him therefore they are about to dis­place, and 'tis thought 'twill be speedily done; For that upon mis-apprehensions between the Mariners and the Lieutenant, he would be always giving Sentence to the prejudice of the Mariners, by which they thought their Rights and Priviledges impair'd.

The Grand Council of the Officers of the Ship are now Sitting, and are very intent to discover the De­signers and Designs that have been, and still are, against the Ship. Before they Sate, the Lieutenant remov'd into the Lyon Rampant, at which the Impeach'd Mari­ners that are secur'd in the Gun-Room, were not a little pensive, and hung down their heads; as indeed they have reason enough to do. For though one of the Mari­ners that accus'd them to the Captain, be since dead, yet there is another come in, that has Discover'd much more. His Testimony was somewhat decry'd at first by some of the Lieutenant's Friends; but now, 'tis believ'd more favour will be shown him, and that Credit be given to his Oath, that a person so much a Creature of the Maho­metans may deserve. That which did him no small [Page 3] kindness, was this, That the very first day that the Grand Council of Officers sate, he discover'd a very conside­rable Mahometan, who was walking in disguise upon the Deck among the great Officers in the Ship, and hearkening to their discourses. But the great Officers order'd him to be laid hold on; insomuch that the Lieu­tenant's friend was forc'd to commit him into the Hole, upon the Testimony of that Mariner, which he had so much slighted before: He has repeated his Discoveries before the Grand Council of Officers, who have heard him with great attention, and seem to be not a little con­cern'd at what he has said, and have order'd him to give in what he spoke by word of mouth, in Writing. One of the Members of the Great Council it self, is at pre­sent suspended, till he clear himself of some things which are laid to his Charge. There have been several Ma­riners, who have endeavoured by Papers and Writings to set the Captain and his Great Council at Varience. 'Tis thought the Eye of the Great Council will be soon upon them, in regard that they have already sent for one of them, who, 'tis thought, trusted too much to the quickness of his Parts, and play'd too much upon the Discovery of the great Plot against the Captain and the Ship. Thereupon the said Mariner, lately made a Quarter-Master, has left the Ship, or at least so hid him­self among the Ballast and Cordage, that he cannot at present be found. Some of the Mariners inform against him, that he is a Mahometan, and has been so for many years. As for the Ships Cock-boat, which the Algerines, the most perfidious people in the world, do so much en­deavour to cut from her Stern, we are in great hopes that particular care will be taken of it, in regard the Captain himself recommended the preservation thereof to the Grand Council of Officers. Particular care will be [Page 4] also taken, no doubt, of the Golden Harp, where a strict enquiry will be made after the Mahometans and Algerines, that have rais'd Mutinies and Divisions among the Ma­riners on that Vessel, on purpose to betray that Ship to the Argerines themselves. In these and all those other concerns which you mention, we make no question but that the Grand Council of Officers will be very sedulous for the good of the Ship. There is that Harmony at present between the Captain and them, which makes all the Mariners throw up their Caps, and rejoyce at no rate; Nay the very Mariners are turn'd devout too, and pray for the Continuance of it with the greatest Zeal in the world: As being absolutely confirm'd in this Opinion, That if that blessing befall them, that neither they nor their Ship will ever fall into the power of their Enemies, either the Mahometans or the Algerines, whom they will have no reason to fear, if their Captain and the Grand Council agree. By the next expect a far­ther Account from