ON Wednesday the 8th. of this present September 1652. Generall Blake with the Parliaments great fleet passed by within sight of this place.

A Message was sent in from him to Sir George Ayscue, who with his fleet was then at anchor in this Roade, To desire him to weigh Anchor, and come out speedily to him with his fleet.

Sir George Ayscue then presently sent out Orders to all the ships, and they all sailed out, according to the Orders sent in by Gen. Blake.

After salutation of the Fleets, Sir Geo. Ays­eue went aboard the Admirall to the Gene­rall, where a Councell of Officers presently met, and resolved to saile Westward to­wards the Holland Fleet, or where they should discover them to be.

That night in the evening they set all sail Westward, the season being very good, faire weather that day and the next, and the wind good.

But since that, we have had some boy­sterous winds, which have been very high, but I doe not heare of any great losse, or harme (blessed be God) that we have sustai­ned by it.

The Lord hath been pleased to give some good successes to our Fleet since they went out from hence.

For Generall Blake hath sent out squa­drons of ships which have taken from the [Page 3]Hollanders twenty saile of Ships, whereof one Man of Warre, one Pickeroon, and the rest Merchants ships.

The Merchants Ships are laden with wine, Strong-waters, vinegar, salt, and o­ther merchandizes to some value.

Seven of these ships are already come in­to Plimouth, and orders sent for disposall of them, with directions and instructions, the rest being thirteen, when these came a­way from the Fleet, they were ordering to be disposed of, they are speedily to be sent into some Port.

The Dutch-men in the Man of warre seeme to be but sorry Sea-men, and it was not extraordinary well manned; they speake of great distractions in Holland, and Zeland, but chiefly in Holland, the Zeland Sea-men are very famous.

On Thursday last Generall Blake had a discovery of the Holland Fleet, which are thought to be about a hundred saile, and Generall Blake, now with Sir George Ayscue, both joyned, are neare an hundred saile, I [Page 4]thinke of the-best Ships, and the gallantest Fleet in the world.

The Holland Fleet were then discove­red to be about some twelve Leagues off from Scilly.

Hereupo, this discovery being made, a Councell of VVarre was called, to consult what to doe.

And it was resolved with a great union and magnanimity, that they should pre­sently saile towards them, and endea­vour if possibly to engage them.

And accordingly our whole Fleet sailed towards the Hollanders great Fleet, and are in pursuit of them.

We doe observe, that the Hollanders doe much vapour, and make shewes, and boastings where they come, at a distance from us, and they finde themselves able to deale with some smaller party then them­selves, but when any considerable Party, any wayes able to deale with them come neare them, then they saile away.

And they are most often seen, and appear [Page 5]in view towards the evening, that so in the night they may slink away out of sight, we cannot tell where.

Were not the Hollanders puft up in pride and hardnesse of heart like Pharoah and the Egyptians, they would not goe on in their obstinacy as they doe.

Plimouth 14 Septemb. 1652.

By other Letters from other Ports it is certifi­ed, That there came lately ten ships from Britta­ny in France, 3 men of War, the Swan and 2 more were a guard to the rest, which were Mer­chants, the lading very rich, of a considerable va­lue.

One of the Dutch fleets had a dise [...]very of them, and engaged them, but the English stood out couragiously, and opposed them, and by the blessing of God brake through them, charging the Dutch with a great deale of gallantry, and are all safely arrived in the Downs.

Dover 15 Septemb. 1652.