ON the 13. of this instant (after a tempestuous storm) it pleased God to admit us a fair Gale, and a seasonable calm, untill such time that we had coasted neer the point of Gibralterre, where we made a discovery of the rest of our Fleet under the Con­duct of Vice-Admirall Pen; and coming up to them, our Captain was called aboard the Fairfax Frigat, where a Councel of Officers were present; and after some serious consultation touchin the French and Portugal Fleet in the [Page 4] Streights, unanimously resolved to steer towards that coast, and fight them; and accordingly on the 14 instant, we weighed anchor, and after 9 hours sayl came within sight of them; which they perceiving, immediatly prepared to re­ceive Us, opening their port-holes, put forth their Guns, and man'd their Decks; for indeed they were at least three to one; being about 33 Sayl, and most consisting of those Bankers which were the onely Pyrats that had most an­noy'd the English and Dutch: Our Fleet consisted of but nine sayl, but very resolved men; as appears by the ensu­ing Narrative, viz.

When we came within a league of their Rear. Admirall, Orders were given for each man to make ready to man the Decks, the Gunners and their Assistants to prepare and o­pen their port-holes; and so each man according to his place and calling, to endeavour what in him lay to perform that duty and service which God had called him unto: This was with great care and prudence observed; and immedi­atly the Red Flag in every ship was put forth; which be­ing done, the Trumpets sounded, the Marriners shouted, and soon after the Canons plaid; for when we came within half a league of them, about 13 of their best ships were manned forth, who gave us several broad sides; which Captain Pen perceiving, immediatly made up to them with the Fairfax, the Lyon, the Dolphin, and the George, and gave them eight broad sides; insomuch that the Enemy decli­ned engagement, and would fain have deserted us; but C. Pen keeping close up with them to the rest of their ships, the whole Fleets became engaged; and a bloudy fight en­sued, which continued for the space of two hours, and very gallantly maintained on both sides: For the Lyon laid the French Admiral aboard three times, and was still repulsed and beaten off; but the fourth time she carryed it, and [Page 5]hailing her close, entred the ship, and put most of the men to the sword, for they denied quarter. During this dispute, the valiant Fairfax, and the rest of our Fleet, plyed them close with great and small shot, and killed many of them, especially the Portugals, who lay the most open to out shot, for they charged their Canon on the out-side of their ships: In this conflict we sunk 7, and boarded five more; and at last dispiersed the whole Navy, taking about 15 sayl of them; so that there are not many got off, but some few Pickroons, which were too swift for us; but I am confident, they cannot be very serviceable; for the ships that we have taken are exceedingly torn, and most of the men either kil­led or wounded; so resolutely did they fight it out. And truly I may say, that such a mercy never did God bestow upon his poor servants at Sea, as he hath done upon Us, in giving of Us Victory over our Enemies, and making Us in­strumental for the vanquishing such a formidable pyrati­cal power as these were, with so little losse; for from the beginning to the ending, we lost not above 20 men, some few wounded, and our ships not much defaced or torn: God grant that we may live to praise & glorifie the Name of the Lord for this happy deliverance: And likewise for the many and wonderful deliverances which He hath dis­pensed to his servants.

Two Dutch men of War came in to our assistance about the middle of the fight; but its conjectur'd, that it was more for their own ends, then for any love they bare to us: however, I shall censure charitably; for we have lost no­thing, but they haue gain'd; having by this means inlarg'd their liberty upon these Coasts.

From aboard the Dolphin November the 19. 1651.

ON the 19. of this instant Novemb. 1651. Commissary Generall Dungan with about 600 Horse and 800 Foot drew neer to Ross, nity, g [...]t-over that place about 300 Foot, who marched down to the main Guard of the Town, and secures them without fire on either side, so that the Church and the Block-house had not yet received the allarm, that from thence they went to the great gate, and made shift to break it open to let in their Horse, that before the Garison had received alarm both horse and foot were possessed of the Town, from whence they marched down, beating Drums, and sounding Trumpets, by which the Blockhouse and Church received an alarm, and being overpowred, endeavoured onely to keep what they had, and left the Town to their mercy, where they took Col. Markham, Lieu. Abbot, Ensign Brown, and about 12 private souldiers: killed a­bout 15 plundered the Town, sparing neither friend nor foe; ran­sackt the Magazine, seiz [...]d 12 barrels of powder, match and bullet proportionable; with some Hats, stockings, and other good booty. About 9 a clock the next day they sent to the Governour for a cessa­tion, who finding it would be no wayes prejudicial to him to de­lay time, he being in want of provision and accomodation, (they coming so unexpectedly upon them,) they agreed upon a cessation, until 7. a Clock next morning. We had no intelligence of the busi­ness at Waterford, until 4. a Clock on the Lords day, but upon no­tice thereof we made out with all the Boats and Vessels we could procure, and fell down that night within a mile of the Town, and about 10. or 11. a Clock at night the Enemy quitted the place and marched away, having agreed with the Townsmen to pay them 400 l. to save the Town from burning. Since which time we have received intelligence that Col. Cook, and Col. Axtel, with Col. Prette, have given the same Enemy a repulse, comming upon them in the County of Kildare, fell upon their reare as they were going o­ver a passe, put them to the run, pursuing them 4. or 5. miles, about [Page 7]100. kil [...]d in the pursuit, some prisoners taken, besides Col. Zankey hath fallen upon the Enemy about Clonmel, took about 50. priso­ners: we also hear that Col. Axtel hath lately had some such suc­cess, and several small things of this kind, which though it be worth our praising the Lord for, yet not worth troubling you with unless places and persons were better known to you; the Enemy took advantage of the Armies being ingaged before Galway and Lim­rick to make a great deal of busling and noise up and down the Country, but the greatest business that they can effect, is to meet at a Randezvouz some thousands of them together, and have the ad­vantage of intelligence, the Country being so wholly theirs, that presently they disperse and vanish away in their Woods and Boggs, upon the least intelligence of any party coming towards them.

Waterford 22 Novemb. 1651.

I Had no sooner drawn to a conclusion of my Let­ter, but immediatly here arrived a Post, giving a further account of what was before recited; and al­so presenting a List to the Governour touching the particulars thereof; a Copy whereof I have hereun­to annexed.

• Taken of the Parliaments Forces at Ross.
  • Col. Markham,
  • Lieu. Abbot,
  • Ensign Brown,
  • 12 Sergeants, Cor­porals, [Page 8]and private souldiers.
  • 12 barrels of powder,
  • 100 skeins of match,
  • 400 weight of bullet, And divers Hats, stockings, and o­ther rich booty.
• Taken of the Rebels by Col. Axtel in Kildare.
  • 1400 Horse and foot totally routed, un­der the command of Gen. Dungan.
  • 200 Killed upon the place.
  • 100 in the pursuit.
  • Col. Kilmock taken
  • One Lieut. col.
  • 3 Majors.
  • 9 Captains.
  • 20 Lieutenants.
  • 7 Cornets.
  • 9 Ensigns.
  • 5 Quartermasters.
  • 500 Sergeants, Cor­porals, and pri­vate souldiers.
  • 600 Armes.
  • 15 Colours, and o­ther rich booty, which they had plundered.
  • 150 more taken by col. Zankey.