SInce the time of our weighing Anchor at Gravesend, and pas­sing the Channel of the Brittish Seas, great hath been the peri­lous distempers which accom­panied us; for we had not been many days at Sea (being bound for Scanderoon, a place of great traffique in Turky) but imme­diately the raging billows of the mercilesse Sea, began to swell against us; insomuch, that by the extremity of weather, and vehement storms arising thereupon, the Ships that accompanied [Page 2]us in our Voyage (being 5) were soon disper­sed, and separated; and a tempest arising, eve­ry man bequeathed his life and fortune to the mercy of the all-devouring Ocean; but divine providence had so decreed, that in our greatest extremity appeared Gods omnipotent and ten­der mercy, and when we thought the Seas to be our grave, they gaping to swallow and en­tomb our mortall carkasses, then did the om­nipotent Jehovah cause the winde to cease, and the waters to become calm, whereby our ship might ride free from tossing and tumbling: In thankfull acknowledgment thereof, for the great mercy and freedom which we then recei­ved, our Captain and Master of the ship, or­dered some time to be set a part, for an hum­ble thanksgiving to be given to the Almighty, for those his great mercies, and delivering us his poor contemptible creatures, from the mer­ciless jaws of death; which with great alacrity was accordingly performed, with bended knees, watry eyes, and hearts lift up to heaven, for our miraculous deliverance from (present) perishing, and destruction. We had not sailed many Leagues, 'ere we perceived our ship to [Page 3]be driven near the Coast of Portugal, and that we had utterly lost the rest of our Fleet: Not­withstanding we steered on our intended cours, in which we had not continued many hours, but the Lord having delivered us out of the prece­dent danger, another presented it self before us; for we espied certain ships make after us, which we soon perceived to be French men of War, who having the benefit of the winde (and be­ing very swift of sail) soon hail'd us; whereup­on, we commited our selves to the same provi­dence who had formerly delivered us, and resol­ved (if they proved enemies) to sacrifice our lives and fortunes each with other: But they be­ing approached (espying us to be Merchant­men) their Admirall immediately gave us a broad side, whereupon (they forcing us) we answered with a Volley suitable to that recei­ved; which caused the rest to steer up, and encompassed us round, giving us severall broad sides; but we being sensible of their bloudthir­sty barbarism to the English, unanimously re­solved to fight it out, and answered them a­gain with round and key-shot, which did great execution on those that man'd their Decks; [Page 4]But the French being too numerous, we were over-powred by them, and they boorded us on both sides, and slew many of our men, the resi­due desired quarter, which was granted; and having ransacked our Ship and Cabines, a con­voy was ordered for our transportation to Dun­kirk; where we now remain prisoners, untill a ransome can be procured from some certain Merchants: for the obtaining whereof, liberty is granted to represent our state and condition to those who employed us from England; a­mongst which papers, I used means that this Narrative might be inserted: And truly, if timely opportunity be not suddenly embraced, for the cleering of the narrow Seas, and Brittish Coasts, of the French Pirats, and Danish rob­bers, I much fear, that it will be the case of ma­ny other of our Countrymen; for under the pretence of having Commission from the King of Scots, they commit great spoil, by annoying and intercepting the English shipping; and if by chance they light on any small ships or ves­sels, not able or unlikely to make opposition, they immediately boord them, exercising un­heard of cruelty, tying their prisoners back to [Page 5]back, and mercilesly casting them into the Sea; which had been our cases (without doubt) but that the Lord put it in the heart of their Com­mander in chief, to lay a strict command upon the rest, that those which desired quarter, and submitted to mercy, should not receive any fur­ther prejudice. Sir, It is reported here, that cer­tain ships which are now ready to put forth to Sea, are to go for the relief of Prince Rupert, whose condition many [in this Town] seem to bewail, but very few will afford to redresse; Here is much talk of the Parliaments Summer-Fleet, which doth much startle the Governour, and retards Rupert's supply: Also, some Mer­chants (who had formerly promised the Gover­nour, to be aiding and assisting in setting forth certain ships) hearing of the preparations that are made for the English Fleet, are resolved not to enter into any further engagement against England, but to use all the interest they have, to obtain leave to have free commerce and trade with the English. We have also intelligence here, that Captain Newbery, with one of the Parliaments men of War, hath lately lighted on two Frenchmen, and after a sharp conflict took [Page 6]them; By which means we hope for our enlarge­ment by way of exchange, and I entreat you, to be a means to hasten it. The Governour of Roan in Normandy (we hear) hath caused some English ships to be staid, that were laden with Paper and other Commodities, which causeth some jealousies (at present) that those Ma­nufactures will be denied transportation into England. There are some old grudges newly revived by the French, which threaten ruine to the peace and tranquility of England; But it's hoped, all their devices will be blasted in the bud, and England (which now seems despica­ble in the eys of many) will still be preserved from the fury of her enemies: Which is the continuall prayer of him, who remains