A LETTER Sent from his Excellency Generall Blake To the King of DENMARK TOVCHING The Dutch Fleet now in the Sound; and his desires and proposals unto him, and the rising of the Danes in arms to prevent the landing of any enemy.
ALSO A full Relation of the last great Sea-fight between the English and the Dutch, and the number sunk and taken. With the taking of an 100 Fishermen, and the Hollanders fortifying themselves in Bressies Bay in Scotland.
LIKEWISE, The proceedings of Sir George Ascues Fleet, his motion Westward and his design therein, with the Councel of States letter to him WITH Joyfull news from China, and the receiving of the Christian faith, by many both of the Nobility and Commonalty there.
LONDON: Printed for D. G. 1652.
A LETTER Sent from Gen. Blake to the King of DENMARK Touching The Dutch Fleet in the Sound, and his Desires and Proposals to him. With a perfect Narrative of the last great Fight between the English and the Dutch, upon the Coast of Denmark.
IN my last of the eighth instant, I acquainted you with the News in these parts touching the proceedings of the Navy at Sea, under his Excellency General Blake: for your further information in what hath hapned since his departure hence, take this. The 13 instant, the wind [Page 4] serving very fair for his purpose, he set sail from hence to meet with the Dutch, who (as he was informed) were returning homewards, with a very strong guard of Men of war to secure them from our Fleet. His Excellency (being in the Resolutiou) with great Resolution and courage, sailed headmost of the Fleet, the whole Fleet chearfully bearing up after him; and being come in sight of the Dutch, prepared themselves for the fight, making such a shout that it seemed to have thundred: and comming somewhat nearer to them, was descried by the enemie, whose hearts began to melt, and their courage failing, they declined engagement; but our Heroick General would not lose so fair an opportunity, but closely pursued them, forcing them to a dispute, maugre the hast they made to escape away. The conflict was hot for about the space of two hours and an half, after which time our General became victorious, sunk four, and took many of their Men of war; I have not yet the exact particulars of this fight, but it is said, that he hath taken above fourty, all good stout ships, which carry some thirty, many fourty Guns a piece. Whilest his Excellency was thus engaged, the enemies Fishermen endeavoured to esc [...]pe from us, but our men perceiving it some of our ships made after them with all speed, and notwithstanding all the hast they made, seized upon an hundred sail of them, wherein they found Fifteen hundred men, which (as I hear) they intend to send into Harbours in these parts. Those that escaped, have secured themselves in a Harbour or Island belonging to this Country, called Bressies Bay; they think to fortifie themselves there, but I hope they will be prevented. His Excellency pursued the remainder of the enemies Fleet, who having got off, sailed up the Sound, where he now rides with his fleet. At his comming into the Sound, the Danes fearing an invasion, beat [Page 5] up their Drums and rose up in arms, preparing themselves to withstand the landing of any that should attempt it. But General Blake to prevent all misunderstanding, sent a Letter to the King; wherein he desireth his Majesty, That he would be pleased to prohibit the Dutch to remain in his Harbours, and to give no Protection to them, being the known and open Enemies of this Common-wealth; but to command them to put forth to Sea, and to depart out of his Ports and Harbours; which if his Majesty please to do, there should not any Hostility in the least be offered to any within his Dominions. Whether his Majesty will agree to this we know not, but it is conceived that he will, by reason that he is in Treaty with the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England.
A Letter from Goa in the East-Indies.
THe Hollanders and Portugals have made peace here, but the Japponians have prohibited all commerce with the Hollanders. The King of China hath totally vanquished the Tartars, and slain their General, and is setled in Pechin; and eleven principal Eunuches of his Kingdome have been lately baptized by a Jesuit; and the Kings eldest son, called Constantine, shall be comitted to those Eunuches for Education; and the Kings Mother, and the Queen his Consort (being formerly also become C [...]ristians) make a great progress in vertue. The King of Siringer, bordering upon the Great Mogor, hath also admitted divers Christian preachers within his Territories, which is likely much to advance Christianity in these (yet) unbeleeving parts.
A Letter from Paris, dated 27 of Iuly, [...]n.
THeir Majesties are still at Ponthois, and there are but few forces left there for the guard, there being not above two thousand souldiers in all, the Marshal de Seneterre is come with some forces from Lorrain, and is joyned to Marshal de Thuren near Noyon. The death of the Lord Mancini Nephew to the Cardinal Mazarine, hath much grieved the King and Queen, and other of the favourites, being dead three days since of his wounds that he had at St. Anthony gate of this city; the 20 instant the Parliament being sate in the Chambers assembled, the business which for so many days before was in debate, was passed, being a substance to constitute the Duke of Orleans Lievt. Gen. of the Kingdome during the Kings restraint; also to appoint the Prince of Conde as Generallissimo, and the Duke of Beaufort his Lievt. Gen. with a strict command to all persons his Majesties subjects to obey the said Duke of Orleans his orders and no others, forbidding all Receivers, Treasurers, Farmers, not to pay any money but by the said Dukes order and direction, as it is at large contained in the said Arrest or Decree two days ago, the Parliament also ordered, that such goods as yet remain to be sold of the Cardinals should be sold without delay, to make up the 50000 Crowns for the reward of him or them, that will bring the Cardinal alive or dead. The Princes is still quartered in the Suburbs of St. Victor, they are not very numerous [Page 7] and so are not in a capacity to attempt any considerable businesse; the dearth of provision is not so great in this City as it hath been, the price being much abated.
The Parliament hath passed an order that the sentence passed the 20 instant shall be imparted to all the Parliaments and other high Courts of Judicature, that so they may ratifie the same and confirm it, giving each of them a sentence to the same effect, it is doubtfull what will be the success, some Parliaments standing affected for the Prince and some for the King, among them is the Parliament of Brittany, and that of Daulphine, besides the Parliament of Roan, which is much divided; the Province of Normandy seeing the Court within their borders, hath therefore proffered a very large sum of mony, that they may be excused of quartering any souldiers, and be oppressed with the like evils. The City of Rochel is still blocked up by sea, the Duke of Vendosme with his Fleet not yet appearing for their relief. The City of Barcelona is still close besieged, and little hopes of any relief from France, so that it is thought the Ctty will be yeelded up ere long.
Fhey write from Bourdeaux that the Marquesse of Lisignam is gone from hence with some forces to Langon to retake that place from the Kings forces, but at his arrivall he found the work already done; they began to batter the Castle with three pieces of Ordnance, and having taken it by storm, all those within it found in arms, were all put to the sword. The Count d'Harcourt is with his forces before Villanova, which he hopeth to take in few days, at this leagure he hath been like to be killed with two musket shot, but both did misse him, onely pierced his hat.
A Letter from Port-sea, dated Iuly 21.
THe Parliaments Fleet under the comand of Sir Geo. Ascue, set sail from the Downs, being 50 sail of gallant firm ships, well mann'd, he was bound Westward as we conceive, after those 18 sail of Hollanders that went by here 5 or 6 days ago, he had a very fair wind till he came near our road, but then the wind turned full against him, so that he was constrained to put in to us for a little space, and then taking the benefit of the tide, he bore up again to Sea-ward, and by night got clear of Bembridge point. His putting in here, was surely a special act of providence, though it was contrary to his intent; for that the Councel of State had sent letters to him, which came here an hour before night, and so were instantly sent to him, and the boat was within a league of them by night, in our sight; the wind yet favours not his purpose, but continues almost South-west, and yet he is resolved not to anchor, but to tide it Westward higher, where I hope God will make him instrumental for his praise, as he hath formerly been in those parts. Pyrats infest these parts very much, especially a smal vessel of 6 guns, which yesterday chased a vessel of Plymouth, which hardly escaped.