A LETTER FROM Admiral Vantrump TO The Lords and Burgamasters of Amsterdam, touching his late Engagement with the English, and the account he renders to them thereof: With the States Orders for the building of 60 new Frigots; and the levying of the Two hundreth penny throughout all Holland, for the maintaining of the War with England.

Also, Their new Orders and Instructions to Admiral De Witte, and the Admiralties, requiring them to put out to Sea all the ships that are in their Harbours.

Likewise, The proceedings of the King of Denmark with the English Resident; And a List of the ships of War set out to Sea by him: With his Orders for unlading the English ships detained there, and his Design therein.

Together with a Narrative of the proceedings of the English at Legorn; A fight betwixt them and the Dutch near that place, and the event and suc­cesse thereof.

Published according to Order.

LONDON: Printed by E. Alsop. 1653.

THE PROCEEDINGS OF The King of Denmark, touching the Resident of the Par­liament of England, and his Orders for unlading the English ships detained there.

SIR,

THe Resident of the Parliament of England, Mr. Bradshaw, after many hazards in Denmark, and in his way out of it, at length arrived here in safety. The K. of the Danes notwithstanding his promise to the Merchants and Sea men, that they should have li­berty to charge and dispose of their goods, was pleased to put guards upon all the detained ships, not permitting the English to have any further power of any thing: he hath also ordered the speedy unlading of them, under pre­tence they have ammunition aboard, but really (it is thought) to make men of war for his own use, of 5 or 6 of the best of them.

The Kings officers pretended all done, onely to secure [Page 4]the Goods from being imbezelled by the Sea men, and with intent they said, to deal with them, as the State of England should deal with theirs.

As concerning the Resident himself, he hap a very ha­zardous time of it, from his first comming to Copenha­gen. Much was discovered of designings against his life, and the lives of his company, by wicked men; insomuch that he was necessitated to demand a guard of the King of Denmark to go along with him through his Country to­ward Hamburgh. The King seemed much discontent that he should demand a guard, but yet did grant it at the Residents own Charge, sending eight of his own Life-guard to him, with warrant under the Kings own hand and seal, to convoy him and his company safe to Ham­burgh.

With this protection the Resident set forth from Co­penhagen the tenth of February, and the next day he pas­sed over the first Belt or Water, and afterward crossing the Belt again, he came into the Duke of Holsteins Country.

He had with him in Company above twenty Masters and English Seamen; and having put himself into the Kings more speciall protection, all means was used that could bee for safety, from the hands of bloudy men.

The poor English Masters and Seamen being turned out of all, came with a pittifull cry to the Resident to re­lieve them some way, that they might get home, lest after the losse of their estates they should starve in that coun­try, or be forced to serve against their own. Whereupon, he took order to relieve 60 of them with food at Copen­hagen, till they can get away hither by sea to Lubeck. About twenty of them he brought along with him over land.

It is supposed, that the ships detained at Copenhagen, are al by this time unladen, and those made use of, that are fit to serve against England.

What preparations are made by the King of Den­mark, you may see by this inclosed Catalogue of his shipping.

Lubeck, Febr. 25.
Twenty sail of the King of Denmarks ships.
Ports Guns Men.
94 80 425
100 86 425
90 74 330
48 48 300
50 42 230
52 44 230
60 44 280
52 40 195
42 36 234
48 44 280
36 30 150
54 40 226
44 34 82
50 34 150
36 30 92
34 30 150
42 34 82
36 30 80
36 32 84
38 30 84
The number of Guns is 868. Men 4109

A Letter from Amsterdam.

SIR,

GReat joy hath been here for the safe return of the sixty fail of Merchat men, which came from the parts about Rohan, and gave the English Fleet the slip at their first comming out. They had 10 men of War for their Convoy, the absence of which rendred Admiral Trump so much the weaker; and this is made a fault by many, that those men of War should be dismis­sed for a convoy, it being against Orders. Neverthelesse the joy conceived for the return of the 60 Merchants, is some allay to that displeasure. The work of building [Page 6]ships goes on apace, an agreement being made for 60 Fri­gots, to be ready in 4 moneths. And the Province of Hol­land hath moved the other Provinces to furnish out their respective shares in ready money, for the making up of that sum which was agreed on for the setting forth the ships. Holland it self hath, for this ensuing year, Order­ed a Levie of the Two hundreth penny toward defraying the charge of their Sea undertakings. The East Indie com­pany of this Town are to make ready and set out for the States service, 6 men of War well appointed.

Van Trump hath sent a Letter to the Lords and Bur­gamasters of this Town, giving them an account of the late Fight, alledging that he misseth onely nine men of war, but that all their Merchant men are in safety, and how that he lay betwixt Calis and Dunkirk to attend the motion of the English Fleet, if they came that way. It is boasted here, that they have taken from you the ship cal­led the Prosperous, of 50 guns; and the general cry here, is, that the English have had the worst; and yet some are at a stand, because they see but few Merchant-men yet ap­pearing.

The States had news out of Zealand, that divers Mer­chant men were come in there from Trumps fleet, which affirms that there had been a notable engagement for 2 days time. At length news was brought from Scheveling that they espied about 60 sail making toward the Texel, which they supposed to be Merchant-men returned; but not one word of any ship of war as yet returned; which is interpreted as an ill Omen by their Lordships, who thereupon have issued out orders for the sending forth with all speed those 40 ships under he Wit, which were designed for an union with Trump, and the Admiralties are required immediately to put out to sea all the ships that are in their harbours. Which gives great cause of [Page 7]suspicion, all is not so well as was given out among the people.

Upon the earnest request of the Merchant-strangers who were interessed in those Merchantmen laden with Pitch, Tar, Hemp, &c. which had been seized in the Sound, and brought in hither by the men of war of this State, it hath been ordered by the States General, that those ships be released, upon condition, that hereafter those ships which shall be laden with contreband goods, do not presume to put to sea without it be with a general convoy; by which way they will be able to see that none of them be transported to England. The Colledges of the admiralty are charged likewise to take order that search be made in all fisher boats; information being given that they steal out with contreband goods, and other prohibi­ted commodities, which its said they carry over into Eng­land. Six men of War, and 2 small Frigots, are to be sent to Brasil, for relief of the West Indy company.

It hath been moved to the States by the Resident of the K. of France, that all Merchants of this State may be pro­hibited strictly from sending any Corn, or contreband commodities to Bourdeaux which city his master intends to distresse both by sea and land, wherein it is conceived they will gratifie the French K. having endeavoured so far already to oblige him, that order is given to Lieut. Admiral Trump, to use his utmost endeavour to seiz the ships of war belonging to the Pr. of Conde and his adhe­rents; and to deliver up the same to the D. of Vendosm Admiral of France.

Amsterdam March 8. stilo novo. 1652.

The news from our ships at Legorn and Portolongone, is, That there lately came into the Road one that brought word, that our Frigots have been in fight with six Fle­mish ships, who had a hot andd sharp dispute, which con­tinued a good space; but in fine, our Frigots together with the Harry Bonaventure, took one of their Merchant ships, and carried her into Messina; she is a ship of about 400 tuns, and 26 or 28 Guns, but we know not yet what [...]er lading was. The 30 of Jan. the Admiral of the Hol­landers and one man of war more (there being then but 7 in the Road) set sail thence, and stood towards the South­ward, and in the night the said ships ran ashore a ledge of rocks, lying 6 leagues to Southward of the road, so that the Admiral is castaway, but the other is got off again. Febr. 1. our men made hast to get Ballast aboard, think­to have gone out the second, and to have fought the Hol­landers, but that night there came 5 men of war more, so that then there were eleven men of war in the Road. The next day Admiral Badiley came from Longone to Le­gorn, in hope to have gained an opportunity, but too late. The Thomas Bonaventure, Mary-rose, William, and Tho­mas are at Port Ferray to get out their goods, and to make ready again, but the Paragon, Capt. Badileys ship, is at Longone again, the Deputy-purser whereof, and the Chyrurgian of the Bonaventure are dead.

Aboard the Leopard in Legorn-mole, Febr. 4.
FINIS.

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this EEBO-TCP Phase II text, in whole or in part.