THe Lord Admirall with his fleet consist­ing of about 20 ships, hath now alarum­ed the revolted ships, and is labouring to reduce them, the particulars are thus.

His Lordship called a Councell of Warre of his Officers, (upon receite of the Ordinance [Page 2]for giving Indempnity to the revolted ships, the Of­ficers and Seamen) And it was resolved to send them a summons, and therewith to offer them Indempnity accordingly.

And we attended his Lordship hither for the redu­cing of them, And comming within 4 leagues of them, a summons was sent to them, they being then in Gowry and we also within those limits, offering to them that if they would come in, and surrender themselves, they or any of them and their Vessells, they should have Indempnity and favour, if not to expect none.

But Prince Charles, Prince of Wales being newly come, they were all commanded to ships, and the ships to readinesse, for the Prince had heard before that we were comming hither against them.

The Prince sent us answer of a positive denyall to come in, or doe any thing in order to that summons, sleighting the Indempnity offered. And declared reso­lution and those with him, for the restoration of the King his father to His Rights.

In the meane time the Seamen of the Princes ships drew off some Ordnance, out of their ships to plant them on the shoare, to play against us, but the Hollan­ders declared a very great dislike of that, not thinking it fit to give any way to them to fortifie upon their land. But this dispute reached not far, for the Prince of Orange, and his Councell had so ordered it, that some were sent thither to act more subtlely for the de­fence of Prince Charles and the ships, and Officers, and Seamen under him, and a Councell sat for the effect­ing thereof. In the interim my Lord Admiral sent a re­ply to the Prince to let His Highnes know the dange­rous [Page 3]courses he is in, and those with him, and what an hopefull way the Kingdome of England, is now in to be settled, and all differences composed, and very good invitation to His Highnesse, and those with him to hearken to an agreement, and comply with the Parliament of England.

But there is as yet no satisfactory answer, nothing visi­ble but a countenance to stand out, and oppose, and addres­ses are made to the Prince of Orange, and the Estates, that they may be protected by them.

Divers Hollanders are troubled, and vext to see it, fearing that it may not be conducing to their Interest in their Li­berties, to let such things be done. And there were many that did stirre in it, and made some demurre in the Decla­ration. But at last it was thought fit by the Prince of O­range and his Councell, that the Agreement between the Nations of 1622. should be considered of, and in that one branch, that between England, Scotland, and Ireland, &c. there should be no Acts of Hostility, by, and in the others territo­ries. And it was instanced that it was so Acted by England, when the Hollanders, chased the Spaniards about 10 yeares since, and they sayled to the Coasts of England, and there secured, so that the Hollanders were not admitted to act any hostility against them.

Indeed that was a strange action, and so is this: for those Spaniards by all probability came to invade England, and had a design by conjunction with the English Papists, who had Collections, and good store of Treasure ready for them from all parts of the Kingdome. And had not the Hollan­ders met with them, and prevented it, they had (no doubt) attempted to have made a surprizall of England, and destroy­ed the Protestants. And yet for all that, when the Hollanders had falne upon them, and cut off, and spoyled some, and likely to give them an utter defeat, yet the Spaniards were by authority from England protected, and the Hollanders not suffered to doe further execution upon them.

And the Spaniards lay severall dayes recrut­ing their provisions in the Downes, many of them walking up and down the Country in Kent and other places to spye out the Country.

And this for ought I know is as madde a businesse of the Hollanders to doe any thing by way of protection to the revolted ships, whose principles are so positive a­gainst their interest.

Yet it is carried by the major party (who at present prevail) that no act of hostility (according to the Articles aforesaid) bee done here on either part. And so wee (at pre­sent) prevented from doing what wee would by the Hollanders meanes.

They Declare themselves Newters, and that they will not meddle at all, neither on the one side nor on the other, between the King and the Parliament of England.

And they have a fleet of ships put in (now) between our ships and the Princes, that so no hostile act may be done on either side.

But the Officers and Sea-men have diffe­rences amongst them, with the Prince, and [Page 5]that very great; only at present upon a little moneys paid to them, they are not so unruly altogether, since the Prince came, as they were before, and yet I doe not heare that Prince Charles is aboard them.

It is thought his Highnesse will not goe aboard any of the ships, for feare that they should have some designe to carry him away.

Wee have just now intelligence that the Warwick Frigot hath had a fight with one of the Irish ships, and taken her, with ten piece of Ordnance, five barrels of Gun-powder, and good store of Merchandize, divers hun­dreds of Hides, and many thousand weight of Tallow. And there is also a little vessell ta­ken that was (by the Lord Jermins order) go­ing with reliefe to his Islands, and all the Ammunition therein taken.

Gowry this 24 of Septemb. 1648.

MAy it please you, at present being arri­ved into Chester water, having been to the Northward, and came on yesterday out [Page 6]of the Bay of Carrickfergus, where upon Satur­day was sevennight Col. Monke did surprize the Town and Castle of Carrickfergus, and the same day did surprize Belfast: I have brought over with mee the Generall Major Monro Prisoner unto your Honours: Upon Thursday last when I received him aboard, Colonell Monke did march away toward Col­rane, I pray God give him good successe, he is in great want of men and money; here is one Captain Browf come over in charge with the Generall Major, to whom I referre you to further relation at his comming to you. Thus with my humble service presented un­to you, I take leave and remaine.