I Give you herein an account of our Action yesterday, being the 28. such as at pre­sent can be made, having not had time to learn the Particulars of the Enemies losses. The foul weather before having given us opportunity and leisure to sound all the Sands; on the 27. It was resol­ved at a Council of War, held here on board with the Flag-Officers, to attack the Enemy riding at Anchor in a Line between the Rand and the Stony-bank. Accordingly a Squadron was then ordered out of the several Divisions of the Fleet (whereof the Eldest Captain was to command each Party) consisting in all of 35. Frigats, and 13. Fire­ships, besides smal Craft to sound before them. Yester­day morning about 8. of the clock, they drew out of their Squadrons, and sailed towards the Enemy, the Wind at S. S. W. and by 12. a Clock at Noon engaged the Van of them, commanded by Trump: We were forced to engage sooner then I intended, to prevent the Enemies getting the Wind. That Squadron so commanded by Trump was so prest by us, that it gave way, and retired as far as the [Page 4] Sands would give them leave. The Squadron comman­ded by De Ruyter fell to the share of Count D' Estrées, and the French, who behaved themselves very bravely. Sir Edward Spragge also on his side maintained the fight with so much courage and resolution, that their whole body gave way to such degree, that had it not been for fear of the Shoals, we had driven them into their har­bors, and the King would have had a better account of them. The case being thus, and the night approaching, I judged it fit to stand a little off, and to anchor here where I now ride.

The enemy have had a considerable loss (which they will not easily repair) having many men slain, many ships disabled, and some destroyed; De Ruyter and Trump had run a great hazard of being burnt by some of our Fire-ships, if they had behaved themselves as they ought to have done. Our losses are very inconsiderable, two of our Ships only being disabled, viz. the Cambridge and the Resolution, which I shal send home to refit, the rest of our work will be easily done here. We have lost very few Common Men; as yet I have an account but of these Officers slain; Captain Fowles, Captain Woerden, and Captain Finch) Colonel Hamiltoun hath his Leg shut off. All the Officers and Common Men, generally behaved themselves very well, of which I shal send the particu­lars, when I am better informed; In my Squadron more especially Captain Leg, Sir John Holmes, Captain Wett­wang, Captain Story, Sir Roger Strickland, and Sir William Reeves. The first took a Ship of the Enemies, and the lat­ter brought up a Fire-ship, and laid himself to the Lee­ward of Trump, and if the Captain of the Fire-ship had done his duty, Trump had certainly burnt; Notwithstan­ding which, Story and Wittwang so belabored him, that Reeves cleared himself from the crowd of the Enemy. I hope His Majesty will be satisfied, that considering the Place we engaged in, and the Sands, there was as much done as could be expected. And thus I leave it to His Majesties Favorable Construction, to whom I wish many happy Years to come, this being His Birth-day.