readinesse; waiting till more Forces come up to unite with them. The insulting enemies
vapour much, and make their brags, That when they have taken in a few
Strengths, they shall be able to bring into the field an Armie of 30000 horse and
foot, consisting of 10000 English, 10000 Brittish,and 10000 English-Irish, & Irish.
But this doth rather inflame then daunt the spirits of our English Commanders,
who have not forgotten since their renowned Lieutenant Generall with 8000 men
routed as potent an Armie of Scots, and tooke Duke Hamilton their Generall prisoner;
and they are confident, that God, as the hath formerly gone along with them
in all their undertakings, so he will at last crowne all their Victories with the happy
Conquest of the bloud-thirstie Rebels.
The Venetians have Lately obtained a most remarkable Victorie at Sea against
the Turks; which, in regard he is the common enemie of Christendome, the relation
there of cannot but be a rejoycing to all good Christians, and therefore I shall referre
the Reader to this ensuing Letter.
Sir, She Bassa Gen. Wes commanded the Turks, have Intelligence that there were
Orly 23 Venettan Vessels in the month of the Dardonelles, to keepe that Post, under
command of Caps Jacomo de Riva Gen. Of their Gallyonn and that the rest were gone
towards Candia to meet the Gallies of Barbarse, look conrage, by the opportunity of a
little gale that favoured him, to goe forth May 22 with 60 Galles and 48 Vessells of
severall sorts. The Venetian Cap instead of being astonished, doubled his courage by
the concept of a victory, resolved to follow, on the 14, having understood by one of the
Turks Vessels which be tooke, that the enemy had been constrained by the wind to put
into the Part of Fogliasecca, in the Arches; where they attended newes from the fleet
of Berbary. De Rive instantly dispatches a Forget to Gen. Mosinigo in Candia, to
desire a quick succour of Galliasses and what other Vessels he could spare. Not willing
to lose time with has owne, he drew neere the Port, into which the Turke put distant
100 miles from the 'Dardanels, casting anchor in sight of them: the mouth of
the Haven being narrow gave advantage to his small Fleet, making it there by equall
to The Turkes: After a long fight, which tooke away many of the Turkes Masts,
part come forth, Riva presently called a Councell of war, in which some were of
opinion
to wait the Candia succours, but himselfe jnoging the present oprortunity not to
be omitted resolved to fall on, which was done, and instantly they let fly against that
part come forth, who having not time to accemmode their murthering [unr] to best
advantage, shot one against another in stead of offending their enemy, who contrived so
their shet, that they sunke at good part of the Turkes vessels with their cannot, burnt an
other part with Eomboes, Granadoes, and other inventions; flue 4000 men, amongst
whom were many officers, and tooke Prisoners 700, who were employed in the Gallies
besides those who threw them selves into the Sea to avoid the fire, 8 Turkish gallies
escapt, to Captaines of the Venerians by swimming did much hurt to the Turks in
cutting cables, the Gen. Bassa was killed, 2000 Christian slaves were redeemed, is
Dutch Ships prest to carry provisions were set at liberty, who offer to serue the
Venetians, the Turks losse war two Millions, but 91 of the Venetians lost their lives; To
Deum was sung for three dayes, Fire-workes Flung in the are by the Venetians three
nights. The Great Turke hath shewn him selfe sensible of this great losse, by Imprisoning
the Veneston Ambassadours house for refuge. The Turks rage extended also
to the goods of the Venetian Merchants, but for the French Ambassadour it would be