From the Hague March 6. stilo novo.
The King of Spain is like to appear this year more considerable
in the Field, then he hath done many years before.
The Duke of Lorain takes abundance of men; and tis endeavoured,
that he and the Archduke may make up neer
30000 men betwixt them. The Prince of Conde also is now
about 70000 and he hath agents both in France and Germany
for the levying of more. These Forces will be divided
into two parts, whereof one is to attend upon the
Frontiers of this State, to serve the designes of the Emperour;
and the other part is to fall into France, under the
Prince of Conde.
Prince Rupert is expected upon these coasts, in regard he
wrote letters not long since to his mother, intimating that
he would hasten, as soon as he could hear of his brother
Maurice, with those eleven ships that were carried away by
the Hurricane, His own Letters say that he himself, and
one more was not in it. What is become of the rest he
knows not.
The Roan Fleet gave the English a handsom go by, and
are come in safe, to the great content of our Merchants, but
to the dis satisfaction of our States, in regard ten men of
War came away to convoy them before the rest, their Lordships
having given order that the men of War should keep
all in a Body, and convoy the Marchants all together.
News being brought, that Admiral Tromp was engaged,
reports are given abroad, that the English have the worst;
some cry eleven sunk, and seven taken, and they reckon,
that a rub being given to this Fleet, it will be very difficult
for the English to set out another. However, the Merchants
begin to grow blank, seeing but few of their ships come in;
and the States being jealous, have ordered a new Fleet to
hasten out from all parts. The truth is we have no certainty
of the business: Some Merchant men come in, who can give
no account, but no men of war at all as yet, which makes
men fear the worst.
The King of Denmark hath now discovered himself to be