The Dutch prisoners tell us, their Commanders were
very secure and confident, insomuch that the day before
the Fight, when their men complained that they drank nothing
but water, the Captains told them that the next day
they should drink good English Beer, saying, they would
take our whole Fleet: But now, the Flemings say, if 82
men of war for a Convoy be worsted, there will be no going
to Sea. They set fail from S. Martins Feb. 10. their stiles
and as we order'd the matter, we could hardly have mist
them: For we stretcht the Channel over as far as the Isle
of Alderney, and were close aboard Cape de Hague. I suppose
our Viceadmiral of the Blue, the Assistance, got some
harm, for the first day she left us and went for the Isle of
Wight. On the Lords day, the President Frigat (but I know
not how it hapned) carried all their Masts by the board,
but not by the enemy. Many hundred hogsheads of wine
came along by the ships sides, and we sailed through them,
which were wines betwixt the Decks, hoised overboard, to
lighten their ships that they might sail the faster. We are
now anchoring in Dover-road, intending to put our prisoners
and wounded men ashore out of tins ship.
From Paris, March 5. stilo novo.
This City is so filled with the news of the Sea-fight between
the English Fleet and that of the Hollanders, being
brought hither yesterday, that there is no other discourse
at present here but of that business.
Letters from Haure de grace, otherwise called
New-haven, say that the action began on Friday
last in the morning, as it was reported there by
7 men, who were the remainder of 300 men that
were aboard a Dutch man of war which had bin
engaged in the fight. They say farther, that
this Dutch ship having taken an English ship, it
was rescued again by another ship of the Parliaments
out of their hands, which dealt with them