For ships, we lost none but the Sampson, that our own men sunk; of
theirs we sunk, burnt and took above 20 men of war, beside what they
themselvs sunk in the night, after the first days sight; for my self next
day early in the Morn, saw them unrigg some ships, which they sunk
forthwith; and I believe it was all their Nights work to fire and sunk
those ships that were rendred unserviceable, since they saw it was their
business to fly for it; so that you cannot expect any particular certain
Relation of their loss till it com from Holland. But this I know, of 80,
or 85 men of war, they escaped only with 35. Now some run away in
the fight to the French coast; viz. 5. that were put to Lee-ward by
Viceadmiral Penn, &c. the rest are in our hands, and fired and sunk.
I shal add no more but my humble request that you would help us to
bless and prais God; for as he says, Deut. 4. 7. & 2 Sam. 7. 27. What one
Nation, &c. Bless thou the Lord O my soul &c. Help us by your prayers as
you have, and the Lord help us all to fear and love him. You may
take notice of the haughty conceits of this people, they might have
gon from us, but their pride brought them down to us; they thought
we durst not stay them one broad-side; nay, they disputed whether
they should cleer their ships, and sit themselves for fight, or no; nay,
they had further instructions to ride in Portland-rode, and turn their
Convoy homewards; such was their vain confidence; and thus are men
ketcht in the devices and imaginations of their own hearts. I shall
add only one word, as touching our Capt. that precious foul Cap. Ball,
with whom I was conversant in life, and Death during his abode on
board the Triumph, and in both he was precious to me; he was very
couragious till cut off, which was very suddenly; I caused him to bee
carryed in to his Cabbin, where I had some discourse with him, which
was comfortable and christian, and am able to testifie that he died
not like a fool, (as the Word saith, Dyed Abner as a fool?) but a valiant
man and a Christian.
General Blake I hope will do well; he is now on shore. Gen. Deane
and Monke are on shipboard.
From Deale-Castle, Feb. 27. 8 at night.
This afternoon the ship Successe, who is one of that Squadron, which
is to ply betwixt Beachy and Black-Nesse, is come to anchor here, and
hath brought in a Galliot-hoy, who saith he is of Hamburgh, and
bound for Dunkirk with wine from France. He saith that when he
came from Newhaven, there was Trump's Vice Admiral and one ship
more there at an anchor, and that the Vice-Admiral himself was
slain, and that there were but six found men left aboard that ship, all
the rest being killed or wounded.
from Dover-Castle, Feb. 26.
This evening the Packet-boat came in from Calais, who was coming
forth on Tuesday last; but the Governour of that Town caused him
to be stayed, because he should not bring intelligence what posture
Van-Tromps Fleet were in, which lay (as he affirms) in the Road before
Calais, with thirty and odd men of war; but so maimed, as he