the occasion of beating those men who had done
them no hurt, nor oppossed the Minister till he
had done, and the Minister being carnestly pressed
to go and discourse with them, and he refusing,
this discourse went so high, that the townsmen
generally went to go by the ears, and did
so exceedingly beat oneanother, that such a
fight hath not been seen. There was very few
that went home without their faces or heads
broken.
From the Isle of Wight, Feb 3.
Our Fleet hath now set sail, and put to Sea
from St. Hellens point, they are divided in three
Squadrons, but are not at so great a distance but
that upon any occasion they can soon joyn into
one intire body, there being Scouts appointed,
who are to give notice upon any appearance of
the enemy.
From Deal, February, 2.
Here is little news at present; a good number
of ships bound to the Southward, as also for several
Ports of France, are gone from hence and
from Dover. The French Pikeroons do still
haunt about these parts, and are often seen, and
assoon as any of our Ships set Sail to give them
chace, they get their own Coast before he can
come up to them, there being two at present
who are riding in Calice Road.
Paris the 7 of February 1654. slilo novo. There
is a great alteration made in the preparation of
Taxes and Imposts, there being new Offices
made, and new Officers created, where old ones
are put out of service: And among many remarkable