another West-countrey man laden with Iron from Bilboa
bound home. Their Men of war come in whilst I was there
that had taken these prizes, except one of 3 guns called the
Granvile, which they feared to be lost; the others reported
that they mist great purchase by reason of the bad weather;
and indeed it was confirm'd me by the English prisoners they
had taken and were aboard of them, that if extreme soul weather
had not been, they might have taken many an honest
man. When I came from thence, which is some 18 days since
they had ready to set sail from Brest these men of war following.
The Star who did formerly belong to this Commonwealth,
and since sold to private Merchants, taken by
those Pirats, bound for Guiny; she hath 18 peece of ordnance
and 160 men, the Captain is Adrian de Swart a Dunkirker,
who hath been in that service since the first beginning of our
troubles. The Cornelius Frigat a Dunkirk built vessel, with
10 peece of ordnance and 90 men; the Captain is an Irishman.
The Francis Frigat built at Brest, John Meldrom an
English-man is Captain of her; she hath 9 peece of ordnance
and 90 men. The Amity built at Brest with 4 peece of ordnance
and about 50 men, the Captain an Irish-man; There
was the Michael Frigat with 10 peece of ordnance, whereof
one William Lyne an Irish-man is Captain, who made all
the haste he could to dispatch away for the sea, and I believe
by this time he is gone. At port Lewis there was ready to
sail, as I was told, the Loyal James built at Brest with 14 piece
of ordnance and well manned, one Dillon an Irish-man is
Captain. Another English vessel formerly called the Charls
of London, taken by them this winter, coming from Maligo,
bought up by the French of port Lewis, and since fitted for
a man of War. and hath 10. or 12 pieces of Ordnance. It
is said, most of her doth belong to the French, although shee
goes under the notion of an Irish man.
Al these Frigats are victualled for 6 weekes, they usually
stay out near that time, unless bad weather or great purchase
put them in againe, for what I could gather by them
the smallest of their men of Warr were intended to lay upon
she coast of Ireland, between that and England, and the