Wednesday, January 8.
PRoduced an Accompt of the proceedings of our Fleet, upon the Coasts
of Spain, in an express from the gallant Col. Blague, at Cadiz. the 26. of
December.
SIR,
SINCE my last to you, of the 30. of October, from Malaga road
by the Hope-well Ketch; It hath pleated God to deliver into our
hands, and to destroy a great part of Rupert's Fleet, The 2. of November
(having the day before taken a French Ship of 17. Guns laden
with Soap, and other Commodities for St. Mallowes) we took
the Ro[unr]buck, without any Blowes, but among Themselves. The day
following, five more of them came in sight in the Evening, and
were that night by the four Frigots chaste into the Bay of Cartagena,
one of them called the Black Prince, of forty two Guns mounted,
besides many in the hold, being run into a little hole, a League without
the Harbor's mouth, hardly to be discerned at the approach of
our Ships, the next day set himself on fire and was suddenly consumed.
The other four got into the Harbor, where I found them the
day following under the command of the City and Castle, having
before sent a letter to the Governor, who shortly after came aboard,
endeavouring with good and great words to prevent my felling upon
them, till order from the King of Spain.
While we were considering which way to effect our purpose,
with most speed and safety; It pleased God to determine the business
by a storm of winde, by force whereof and their own wilfulness
they were all four driven a shore the next day, and spoiled
Hereupon, I sent away a letter to the King, and with the first wind;
leaving Capt. Saltonstal in the John to attend the Kings Answer and
that business; I put to Sea, and the twelfth of November came to
an Anchor under the Isle of Formentera, the place appointed for
their Rendezvous, as we sound by Captain Burly s instructions, Captain
of the R[unr]B[unr]uck. There accordingly, we found a paper in a
Box, fastened to a stasse with a white Flag on the Top, which I
have herewith sent unto your Honors.
From thence we bent our course immediately towards Majorca,
conceiving that might be the place meant by the paper; but finding
no Intellegence of them there, they having got the start of us so
many daies, as by the paper appeareth, and in all probability, according
to the windes, got either Villa Franca, or Toulon; And
our Ships being unprovided of victuals and other necessaries, for
keeping those Seas, It was resolved by a Councel of War to give
off the Chace and return.