THURSDAY, March 27.
Came a Letter bearing date the 19 instant, from Edenburgh.
to this effect.
THe principall Newes this place affords is, that the Enemy
is constrained to force men to patch up their Army;
and their loftiest hopes reach no higher than the getting up
of 25000 men, whereof they have not yet above 10000. for
all their Bustling; And the great complaint of the People is, that this
small number proves already too great a burden for the Countrey, all
sorts of Provisions growing very scarce.
The Teltale Letters that were lately intercepted, and the Commissions,
that were taken, have quit broke the Frame of their designe in
England; and I am perswaded it will very much impede a Progress in
their intended Levies. Those that they have already in a Body, they
Know not how to maintain, nor where to bestow them, since this happie
discovery. If this people were not sottishly in love with slavery, they
would lay hold on the present opportunity for deliverance, and discover
the band of God against them: But they are blindly obstinate, and
maliciously bent against us; and I fear, ordained to ruin, for their persidious
Jugling.
Edenburgh. 19. March. 1650.
We had a particular account likewise from Rotterdam, touching the voyage
and Arivall of our Ambassadors, bearing date the 24. instant.
SIR, On the 7. of this month we went abroad about 4.2 a clock in the
afternoon. Presently after, my Lord Strickland came aboard of the
Providence, whose company was very welcome to us. My Lord st.
John sent one of his gentlemen ashore at Gravesend, for he was found out
to be a recusant. On the 8. we set sail about 7. a clock in the morning
from Oravesend. On the 9. we came to an Anchor near the Flatts; that
day my L. Strickland gave his Excellencie a visit, many gentlemen attended
upon his Lordship: Mr. Nie Preached in the afternoon; sitted
his matter for the present affairs we are a going about. On the 10. We set
sail and came to an Anchor at Margets, in the afternoon there came aboard
of us a pair of Oares from Gravesend with two men; one was
Known to my Lord Stickland, and the other desired his passage into Holland;
but the Lords suspecting him to be a Knave, had him searchr, and
found him to be a Mountebank; for he had many of Aristotle's Receits
about him; the Lords were not willing to have him aboard, caused him
to be set ashore at Margets. On the 11. We set sail; my L. Strickland went
aboard of the Advise in the afternoon. On the 12. we came before Goeree
in the morning; and about noon, through the carelesness of our Pilat, we
had like to have lost our Ship, for she run aground and stroke 8 times,
that we thought she would have beaten to pieces: had you bin there to have
seen what a fright every body was in , you would have blest your self: for
all the gentlemen were ready to skip into the Long-boats and to be gone
ashore, for we were not far off it when it happened; but it pleased God
to preserve us, and to bring us off safe.