de Ruiter The two aforesaid English Ships sinking in the view of the Officers and Sea men of the whole Dutch Fleet I think there is no reason to doubt of it It 's true we are not sure whether any other English Ship perished that day but at the beginning of the night the Rear-Admiral of the White whose Ship was a first Rate having been vigorously attackt by De Ruiter and some other Ships of his Squadron and being already very much shattered de Ruiter sent out a Fire Ship from his Squadron which fastned upon her and set her on fire but the first Fire-Ship being put off sunk and the flames in the said Rear Admirals were quencht Then another Fire-Ship of the Zealand Squadron was sent to burn her and set the English Ship again in Flames but that was likewise Repulsed and the fire quencht A third Fire-Ship under the Covert of Lieutenant Admiral Evertsz's Guns was once more sent to Try to repair the ill success of the others but was not a whit luckier than they for fastning upon the English Rear Admiral he set Fire to him indeed but a moment after that was quencht and the Fire Ship was sunk with Cannon shot so that according to the Testimony of all the Dutch Officers which were present and were spectatours of that Glorious Action the undaunted Bravery of that English Rear-Admiral cannot but be Admired which was so much the more Remarkable because some of his men having saved themselves by swiming and got on board a Dutch Ship assured us that near 300 of his men leapt into the Sea at the approach of the two first Fire-ships choosing rather to perish by Water than by Fire The same Rear-Admiral performed likewise at the end of the fight an Action Glorious to him but fatal to us by a Cannon shot that took away the life of the Illustrious Cornelius Evertsz Lieutenant Admiral whose good Conduct and great Courage had made him to be Admired not only in that fight but in many other rencounters besides The night then parted the Combatants it being impossible for us to see by reason of the darkness or the thick smoak whether the aforesaid Rear-Admiral being shrewdly battered scap'd away and saved himself or whether he sunk to the bottom of the Sea When the night was past the English Fleet found it self on the 12th of June at break of day having the Weather-gage about half a mile off of that of Holland the Wind at West-South-West The two Fleets made a motion viz. The Hollanders towards the North-West and the English toward the South with design to follow one the other But the English having the Advantage of the Wind disputed their Enemies passage and without waiting any longer advanced to them and fell upon them The Hollanders without changing their Course or their Countenance stood firm in Luffing so that the two Hostile Fleets broke through one another and began a most furious fight yet there was not so much as one Dutch Ship that was so unfortunate as to be lost in it according to the Testimony of all the Officers both General and Inferiour of the Holland Fleet given in to the said Deputies and Plenipotentiaries of the States The Fleets then having broke in upon one another in that manner their Guns made strange Havock For the most part of the Ships of the two Fleets had their Masts their Sails and Tackling either shot away or shattered to pieces And as each party was endeavouring with all speed to repair their damages there hapned a Calm which produced a Cessation of Arms so that the two Fleets floated about in presence of one another till about 11 a Clock before noon and then the wind rising they charged again and renewed the Engagement more hotly than ever The Hollanders had then the Weather-gage De Ruiter having penetrated to the very center of the Enemies Fleet heard a most horrid noise of both great Guns and Muskets which made him believe that some of his Ships being surrounded by the Enemies were making their last efforts and were in danger of being lost without speedy assistance so that without any longer hesitation he advanced with his Squadron and falling upon that part of them he forced a passage through the Storms of the Enemies shot and fire and found Lieutenant Admiral Tromp whose Flag was then hoisted in de Swart's Ship in the last extremity but yet fighting with all imaginable intrepidity as likewise did Vice Admiral Vander Hulst and the Captains Solomonsz de Haan and Van Amstel their Ships being surrounded and battered on all sides by the English were able to hold out no longer and were at the point of being burnt or sunk without the assistance of de Ruiter At his approach Captain Solomonsz's Ship was already all on fire which 't was impossible to Quench That Captain and a good part of his men had very much ado to save themselves on board another Dutch Ship Solomonsz as soon as he was got out of that danger went on board Captain Schey's Ship where after he had further Signalized his Bravery and given great Proofs of his Courage during the whole time of the fight he died at last in the bed of Honour Captain Swaâ—t's Ship on board which was Lieutenant Admiral Tromp as likewise the Ships of all the three other Captains abovenamed were reduced into so pitifull a Condition by the loss of all their Masts that Lieutenant Admiral Tromp was again obliged to change Ship and those which were Commanded by Vice-Admiral Vander Hulst and the Captains de Haan Swart and Van Amstel being quite disabled for fight had Order to go out of the fight and seek shelter in the first Harbour they came to In the same shock Vice Admiral Vander Hulst was killed with a Cannon shot being extreamly Regreted because of his great Merit Experience and Bravery But God be thanked those losses were doubly Recompenced the same day by the great number of English Ships that were burnt or sunk according to the following Order viz. 1. A Ship of the Red Squadron carrying near 60 Guns was sunk in the Van guard of the English Fleet about noon 2. A Ship of the blew Squadron carrying between 50 and 60 Guns sunk at three in the afternoon presently after de Ruiter had thundred at her in passing 3. A Ship of the White Squadron carrying near 50 Guns sunk a little after by the side of Vice Admiral de Liefde who shot her through and through in so many places that she rowled on one side and was swallowed up by the Waves 4. Another Ship of the White Squadron carrying 50 Guns sunk half an hour after in sight of de Ruiter's Squadron and of Captain Van Meeuwen who followed her close and gave her a Broadside in passing And absolutely to convince the World that the two abovesaid Ships of the White Squadron were two different Ships it is to be observ d that several Officers and other Sea-faring men saw both
Those sent into the Isle of Enland put to the Sword 36 Peasants they found in arms burnt several Villages and committed a thousand other spoils Vice-Admiral Bielke advancing to the place where the Swedes used to build their Ships set fire on all the materials serviceable either for building or rigging of ships he likewise Commanded his men to pillage two Lordships and four Villages In the mean while care was taken to found the port of Kalmar with a design to go in and attack the Swedish Ships there but that was found impracticable because of several rocks there that lay conceal'd under water and that the Swedes had likewise sunk several ships in the mouth of the Harbour to stop up its passage against any Enemy All those obstacles made the Danes take a Resolution to attack the Enemies by Land And accordingly they begun with setting fire to a Country house about a Cannon shot off the Town of Kalmar Those of the Town made what opposition they could against them by firing their great Guns at them and sending some Troops against them which the Danes beat back to the walls of the Town and pursued so close that 't is certain if they had had men enough to have gone through with their attempt they might have entred the Town Pell-Mell with the Enemies and have made themselves Masters of it so great was the consternation they then were in and besides the Danes having set fire to the Suburbs that consisted of 200 Houses and 11 Mills they might well enough have advanced into the Town under the covert of the thick smoak that arose from them On the 20th the Admirals Tromp and Juel took boat with 500 men and advanced toward the Isle of Enland with a Resolution to attack the Fort that stands there right against Kalmar upon the Sea-shore and which is flankt with 5 Regular Bastions Tromp at his arrival sent a summons to the Governour to surrender and upon his refusal ordered his men to mount to the assault The Enemies seeing themselves fiercely attacked made little resistance but retired into a Wood that is by the side of the Fort and so the Danes entred and took possession of it That which made the Swedes defend themselves so ill was partly their want of force and partly their own Cowardice For they hoped for some assistance from Kalmar which came not till after the taking of the Fort and so they mist the benefit of it because they had not the Courage or Patience to stay for it Those succours being ignorant of the taking of the Fort Tromp hastily Reimbarkt his Troops in the boats in order to go and meet them but the Swedes seeing they were like to be attackt by the Danes thought it better to return back from whence they came than to expose themselves to be beaten However both parties in retiring fired several vollies of small shot one at the other but without doing much harm excepting only to Vice-Admiral Spaen who unfortunately lost an eye The Fort of Borchholm of which depended the preservation of the Isle of Enland had in it a strong Garrison of 1200 men and therefore the Danes thought not fit to attack it but contented themselves with pillaging and spoiling the flat Country from whence they carried off near 2000 head of great and small Cattle which were sent to the Fleet. And since fortune smiled so upon the Danes and their Arms were every where Triumphant the King of Denmark would not be content with the depredations his Troops committed in the Enemies Country but would needs form a further and more important Enterprize upon the Isle of Rugen For which effect he sent for some thousands of men of his Troops from Schonen and sent orders to Admiral Tromp and Lieutenant Admiral William Bastiaansz to come to Copenhagen with their Squadron Admiral Mark Rotstein received the same order and to bring with him a detachment of the biggest Ships of the Danish Fleet. On the 5th of September they parted from Admiral Juel who seeing there was nothing more to do at Kalmar nor in the Isle of Enland weighed Anchor the next day and passing by the Country of Smaland he ravaged the Isles of Vkno and Runo where he put several of the inhabitants to the sword that attempted to make resistance After that expedition he went and attackt 24 of the King of Sweden's Magazines near Westerwyk Captain Bovenfield with a party of 150 Seamen was commanded to go and burn them who at the same time set fire to two Lordships and three Villages that were higher up the Country in spite of the opposition the Swedes made with a body of Peasants that were got together After that a Resolution was taken to attack Westerwyk and burn it for which execution choice was made of some of the lightest Frigats in the Fleet with which were sent a detachment of 500 Soldiers and as many Seamen under the Command of General Mullet and of Rear-Admiral Florisz Karstensz On the 10th of September they presented themselves at the mouth of the Haven of Westerwyk where they lodged two Frigats which fired hotly at the Bastion of Sparosund whilst on the other side the Generals advanced with their Boats into the Port to view in what place they might best make a descent and after they had past by several Islets they attackt two Retrenchments which they took On the 11th at break of day they forced open the Barrier or Boom of the Haven and sent in their Fire-Ships and their other small Ships About 7 a Clock the Danes presented themselves before the Town which appeared to them in the form of a Half-Moon being adorned with many fair Houses and Stately Turrets From the Sea-ward Captain Dreyer fired upon it with his Guns which the Swedes answered from a battery of 12 pieces of Cannon they had erected on the shore When night came on the Swedes threw their Cannon into the water and Quitted that Post and afterwards the Town upon which the Danes next morning seized both the Town and Fort. That place belonged to Count Koningsmark The Danes reduced it all to ashes not sparing so much as the ships that were in the Harbour After that great Expedition the Fleet weigh'd Anchor and sailed for Gothland after they had put all the Country every where in alarm and carried terrour even as far as Stockholm the Capital City of the Kingdom Admiral Tromp as we have said had received order to go to Copenhagen where he arrived on the 10 of September together with both the Dutch Squadron and the Danish one that was detacht from the main Fleet. All things being ready then for a great Expedition the King of Denmark had resolved upon his Majesty put himself at the head of the Fleet followed by Tromp by the other General Officers of the Fleet and by 4000 men being Regular Troops which were embarkt with them On the 13th of the month they weighed Anchor and on the 16th they came
to wait the Orders of the States It was impossible for de Wit to oppose that Resolution and so much the more because he plainly perceived that many of his Captains were resolved to lie still and be bare spectatours of a Fight to which they were no ways consenting and that of all the whole Fleet there were but 15 Ships that he could trust upon so suspicious to him was the fidelity of all the rest so that there was no other way lest for him to take but to make as fast as he could from the Enemy which at last tho' much against his stomach that Bully-Admiral was fain to resolve upon yet terribly fretted he was to see himself so deserted at a time when his foolish Ambition flattered him that he might have gained immortal Glory to himself and a great Triumph for his Country So the Fleet made all the sail they could for Holland and the Englâ—sh pursued them till noon but seeing 't was but in vain they tackt and stood another Course The same Evening the Dutch came in sight of the Isle of Schouwen and on the 13th of October got into Helvoetsluys The shamefull Cowardice of the Captains that had fled in such a Rencounter as that was so much the more Criminal because there was not so much as one ship lost in the Fight out of the whole Fleet. For one Ship that had all her sails and rigging shot away yet got away in that sad condition into the Meuse and all the rest that had been battered made a shift likewise to save themselves It will not be impertinent to insert by the way the relation of a very Remarkable action Broer Jaap Captain of the Ship we told you was so miserably maul'd being Grappled with an English Frigat had his Mizen-Mast and Bolt-sprit and part of his Ships Head shot away upon which seeing himself in such a miserable and helpless condition he leapt into a Boat and relinquish'h his Ship to the discretion of the Enemy But a Gunner A remarkable action of a Gunner of the same Ship took up a lighted match and went down into the Powder room crying out my Comerades is it possible you should yield Let us rather put fire to the Powder and so we shall all be set at liberty Which bold and desperate Resolution so frighted the English that had Boarded her that they imediately quitted the Ship and left the Mr. quietly to Conduct her into the Meuse The States General to remedy all these disorders took a Resolution after they had well informed themselves of the particulars of all that had passed to punish those that had shewn any symptoms of Cowardice and accordingly they had began to make an exact inquiry into the Behaviour of those Officers but soon let it fall because on one side the Number of the Criminals was too great and on the other the favour of powerfull interceeding friends prevail'd over the severity of Justice Tho' the English had had some disadvantage in the Mediterranean yet were they not for that a whit the less venturous to endeavour to retakethe Phoenix which they had lost and which young Tromp then was in because his own Ship called the Maiden of Enkuisen was so battered in the Battle of Elbaa and Monte Christo that she was hardly able to keep the Sea And they effected that enterprize with so much the more ease because the Hollanders having taken some fresh Codd were gotten into a debauch and thought themselves secure enough in Legorn Road to dispense with keeping of a good Guard Bodley and Captain Cox being informed of their Frolicksome security mann'd out three Boats with 30 armed Seamen each who were furnish'd with bags of Meal to throw in the Dutch mens Eyes A bold enterprise of the English Being thus provided they set out in the evening and tho' the Darkness for a while made them lose one anothers Company yet they got together again at break of day and clapt the Frigat a board dividing themselves into three Companies The first of which had Orders to cut the Cables the second to Govern the Sails and the third to shut down the Seamen under Deck and to kill all they met in their way Captain Tromp hearing the alarm Tromp in danger of being drown'd got presently out of his Bed and fired his Pistols two or three times at the English that were already Mrs. of the Frigat but finding it was too late to save her he endeavoured at least to save himself by leaping out of the Window of the Captains Chamber into the Sea where he swum till a Dutch Boat came and took him up The English having thus regain'd their Ship without losing any time made sail immediately away towards Naples and were pursued by two Dutch Men of War but in vain the Phoenix being a very Nimble sailor There were 8 Seamen kill'd in this Rencounter and those that were wounded were set ashore at Naples Notwithstanding this the English were still much weaker than the Dutch in the Mediterranean For besides the 14 Men of War Commanded by de Galen the Dutch Consul at Legorn had hired 11 more tho' 't is true that de Galen's Squadron were much endamaged by the late Fight and the others could not quickly be got ready for want of Seamen After the unfortunate expedition of Vice-Admiral de Wit the States began to cast their Eyes again upon Lieutenant Admiral Martin Tromp who was as much beloved of the Seamen for his mild Temper as de Wit was hated by them for his Cruelty besides that there was no body that would offer to go about to parallel the merit of the former with the great Capacity of the other 'T is true some seemed not very well satisfied with the last excursion Tromp had made but however the Major part were of opinion that as things were they could not be without him Thereforeat the beginnig of Novemb. the States took a Resolution The Command of the Fleet given again to Martin Tromp to give him the Command of the Fleet that was then Equipping Vice-Admiral Evertsz de Wit de Ruiter and Rear-Admiral Florisz were named to Command under him But de Wit falling sick was put a-shore and de Ruiter substituted in his place This Fleet was composed of about 73 Men of War besides Fire Ships and other smaller vessels and Tenders Besides which there were 300 Merchant Ships that were joyned to the Admiral 's Flag which Tromp had orders to Convoy as far as Cape St. Lazar. He then put to Sea with this so potent Fleet and made towards the Strait of Callis Between Dover and Folstan he discovered the English Fleet under the Command of Admiral Blake A fight between the Admirals Tromp and Blake And so the two Fleets coming up one with the other begun about noon to fire at one another and about three in the afternoon came to a full Engagement When Tromp was advanced pretty near Blake this
latter who had the Weather-gage of him gave Tromp a broad side who answered him vigorously with another Captain Batten that Commanded the Ship call'd the Rose and Crown carrying 44 Guns followed the English Admiral so close that Tromp Grapled him and run against him with so much violence that the Head and Bolt-split of the Ship Brederode were broken to peices with the shock Whilst Tromp was Grapled on one side with Batten Achson coming up to his assistance brought the Ship Bonaventure to his other side which is so much the more Remarkable because the Captains of those two English Ships had sworn to Blake either to bring him the Dutch Admiral or else at least to sink him to the bottom of the Sea Achson advancing to the head of Tromp's Ship let flie a Broad side that raked his Deck fore and aft killed his Secretary by his side and did a great deal of other mischief on board the Dutch Admiral But yet Tromp keeping still an undaunted presence of mind endeavoured by his discourses to revive the pall'd spirits of his men by inspiring into them a love for their Country while things were thus passing one of Tromp's sailors contemning all danger taking hold of the Cables of the Rose and Crown vaulted into her through a shower of shot and climbing up to the Main-Mast Top Gallant pull'd down the English Flag and put up the Princes in its stead for which Heroick Action he had a Gratification given him by the States of 500 Dutch Livers At length Batten after he had lost above 60 men and was quite disabled yeilded his Ship and on the other side Evertsz coming to a close Engagement with Achson handled him so roughly that he was fain to quit the Bonaventure Blake being attackt by de Ruiter lost his Masts and the Captain de Haas and de Liefde falling likewise upon him attackt him on both sides so that he was forced to quit the Fight and retire very much battered and disabled to Dover The night at last parted the Fray but those that were Engaged the furthest amongst the English Ships left not of shooting till towards 9 a Clock The particularities of this Battle may be seen in the following Letter written by Tromp to the States SInce my last of this Month Martin Tromp's Letter to the States we have used all possible diligence to make towards the Downs And on the 9th sailing between Callis and Dover we perceived a Fleet. We set sail at 2 a Clock the Weather being Calm the English after our Example unmoored likewise being 52 sail strong great and small At one a Clock the Wind that was North-West changed to the West In the Evening about 5 a Clock we cast Anchor and the Engâ—â—sh Fleet did the like to the West-ward of Dover That night we had a storm at 10 in the morning the Wind was North-North West Some of our Ships of War and Fire-Ships were scattered from us At Noon we set sail the English did the same and we strove to get up with them At 1 a Clock some of our nimblest sailors began to Fire at them about 3 a Clock we arrived at the Singels with design to prevent the Enemies but Blake drawing towards us we made up directly to him which assoon as he perceived he did what he could to get the Weather-gage of us in which he succeeded but we Exchanged in passing each of us a Broad side and the Ship called the Rose and Crown carrying 44 Guns and about 200 men Commanded by Batten followed him very close upon which we fell foul upon with so much impetuosity that our Bolt-sprit and the point of our Ships head were broken with the shock At the same Moment another English Captain named Achson who Commanded the Ship Bonaventure carrying 30 Guns having likewise attackt us on the other side we fought for an hour between them both till at last the Rose and Crown having 60 Men kill'd and a great many wounded and two Captains kill'd was forced to yield her self Our Vice-Admiral Evertsz having attackt the Bonaventure on her other side we were four Grapled together and the Bonaventure likewise yielded We took possession of the Rose and Crown after having taken above a 100 men out of her and put in 60 of our own men instead of them We had in our Admiral 's Ship 3 men killed and 21 wounded Vice-Admiral Evertsz took likewise possession of the Bonaventure and the Night having put an end to the Fight we cast Anchor and gave order to our Master that kept our prizes to do the same About 9 a Clock we still heard the noise of the Firing of our Rears About the Dusk of night Captain Juinbol's Ship fell on fire by what accident we know not and perish'd with a great part of her men but the rest were saved We spent all the night in repairing our Ships and our damages On the 11th of the aforesaid Month in the Morning the Wind being West-North-West we perceived 2 Ships to the Westward to which we gave chace Captain Van Sanen took one of them which proved an English Ship of 14 Guns laden with Figs coming from Condat We called all our Captains on Board us and their men in the mean while helpt to repair our Ship and all the other Ships in the Fleet that had need of it We had but very few men kill'd and wounded Some of our Ships are scattered from us and we know not which way they have steered And about one a Clock we were got in a readiness to weigh Anchor with a design to go and seek out the English either at Dover or towards the Downs We accordingly advanced for some time and then the Night coming on we were forced to come to an Anchor Dover bearing North-East from us On the 12th at 10 a Clock Captain Sentson brought in to us one of the Parliament Ships called the Hercules carrying 26 Guns which had on board her 80 Vagabonds that had saved themselves upon that Coast she was bound from Portsmouth for London in order to joyn the other Men of War that were there designed to be sent into the Mediterranean At the same time some of our strayed Ships found the way back to us again We used all possible industry clapping on all the sail we could to make towards the Downs but found it impracticable to do it The 13th in the Morning the Wind being at North North-East we weighed Anchor and stood towards the Coast of France and came to an Anchor in the Rode of Bullen where we received the dispatches of your High and Mightinesses dated the 7th of this Month. As soon as we shall get all our Fleet together again if the Wind and opportunity permit we will go and make another attack upon the English according to our Orders We have gotten an account from our Prisoners of the present condition their Men of War are now in which we have set down in the Memorial hereto
news that most part of the Ships of his Fleet wanted Ammunition by which they were disabled to stand a second Battle It must be confessed that if Tromp had been seconded as he ought to have been the day before by some Captains in his Fleet that failed in their duty and were false to the fidelity they had sworn to their Country the English had been so well reduced to reason that they would hardly have had any mind to begin a new Battle the next day Vice-Admiral de Wit had so small a Quantity of Powder and Bullets left that it would hardly serve him three hours firing and de Ruiter had less than he And besides a great many other Ships were much weakened by the great Numbers of Men they had killed and sick Notwithstanding all these disadvantages Tromp was in the mind to venture a second Battle as thinking if he were worsted to retreat toward Wielingen to take in necessary Provisions and Ammunition But before the second Fight begun Tromp Writ to the States the following Letter High and Mighty Lords Martin Tromp's Letter to the States THe 12th Instant we perceived the Enemies hovering about Newport Our Forces consisted of 98 men of War and 6 Fire-Ships and those of the English of between 95 and 100 sail amongst which were reckoned 77 or 80 large Men of War or Frigats well manned and provided The two Fleets engaged in Fight about 11 a Clock before noon and ended not till night which separated the two Parties who both stood off to Sea about 9 a Clock We lost that day Captain Joost Bulter whose Ship was sunk with part of her Men the other being saved by our people Captain Velzen's Ship was blown up there being but 5 of her men saved This day all the General and Subalternate Officers of the Fleet came on board the Admiral and were informed that the most part of them had so little Ammunition left that 't is impossible for us to be able to stand a second Fight Among others Vice-Admiral de Wit has not for above three hours spending and de Ruiter has less than he However we have resolved to attack the Enemies this day and to retire to Wielingen and fight our way thither retreating if the English â—â—esist to Fight so long In fine we pray your High and Mightinesses that we may be Reinâ—â—â—ted and may receive the Ammunition necessary and that it may please you to send Deputies into Zealand to remedy all things c. Lieutenant Admiral Tromp had done all he could from the first appearance of the morning A second Battle fought the 13th of June to tack to the South-East to be able to get the Weather gage which the English had that so he might the more successfully force his way into the middle of their Fleet. About 8 a Clock the Van-guards of the two Fleets began to fire at one another at a distance but Tromp pursuing his design had already about 10 a Clock got Dunkirk at the South-South Eastward of him and was in hopes to get up to the main body of the English Fleet and to intercept a good part of their Ships But they were no sooner engaged but their hapned a Calm which was the cause that the Hollanders found themselves to the lee-ward and the English had the Weathergage which opportunity they improving came Thundering about 11 a Clock upon the Dutch Fleet with so much the greater advantage because Blake had reinforced them in the night with a Squadron of 28 great men of War which he had brought from Portsmouth Tromp thereby found himself obliged to close up the Rear of his Fleet to endeavour as well as 't was possible to sustain the shock of the Enemies Tromp De Wit De Ruiter and some others fought with an unparallel'd bravery But unhapily from the very beginning of the fight a disorder having hapned in the Dutch Fleet for want of Experience in the Officers they began to give way and at length were part of them taken and part sunk nay the Confusion was so great among them that some of them quitted their Fire-Ships after having set fire to them themselves who endeavoured to palliate their infamous Cowardice by pretending they had received several shot between Wind and Water However tho' the valiant Tromp saw himself thus deserted by his Rear-guard yet he lost not his courage for that but possessing still the same presence of mind and being animated by Reflections upon his past glory and by the hopes and unextinguishable passion he had still to maintain it to the last grapled Vice-Admiral Pen boarded him and power-d so many men into his Enemies Ship that he had already made himself Master of her when 13 English Frigats tacking about upon him so cruelly handled him that they forced him to let go his hold The Enemies likewise in their turn grapling afterwards Admiral Tromp powred in so great a Number of Sea men on board him that his men were forced to flie all under Deck Upon which Tromp seeing himself over powr'd with Numbers thought there was no other Remedy but to set fire to some barrels of Powder which he did so effectually that in an Instant as by a clap of Thunder the Enemies were blown up Pell Mell into the Air and their bodies were seen to flie about half burnt and rent to pieces Yet this blow did not so much discourage the English but they came on and charged him afresh and he had certainly been lost had not de Wit and de Ruiter espying the great danger he was in come up without losing time and disengaged him about 7 a Clock in the Evening Captain Schellinger's Ship being much battered and deserted by most of her Sea men fell into the English Fleet and was soon after burnt to Ashes The Ship Westergoo being surrounded by three English men of War that furiously battered her on all sides was forced to yield just when she was ready to sink a little before that Captain Verburg's Ship having had her Helm shot away fell into the Enemies hands and after a vigorous resistance was at last constrained also to yield Tromp and the other General Officers fought till within night when the English made off to Sea steering North-ward but the Hollanders made for Ostend where they arrived about midnight and cast Anchor The next morning the English appear'd again But because there were many Ships in the Dutch Fleet very much shattered and that wanted both Provision and Ammunition Tromp with the advice of the other General Officers thought it best to retreat with the whole Fleet towards Wielingen where being arrived he writ the following Letter to the States General High and Mighty Lords YEsterday at 11 a Clock before noon Martin Tromp's Letter to the States concerning the last Battle I writ my last Letter just when I was using all my endeavours to gain the weather-gage in order to fall into the middle of the Enemies Fleet
both the Castles on each Side that defended and stopt up the Passage of that Strait It 's true the Danger was very great but the Attempt was glorious since it aimed at no less than at the Deliverance of a distressed King who after having lost all his Dominions was ready to fall himself into the Hands of his Enemies The 3d of November the Dutch Fleet by a contrary Wind was obliged to anchor behind the Lap at the Mouth of the Sound Wrangel Admiral of Swedeland had under his Flag Thirty eight Men of War which were mostly mann'd by English and Scoâ—ch Seamen and his Design was to dispute the Passage of the Sound against the Hollanders In the mean while Lieutenant Admiral Opdam who waited for nothing else but a favourable Wind to advance finding it on the 8th chopt about to the North he divided his Fleet into Three Squadrons and set sail about Break of Day Vice-Admiral De Wit led the Vanguard Lieutenant-Admiral Opdam the main Battle and Vice-Admiral Florisz commanded the Rear About Eight a Clock before Noon De Wit 's Squadron was gotten into the middle of the Sound between the Two Castles of Kronenburg and Elsenburg whereof one is in the Isle of Zealand and the other in the Province of Schoneng As soon as De Wit was come right against those Fortresses King Gustavus fir'd against him A cruel Fight between the 2 Fleets of the King of Swedeland and of the Vnited Provinces all the Artillery of both the Castles nay and that Prince who was in Person at Kronenburg fir'd with his own Hand the first Gun that was discharged at the Dutch However the Dutch Men of War gliding along directly in the Middle of the Strait there were very few Bullets that reach'd to do them harm so that they past through without much Loss About Ten a Clock in the Forenoon the Two Fleets engaged in a Cruel Fight in View of the King of Swedeland of the Queen and of the Princess his Sister Wife to the Count de la Guarde as also of eldest Son of the Prince of Holstean Gollorp and of several other great Lords of the Court who being altogether in the Castle of Kronenburg were joynt Spectators of that Bloody and Terrible Fight The Swedes at first bent all their principal Forces against the Dutch Lieutenant-Admiral and his Two Vice-Admirals as thinking if they could but disable the Generals of their Enemy's Fleet it would be no hard matter for them to gain the Victory over the rest when they should want Heads to command them And in effect that beginning did not succeed amiss to them at first For Vice-Admiral De Wit after having signaliz'd himself to the utmost was mortally wounded and his Ship taken for want of Help but he Dying and the Ship sinking immediately after nothing remained to the Enemies but his Body Vice-Admiral Florisz underwent the same Fate as De Wit for as he was fighting with an unparallel'd Intrepidity he lost his Life with Sword in Hand as likewise did the Captain under him and 36 of his Men So that none of the General Officers were then left but Lieutenant Admiral Opdam to bear the whole Bâ—â—nt of the furious Efforts of the Swedes who â—â—havâ—d himself so couragiously that he quiâ—kly â—â—â—de thâ—m see by a vigorous Resistance that Fortune had chosen him to revenge the Death of so many other brave Men. For during Two long Hours together without any other Help he stood the Fire of all the Guns of Seven Swedish Ships who hotly ply'd him all that Time with continual Broad-sides of their Cannon He had received several Shot between Wind and Water which latter had gain'd already Five or Six Foot deep in his Ship and his Prow was on Fire His Masts his Rigging and all his Sails were shot down close by the Board so that he was reduc'd into a very pitiful Condition when Captain Van Nes advanc'd one of the foremost to his Assistance Captain Kampen likewise having forc'd his Passage through the Enemy's with an admirable Courage flew in like Lightning to the Admiral 's Aid which Two Ships were extremely shattered and that of the Admiral run great Danger of being sunk or burnt He had on Board him Thirty seven Men killed and about One hundred wounded but he triumphed over all those Disasters by his great Bravery and wise Conduct But if the General Officers of the States Fleet happened to be ill treated those of the Swedes fared never the better for it For Admiral Wrangel and Vice-Admiral Bielkenstern and several others having their Ships shot through and through and all shattered were forced to retire out of the Fight Three Swedish Ships were taken and Eight sunk or burnt The Hollanders lost in all that Action only the Ship Brederode commanded by Vice-Admiral De Wit which as we have said sunk after she was taken The Swedes on their Side had above Two thousand Men killed besides what were wounded and made Prisoners the Number of which latter was reckoned to be about Four hundred and fifty The Number of the Slain on the Hollander's Side amounted to near Four hundred Men and a great many they had wounded Among the former were counted the Two Vice-Admirals and the Captains Bruinsveld and Verveen The Battle lasted 5 or 6 Hours till the Swedâ—sh Fleet made away towards the Main Sea For tho' they had the Advantage of the Weather-gage yet they suffered the Hollanders to retreat who were stopped from advancing towards them by a contrary Wind shewing sufficiently by their Behaviour that they knew well enough there was nothing to be gotten by them and that they could not venture to charge the Dutch again without running great Hazard of an entire Defeat Lieutenant-Admiral Opdam seeing the Swedes were become immoâ—eable by refusing to renew the Fight again got his Ships together and sail'd towards the Isle of Huen Towards evening he met Bâ—elk the Danish Admiral who by a North Wind was hindred from coming to joyn the Hollanders and share with them in the Glory of that Fight After that junction the Fleet came and anchored near the Coast of Zeland between â—lâ—enore and Copenhagen and the Swedish Fleet retired under the Canon of the Castle of Kronenburg But King Gustavus not thinking it secure enough there gave them Order to put into the Haven of Landskroon which is a Town in the Province of Schonen Honours done by the King of Swedeland to the Body of Vice-Admirâ—l De Wit That Prince being minded after the Fight to give the World some Proofs of his incomparable Generosity and of the high Veneration he had for those Great Men that glory in spending their Blood for their Country's Service commanded the Body of Vice-Admiâ—al â—e Wit to be cloathed with white Satin and to be put into a Coffin covered with black Cloth and adorned with the Arms of the deceased After which he caused it to be embarked in a Galliot painted with Black
soundly battered I am peswaded your High and Mightinesses will be informed of it even before you have received this present c. Lieutenant Admiral Tromp coming next Day before Wielingen with his Squadron writ to the States the Letter following High and mighty Lords YEsterday Morning Lieutenant Admiral Tromp's Letter to the States the Enemies Fleet being about 90 Sail strong came up with us the Wind was North-East mixt with a Calm Lieutenant Admiral Evertsz having the Weather-gage vigorously attack'd the English I commanded the Rear and that of the Enemies was commanded by Sir Jeremy Smith carrying a Blue Flag through which I opened my self a Passage with my Squadron till I had gained the Weather-gage so that the Enemies Rear being thereby separated from their Main Battle we fought them till Nâ—ght came on and till at last we put them to the Rout we chaced them all Night without being able to hear any thing either of the Vanguard or of the Main Battle The next morning finding our selves neer the Galloper we continued still for some time to pursue the Enemies but seeing 't was to no purpose and that nothing was able to make them stop we resolved to veer back towards Admiral de Ruiter When the flying English saw that they veered back towards us and followed us with little Sail till the Dusk of Night Then we discovered the main Body of the English Fleet to Leeward of us who Luffed to make up to joyn us but we could hear nothing all the while neither of Admiral de Ruiter nor of the other General Officers of our Fleet till towards Evening we discerned a Ship coming towards us which appeared to us to be that of Lieutenant Admiral Tierke Hiddes but because she had neither Flag nor Top-mast we took that for an unlucky presage We are arrived this Day before Wielingen with our Squadron which is still in a good Condition and wants nothing but Ammunition If we were so happy as to be informed where Admiral de Ruiter is we would use all diligence imaginable to go and joyn him The Main Body of the Enemies Fleet luffs as much as 't is possible so that if no Assistance come in to us we shall be forced to our great Regret to retire to Wielingen Lieutenant Admiral John Cornelius Meppel who joyntly with Tromp had given Chace to the English Blue Squadron came to an Anchor before Ter Veer from whence he writ the following Letter to the College of the Admiralty of the North. Noble and Potent Lords THis present is only to let your High and Mightinesses know Lieutenant Admiral Meppel's Letter That on Wednesday last the States Fleet engaged in a Fight with the English which was so cruel and bloody that 't is almost incredible All the afternoon I fought against the Vice-Admiral of the Blue Squadron being backt by the Captains belonging to my own Flag who seconded me with all imaginable Bravery so that the abovesaid Vice-Admiral was forced to retire sorely battered It was then calm Weather which hindred us from advancing I have above 100 Men killed or wounded on Board me whom I will endeavour with all speed to send on Shore My Main Mast has been shot through with 7 Cannon Balls and my Ship is so pierced with Shot too that 't is scarce to be believed I was in Danger of Sinking and my lower Tire of Guns was already under Water but the great Diligence we employed in stopping up the Holes has preserved us I am sensibly concerned that things did not go as it was to be wished However Tromp and I forced the Enemies Squadron to betake themselves to Flight which they continued to do the next Day as fast as they possibly could And because we thought not fit to pursue them any longer we tackt about to the Southward to seek out de Ruiter whom we have not been yet able to find and we are much troubled he was not seconded But God knows the Bottom of the Affair of which doubtless your High and Mightinesses will afterwards be informed POSTSCRIPT Our Rear-Admiral de Haan is killed with James Gerritsz Roemer and 15 or 16 more were likewise killed or wounded Vice-Admiral Schram and I are well Captain Isbrand Clement has his Leg quasht to pieces my two Lieutenants are mortally wounded T ys Ryndertsz is well Seven Days after the Arrival of Tromp Admiral de Ruiter writ the following Letter as he rid at Anchor between Flushing and Zouteland High and mighty Lords SInce my last written on the 5th of this Month Lieutenant Admiral Tromp has appeared in the Road with the Squadron under his command and as far as I could observe as it was passing it was very little or nothing at all endamaged He has reported to me That on the 4th towards the Evening he was in Action with the Blue Squadron which he put to the Rout after he had burnt one of their Ships carrying 64 Guns whereof 53 were of Brass and a Fireship which he also destroyed with the Flames The Ship of the deceased Admiral Tierke Hiddes de Uries is also come very much shattered into the Road with the said Squadron of Tromp so that of all the States Fleet we have lost only the Ship of Vice-Admiral Bankert and that of Ruird Hillebrandt Yesterday in the Evening we came to an anchor between Zouteland and Flushing from whence we perceived the English Fleet before our Coasts consisting of about 80 Sail great and small I hourly expect the Deputies of your High and Mightinesses to give Order about all things c. Tho' the Loss of this Battle was very sensible to the Vnited Provinces yet they pretended the English had no reason to brag of having got any other Advantage over the Dutch Fleet than that of having divided their Squadrons tho' 't is true they thought by that means the more easily to destroy them one after another Here follows an extract of the Letter sent by Prince Robert and General Monk to White-Hall after the Fight by which it appears what their Design was We flattered our selves very much that de Ruiter would fall into our Hands but it was calm Weather and our small Frigats were not such nimble Sailers as theirs They were before their own Coasts and we were afraid of running upon the Sand Banks In the mean while as we were holding a Council of War we heard some firing of Guns towards the North-west which made us presume that it was Tromp with Smith and therefore we resolved to make up towards him before he approached any nearer Home But Tromp retired safely and we followed him in the Royal Charles till we came within 6 Fathoms depth of Water c. Smith who commanded the Blue Squadron met with but a very ill Reception in England because they were the first that begun to flie and the Officers of the other 2 Squadrons made great Complaints against him In the mean while the Deputies of the Admiralties and
of Poitou is so very dry that as many Men as please may pass in a Rank from either of the Places to the other which may be done two Hours after the going out of the Tide The French to intimidate the Dutch gave out a Report That their King had sent Orders to all the Horse and Foot that were on the other Side to pass over to oppose their Depredations and force them to quit that Post but for all their Bravado's their Countenance well shewed they were more apprehensive of the Hollanders than the Hollanders were of all their false Alarms since they removed all the Straw and Boiling Vessels that belonged to their Salt-pits to Bouin and Beauvoir for Security In the mean while Admiral Tromp commanded all his Ships to return again to their Flag on the 7th he approached the Shore with his whole Fleet and recommended to his General Officers strictly to forbid their Seamen under Pain of Death not to amuse themselves with plundring ashore either Cattle or any thing else On the 8th of the same Month 2 Frigats and 8 Fireships came back to the Fleet and reported they had been at S. Martha's Island where they had seen stranded a French Frigat of 40 Guns which afterwards by some Fire accidentally falling into her Powder-room was blown up The same Day a Frigat with 9 other Vessels were detached away towards S. Andrews to take in Water for the whole Fleet. Two Brigantines and 2 Yachts were likewise sent to cruise about Brest to destroy the French Fisher-ships and to take them if possible On the 9th 2 Frigats 2 Fireships and 2 Galliots more were sent away towards the Island of S. Martha and the Mouth of the River of Bourdeaux On the 10th the Captains Dekker and Megang came back to the Fleet and reported That they had presented themselves before the Island Heys but durst not attempt a Descent for want of Men enough to execute it That according to the Report of an English Ship come from S. Martha's the Appearance of the Dutch Fleet had put all the Islanders into a great Consternation that they had sent over into that Island 10000 Men but the most of them Peasants gathered up in haste and some Pieces of Cannon On the 11th 5 Days Provision for the Subsistance of the Army was sent on Shore On the 14th the Frigats that had been cruising on the Coasts of Britany came back to the Fleet with a French Ship that 6 Weeks before was in company with 22 Merchant Ships under the Convoy of some French Men of War who had conducted them from Marseilles to the Straits Mouth She carried 10 Guns and 30 Men 17 of the other Merchant-Ships saved themselves by running in close to Shore upon the Approach of the Hollandeâ—s The Dutch Brigantines were ordered thereupon to return to the Coasts of Britany to endeavour to take those Ships On the 20th some Ships that had been detacht to cruise before the Mouth of Bourdeaux River came in likewise and reported That they had been informed by 24 Sial of English and Hamburgers That the French King's Ships were retired to Rochfort where they were secured by 5 Barriers and that 2 Fireships were preparing at Rochelle The same Evening 3 Days Provision more was sent to the Land-Army On the 22d the Brigantines returned to the Fleet and reported they had destroyed 3 of the Enemies Barks and that 4 or 5 small Ships laden with Ammunition were near Boulin Upon which Captain Hidder was forthwith dispatched away with some Brigantines to destroy them The Dutch after having ravaged the Country retire The Hollanders after they haâ— for three Weeks together ravaged â—hat Island resolved at length to quit it but they first blew up the Castle filled up the Retrenchments that had been made a long the Shore and plundered the Inhabitants All the Cattle which they found there in great Numbers was already consumed in feeding their Men but they carried off Hostages with them to the Fleet for 14000 Crowns Contribution The Prisoners reported That the Duke de Chaulnes was encamped with 400 Gentlemen of the Arrierban between Crouil and Lazare at about 6 Hours or Leagues from Narmoutier That the Duke de Retz with 1200 other Gentlemen and 5000 Inhabitants was between Bourgneuf and Machou about a League from Narmoutier The Duke of Vionville had his Post at Boulin and Beauvoir and commanded a Body of 2000 Gentlemen of the Arrierban and 8000 Inhabitants The Duke de Gadagne commanded at Rochelle at Oleron and at the Isle of Rhe where the French had their main Forces For according to the common Report of the Prisoners and of the Men belonging to some English and Hamburg Vessels there were in the Isle of Rhe alone 10000 Foot and 1000 Horse and that the Foot-Regiments of Gadagne Neuville Louvigny a Marine Battalion and several other detached Companies and the Horse Regiments of Courcelle and Bellegarde were arrived there 6 Weeks before In Oleron there were likewise a great many Horse and Foot and 3 Weeks before there was also arrived a Marine Battalion to meet Tromp The Spanish Governour of S. Sebastian writ to the Count de Horn that after he had carefully informed himself of the Number of Forces the Enemies had about Rochelle Bourdeaux and Bayonne he had found they amounted at least to 8000 Foot and 6000 Horse and the Marshals de Grammont and d' Obret and the Counts de la Scre and de Louvigny had the guarding of the Coast between Bourdeaux and Bayonne The French Prisoners taken by the Dutch assured them likewise That the Misery to which the People of those Coasts were reduced was inexpressible for that their Houses were plundered and their Lands ravaged every whit as cruelly by the French Horse as if they had had an Enemies Army in the Heart of their Country After the Reimbarkment of their Troops the Dutch Generals thought fit because their Fleet begun to want Fresh Water and that the Ships they had sent to S. Andrews on that Errand were not yet come back to send out 2 Men of War and 5 Galliots more to fetch them some with Orders to them to sell off the Prizes they had taken from the French Admiral Tromp sails towards Cadiz After that Expedition the Fleet sailed away for Cadiz and arrived there on the 26th When they entred the Bay they rendred the Spaniards the usual Salute of 60 Guns Among a great many Persons of Quality that came on Board the Admiral the most remarkable was Don Nicholas de Corduba General of the Spanish Gallies And there it was they heard the News of the Victory as it was called which the Prince of Orange had then newly obtained at Seneffe over the great Prince of Conde On the 29th Don Diego de Cavalliero came also on Board to complement Admiral Tromp and the Count de Horn. He was received with all the Civilities due to his Rank and they drank together the Healths