The Orders of the States of Holland touching Vantrump; and the Instructions sent by Sea and Land to his Randezvouz at St. Martins.
THe States have dispatched new Orders to Van-Trump; and their Instructions are gone both by Sea and Land to his Randezvouz at St. Martins. Not withstanding, frequent allarmes arrive daily about the greatness of your English preparations; yet their Lordships seem resolved to cast all upon the chance of War. And to heighten the people in Zealand, they are fed with abundance of Rumors touching England. At Middleburgh and other places it is given out, that Gen. Blake is laid aside, at put in prison. At London they say the people are in a great upror [...], and that they came in mighty Tumults to the Parliament, requiring an immediate peace to be made with the United Provinces; so that the Zealanders say, The Parliament was forced to make them believe that Ambassadors were coming hence to Treat of a peace, before they could pacisie and reconcile the people. Such phantsies are very frequent in these parts.
[Page 4] But how they will salve their own sores, I know not; for Trump hath lost his main mast, and a great hole has bin made in the sides of his fleet. Certain it is, that no l [...]ss then 19 are cast away and spoiled since he came on your Channel, and divers others since that time missing. Others are so foul, that they must be sent home for Trimming and Tallowing. And therefore the States here have ordered 60 fresh Sail, as a Recruit, to be ready against the 2 [...] of February; 30 whereof are to be speeded away with all possible expedition. And for the better dispatch they have sent Dewit to quicken all the Admiralties; he and the Directors have already been at Amsterdam and Saerdam to give Order.
Messengers have been likewise sent to the East-Indy Company to borrow what ships they can spare for the publike service, but they have returned no answer as yet. Nevertheless, here is talk of nothing but the having a hundred ships ready against Spring; and yet there are but few visible, unless the new ones now a building, to the number of 30 or 40. And for sea-men you may guess they are not over-stockt, seeing they resolve no Fleet shall go now for Greenland, having use for the men against you in England. Wherefore the Drums have been thundering again at Amsterdam, to awaken the people, and new Orders are issued out to quicken the Work of new Frigots. The great East Indy ship is making ready for Tromp at Ancusen; and of this new supply resolved on, they intend about 30 for the Sound.
Great brags are made here of their alliance with Denmark, giving our, That they expect great supplies thence for their assistance. But the Danish Resident here in the Hague has made an unexpected motion to their Lordships for laying aside the Treaty of Redemption, formerly made betwixt them and his Master, and resume another way, which fills their heads with jealousie.
They have likewise an eye still upon the intercourse betwixt [Page 5] England and France, suspecting the worst of this French application.
They have news also, That the Swede will insist resolutely upon the maintaining of a free Trade betwixt the Hans-Towns and Sweden; wherein they resolve here to cross the Swede, and give a stop to that Trade, by placing 3 or 4 men of War to lie in the Emes to block up the Trade of Emden, and will fortifie Delf Seilar, that they may prevent you by hook or by crook of all necessaries for shipping out of those parts. Vantrump hath sent a short Letter to his mighty Masters, declaring, That he was forced to pass from Gravelin to the Isle of Rhee, by reason he could not get convenient supply of provisions; insomuch that many of his men are visited with sicness, and made disserviceable for want of food; his ships and rigging much shatter'd and torn, by distress of weather and storm, and therefore desires that some Vessels may be speeded to him with supplies, both of Vessels, Men, and Provisions; without which he must be forced to return, and leave the Merchants ships behind him. Whereupon the States immediatly ordered that a considerable sum should be forthwith sent unto him.
Here is a great decay of Trade, and a mighty increase of Taxes; instead of comfort, our sorrowes increase, and the Lord knowes when we shall have an end; for now there is Excize laid upon Butter, Egges, Cheese, and the smallest Fowl; and no man dare say, Why must we not be free? But this is our comfort, Extremes seldome but break their own Necks.
And that which doth most startle them at present, is, That those English ships which were blockt up by ours at Portolongone, are gotten out to sea, and, in defiance of the Dutch, gave them all the go-by. And we likewise hear that the rest of your ships in Leghorn, are resolved to fight their passage through Van Galens Fleet.
From the Hague Jan. 24. stilo novo
THe Merchants are now in great hopes, that fom good will be done with the King, in reference to our ships detained; because our Resident Mr. Bradshaw hath now had audience in a very honourable manner, though his Majesty was not there, which so netled the Dutch spectators, that within two houres after the Residents return to his lodging, a desperate Crew of Varlets set upon his Coach-man as he was coming home; and all that they did then, was onely to affront the man without blowes. But within a short space after, the same pack of Beagles scenting two of the Residents servants as they were going to complain of the first affront, fell upon them, and immediatly wounded one of them in the hand, pursuing them even home to the door of the Residents house, and endeavoured to force their passage by sword and pistol; but it pleased God to prevent them, though notwithstanding the assault and tumult continued for half an hour. Immediatly hereupon the Resident sent to acquaint the King with this violence, which both himself and his Councel seemed to resent very highly, returning answer, That care should be taken to find out the chief Actors, and punish them severely; and thereupon the Guard was sent abroad to discover them; but as yet I hear not of a man taken. The Resident hath [Page 7] been abroad since to visit some of the principall men of the Kingdom, who promise fair, assuring him of the Kings and their own deep sense of the violation, and willing him to rest confident of the same security here as their Ambassadors lately found in England.
The Dutch here hath been very studious to magnifie their own cause and affaires, in hope to draw on this King to imbark with them, and become Englands declared enemy. His Fleet is fitting as fast as may be; and large sums are promised by the Lord Keysar, Burgomaster of Dort, who hath likewise given out, That their Admiral Tromp hath taken seventy of your ships laden with Coales, and nine of your men of war, which were their Convoy. But there are few of belief to credit this high-bounc'd story. From Hamburgh news is come hither, that the Senate there is resolved to send their Syndic or Recorder to the Parliament of England, which invites the Danish Court to have a more watchful eye toward the design of Sweden.
From Copenhagen in Denmark, Jan. 1. stilo novo.
From France they write, That there hath been a very dangerous Conflict between the Dutch Captains, and the Citizens of Bourdeaux, the manner thus: Divers of the Flemins being walking upon the wharf and in the streets, were commanded by the Elmers to cry, Vive le Roy, & les Princes de Conde and Conti, that is, God save the King, and the Princes of Conde [Page 8] and Conti; but they refused, saying, That they acknowledged no other Powers but the King of France and the Prince of Orange. Upon which answer, the stout Elmers went from words to blowes, and for a short time exceeding hot was the dispute; but, at last, the Hollander being weary of action, and pretty hansomly bang'd, retired on shipboard, from whence they l [...]tstly many pieces of Ordnance; but immediatly after weighed anchor, and with their whole Fleet sailed towards Lermont, a Road on the other side of the River. In this conflict many was killed and wounded on both sides; what the event will be, few dayes will manifest; in the interim you may behold it as a singular piece of great consequence.
The great talk is now of Charles Stuarts leaving of France; but first he stayes to see what hopes the Lord Wilmot will be able to send him out of Germany, whither it is supposed he intends, if any thing can be effected there to gain him an honourable and favourable Reception, and allowance to live on. The Royal party presume much of the German Princes, who have fish of their own to fry good store, notwithstanding the solemn Courtship and Complement of those Princes to each other.
From Chattam it is advertised, That the Fleet will be suddenly ready to put forth to sea; and that great is the resolution both Officers and Sea-men, not withstanding the late private differences amongst them. We hear of a Coach carrying gold is stop'd going for Yarmouth, and 'tis suppos'd it was design'd for Holland; but it's now secured for the States of England; no less then two Firkins, the one cover'd over with Butter; the other with Sope: But where the Buttonmakers are, I cannot (as yet) resolve you.