HIS HIGHNESS Prince Rupert's LETTER TO THE Earl of Arlington, HIS MAJESTIES Principal Secretary of State. From on Board the SOVERAIGN Now under Sail, June 5. About Seven Leagues off Lastoff, at Nine in the Morning, the Wind at E. N. E.

Published by Authority.

In the SAVOY: Printed by Tho. Newcomb. 1673.

His Highness Prince Rupert's Letter to the Earl of Arlington, His Majesties Principal Secretary of State, from on Board the Soveraign, now under Sail, June 5. about Seven Leagues off Lastoff, at Nine in the Morning, the Wind E. N. E.

IN my Last I gave an Account that the Enemy lay in the Schonevelt, and that we were at an Ankor, seven Leagues from East Capel, which bore S. b. E. from us; Now I have to tell you of a Second Engagement with them, which happened upon June the fourth. The Enemy ha­ving had the opportunity by lying so near their own Coast, to Refit and Furnish themselves with all things they wanted, and knowing very well, that as the Wind has stood of late, we could not do the like, were encouraged to come out upon us, as they did that day afternoon, having the advantage of a strong Gale at N. E. which we quickly perceived, and got under Sayl, standing N. N. W. having our Larboard tacks on Board; and as close haled upon the Wind as we could lye, stood to Receive them. About four in the afternoon, Van Trump [Page 4] with the Amsterdam Squadron bore down, and be­gan to Engage with the Blew, according to their usual Custom, begining to Fire at a great distance; About five de Ruyter with his Squadron Engaged with me, and the Zealand Squadron with the White; at his first coming de Ruyter made a show as if he would have come very near me, but before he was within Musket shot, he sprung his Luff, and closed his Wind as much as possibly he could, go­ing off on a suddain for good and all, which made us suppose, he had either some Extraordinary Da­mage in his Ship, or that himself was hurt: Their whole Fleet continued Pelting at us, at a great di­stance till dark night, we keeping our Ground not­withstanding their Fireships. About Midnight part of the Dutch Fleet Tacked, standing towards the E. Southerly, and quickly after the rest did the like, as we guessed by an imperfect sight we had of them, and at some distance.

At Two in the Morning we Tack'd also, and stood after them; At Six, seeing no likelihood of reaching them, before they would get within their Sands, we thought it to no purpose to pursue them any farther; so we Tack'd again, and stood for our own Coast. All we can say more of the Enemy, is, That they went off in great disorder, leaving us ig­norant of what loss they have sustained. On our side we lost never a Ship, and very few men; of our Commanders, Captain White of the Warspite, and Captain Sadlington of the Crown, were killed; of the Foot officers, Captain Henshaw, and Lieute­nant Fitzgerald were killed, and Lieutenant Tufton was wounded.

FINIS.

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