ORdered by the Parliament, That Wedneſday next be ſet apart for a Day of Publique Thankſgiving, within the Cities of London and Weſtminſter, and the late Lines of Communication, and Weekly Bills of Mortality, for the marvellous Goodneſs of God to this Nation, in Preſerving the Fleet of this Commonwealth in their late Action at Sancta Cruz, in the Iſland of Teneriff, under General Blake; and giving them great Succeſs againſt the Ships of the King of Spain.

On Munday the twentieth of April one thouſand ſix hundred fifty ſeven, we were by break of day fair in the Offin of Sancta Cruz, and, as ſoon as 'twas light, perceived by a Signal from one of our Friggots a head, that the West-India Fleet were in the Bay. Whereupon, after a ſhort Conference how to order the Attempt, and earneſt ſeeking to the Lord for his preſence, we fell in amongſt them, and by eight of the clock were all at an Anchor, ſome under the Caſtle and Forts, and others by the Ships ſides, as we could birth our ſelves to keep clear one of another, and beſt annoy the Enemy.

They had there five or ſix Galleons (whereof were Admiral, Vice-Admiral, and Rere-Admiral, with their Standart and Flags aloft) and other conſiderable Ships making up the number of ſixteen, ſome having Goods brought from the Indies ſtill on board them, others had taken in Goods and Proviſions to carry back again: Moſt of them were furniſhed with Braſs Ordnance, and (as we have been informed ſince) had their full companies of Seamen and Souldiers kept continually on board them, from their firſt coming thither, which was about the beginning of February laſt, their General himſelf in all the time lying but one night out of his Ship: they were moared cloſe along the Shore, which lies in the manner of a Semicircle, commanded, as far as the Ships rid, by the Caſtle, and ſurrounded beſides with ſix or ſeven Forts, with almoſt a continued Line for Muſqueteers and great Shot, as the Ground between admitted; And we were forced to come ſo near to do our work, that many of the Men we have ſlain and wounded, were ſhot by the Muſqueteers from the Shore; Notwithſtanding it pleaſed God that in four hours time their Men were beaten out, and all the Ships put aſhore, except the Admiral, and Vice-Admiral, who made the moſt conſiderable reſiſtance. About two of the clock the Vice-Admiral was ſet on fire, and the Admiral, by ſome happy Shot, or other accident, ſuddenly blown up; having (as we perceived juſt before) many Men on board her; by the evening all the reſt were fired, onely two that ſunk down to rights, and had little but their Maſts appearing above water.

It remained to compleat this Mercy, that our own Ships ſhould come off well, wherein the greateſt hazzard and difficulty lay; for ſome riding near into the Shore, and being ſorely maimed did require to be warped off, others when we came to weigh, drove with the winde all the while blowing right into the Bay, and one of our beſt Frigots ſtrook: The Enemy in the mean time ſupplied freſh men into his Forts for thoſe we had killed and beaten out in the heat of the Action, and from them and the Caſtle continued plying upon us, till about ſeven of the clock at night, every Ship and Veſſel belonging to our Fleet, were by the good hand of God got ſafe out of command.

In this ſervice we had not above fifty ſlain outright, and one hundred and twenty wounded, and the damage to our Ships was ſuch as in two days time we indifferently vvell repaired for preſent ſecurity: Which vve had no ſooner done, but the Winde veered to the South-Weſt (which is rare among thoſe Iſlands) and laſted juſt to bring us to our former Station neer Cape Maries, where we arrived the ſecond of May follovving: For vvhich mercifull appearance all along vvith us, vve deſire the Lord may have the praiſe and glory, to vvhom onely it is due; and that all that hear of it may turn and ſay (as of a truth we have found) that among the gods there is none like unto him, neither are there any works like unto his works.