THat which this Kingdome, and in especial this Ci­ty have much desired and long expected, is now come to passe, viz. the Cardinals departure, with the Kings consent; yet before he went, he caused his new Parliament at Ponthoise to approve and register a Decla­ration wherein he Declares, That his comming into France [Page 4] was onely out of Love to his Majesty, and desire to do him ser­vice, and to procure the peace and tranquility of the People, being not guilty in the least of those things which the Prin­ces and Parliament charge him withal. The registring of this Declaration is not well resented by the Princes and Parliament of Paris, but filleth their head with jealou­sies, making them very suspicious of an after Game to be plaid.

They have notwithstanding sent two Commissioners to his Majestie, with a Message of Thanks for his giving consent to the removal of the Cardinal, and withal promise that they will submit themselves to his Majesty, and be rea­dy to expose their Lives, Fortunes, and Estates to all dan­gers and hazards whatsoever in his Royal Majesties service; desiring his Majestie, that he will be pleased in the mean season to return to Paris.

His Majesty hath promised to return so soon as may be with conveniency: They have thereupon passed a large Declaration to the aforesaid purpose, which hath been registred. The Cardinal is now on his way to go for the Borders, but whether he will remain at Metz, is very du­bious, but it is thought he will rather go to the Castle of Bovillon, which is near, but not within the French domi­nions. There is a confirmation come from Rochel of the overthrow given by the Duke of Vendosm High Admi­ral of France, to the Spanish Navy near the Town of Brouage; The Spanish General layeth the fault thereof to the Count of Daugnon, who having a small Fleet, had so much honesty as to see his friends engaged, and not to go out to their assistance, whereby the Spanish fleet was forced to relire to S. Sebastians in Biscaya, with the loss of the Admiral burned, one ship of about fourty Guns sunk, and another of a lesser burthen.

The French having called a Councel of VVar to con­sult [Page 5] what was most fit to be done, whether they should pursue the Spanish fleet or not, the Duke of Vendosm in the interim received a packet, wherein was contained the most sad and u [...]welcome news of the death of the valiant Duke of Nemours his son in Law, who was slain by his younger son the Duke of Beaufort, which tidings struck so near his heart. that waving all publick affaires he reti­red privately to himself for that day, and thus the design of pursuing their victory was impeded and laid aside, and the Fleet is come back again to Rochel, which is now wholly set at liberty both by sea and land. The Count du Daugnon lyeth still at Brouage, but not in a capacity of undertaking any thing against the King party.

Marshal de la Mesleray hath been of late at Angiers, where he hath placed a Garison of two thousand men, and hath set upon them very heavy Taxations, which doth much distract them, and they are not a little grieved that they left their old Governour for a new. The Count de H [...]rcou [...]t doth still continue his Siege before Villa­nova, but doth gain but little: the place hath had some reliei from the General Marcin of three hundred Volun­tiers, besides thirty Officers.

The Kings Army is still about S. Cloud, and the Prin­ces about their old quarters, but both of them at the pre­sent lie still. The Court is at Champaigne, but it is not probable that it should continue there long, by reason that there are no provisions for their subsistance. The town of Dunkirk is still closely blocked up by sea and land, and great discontent is among the Officers and soul­diers, which is like to be very prejudicial to that town.

I Know that you cannot but have heard of the late great fight on these Coasts between the English and Dutch Fleets, but not knowing how things may be represented to you, I thought good to present you with the most par­ticular relation of the fight which I could gather, which is as followeth: Upon discovery of the Dutch Fleet ye­sterday about one of the clock, a Councel of war was presently called, and it was resolved to fight them if they would stand, and accordingly, Sir George Ascue sailed and put up towards them and about 4 a clock that night came up to them and ingaged, and the fight was very hot, we had losse of some precious men, but without doubt the Dutch sustained a very considerable losse. The fight con­tinued about four hours, so that about 8 a clock it grow­ing dark, they were forced to leave off. The George and the Bonaventure, being much shattered and ready to sink came in hither, and are mending, Capt. Packs leg is shot off in the fight, he was brought hither in a Ketch from the Fleet, and Capt. Lisle hath a wound in his shoulder, that we fear will prove mortal. The Admiral and the rest fought with great valour and gallantry. The Admiral lost [Page 7] in her 12 men and received 60 shot in her hull, and so di­vers others have received losse, and we have many woun­ded men. Sir George Ascue kept as much as he could in ken of them all night, and is resolved if possible to ingage them this day.

The number of the Dutch that ingaged were 55 men of war, and 25 Merchant men, we were but 41. Our Vice Admirall, and Rear-Admiral, with about five or six others, broke through their whole Fleet, so as the five and twenty Merchant men ranne away to the Coasts of France.

Their men of war notwithstanding, have been in con­tinual fight Munday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and it is conceived might so continue untill this time, so that the particulars cannot be fully certified as yet, there have come about 100 wounded men to Plymouth from Sir George Ascue, but this hath been supplied with 500 stout men from Plymouth to recruit his Fleet.

For further particulars, I can not certainly inform you, onely it is said Sir George hath taken seventeen, sunk five, fired two, with the losse before mentioned, to this agree the relation of most men here, I have no more at present but rest,

Just now I had intelligence, that the five hundred men sent from this Town to Sir George, deported themselves with singular dexterity and courage, but many of them are slain, and about sixty wounded. This hath been the bloudiest conflict that ever hapned between the two Re­publicks.

SInce the comming of General Blake from the North, the Hollanders are very busie to the Northward, with a great number of Busses, and many men of war for their Convoy, who are most of them Pinks, and have spread themselves all abroad. Divers of our English fish­shermen they have taken, as they were returning home fully laden, they have also taken some of our Barks that were comming from Iseland, and some that appertained to Ailesborough: One of these being taken, and carried to Rotterdam, after they had detained it three or four days, was cleared by a sentence of the Admiralty, both ship and goods, and sent away, and came home safe. A­nother being taken, was also carryed thither, and cleared likewise; but in her return homewards was met by a private Man of Warre, and by him brought to Zealand. Our coast is much infested by Dutch Pickeroons, so that we are very fearfull we shall lose our whole fishing trade for this year.