December, 1652.
About the beginning of this Month, General Blake himself was Ingaged with the whole Fleet * 1.1 of the Dutch, but having great disadvantage in the numbers, and the wind not favouring him, tho his Squadron Fought very gallantly, and did much harm to the Dutch, yet he came off with the loss of the Garland and Bonaventure, two good Ships, and some other of less Force.
Many Letters and Intelligences came of further Successes in Scotland by the Forces under General * 1.2 Monk in the Highlands. Others, of several Prizes taken by the Parliaments Ships from the Dutch, and of losses of some English Ships taken by the Dutch, and Transporting some Irish to the Ser∣vice of the King of Spain.
The Parliament were very busie in debate of several Acts of Parliament under Consideration, but very little was brought to effect by them..
The Soldiers grumbled at their delayes, and there began to be ill blood between them. The * 1.3 General and his Officers pressed the putting a Pe∣riod to their Sitting, which they promised to do, but were slow in that business.