A relation of the engagement of His Majesty's fleet with the enemies, on the 11th of August, 1673 as it has been represented by letters from the several squadrons.

The RELALION from the Blew SQƲADRON.

ON Munday the Eleventh of August we Engaged the Enemy, the Wind at S. E. near the Texel, the Dutch having the Wea∣ther-gage, both Fleets pointed into the Shore. About seven in the morning, Prince Rupert Tacked, being near Land, so gave the Wind as large as they could wish, to the Dutch; the Blew Squadron having the Rear, the Red the Middle, and the White the Van; Trump and his Division taking the Blew, de Ruyter the Red, and Bankert the White Squadron; with us Sir John Kempthorn began the Battle, halfe an hour past seven in the morning, awhile after Tromp and Sir Edward Spragg Engaged; Sir Edward Spragg lay by for Tromp, and so did most of his Division, and fought at this rate three hours; Prince Rupert and the White, as their Adversaries being separated from us, we heard not of them till four in the afternoon, when they came very opportunely to our as∣sistance; Sir Edward Spragg lay battering a∣gainst eight or nine of the Dutch a long time, and most of his Division being so far Lee∣ward they could not help him; for Sir John Kempthorn being prest, it prest us all out of our station much to h•…•…e Lee; this was about twelve of the clock when we perceive Sir

Edward Spragg to put before the Wind, which made us conjecture him either dead or much damaged; I went aboard Sir Edward Spragg to see how affairs stood, and found his Ship extreamly disabled, and as we set our Boat from his Ship, down fell his Main Mast with∣in a yard of our Boat; We saved some Men and came up to the Ships side again to take up Swimmers, when the Missen Mast fell down near our Boat; after this, Sir Edward Spragg came on board the St. George, where he put up his Flag, and lay by the disabled Royal Prince to defend her, where was a hot Fight; Sir John Kempthorn and his Division Tacked upon the Enemy, who was very eager upon the Prince, either to take or burn her, but the Blew Squadron by this time came so about her, that the Enemy found it too hot for them, though they plyed her still hard. More parti∣culars I have not time to write, but that very unfortunately that day at two of the clock the St. George was so disabled too, that Sir Edward Spragg took Boat to go on board the Royal Charles, and had not rowed ten Boats lengths, but a Bullet came through the S. George and broke his Boat; they made back again as fast as they could on board, but before they came within throw of the Ropes, the Boat sunk, and Sir Edward Spragg was drowned; being taken up dead, his Head and Shoulders above water, having taken so dead hold of the Boat, they could hardly disingage him from it. Mr. Littleton, Mr. Smith and his Page were drowned with him; the S. Georges Boat

being next, took up his Body, and his Lieutenant half dead; for the preserving of his Ship the Royal Prince, there continued still a brisk Fight, and about four in the afternoon, his Highness bore in, and the Dutch, which favoured the getting off of that Ship, being towed by two or three others; The Dutch were still unwil∣ling to leave her, and so the Fight continued till near eight at night. We are preparing for another Bout, God continue to give us still good success. Excuse this imperfect Narrative, being writ in a hurry.