The ansvver of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, to three papers delivered in to the Councel of State by the lords ambassadors extraordinary of the States General of the United Provinces. As also a narrative of the late engagement between the English fleet under the command of General Blake; and the Holland fleet under the command of Lieutenant Admiral Trump. And likewise severall letters, examinations and testimonies touching the same. Together with the three papers, aforesiad of the said lords ambassadors extraordinary; and the letter of Lieutenant Admiral Trump therein mentioned, translated into English.

The Translation of the LETTER of the Admiral Trump to the States Gene∣ral, mentioned in the precedent Paper.

High and Mighty Lords,

MY last Letter was of the twentieth in∣stant, sent by the Messenger that brought my Instruction aboard, since when I crossed the Sea before the Mase, Wis∣lingen, Ostend and Newport, until the twenty four of the same Moneth, when we were forced to cast our Anchor, and stay there in a hard weather and a rough sea, until the twen∣ty

six in the morning: The weather grow∣ing fairer, and being under Sail, divers Cap∣tains of the Direction came aboard, complain∣ing, That they lost their Anchors and Cables, some having but two Anchors & two Cables left; It was resolved, because the wind did grow big, to go under the point of Dover for to prevent the loss of our Ships. At one of the clock coming before Downs, we did send the Commander John Thissen from Flissingen, and Captain Peter Alders towards the Downs to the Commander Bourn, who was there with some Ships of the Parliament, whom they saluted in my Name, advertising him that we were bound to cross the Sea about our coast; and that having lost some Anchors by the last hard weather, we were forced to Anchor under Dover, to help one another, and so to return to our appointed limits; ha∣ving also no other order, but to protect our Merchants Ships and Fishermen, and to maintain the honor of our Country: That we therefore thought it fit to acquaint the said Commander with the same, because he should not suspect any thing to the contra∣ry; who also with much courtesie did salute

me, and thank me for this notice. Upon the twenty nine, at two of the clock, we made sail, the wind North east, good weather, sai∣ling towards Calice, with intention to cross towards our coast, for to provide us of Ca∣bles and Anchors: Coming about Calice Cliff, we met with Captain Ioris van Sanen of Am∣sterdam, coming out the Streights, with Captain Hugeluyt, having in their Company seven rich Merchants Ships, who are esteem∣ed above fifty Tuns of Gold, who he left the twenty nine at Anchor, right against Feverley, where about twelve Ships of the Parliament did lye, and divers Frigots came to see them; and for as much as the said Ioris van Sanen up∣on the twenty two of May, about Goutstart, was met a Frigot of the Parliament, who fiercely set upon him for to make him strike, and against whom he defended him neer about two hours, and so was left by the said Frigot, whereupon the said Commander Hugeluyt, and the said Van Sanen, should endeavor for to finde out our main Fleet, and to give us no∣tice of it; as he did accordingly, fearing much, That the said Merchants Vessels alrea∣dy might be taken: Whereupon I presently

went thither, to take them under my protecti∣on; and if they were taken, to put them at liberty, if it was possible, according to the seventh and eighth Articles of my Instruction of the sixteenth instant. Upon the way we met fifteen Ships and Frigots of the Parlia∣ment, among whom one was an Admiral, whom I intended to view, taking in all my Sails, except both my Murshot Sails, whom we did avail until the middest of the stangs. Being within a Canon-shot, he shot a Ball over our Ship, we answered not, he shot an∣other, to which we answered with one; pre∣sently he gives me a broad side, being within a Musquet shot, and shot all his side through our Ship and Sails: Divers were wounded, some with the loss of their Arms, some other∣wise; thereupon we presently gave him our broadside, not knowing what they intended, which for as yet I know not, because they did not speak a word to us, neither we to them, and we fell thereupon to a general fight. In mean while came the Commander Bourn out the Downs, with twelve of such like Ships and Frigots mounted, as he told him∣self to the said Commander John Thyssen, and

Captain Peter Alders, being aboard of him with sixty to seventy, and the Frigots with thirty eight to fifty pieces of Ordnance, who in the same while assaulted our Fleet from behinde; and we fought thus from half an hour past four till nine of the clock, the darkness departing us from another; when both the Admirals a little beyond the reach of their Ordnance cast their Sails towards the Lee for to gather their Fleets, and to mend what was shot to pieces, we floated the whole night with a light on every Ship. The thir∣tieth in the morning, we saw the English Fleet driven windward from us, who made Sail and went towards Dover. We wanted two of our Ships, who were in the rear of our Fleet: The Captains, Tuynmans of Middle∣bourgh, and Siphe Fooks of Amsterdam, both Ships of the Direction, whereof we found that of Captain Siphe Fooks about noon float∣ing without Mast; The Skipper and the Officers declared unto us that they were ta∣ken by three Ships of the Parliament two hours after Sunset, who took from aboard the Captain and the Lieutenant, with four∣teen or fifteen men more, and putted instead

of them many of the English; but they fear∣ing that the Ship would sink, they took the flight, after they had plundred all in Hostile maner: They Declared also, That they see that the said Tuynmans (being with them in the rear of our Fleet) an hour before was ta∣ken: We intend with this Easterly wind to cross to and fro, that we may finde out the said Streight fearders, if it be possible, and with all other Ships with whom we may meet, to bring them safe in our Country: So ending was subscribed

M: Harp Trump.

Dated the 30 of May, 1652. from aboard the Ship.