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 Information of Captain William Brandley, taken before his Excellency the Lord General Cromwel, and Denis Bond Esquire, at Dover the 22^th of May, 1652.

VVHo saith, That Wednesday morning lea∣ving General Blake off from the Nesse with eleven Ships, (viz.) The James, Victory, Garland, the Speaker, Ruby, Saphine, Conturion, Star, Portsmouth, Martin, Mormaid and a Merchants Ship in the States ser∣vice, and between seven and eight a clock in the morn∣ing came to Dover Road, and fell in among part of Van Trump's Fleet, and hayling several of their Ships, and asking who wore the Flag, he was answered by three or four of them, That he was Van Trump, and that they should well wit, as his own men who were aboard with him that understood Dutch did interpret to him; where∣upon this Informant went home to his own General, being some three Leagues to Westward of him, to

whom he gave the said Accompt; which so soon as he had done, his General made all the haste he could to Dover Road with those Ships that were with him, and being come about three Leagues onward of his way, he this Informant and the rest of the Fleet discerned Van Trump and his Fleet weighing their Anchors, and perceived them to make towards the French Coast about four Leagues from the place where they Anchor∣ed, and General Blake steering his course towards the Downs to the rest of his Fleet, for which this Informant had seen the Orders of the Councel of State to him so to do; and being come up as high as Holstone, they perceived a Ship came from the Eastwards towards the Dutch Fleet, not being able to fetch Van Trump, be∣ing to the Leeward of him, shot off a piece; and Van Trump bore up to the said Ship, and within a quarter of an hour after, Van Trump shot off a Piece, and put a∣broad his Pendant, and bore up on General Blake and the Fleet that was with him, and a little to the East of Sandgate Castle, he came up with all his Fleet, being Two and fourty Sail, to General Blake, and himself be∣ing the head-most ship, having his Flag on his Main Top, came within shot of General Blake; whereupon General Blake shot at his Flag, and he not taking the same down, he shot a second, and a third; upon which Van Trump taking in his Pendant, put out his Red Flag under his Holland Colours, and presently after gave a Broad-side to General Blake, and thereupon General Blake answered him with another, and both the Fleets were engaged.

William Brandley.