To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
This text has been selected for inclusion in the EEBO-TCP: Navigations collection, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
SIR,
ON Sunday Morning last, being the 15 of this present August, Sir George Ayscue set saile to Sea.
Yesterday being Monday the 16 of August, he discovered the Hollanders, and about one of the clock that day he met with a fleet of theirs, consisting of 60 saile of men of war, and 25 Merchants men.
Sir George Ayscues fleet consisted of 41 with
which he charged the Hollanders whole fleet and made a stout fight.
Sir Geor. Ayscue charged them quite through, And not being able to go to the windward of all, received 40 broad sides, and after goe away. Then Sir George Ayscue charged them againe, and made another furious assault.
It is supposed that we have sunke their Rear Admirall; they (if not) will have much adoe to save her.
The fight was extream hot, but no board∣ing either of other. We suppose the Hollan∣ders loss must needs be very great, for they were extreamly torne with our bullets, and we have great losse also.
Capt Lisle, a precious sweet commander, is sore wounded and almost dead. Cap Pack that excellent stout Sea-man, hath his leg shot off. Night approaching the fight ceased, and in the night both the fleets lay still, ha∣ving both of them their lights out.
On this morning being the 17 instant, we discovered the Enemy about 4 leagues off.
Hereupon a Councell of War was to con∣sult what to doe, in further proceedings a∣gainst
the enemy, and it was unanimously resolved by the Councel of war to ingage them againe. Hereupon preparation was made, our fleet presently sailed, and stood up towards them.
About 12 a clock this present Tuesday, 17 August it is beleeved there might be an ingagement.
The Lord direct them and stand by them, to deliver and support our friends, and I doubt not but the Lord will perfect that work he hath thus far hitherto triumphant∣ly carried on.
Our men called upon God before they ingaged, the Dutch drunk soundly to make them fight, strong drink was given to their men as their custome is, to raise up a courage in them to fight the most desperately.
The East India Fleete with those other ships stay until these combustions be a little over, or that they can have a sure convoy, for without doubt the mouthes of the Dutch water at them. I beleeve by the next you will heare of a greater ingagement then this.
Plimouth 17. Augst, 1652.