THough the unreadiness of our own and the Dutch-Fleet , this year has given occasion of boldness to the French-Privateers , and rendred some few of our Colliers and their Small-Vessels to be apprehensive of the Rapacious Insolencies of their Pickaroons ; yet of late we have made a shift to curb their Sauciness , and make them many times pay for their Encroachments : the weightiness of our Affairs , which force many of our Vessels to and from Ireland of late , has caus'd to be very vigilent on those Coasts , and when any Vessel approaches , if they find it any way feasible , they are sure to accost and whip her away into some of their Ports , which usage has not only made our Merchants cautious , but our Frigats resolute to suppress their Petty-fogging Robbers ; accordingly one of our Frigats of Forty Guns , crusing about the fifteenth of this instant upon the Coasts of Ireland , made up to the Harbour of King-Sale , and upon information that a French-Pickaroon lay in that Harbour , the Captain hal'd a small Fisher-Boat aboard him , and with a little persuasion and a competent reward engag'd him to go in and pretend to the Governour of the Fort , that an East-India Merchant-Man distressed with the Weather , and for want of Provision , was coming in and begg'd the favour of Fresh-Water and Victuals for his Money .

The Governour and Garrison were almost out of their Wits , for the Joy of this ( as they reckon ) so gallant a Prize , and immediately Man out with the best of the Garrison , the small Vessel that lay under the Fort ; our Frigot thereupon , seeming to mistrust their Safety , presently hoist Sail , and make to Sea , which embolden the Irish Adventurers , and make them eager in the pursuit : The Captain of the Frigot , who before had muzzl'd and drawn in his Guns , when he brought them to his Bow-tacks , and gets between them and the Port , and then shewing them a Broad-side ready bent without resistance , Boards them ; and secures the Prisoners , whereof many are Officers , he brought the Vessel into Bidiford , a small Port in the West of England .

Upon discourse with the Prisoners , they confirm the great Defeat of the Irish by the Protestants of London-Derry in the North of Ireland : And further add , That in the last Sally upon the Papists , amongst the considerable Persons that were kill'd , Colonel Ramsey was one ; Lord Netterville , and some Others , were taken Prisoners , and brought into the Town . That which was reported of Tyrconnel's being Wounded and dangerously Ill , proves to be nothing but the Black Jaundice , of which he has been long Sick .