An
Exact
RELATION
OF
THE
Fight
between
the
English
and
the
Hollanders
,
on
Friday
the
6
of
May
,
with
the
taking
of
50
or
60
small
Vessels
,
and
6
Merchantmen
,
and
the
blocking
up
the
Dutch
Fleet
in
the
TEXEL
.
ON
the
fourth
of
May
,
there
passed
by
Rye
to
the
Eastward
,
some
fourteen
or
fifteen
sail
of
Ships
,
which
was
supposed
to
be
part
of
our
Fleet
which
were
left
behinde
when
the
Generals
came
from
Portsmouth
;
And
the
winde
being
very
fair
for
them
,
it
is
conceived
they
are
by
this
time
joyned
with
the
rest
of
the
Fleet
.
Sir
Richard
Dean
,
Sir
George
Monk
,
and
Vice-Admiral
Pen
,
riding
in
the
Downes
,
on
the
third
instant
were
advertiz'd
,
that
Van
Trump
,
de
Witte
,
de
Rutyer
,
and
Evariz
were
united
together
,
and
all
ready
to
set
sail
from
the
Texel
;
they
immedily
called
a
Council
of
Warre
,
where
it
was
unanimously
agreed
upon
,
that
they
should
advance
thither
with
the
whole
body
of
their
Fleet
,
and
fight
there
;
This
was
with
all
expedition
put
in
execution
,
and
our
whole
Fleet
weighed
Anchor
,
and
in
the
strength
of
God
went
out
against
them
.
But
Van
Trump
and
the
rest
of
the
Dutch
Admirals
had
received
Orders
from
their
high
and
mighty
Masters
,
that
they
should
put
out
to
Sea
with
all
the
strength
they
could
make
to
meet
their
Merchant
men
,
who
were
about
300.
in
number
,
that
were
coming
from
Nantz
round
about
by
Scotland
;
this
is
conceived
to
be
the
richest
Fleet
that
ever
belonged
to
Holland
,
and
if
our
Generals
light
on
it
,
as
there
is
great
probability
they
will
,
the
common
people
will
without
doubt
,
stone
both
their
Admirals
and
States-men
,
and
force
them
to
seek
for
a
peace
with
England
upon
any
terms
.
On
the
6.
instant
,
our
Fleet
consisting
of
100.
and
odd
of
gallant
ships
,
being
under
sail
,
discovered
the
Dutch
fleet
some
Leagues
distant
,
which
(
as
they
supposed
)
seemed
not
to
be
above
seventy
in
number
;
presently
our
ships
began
to
make
all
the
preparation
that
might
be
to
sight
them
,
expecting
that
the
Hollanders
would
struggle
for
the
wind
,
which
might
prove
advantatious
to
that
party
which
gain'd
it
,
therefore
they
steer'd
their
course
accordingly
;
but
contrary
to
their
expectation
,
and
clean
contrary
to
their
imagination
,
they
tacked
about
and
endeavoured
to
decline
any
engagement
,
whereupon
our
Generals
commanded
out
their
swiftest
Frigots
to
pursue
them
,
and
they
with
the
rest
of
the
fleet
orderly
followed
in
a
fighting
posture
:
And
it
is
informed
by
a
Messenger
belonging
to
the
Councel
of
State
which
came
from
our
fleet
,
that
he
saw
some
of
our
ships
which
were
in
the
Van
,
fire
upon
the
Rear
of
the
Dutch
Fleet
,
and
that
the
rest
of
them
made
all
the
hast
they
could
to
get
into
some
Port
where
they
may
be
out
of
Gunshot
.
On
the
seventh
instant
,
about
five
in
the
afternoon
,
came
in
another
Messenger
from
the
Navy
,
and
acquainted
the
Councel
of
State
that
the
Dutch
fleet
had
fled
before
ours
,
and
escaped
into
the
Texel
,
where
our
Fleet
had
Block't
them
in
,
and
that
we
had
taken
about
50.
or
60.
of
their
small
ships
or
Dogger-boats
,
which
will
be
a
great
losse
to
them
,
and
of
great
commerce
to
us
.
The
Dutch
fleet
being
thus
block't
up
,
if
timely
notice
be
not
given
to
their
Merchant
men
of
our
fleets
lying
there
,
they
will
probably
fall
in
amongst
them
,
who
will
sell
their
commodities
at
better
rates
for
them
,
and
where
they
will
be
better
welcome
;
and
then
the
vast
charge
,
and
great
expence
of
our
Navies
for
these
last
years
will
be
repaid
by
them
.
Letters
were
likewise
brought
to
Whitehal
by
several
Merchants
,
owners
of
a
private
man
of
war
in
the
Western
coasts
,
whose
Capt
.
informs
them
,
that
of
the
300
sail
of
Dutch
merchants
sailed
round
by
Scotland
,
six
of
them
being
not
very
good
sails
,
and
very
heavy
laden
,
were
left
some
Leagues
behind
the
fleet
,
which
he
hath
happily
gathered
up
,
&
brought
into
several
ports
,
one
of
which
is
valued
at
20000.
l.
sterling
.
From
Scotland
it
is
certified
,
that
as
soon
as
they
had
received
Intelligence
of
the
dissolving
the
Parliament
,
there
was
immediately
called
a
Councel
of
Warre
,
who
after
they
had
a
while
debated
it
,
unanimously
accorded
to
what
was
here
acted
,
as
you
may
perceive
by
this
ensuing
Letter
.
To
his
EXCELLENCY
,
the
Lord
General
CROMWEL
,
and
his
Council
of
OFFICERS
,
these
humbly
present
.
May
it
please
Your
Excellency
,
HHving
perused
your
Declaration
,
entituled
,
A
Declaration
of
the
Lord
General
,
and
his
Councel
of
Officers
,
shewing
the
grounds
and
reasons
or
the
dissolution
of
the
late
Parliament
;
and
being
satisfied
,
that
the
same
(
through
Gods
mercy
)
is
tending
to
the
weal
of
the
Republike
,
and
doubtless
to
the
great
satisfaction
of
all
godly
person
,
and
well-willers
to
the
Nation
:
We
thereupon
thought
it
our
duties
to
make
known
unto
you
,
that
we
through
the
Lords
assistance
,
shall
stand
or
fall
with
you
,
in
your
further
proceedings
of
what
you
have
begun
,
against
all
opposers
whatsoever
(
if
any
shall
be
)
nothing
doubting
,
but
that
the
Lord
,
who
made
you
happy
Instruments
in
the
purging
,
will
also
own
you
in
dissolving
that
Parliament
,
for
the
just
Reasons
and
Grounds
in
your
Declaration
expressed
:
We
pray
the
Lord
to
be
your
All
in
All.
Thus
with
our
Services
humbly
presented
,
we
remain
,
Signed
by
the
Judge
Advocate
,
Controller
,
and
other
general
Officers
,
with
the
consent
of
the
rest
of
the
Officers
of
the
Train
,
resident
in
Edenburgh
.
Your
Lordships
and
Honors
humble
Servants
,
&c.
The
Copy
of
a
Letter
from
our
Navy
,
dated
the
7.
of
May
,
1653.
SIR
,
Joyful
of
this
opportunity
,
I
make
bold
to
present
my
service
to
you
:
It
pleased
God
that
on
the
6.
instant
as
we
were
under
saile
towards
the
Texel
,
accompanied
with
the
rest
of
our
Navy
,
in
the
evening
we
discovered
the
Hollanders
fleet
,
being
as
we
supposed
about
70
or
80
sail
,
where
after
we
had
spent
some
time
in
prayer
,
recommending
our selves
to
the
Almighty
,
and
desiring
his
protection
,
weo
made
preparation
to
sight
the
enemy
;
but
contrary
to
our
imagination
,
he
tack'd
about
and
indeavoured
by
all
means
possible
to
decline
an
ingagement
;
hereupon
command
was
given
that
we
should
hoist
all
our
sails
,
and
pursue
the
cowardly
enemy
,
which
we
did
,
&
had
not
the
darkness
of
the
night
befriended
them
,
they
could
not
have
escaped
us
with
so
little
loss
;
for
our
Van
came
within
that
of
their
Rear
,
and
I
am
confident
did
some
execution
upon
them
,
and
pursued
them
so
long
as
they
could
discern
the
least
glimps
of
them
.
In
the
morning
we
discovered
them
again
,
and
followed
them
to
the
very
mouth
of
the
●exel
,
where
we
now
remain
,
lying
there
like
a
Wood
in
the
Sea
,
our
ships
consisting
of
above
100.
sail
of
stout
ships
,
well
man'd
and
desperately
resolved
.
Since
our
lying
here
,
we
have
taken
about
60.
Hives
or
Dogger
boats
,
and
make
no
doubt
but
we
shal
meet
with
all
their
Merchantmen
that
are
coming
to
Amsterdam
;
for
we
have
so
surrounded
the
Texel
that
none
can
pass
us
,
nor
any
out
come
to
relieve
them
,
except
they
first
engage
with
our
fleer
:
Sir
,
this
is
all
for
the
present
you
can
expect
.
T.H.
FINIS
.