SInce I had the Honour of writing to your High and Mightinesses upon our departure from Torbay , we have used all possible Endeavours to accomplish our Design ; and coming about Heyssant , we sailed as near the French Coast as the Art of Navigation would permit . The Enemy upon our Coming near , raised the whole Country along the Coast , and made divers Shots at us a● severall distances .

We understanding from the Prisoners that we had taken in divers Barks , that a great part of the Gentry of Bretaign appeared a Brest and thereabout , which City they had very much fortified , and furnished it with many Cannon ; and that they had also placed others upon the Ships that were there ranged to prevent any coming into the Haven ; all the Commanders of the Fleet were of this Opinion , that ( confidering how the Wind did bear , as also the Dangers of that Coast ) we should doe no otherwise for the present , but shear off , and go with those ships upon which divers Companies of the Land-Forces were embarqued , and lie between Bell Isla and the Cardinals , till being all joyned together again , we should sail with our whole Force for the River Loyr .

The 23. of June we arrived before Bell Isle , and took the same day about the Evening 2 Barks laden with W●ne and Salt . The next day in the Morning we spake with a Skipper of an English Ship laden with Corn , that came out of the Haven from the Fort of Bell Isle , who assured us that he saw 8000 men in Arms in the Island , among which were 600 Horse , all Gentlemen , Inhabitants of the Continent . But this being not at all confirmed by a Pilot whom we had taken , and who was also upon Bell Isle 3 daies before , and told us that the same was but a Report , without any Certainty of Truth in it ; hereupon we resolved to land upon this Island , and I went with the Heer Admirall Tromp to take a View thereof , and found a very convenient ●lace for Landing .

In the mean time I sent a Trumpeter to the Inhabitants , with an Order that they should depute some to come on B●ard us , to under●●and our Intentions , upon pain of being plundered . The Trumpe●er being brought to the Governour of the Fort , he having read the ●●der , returned the same presently again into his hand , and said , ●●at the Inhabitants should not submit to that Order ; and if so be ●e would attack the Island , that they should very well be able to ●●fend the same .

Hereupon we landed very happily the next day in the Morning , ●●●ding much less Resistence then we expected , not withstanding the ●nemy had made 2 Retrenchments there , one above another , that ●ere thick set with men . The climbing up the Hill was found to 〈◇〉 very tedious . So far as I can judge , and as I verily believe , there ●ere not in all above 3000 men upon the Island that were in Arms : that English-man was much mistaken .

This Evening after we had traversed one part of the Island , we encamped in a Valley , about a Musket-Shot from the Castle , where we found water to drink , a convenience very much wanting in that Island .

The th of June we encamped at Soison , where we brought together the most part of the Cattel that were upon that Island , whereof there was great store , and put them on board the Fleet .

After we had layn there 2 days , getting a sight of our foremost Ships , we resolved to embark again , without making any Attempt upon the Fort ; for it would have taken up too much time , which we might otherwise employ more profitably and advantageously in the Service of your High and Mightinesses . We took also 3 Pieces of Canon with us , which we had taken from the Enemy . We steered our Course to the River of Nantes , and came upon the 3d . of July in the Morning into the Bay of Bourg-neuf , and anchored over against Nermontier .

The Tide being spent that day before we could land , we resolved the next day to make up to the Island of Nermontier , which we did . The Enemy had there upon the Coast cast up some Batteries and Trenches , in which they had posted their Muskettiers : and because there was not much water , so that we could not come to Land with our Sloops , Boats & Pinks , the most of our men marched up to the Middle through the water , so that divers of their Bandeliers were spoiled .

The Enemy made some Discharges upon us out of their Trenches , and from behind the Walls of a Dorp , under which in a short space after we landed . We were no sooner come among them , but they betook themselves to flight , and saved themselves upon the Continent of Poictou ; quitting also at the same time the Castle of Nermontier .

We took upon the same , as also upon the Batteries along the Coast , 17 Great Pieces , 8 of Brass , and 9 of Iron , with 19 Ships that were on ground , and could not be carried away . In the Service we had 135 killed and wounded , with divers Officers ; as namely , the Lieutenant-Colonel and Major of my Regiment , 1 Captain , 1 Captain-Lieutenant , and 2 Ensigns , who in all probability will be recovered .

The Prisoners that we took in the Rencounter told us , that there were 5000 men upon the Continent ready to come for the Island , and that there were 500 already on their march towards it : which made me to hasten my March as much as might be , to encounter them upon the Passage , leaving Captain Braekell with 3 Companies of S●amen , and 70 Muskettiers , to defend the Castle ; and Captain Hardenbroeck , with a Company of Seamen of Admiral Tromp's , in the Abby . Coming in the Evening near the Passage , we understood that they were all retired again to the Continent , where we also could discern a great Number of people , as well Foot as Horse . The want of fresh water obliged me to encamp one hour's distance from thenc● , leaving the Heer van Somerdijck with 400 men for the Defence of that Post .

The 5th . of July in the Morning came thereabout 2 Brigandines built after the fashion of Gallies , which those of Rochel had sent to discover our Fleet , each of them having on board 3 Pieces of Canon and 35 Seamen , all well armed . These not knowing that we were landed , came near the Shoar , where the Heer van Somerdijk had laid 60 Muskettiers close behind a Hillock ; and while he amused them by leaving one French-man for them to see , the rest came so suddenly up to them , that they surrendred themselves .

It is conjectured this Island hath about 2000 Houses in it ; and it is divided for near 50 Rods from the main Continent , so that we could shoot with our Muskets easily to the Enemy that lay encamped before us on the other side of the Water , and they to us . At Low-water the Land that lies between Bovin and Beauvoir , which is the firm Land of Poictou , puts out so far , and this Island is so dry , that they could pass over dry shod with as many men in Front as they pleased , from the one side to the other ; which Passage is but an hour's going , and may be marched either 2 hours before , or 2 hours after Low-water .

The Enemy gave out a report , as if they had Orders from the King to come over with all their Forces , as well Foot as Horse , to make us quit that Post : in the mean time they themselves set all their Salt-pans on fire about Bovin and Beauvoir , by which we discovered , that they were more afraid of our coming over to them , then that they had any intention to attack us .

After we had lain there 3 weeks , your High and Mightinesses Service forbidding my proceeding any farther there , we imbarked again , having first blown up a part of he Castle , sl●ghted their Works along the Coast , levelled their Houses , all their Cattel ( which were a great Number ) being consumed ; and moreover having taken Hostages of them , till the money should be paid which was agreed upon for the saving their Houses from Burning , being the summe of 14000 Rix-dollers : which Agreement hath been since advanced by their R●fractariness .

From our Prisoners we understand , that the Duke de Chaulnes is with a Reserve of 40 0 Horse of the Gentry between Croisic and St. Lazare , about 6 hours march from thence ; and that the Duke de Retz , with about 1200 Gentlemen , and 5000 of the Inhabitants , was between Bourg-neuf and Mache , one hour from thence . The Duke de Vieuville , with 2000 Gentlemen , all Horse , and 8000 Inhabitants , were spread over against us in our sight , at Bovin and Beauvoir : The 2 last may joyn at a short warning .

The Duke of Guadagne commands at Rochel , Oleron , and the Isle of Rhé into which places they have put most of the Souldiery , supposing that our Design may lie there .

According to the report of divers Prisoners , which is also confirmed by the English and Hamburgers Ships coming from thence , there are in the Island of Rhé onely , 10000 men in Arms , and 1000 Horse : they have also drawn amongst them 5000 of the Inhabitants , and within this 6 weeks there are come to them the Foot-Regiments of Guadagne , Neuf-ville , Louvigny , and a Battalion of Marine Foot , with other particular Companies , as also the Horse-Regiments of Courselle and Belleguard : the first of which hath a Command under Guadagne ; the second over the Horse ; and Lauvay over the Fortifications .

From Oleron we have no farther particulars , but that they are full of Souldiers there , as well Foot as Horse ; and that within this 3 weeks there is also arrived a Battalion of the Marine Companies .

The Governour of St. Sebastian hath written to me , that he had made a narrow Enquiry into the Forces of the Enemy along the Coasts , and found that they had in Arms above 80000 Foot and 6000 Horse , f●om Rochel to Bourdeaux and Bayonne . That the Marshals de Gramoni and Obret , with the Counts de la Sere and Louvigny , had the Charge of th● Coasts between Bourdeaux and Bayonne .

The Prisoners , and others that are come from thence , say that the Misery along the Coast is so great , that they are wholly ruined by the Cavalry and Taxes ; yea in as bad a manner as if they had the Army of an Enemy among them ; so that there is not any thing in the least left remaining but the Houses .

The Heer Admiral Tromp hath given your High and Mightinesses Advice of the Burning of a French Fregat , which was chased on the Coast by 2 of our Men of War , with his taking of a good Prize ; so that I will not here repeat the same . We shall be presently again under sail , to prosecute what farther Work is appointed us .