News from SEA, CONCERNING Prince Rupert, Capt. Pluncket, Capt. Munckel, And others: WITH SOME TRANSACTIONS BETWIXT THE King of Portugal, AND Them. Together with the taking of certain Ships; and a Relation touching the strange News of the BARBADOSS.  
ALSO, The discovery of a Plot in the Isle of Silly, for destroying of the English; and the principal Actors tried by a Council of War.  
LONDON, Printed for J. C. and are to be sold at the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, and in the Old-Bayley. 1650.   

A LETTER FROM PLYMOUTH, Dated the 10th day of May 1650.  
HE that by himself or by any other, beginneth any dangerous enterprise without foreseeing the end and Issue thereof, bringeth himself and others into peril; This hath been a received maxim, and newly verified by the late overthrow given to the forces lately landed in Scotland, (reported to be of Montrosses party, consisting chief of Sweads and Danes) of which their is intelligence come hither this day, that they have received a great overthrow, by a party of Lieut. Gen. David Lestlies', who (saith some Letters) have routed, killed and taken at least three thousand, amongst whom Hurry himself, is reported to be one of the Prisoners taken, and others of great quality; which coming from such hands, as we have no cause to question the truth thereof, puts me in mind of an old Proverb, viz. That they which take upon them more than of right belongeth, committeth a great error, and seldom escape unpunished.  
Four straits Ships are come into this Harbour, (besides two East-India Ships hereafter mentioned) the Seamen report that many Pirates infest the narrow Seas: the clearing of the Coasts of such implacable Enemies, would be a great encouragement to Merchants, and therefore we are very joyful to hear that there is a gallant Fleet prepared by the Parliament, and as we are informed, is already fallen into the Downs, the knowledge whereof, strikes a terror into the Enemy, who having persisted in their obstinacy, deserve not the least favour; for how can it be safe for the Commonwealth not to revenge such injuries done to the State: A Master of one of these Ships saith, that he heard that there was with Prince Rupert at Lisbon, Capt. Pluncket, Gapt. Muckell, and several others eminent for their Rebellious actings against the Commonwealth of England; but what hath been done since the King of Portugal refused to protect them, he knoweth not for that it is some weeks since he had this Intelligence.  
Truly Sir, it is not only my opinion, but the judgement of many others, well wishers to the peace and tranquillity of this Nation, that if men would consider how much it gives advantage to the common Enemy, which study nothing so much, as to find an advantage to bring us into new miseries, there would not be such divisions amongst men; but every one should rather join together as one for defence of the whole body, and lay aside backbitings, and reproachful speeches which are oftentimes the cause of much evil, and draweth others to do some things which may be thought unreasonable. These kinds of distempers are commonly moved first in disquiet spirits, who ordinarily crave more than is fit to be granted, looking rather on what they fancy to be good, or in their own private judgements imagine to be evil, then to inform themselves, that the first degree to attain virtue and honesty, is to obey the Laws, and reverence those that are in Authority over us, and for want of a due observation hereof, many have plunged themselves into eminent dangers, and cause fears and jealousies where needeth not any; for as all men ought to be governed by Laws and certain Rules, so ought there to be some persons that shall put those Laws in execution, and thereby govern the people: Scipio saith, it is the Sailors endeavour to get a fair passage, the travel of the Physician tendeth to health, and a Captain's labour is for victory: so should it be the glory and virtue of every private man, to be diligent in his Calling, and not to meddle with those things that are too high for him.  
This advice I have thought good to remember you of, yet it is not because you have occasion to make use thereof in your own particular; but to the end you may as opportunity is ministered, persuade with others whom you find averse and obstinate, and would stir up such Coals which should not only set their Neighbours, but their own house on fire. I shall return again to our Intelligence.  
Two gallant Ships are arrived in this Harbour, appertaining to London Merchants, they are richly laden, and intent by the next fair wind, to hoist sail for the port of London, to which place, we make not any question but they may come with safety. The Seamen in the said Ships, express a very good affection to the Parliament of England, and say that they will willingly sacrifice their lives upon occasion for defence of this Commonwealth, under the present Government, without King or House of Lords, which is the more remarkable, in respect the said words were uttered before they heard of the Engagement, or had it tendered unto any of them. These Seamen are come home very rich, and do much lament the loss of some of their Country men, whom they hear to be lately taked by the French, yet if any such thing hath been done, the Parliaments and chief Governors of that Nation, are said to be no abetters or countinancers thereof, pressing rather a desire of a continuance of a League and friendship, then to grant Letters of Mart. The last Ship taken, was of a considerable value, and was not taken without a hot fight, and the loss of many men; and although in the combat the French, as such as were with them (men of War and of greater force than their competitors) might get the better at first, yet be it known unto the whole world, that the enterprises of Pirates and banished persons are dangerous, and seldom come to a good end.  
About three days since here arrived a man of War, which bringeth intelligence, that as they struck into harbour on the Coast of Holland, they heard it related, that the King of Portugal had given P. Rupert a day certain to put forth to Sea, not permitting him to stay beyond the time limited in any of his Harbours; and the time being expired, it is reported that there hath been a great fight betwixt him, and Colonel Blake, in which conflict the victory is given to the said Colonel Blake, and 5: of P. rupert's Ships, are said to be sunk and taken, without the loss of one of ours; but of this, I suppose you have better intelligence at London then any with us.  
Having taken liberty thus freely to discourse of such things, which either happen here or are credibly informed by good hands, give me leave to enlarge myself a little further, in acquainting you what we hear concerning a plantation belonging to the Commonwealth of England: called the Barbadoss, about which I received a Letter the last night, what your intelligence was at LONDON, which came only from a private hand, and renders no reason but Common fame; yet for that, I have heard that vulgar reports are not always so much to be slighted, as that no answer at all were necessary to be returned, I shall make bold to inform you, in brief what is related here by the Seamen, touching that business, which (say they) is only thus; An unskilful Pilot missing his compass, and thereby failing of the intended harbour, to vindicate his own reputation persuaded the Mariners, that the Island was removed out of the place in which it formerly stood: And how far his Rhetoric might sway their belief in this kind I know not, but of this I am sure, that it gains little credit of any others that hear thereof.   

POSTSCRJPT.  
SInce the writing of these lines, news is come hither, that there is a great difference betwixt the English and the Irish, in the Isle of Silly, and that Noy could hardly appease the same without blows. A Colonel and some others were tried by a Council of War, for having a hand in a plot to cut off the English, who are fewer in number then the Irish. This broil is like to take some further rooting there, and probably will work such division, that will not quickly be reconciled, if that young Preston carry not the Irish back into their own Country: The Soldiers there are reported to be generally very poor, the Island affording little accommodation, either for back or belly, and they that go abroad in vessels, to fish or theeve for the rest will, be sure to have the best share.  
Vale.