A true RELATION of what passed between the Fleet of his Highness the Prince of Wales, and that under the Command of the Earl of Warwick.  
Anno Dom. M. DC.XI.VIII.   

A true RELATION Of what past between the Fleet of his Highness the Prince of Wales, and that under the Command of the Earl of Warwick.  
Understanding that there are divers reports and untruths vented concerning his Highness the Prince of Wales going up into the River of Th●mes, I have thought good as being an eye witness of all the proceed to set forth the truth with out any partiality.  
August 26 August it was resolved by his Highness' Council in the Downs in regard of the shortness of provisions, especially bear, to go for Holland to new victual, to which purpose the Fleet weighing that day stood for the North forland, where we met with one of our small vessels who had binn abroad for intelligence, who told us the Earl of Warwick was coming down as low as the boy of the Redsand, whereupon we presently stood back for Margot Road hopeinge that night or next morning to have met with him.  
August 27 Hearing Noah news of him we weighed & stood towards the coast of Holland, but the seamen would by no means be persuaded, but would be contented with half allowance or less, so that they might go into the River of Thames, to meet with the said Earl.  
August 28 Whereupon the 28th. in the morning we weighed and stood for the long sand head, and Anckored there that night.  
August 29 We weighed and stood up into the River the wind then at South East, and when we were within a League of the Spits saw the Earl of Warwick, and all his Fleet, about 3 a clock the headmost of his Ships firing some guns to give warneing to his Fleet when they saw us, who presently stood back in to the River again we following them, and that night they got up as high as the cant and there Anckered, we could not fetch near them by 3 miles but sem a Catch to him, with a summons from the Prince, of which we received answer about 12 a clock at night.  
August 30 We weighed with the Flood, the wind Westerly and plied towards him, he then likewise weighed and still plied up into the River, and was got open of the mouth of the River of med way by which time the van of our Fleet were got near him and ready to engage, at which time a sudden gust, came at North West, with much viclence that we were both Fleets forced to chop to an anchor suddenly, one of his Frigatts spending his main Topmast or rather the head of his main Mast, & in truth this sudden storm did demonstrate to us that God was unwillinge to have any blood spilt. August 31 riding thus at an anchor all that evening and night till next day 11 a clock the wind still continueing between the North West, and West North West, and we within amile of each other, but still a hard gale of wind. The Prince perceaveing he could no wise engage them. About 9 of the clock shot of a warning piece and loosed the fore Topsail not waighinge in two hours after, and when he weighed left the Viseadmirall Rearadmirall and Convertine to bring up the rear. The Prince with the Fleet standing away, with his Topsail down on the chop to go for Holland and indeed it was high time, there being not in the Ships more than a butt of bear & no water.  
After we had stood away from him two leagues, he weighed with his Fleet as if he would have done something, and stood after us with all his sails, we still making no more sail, and as he or any of his Fleet came near to us, we staying for them they would do the like and off the Spits all his Fleet came by the lee night in hand we standing away our course for Holland with lights upon the Admiral's poop. September 1 Septemb: About 11 of the clock saw Goree Church and in the afternoon landed his Highness' in one of the small Frigatts, all the Fleet getting in but the Admiral and two more.  
September 2 The other two Ships got in but the Admiral could not.  
September 3 The wind at North West, the Admiral could not weigh, and being without any drink 24 hours cut Cable and ran into Hellivootsluise.  
Thus have I given a true and impartial relation of the whole business to stop the mouths of all those who report the Prince fled from the Earl of Warwick, for I must do his Highness that right that I never saw a man more ready and willing to engage his own person, than he was; for when Sr William Batten and others came to him, desir●ing him to go down his answer was, he would never agree to it, it being not for his honour, so that a resolution was taken if they came to engage to have carried him down by force.  
And now though I have done with the relation, yet I must say something in vindication of the judgements of the sea commanders under whose sphere it will most properly fall.  
I know it will be objected and that justly to, unless cleared a great deal of undiscretion in this business.  
As first the coming into the River with so small a proportion of victuals, and secondly, to offer to engage such Schips in so narrow a strait and so much disadvantage on the Prince's side.  
To both which I answer it was quite against the sense of the council, but occasioned by the resolutions I will not say discretion of the seamen, for in all me life I never see men more ready & unanimous to engage than they were.