BLOODY NEWS FROM HOLLAND: BEING A true Relation of the present Proceed of the Dutchmen against the English, at the Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brill, D●rt, Flushin, and divers other places.  
Also, a great Fight at Sea, between the Parliaments ships, and the Hollanders; the number burnt, sunk, and taken, by Captain Johnson and the rest of the English; with the manner of the said Engagement.  
Likewise Lieu. Colonel John Lilburn made Captain of a Man of War for the States of Holland, and his Letter to the Lord General Cromwell.  
LONDON, Printed for E. Cotton, 1652.   

A Bloody Fight at Sea, between the Parliaments ships, under the Command of Captain Vice-Admiral Clerk, Captain Penington, and Captain Armstrong; and the Hollanders, commanded by Vice-Admiral Frederick. With the particulars of the Fight, the manner of their Engagement; and the number of ships, men, and Ordnance, sunk, killed and taken.  

Sent in a Letter from Captain Owen, aboard the Dragon in the Downs, March 15, 1652.  
SIR,  
ON the 12 of this instant March, we discovered a Fleet of ships coasting along the Channel, whose pride and insolency, did much exasperate the spirits of our Officers and Soldiers, who making towards them, found them to be Hollanders; whereupon Captain Johnson haled to them, demanding from whence they came, and where bound: the Dutch Captains answered, That they scorned to give an account to Englishmen. Then Captain Johnson required them to strike sail in obedience and honour to the States of England; but that seemed more detestable unto them; who said, That although they never cut off a King's Head, yet they were the ancientest States: Why then have at you, replied Capt. Johnson, I'll have some of your heads before I leave you; and withal, gave them a broad side, & immediately tacked about and gave them another, which did great execution both above and below Decks: The Hollander being exceedingly enraged thereat, gave him a gallant Volley of 7 broad sides; but were answered triple by the rest of the English ships; who by that time were come up close to engage; insomuch that a sharp and bloody fight began, which continued for the space of 3 hours; being performed with great gallantry on both sides: But at last Captain Stokes coming in, did so terrify them with round shot, and Hand-Granadoes, that he soon fired one, sunk another, and boarded a third; which the rest of the Flemins perceiving, declined engagement, and with a fresh Gale sailed towards the Coast of France. We had them in chase for the space of 5 hours, but night approaching, we were enforced to desist. These are said to be New-Commission Pirates, set forth with Letters of Mart from the Scotch-King, and not by the Authority of the States of Holland. Their loss we conceive to be very great; for each ship that were sunk, carried 34 pieces of Ordnance, & man'd with 80 men, stout knaves I'll assure you. In this conflict we lost about 27 men; the Enemy near upon two hundred.  
The Hollander hath set forth a Declaration to raise 60000 Horse and Foot; and 300 Sail of ships; but their design is variously spoken of.  
Yet great are the Contests between the Burgomasters and the Boars; for the latter doth threaten to sequester their Estates, and bring them to a Trial for their lives, if they will not take a course to defend and assist them at Sea. And some Tumults and Rise have already been in Zealand, Rotterdam, Dort, Delf, and at the Hague, where many were both slain and wounded, and amongst the rest some English, which the Mutineers chief aimed at, and brand them with the most infamous Badge of Traitors and Conspirators to their Religion and Liberties; etc.  
From aboard the Dragon, March 15. 1652.   

SIR,  
THere hath been a great and imperial Council held at Munster in Germany, by the Ambassadors of 13 Christian Kings, Princes, and Dukes; At which Diet, they took into consideration the present state and condition of many exiled Princes; and amongst the rest, a Conference arose touching the King of Scots; but nothing dne therein (at present) by reason of other weighty and emergent businesses, which call them to a Work of far greater concernment; and may also prove fatal, if not timely prevented: For the Great Turk, and his Bashaw have taken the field with seven hundred thousand Horse and Foot, and are resolved (if possible) to make a great devastation and inroad upon Christendom this Summer: But great is the care of the Emperor of Germany, the 7 Christian Princes of Italy, the Queen of Sweden, the Prince of Transilvania, and Prince Frederick of Malta, to raise a formidable Power, and to unite and join with the Venetians, both in an offensive and defensive War against the Turks; And in pursuance thereof, a League is concluding between the aforesaid Princes; who have had a large consultation thereupon; But that which is thought most requisite and feasible at present, is, the sending of a Summons to all Christendom, for Warlike Provisions to be made against the Enemies thereof; And indeed great reason have they so to do; for never was a more potent and  Army raised these many years, as now the Turks and Janissaries have raised. Yet notwithstanding, Prince Philip (the third Son to the Queen of Bohemia, and General to the Stases of Venice) hath given them a great Overthrow near the Isle of Candia, and killed, taken, and routed about threescore thousand men: This Overthrow doth exceedingly retard the Enemy's Design; and as it is a great prejudice to them, so it is a great advantage to Christendom; And his Highness' Prince Philip hath embraced this opportunity; who by the assistance of the Divine Power, hath obtained another great Victory against the Janissaries: Since which Achievements, he is called Philip the Great; a Gentleman of a gallant temper, and endowed with excellent Properties and Virtues, both for prudence, wisdom, and magnanimity of Spirit: He is even become as great a Terror to the Turks, as Alexander the Great was to the Christians.  
The King of Scots hath sent the Lord Wilmot with a Message to the Princes of Italy, imploring Supplies and Accommodation, suitable to his present Necessities and Condition; but they have returned Answer, That by reason of the homebred divisions, and foreign Preparations of the Enemy in several parts against the Christian Territories; they could not answer his expectation at present, etc.  
The Duke of Malta hath declared, that he will give his Royal Assent to the Union, and that he will raise forty thousand Horse and Foot, to join with the Christians against the Turks; and in pursuance thereof hath granted a Commission to Prince Frederick, Landgrave of Hesse, to command in chief under his Highness' Prince Philip's.  
It is reported, that Lieu. Col. Lilburn is made captain of a Man of War for the States of Holland; and that he hath received Power and Instructions, to fire, sink, or take, any ships whatsoever, that shall be declared Enemies to the United Provinces.  
Some also relate, that he hath sent a Letter to the Lord General, putting his Exceliency in mind of his Protestation at Huntingdon; wherein he desires him to stand up against Oppression; to propagate the Gospel; to preserve the liberty of the People, and to maintain the Laws of the Land in its purity without corruption or bribery.  
FINIS.