THE Copy of a Letter from THE REARE-ADMIRAL OF THE ENGLISH FLEET FOR THE COMMON WEALTH OF ENGLAND, TO AN EMINENT MERCHANT IN LONDON.  
Being a true and plain Narration of the whole Proceed and Fight betwixt them and the Dutch Fleet near the Downs, upon the 19 day of May, 1652.  
June 1st. LONDON, Printed by G. D. for William Hope, and are to be sold at his Shop at the North door of the Old Exchange, 1652.   

The Reer-admirals' Letter to an Eminent Merchant in London.  
SIR,  
Lest my silence altogether may breed suspicion of neglect to my friends, although you may well guess I have little time yet to write, being scarce recruited with any rest, and having many things in head and hand at this season; yet I shall briefly offer thus much by way of advice, to the end you may with us acknowledge, that we have great encouragement to believe, that the pledge of God's favour to us, is a sufficient Testimony amongst many more, that he is amongst us, and will appear in glory. The 18 of this Instant about ten a clock in the forenoon, Van Trump with 40 sail of Ships of War more, appeared very near the back of the Goodwin, the weather being haisie, we could not see him before. At which time of his appearance, myself being commanded thereunto, was left in the Downs, and wore a Flag at the Maintopmast head, and with me seven ships were left, the rest of the Fleet being with the General to the Westward, they consisting of 12. sail, when I saw them luffing round in with the Southsands head, the tide of Flood being just then come; I concluded he was resolved for the Downs, and intended to have dealt with us, he knowing by intelligence that our Fleet was divided. I presently got lose, and those with me, and were in readiness for them with that small strength we had. But within two hours after he had lain muzzled between the Sand-head and the Forland, two Frigates appointed by the General Trump, came towards us, which were met by one small Frigate, I sent out for that purpose to understand their Resolution; who answered, that they had a message to deliver to the Commander in the Downs, so they came into the Road, and the Captains of them both came aboard me, who in the name of their Admiral saluted me, and gave me this account of his approach so near: Namely, that he thought it necessary to send them to give this intimation of assurance, that he came with no intent to offer any injury to the English Nation, and withal desired there might not be apprehension of any such thing, for he was forced thereunto being put to Leeward with his Fleet by the Northerly winds that had blown hard, and that the day before he road off Dunkirk, where divers of his Fleet had lost their Anchors, and so forced to Leeward. This compliment I received with great allowance on my part, in point of Credence; looking at this but a juggle, and could not otherwise expound this, but a high affront to this State, and a great provocation to us, and by his Messenger returned this Answer, that in part I believed their coming so nigh was occasioned by the winds. But I know well it was in their power whether that day they would have come so nigh us, and so returned a compliment to their Admiral, and desired, if he were real in what he pretended, he would remove his quarters, else we should interpret it otherwise, and gave him to understand that our Admiral was plying up towards this place being Crucing abroad. Among other discourse they told me their Admiral would have come into the Road, but was not willing to strike his Flag: To which I returned him answer, that we should expect nothing more nor less, but what they know to be the ancient right of this Nation, and that would be expected not only here, but elsewhere in these Seas wherever we met him. And whatever our strength was in their outward Observation, we had the strong God on our side, who would judge between the Nations, and whether they intended War or Peace, it did not signify much to me, but wished the hand of God might be upon that man, who should be first cause or ground of the breach between us. For our parts they might see sensibly that we had no such intentions, unless forced thereunto. So they returned with this message, and that evening the whole Fleet anchored off the S. Foreland in the fair way. Of all this I gave account to the Council of State, and also dispatched away a small Vessel with the like to the General Blake, which came to his hand that night, and in the morning I received return from him, being between the Nesse and the Foulstone. All that night I kept a guard by two Frigates that lay at a distance from me, and one from another, betwixt us and them, to give sight of their motion, but they moved not that night. About noon the nineteenth day, we set sail with my Squadron towards Dover, supposing by that time I had the length of the Foreland, I should see our General, who that Flood would be with us: And immediately the Holland's Fleet weighed anchor, and all stood off towards the coast of France. I bore away to the Westward, and within an hour saw our Fleet at three Leagus distance almost, they plying we came near them apace; all this while Trump stands over, and as I suppose, was fitting his Ships, and consulting, what to do, for by this time he saw our General: Indeed I thought surely he would have plied homewards to avoid striking. But very suddenly after he bore up, and all his Fleet, forty one in all, and made all sail, himself in the Van steering right our General, and so seasonably did God order things according to our thoughts, that were just, and were in conjunction with both our Squadrons by the time that he was come to our Admiral: He most insolently bore right to him with his Flag abroad, at which the General shot once, a second time, and a third; Upon which Trump fired his broad side, or the greatest part at him, and withal put abroad a bloody Flag under his other, upon which every of us addressed to the Engagement, according to that God called us unto: Their Ships generally firing upon us first, and indeed the reason of that in part was, because we would get nearer them, that so our Ordnance might do the better execution on them, and withal we look at it as our advantage in point of Innocence, that they struck us first.  
About four in the afternoon we began, and continued fight till it was dark. Trump steered a way right afore it, the wind being Easterly, his Fleet followed accordingly, we being on his right wing, some of us endeavouring to break his body, divided them into two or three parts, wherein they shuffled themselves into clusters, but by reason many of our Ships and Friggots sailed very heavy by reason they are foul, we could not so fully attain our desire upon them, yet by the help of God gave them so much, that they had no mind to engage any further than we could force it: for they made all sail they could, most of them, and as we coveted to be near them they declined, and I do verily believe they were heart-strucken notwithstanding their insolent Bravado. This gave us a clear call, and added a great deal of resolution to us, that they sought us, and came to us to make the quarrel, when as they might have avoided it do what we could. Our men very unanimous in the Work: And I am very confident upon very safe grounds of Faith, that they should be as driven stubble before the whirlwind of the Lord. I shall not add more, I bless God I fear before him, He is our strength and our confidence. But surely they quitted themselves very dishonourably: forasmuch as they suffered us to take one of their Fleet, of thirty Guns, and as I presume by all circumstances we sunk another of the same force: both which fought very stoutly, yet none of their Fleet would succour them, so great was their haste, and I do verily think, that if we had had one hour or two more before it was dark, you would have received a better account of many of the rest. As for that Ship that was taken, she is with us, and her men which are about ninety or one hunured, are divided aboard our Ships, the Captain of her is a Flushinger, who was aboard off me at Calis, when I was abroad with a squadron, about three weeks ago, and he cries out aghasted Trump, and the rest, for their cowardly carriage in leaving them to our mercy, having so great a Fleet with him, we being but half his number, and withal avows he had no knowledge of any intention to fight with us. As for the other Ship, I presume she sunk in the night, forasmuch as when our ships left her, she had six foot water in hold, and her mainmast shot overboard, and our men durst not keep in her, the Captain of her forsook her, and came aboard in the Boat we sent aboard, but what is become of the men we know not, it being in the night, and our Fleet scattered were constrained to gather about our General, to the end we might consult what to do, we having been surprised before we could speak a word together, or receive any thing of command from him. What other spoil we did them we know not, what they have done to us is not very considerable, unless the blood of our men, which will be called for in due season. The General had six men killed, besides divers wounded, some others lost four, some two, and one, and some none killed, but few hurt. Our Rigging, Masts, and Sails shot, most of us, and many shot in our Hulls, notwithstanding we have lost so few men. All I shall say is, this is the first of God's appearing for us by Sea, and though the fight was running, and not so hot as otherwise it would, if they had not declined it, yet we look at God in his providence, giving us great boldness to believe that the War was his, and that if they go on to make war, it is that they may be broken, although we are very unworthy of any such favour, and very weak and inconsiderable in strength.  
The 20. being yesterday, we saw them in the morning as fare as we could descry them, plying over as I suppose for Deip Roads, or the Coast of France, that night it was resolved at a Council of War to ply into Dover Road, or the Downs, there to recruit some things we want, and also to receive a positive Order from our State in order to our proceed. The Lord of Light be their Counsellor, and then fear nothing. I have been more tedious in this narrative, (not that I love long discourse, neither am very fit at present to write) but to satisfy you and all friends who are with us in heart, and are deeply concerned in this beginning. The Lord help you to remember us, and keep us faithful unto him, and his Interest, and honour us much more in doing him service if he have any pleasure in us, which is the greatest ambition I have in this World, and so I crave leave to remain,  
Your very affectionate and faithful Servant, N. BOURNE. Aboard the Andrew, in the Downs, May, 21. 1652. in the afternoon.