THE DECLARATION AND RESOLUTION OF The States of Holland, touching the Parliament and Commonwealth of ENGLAND.  
WITH Their calling of a General Council at the Hague, and their PROCLAMATION and PROCEED concerning the last Great Sea-Fight upon the DOWNS.  
TOGETHER, With a perfect Narrative thereof, sent to the Parliament, and one hundred sail of Men of War to be forthwith sent out for the preservation of the STATES.  
LONDON: Printed for G: HORTON. 1652.   

A brief RELATION OF The occasion and manner of the late fight in the Downs, betwixt the Fleet of the Commonwealth of England under the command of Gener all Blague, and that of the States of the united Provinces under the command of Admiral Trump, May, 19 1652. according to an account given by divers who were eye-witnesses of the action.  
BEfore we proceed to the main, it will be necessary to give you (as a preparative thereunto) a short view of the behaviour of certain Dutch ships towards Capt. Young, Capt. of the Precedent Frigate.  
As Captain Young was coming to the Westward, to take the command of the West-guard, the 12 instant, he descried a Fleet of about 12 sail coming from the Southward; and making sail off to them, he found them to be a Fleet of Hollanders come from Genoa and Legorn. Three with Flags were states men of war for convoy, the rest Merchants ships. Hereupon Captain Young sent his Master to the Admiral to let them know that amity was as yet continued between the two States, and therefore that he summoned him to strike.  
Upon this, the Admiral took in his Flagg, and put abroad a Pendant, saying he belonged to Amsterdam. But then the Vice-admiral came up with his Flagg abroad, being a ship of 42 guns who would by no means be persuaded to strike, though called on over and over. Then Captain Young fitting himself gave him abroad side, and received another from him, which made the rest to engage, but after the exchange of four or five broad sides, Captain Reynolds and Captain Chapman coming in, the Rear and Vice-admiral also were at length forced to strike; which being done, they were civilly used in regard of t●e treaty on foot betwixt both nations.  
The Vice Admiral was much shattered, and it seems nothing but pure necessity made him strike, for, he sent Capt. Young word that his ship was ready to sink having four foot water in the hold; and that he had order from the States, that if he struck he should lose his head for it.  
Now that which in the next place is most remarkable is the behaviour or the Dutch the day before this last fight; which seemed very fair.  
For, Upon the 18 instant, Van Trump with a Fleet of 42 sail on the back side of goodwin's sands, was discovered by Major Bourn who command the Andrew, and by the rest of our ships riding in the Downs. They bearing towards the Road, Major Bourn commanded the Greyhound to make sail and to stand out and speak with them, who when she came near struck their Top sails, demeaning themselves civilly, and saying, they came from Admiral Trump with a message to the commander in chief in the Downs. Hereupon they stood out in the Road with our Squadron, and coming aboard, they in the name of their General very plausibly saluted our ships with this account, in order they said) unto the satisfaction of this nation; how that the Northerly winds having blown hard for divers days, they were put further to the Southward than they intended, they having road for some days off Dunkirk, where they had lost several of their Anchors and cables; adding that they had no intention of injury to the English nation.  
Yet even at that time, our ships were jealous they had some design in their so near approach, because an expression dropped from one of their Captains in discourse, which did import that they were unwilling to strike their flag. And however disguised, their coming thus could be no less than a Bravado, since it was then in their choice whether they would have came so near our Fl●et or no; Gen. Blague was at that time also Westward with the greatest part of the Fleet, to whom Major Bourn immediately sent an express of all that passed, and ordered the Assurance and the Grey hound to he near their Fleet that night, to observe their motion.  
General Blague being in Rye Bay, did there receive the express with an account of all from Major Bourn; whereupon he made all possible speed to ply up towards them, and on Wednesday the nineteenth instant in the morning, he saw them at Anchor in and near Dover road.  
Being come within three Leagues of them, they weighed, and stood away by a wind to the Eastward, our Fleet supposing their intention was to leave us to avoid the dispute of the Flag. About two hours after they altered their course; For, a Captain of their own, now our prisoner, confesseth, that as they road off towards the French coast, a ship of the States of Holland came towards them, and made a waft with his Flag to Vantrump, who bore up to that ship, and a boat went from that aboard Vantrump. Whereupon he immediately made all the sail he could, hastening with his Fleet towards ours, and bore up directly with our Fleet, himself being headmost of his own.  
Being come near, within Musquet-shot, Gen. Blague shot a Gun. but without a Ball, at his Flag; which he did also twice more, Vantrump answering him with a Gun on the averse side of his ship, which signified a high disdain or scorn (according to the Sea-custome) and then immediately, instead of striking (according to the ancient Usage) he hung out a red Flag, which his Officers that we have taken, confess was the Signal, and gave our General a Broadside, and so the fight began about four of the Clock in the Evening, fare otherwise than what hath been reported by Trump himself, and others.  
Then Major Bourn coming in to the engagement with eight ships more, the fight was continued for above four hours till night parted them.  
The next morning the Dutch Fleet was espied about four leagues distance from ours towards the Coast of France. What harm we have done them is not fully known, but one of them was supposed to be sunk, and another of thirty Guns we have taken, with the Captains of both, the Mainmast of the first being shot by the Board, and much water in the Hold, which made one of our Captains to give her over as in a sinking condition. We have six men of our Admirals slain, and nine or ten desperately wounded, and five and twenty more not without danger, among them the Master and one of his Mates.  
The Admiral received above seventy great shot in the Hull and Masts; but in the Sails and Rigging without number, having engaged some time alone with the whole body of the Dutch Fleet; and though he were the principal man that they aimed at, yet he came off wi●h honour.  
One thing may not be omitted, that upon news of this fight, divers sea men of Dover, Deal, and Sandwich, to the number of three hundred voluntarily boated themselves to our Fleet; and though engaged in the General's ship, in the heat of the fight, came off without the loss of one man.  
Since this, we understand that General Blague plies to and again with his Fleet, being well reinforced, and that Trump with his Fleet is returned home. We have prisoners of the Dutch two Captains, two Lieutenant, and about a hundred and fifty others.  
One thing more is to be added to our foregoing relation, which is very observable; how that as Trump came on towards our Admiral, he commanded up two of his men, who kept still at the top of his Main Mast, as if they meant to take down the flag; a pretty mysterious passage to amuse us touching their intention. We shall make no inference upon the whole matter, but leave the world to judge.  
Since this great blow given by the English, the States of Holland have called a General Council, whose results tended to peace and unity with the Commonwealth of England, and declared their Resolutions for a Union. Yet notwithstanding, many of them seemed to own what Van Trump had done in the precedent action, and to that end, Declared, That an Act, or Edict, should be forthwith published in reference thereunto. But the State's General are clear of a contrary opinion, and seem to be exceedingly exasperated against all those that shall be instrumental, aiding, contriving, or assisting, in making a breach with England.  
There is an additional Fleet of 100 sail setting forth, their Design pretended, for the safety and preservation of the United Provinces: Nevertheless, many of the Dutchmen rage exceedingly, and swear to be revenged of the English. Their great Threats are little to be feared; and as they liked their last Supper, so let them prepare for a Breakfast.  
FINIS.