A Letter from Lysbone, DIRECTED To Captain Thomas Harrison: Wherein is contained a brief RELATION OF THE Several Transactions BETWEEN The Parliaments Fleet, and Prince rupert's, both lying in the River of Lysbone. Also the King of Portugal's Congratulation with the State's General. Together with a List of the several Vessels and Commanders of each Fleet. April .13. LONDON, Printed for Lodowick Lloyd and Henry Cripps, and are to be sold at their shop in Popes-head Alley. 1650. 1649 A LETTER FROM LYSBONE, Directed to Captain Tho: Harrison, etc. HONOURED SIR, MY Service tendered unto you, I desire to acquaint you of the Lords gracious dealing with us, in this our design hitherto: for indeed it is very remarkable, that such a Fleet of Ships, as ours, should run such a distance without losing of company, or any other accident (in the least) happening to either of them: For, blessed be God, setting Sail from the Cows the first present, we arrived with very seasonable weather in nine days (all safe and well) in Cast-Cales Road, which was the tenth in the morning; and there understood that Rupert intended to set sail within two days, which was very true; whereupon the General sent to the King of Portugal for leave to come into the River of Lisbon: And the next day, being the eleventh, we weighed, and intended to go into the River, and lay them aboard forthwith, with as much resolution and courage as I have seen in men. But when we came near the Castles, they both shot at us (julian's and the other) divers shot; upon which we came to Anchor betwixt the Ketchupps, and sent a Boat a shore to know the Reason of their shooting at us: The Captain of the great Castle (julian's) sent Answer, That he had not Order from the King to let us come into the River. The Merchant ships that came with us seeing this, set Sail for the straits; viz. Captain Tho: Ashly, Knight, and Captain Luttun carried the Agent for Saint Lucar. The twelfth, the King sent one of his greatest Nobles to congratulate with the General, desiring us not to come in, except the weather proved bad, whereby we could not Ride where we were; it being his fear that we would quarrel or fight in his Harbour: Upon the return of his Messenger, the King sent the General a large present of provisions for refreshment. The eighteenth at night, the weather beginning to prove foul, we came into the Bay of Wyers in the River, two miles distant from Rupert; of what ships he hath, I have enclosed you a List: he hath made three fire ships also. He leaveth no means unattempted, by lies and absurdities, to make us odious: his Declaration should have been enclosed, but I conceive you will have it in print: his men come from him daily to us: and the Swallow was coming to us also the last week, but was discovered; they had one Anchor aboard: the Boatswain they have clapped in chains: Sir John Mince is gone ashore sick, and I believe will hardly trouble them any more: We are informed that their Admiral hath not above forty Seamen, and very few there are in the rest of his ships, only Renegadoes and Bandithoes: To write the hellish expressions that come from their mouths, would make a man tremble; in so much that I verily believe they are ripe to destruction: they are more like devils, than men, say all that come from them. Here are divers Merchant ships, of whom two are coming home, viz. Mr Tanner, and Mr Heaman. Rupert expects aid from the French, and we hear there are four sail coming to him with three hundred men apiece: Our Agent had audience from the King the twenty second present, of which I believe you will have more fully by others: but Captain Molton went ashore the twenty third, to satisfy the King, in answer to rupert's Declaration, with its falsities. Truly Sir, I am confident God will give these ships to us, before we part from them: but his time is the best time and his way the best. To our assistance I hope we have the prayers of all godly honest men, and we shall wait God's leisure. I have not else at present, but to give you thanks for divers favours, and continue, SIR, Your Servant in what I may John Hasclock. Bonaventure in Lysbona River, March 28. 1650. A List of Prince rupert's Fleet. Guns. PRince Rupert General. Capt. Kittleby Admiral, Constant Reformation, Mr Fernes Master of Admiral. 52 Prince Maurice, Convertine, Viceadmiral, 46 Sir John Mince, Swallow, Rereadmiral, 40 Second Charles, Capt. Marshal Captain, 〈◊〉 Yeustes Smith ship. 40 Capt. Gouldin, Black Prince, 36 Capt. Langley, A Scot, 30 Capt. Barniby Burly, Rawbuck, Mr Hargroves ship. 30 Capt. Michael, Capt. of the ship that was Mr jackson's, Guns 30 Sir John Mucknel, in the Mary, 24 Blackamoor Lady is said to be sold, 18 Black Knight, 14 Total Guns. 360 The Parliament of England's Fleet. Guns. General Blake. Capt. Thorowgood, Saint George. 57 Captain Maulto, senior, Leopard, Viceadmiral, 56 Capt. Boddilow, Entrance, Rereadmiral, 46 Capt. Harris, Bonadventure, 42 Capt. Bawl, Adventure, Frigate, 40 Capt. Salting stone, The John, 30 Capt. Benj: Blake, The Assurance, Frigate, 32 Capt. Moulton, junior, Constant Warwick, 32 Capt. Peacock, The Tigar Frigate, 36 Capt. Pearce, The Providence Frigate, 30 Capt. Wheeler, The Expedition Frigate, 30 Capt. Rose, The Signet, a fire ship, 3 The Whelp, a fire ship, 8 The two Ketches, 12 Total Guns. 454 FINIS.