A LETTER FROM General Blakes Fleet WITH The Particulars of the Great and bloody Fight with the Dutch, near Goodwin Sands, on Tuesday night last.  
AND The pursuit of the Hollanders by the ENGLISH then and since.  
ALSO The Particulars of the Loss on both sides.  
LONDON, Printed for Robert Ibbitson dwelling in Smithfield near Hosier Lane. 1652.   

A Letter from Gen. BLAKES fleet Dated in the Downs the third of October 1652.  
SIR,  
ON the 25 of Septemb. 1652. There was a great meeting of the Officers of the Fleet with General Blake, about engaging with the Hollanders then about Goodwin Sands, and it was resolved after several meetings, that on Tuesday last we should endeavour to engage with them.  
And accordingly, on Tuesday last we sailed towards them, and the Hollanders stood to us; being well manned, and every ways very well fitted, and about our number, each party being between 50 and 60 sail, and the Hollanders had two Admirals.  
First Major Bourne with the Andrew led on, and charged the Hollanders stoutly, and got off again without much harm.  
Captain Bodily with his ship also (for we have one of the Bodelies a Captain with us, besides Capt. Bodily in the Straits,) he charged exceeding gallantly; but was in very great danger to have lost his ship, for the Hollanders were so close on both sides of him. charging against him, that one might have fling biscuits out of his Frigate into the Dutch ships.  
All his sails were so torn and shattered, that he could not sail either too or fro, or any more but as the Tide drove him, and there were about 60 men killed in that Frigate, and she had near 100 shot in her Hul, and was in danger of sinking or taking.  
But blessed be God they got her safe to Harbour, the fight being not above 6 leagues from the shore.  
The w●ter being shallow upon the sands, we were in some danger of sustaining great loss, In so much that the Sovereign, and the ship in which Gen. Blake was, with the Admiral began to stick, but blessed be God were got off again without any great harm thereby.  
The Sovereign that great Ship, a delicate Frigate (I think the whole World hath not the like) did her part, she sailed through and through the Holland Fleet, and played hard upon them.  
And at one time there were about 20 Holland Frigates upon her, but blessed be the Lord she hath sustained no very great loss, but in some of her Tackle, and some shot in her which her great bigness is not much prejudiced with.  
We had some other losses in several other ships, some 2 or 3 in some ships slain, and in others twice or thrice that number: and some of the ships had loss more, and some less, in their Sails and Tackle.  
We fought them stiffly as long that night as from four a clock until we could not see to fight longer.  
I am persuaded that if we had had day to have prosecuted the fight, we had utterly spoilt them, and yet I am persuaded that their loss is very great.  
The Hollanders Vice-admiral was sunk in our sight, a very great and stout ship.  
Also another very good Frigate, and of a good bulk, we saw sink in our view.  
Two of their ships we have taken, one of 30 guns, and the other of 36 guns, neither of which did much oppose us, after we attempted to board them. By which we perceive that their hearts are much broken, and they are much discouraged.  
We hear of two ships more of theirs since sunk, some say three, but of that I cannot yet assure you the certainty, but blessed be God we lost not one ship.  
We pursued them the next day, and made some discovery of them, and sent out some vessels towards them, but they fled, and sailed away, we pursued them near Holland, but could not get them to engage.  
I believe it will be sad news to the States; and although they thought to have foundered our ships in the sands, yet blessed be God, we have gotten the Victory, and they are fled home by the weeping cross.  
We are come back now to the Downs where we are to take in supplies, and then shall endeavour to act further service, as God shall give us occasion.  
I am persuaded that the Hollanders were drunk generally the most part of them when they fought, for at first they fought exceeding desperately, as ever I saw; but after some hours, were nothing so valiant.  
But let God have all the glory, we went forth in his strength, and I hope shall still wait on him, who hath thus far manifested his presence with us, and blessing upon us.  
All our Captains generally played their parts, and so did the Sea men and the Soldiers, who plied their work, in discharging upon the Enemy, though some of the men were up to the middle in water in some of the ships.  
Dated in the Downs the third of October 1652.   
FINIS.