A LETTER FROM The Navy with the Earl of WARWICK, Lord ADMIRAL: From HELLEVOYT SLUICE, Novemb. 24. 1648.  
Being a Narrative of his Proceed, in reducing the Revolted Ships with the PRINCE: viz. 

The Constant Warwick, carrying 32 Guns.  
The Love, 38 Guns.  
The Hind, 18 Guns.  
The Satisfaction, 28 Guns.  
A Ship laden with Sugars.  
A Catch, and other small Vessels.    
ALSO, The present Condition of the PRINCE, Duke of YORK, Prince RUPERT, and the rest of the cavalry in HOLLAND, and from FRANCE.  
LONDON, Printed for Laurence Blaikloke, and are to be sold in the Old-Bayly. 1648.   

From on Board the St. George riding at Anchor at Hellevoyt Sluice, Nou. 24. 1648.  
Sir,  
IN my last, being of the 14th. current, I gave you something an obscure Relation of our and the Enemy's Actions: But now having the advantage of time and conveyance, I shall give you the recollection of a bad memory in a little perfecter form.  
Upon the fourth current, News came to us that the Revolters had gotten all their Winter Provisions, their men, and abundance of Gentry, on board each Ship, and had appointed several Frigates, from Oastend and other places, a day of the Month to come to the Harbour's mouth, intending upon sight of them to set sail, being in hope of the States Men of War their Convoy out to Sea.  
Upon this Information, a man was presently sent to Oastend, who told us, that there were Irishmen victualling there. Upon this, the Lord Admiral advised with his Council what was expedient to be done: they ordered every Ship with which of the Revolters they should fight at Sea, expecting their coming every hour, which was desired by us; and yet this news did somewhat startle some. But when we supposed them in their highest condition, than was there the most discontent, by reason of Prince rupert's being made Admiral (as suddenly was apparent;) for the next day, being the fifth, (a fatal day for Traitors) the Constant Warwick, a Frigate of 32 Guns came from them, which they intended should have maintained the rest, having new rigged and tallowed her. This Vessel we only feared would escape and injure the Kingdom, because she sails best of any in England; But God prevented their intentions in this, and since that day they have not prospered.  
The Lord Admiral having intimation from this, and other Vessels, that more intended to desert them, if there might be an advantage of their secure coming from them, His Lordship advised with his Council what ought to be done in order thereunto, who concluded it might be advantageous to go up with his whole Fleet, and Anchor board and board with them.  
Accordingly, upon the eighth current, in the afternoon, our foresail was loosed, and guns fired for warning to the Fleet to weigh Anchor (although his Lordship had made many scruples, and seemed to oppose it) but having lain long in one place, our Cable being buried with sand, 'twas somewhat late ere we could get our Anchors up, and the wind being also at North east, so that we could not get up to them that night, but came to an anchor short, most of our smaller ships anchoring very near them, so that they discoursed with them all that night, in which night they put their land soldiers on board; But the Hind a Ship of eighteen Guns, cut her Cables and came to his Lordship, receiving a shot through her Hull, but hurt none; The next morning being the ninth, I observed their fore-sailes lose, and Anchors apeeke, ready to weigh, when they saw us weigh (half the Dutch Fleet were now gone) and as we heard, would fire upon us. When we came up upon the flood again, in the afternoon, we weighed, they weighed, and the Dutch weighed, all plying up the river. Our Frigates were round their Admiral, endeavouring to provoke him to fire (as Prince Rupert vapoured he would) but they than would not take notice of affronts. There was so little wind that we could not make our Ships work, for our Reer-Admirall run a ground, and one of theirs.  
In stead of firing upon us, they all hastened to gain the Sluice, which we might have prevented had there not been slackness in some— We had one Frigate in their Admiral's way, and lay before the Sluice mouth, where our Vice-admiral might have been also, if ordered, and then the Valiant Prince could not have run his head into that hole, as presently afterwards he did, by carrying a Hawser on shore, and the Guinea Frigate also, the rest being all at an Anchor as near the Peer as they could get, and the Dutch as near to them as they could get, and our Fleet mixed with them both, all the three Fleets being within a small compass.  
In the night they cut the Cables of five more (which we have since taken up) and haled them all but one (very valiantly) into the Sluice, where one lay thwart the others sterns.  
Our men were mightily vexed to see such brave Ships of their Kingdoms, haled into such a place to be spoilt, and might not have the liberty to fire upon them. All the means in the world were used to provoke them to fire but one Gun, but we could not prevail to make them break the peace that the Hollander lay to keep.  
The next Morning being the 10. assoon as it was light, I thought I should have seen some scuffle, for the Love (a Ship of 38 Guns) weighed and ran right for the Sluice: One of our Ships laid her cross the Hauser, forcing her to an Anchor, some of the Soldiers on board her cried fire, but immediately she yielded. After her, a Prize they had weighed and stood for the Sluice, we laid her cross the Hawser and took her. There was a third run herself on shore, to whom we sent three Frigates, and divers Boats full of men, who yielded upon condition that the Captain and his whole Company should go on shore with Bag and baggage: But in the interim they send Boats laden with men to relieve her, and our men chased them all to the Peer, and there Prince Rupert was busy in building Forts, himself & his men flinging the Turfs, and Stones, and Musket bullets at our men, but durst not fire so much as a Pistol. This Ship is called the Satisfaction, a Navy-ship of 28 Guns, now a float again, and our Rear-admiral also, who hath taken no harm, a thing much admired. We have taken in all, the Constant Warwick, a Frigate of 32 Guns; The Hind, a Frigate of 18 Guns; The Love, a Ship of 38 Guns; The Satisfaction, a Ship of 28 Guns; A Ship laden with Sugar, and a Catch. Since this they have raised two Forts, and planted Guns in them, (our Fleet riding within command of them, some within Pistol shot) have built a Court-of-Guard house. If the Town were their own they could not keep a more strict guard. They take all men prisoners that come upon the Island, take our Letters, and all things that come over Land to us. The Lord Admiral hath sent to the States to know if they will allow a foreign Prince to raise works to debar the English Fleet in their Harbour, but no answer is yet returned.  
They have now taken the sails from most of their yards, are taking out the Guns, and have haled in the fifth Ship that lay cross. These Ships have near two hundred Brass Guns in them, which we apprehend they will sell, for 'tis thought some of these Ships backs are broke.  
They have one Ship of fifty two Guns, and three of forty Guns apiece, the Guinea Frigate, which carries above thirty, The Blackmoore Lady, twenty eight, The Roebuck, twelve Guns, one small Pink, two Hoys, and two Catches, and all hailed into the Sluice.  
The Lord Admiral is now sending Frigates to Sea, towards the West, and North-coast, to ferret the Irish, and every day expecteth the Parliaments Agent from the Hague to give an account of his Message from the States, and then I suppose he will have some thoughts homewards, if liberty may not be gotten to use our endeavours to reduce the Ships.  
By the carrying on of things between the States and his Lordship, I apprehend they have some mind to quarrel, which I shall be better able to judge of by their answer when it comes. If we should receive but one shot from the Town, I suppose the Lord Admiral would fire the Ships which would burn down the Town.  
We have lost three good advantages, two whereof were known and omitted, which makes men grumble. The Prince is well again, and at the Hague, the Duke of York is still at the Brill, who was ill, but escaped the Pox Master Crofts gave the Lord Admiral a visit. Master of the Prince's horse, who came lately from France, says things look there with an English face.  
Hellivoit-Sluice. Nou. 24. 1648.   

Imprimatur  
G. M. Novemb. 25. 1648.   
FINIS.