The naval Expedition, OF The Right Honourable, ROBERT, Earl of WARWICK, (Lord High Admiral of ENGLAND) against the Revolted SHIPS: Being a true and perfect Relation of the whole Expedition, from their first setting out from Chatham, to their return again into the downs. ALSO A Narrative or brief Relation of the seyerall Acts of God's Providence to the Parliaments fleet, under his lordship's Command in the said Expedition: Together with a detestation of that Scandalous Pamphlet of joining or adhering to the PRINCE his fleet.  
All which is Published by the several and Respective Commanders under his Lordship in Vindication of his Honour, and themselves: To which they have all set their Hands.  
LONDON, Printed by Matthew Simons, for Hannah Allen, and are to be sold at her Shop, at the crown in Popes-head Ally. 1648.   

THE naval Expedition, OF The Right Honourable, Robert Earl of Warwick, (Lord High admiral of ENGLAND) against the revolted Ships.  
WHen we call to mind those many acts of God's providence and goodness, which was manifested from time to time to the Parliaments Fleet under the Command of the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Warwick, Lord High admiral of England in the late expedition against the revolted ships, who had most perfidiously betrayed their trust, as also their own consciences in violating and breaking those Oaths and Protestations which the Officers and mariners of the said ship, had formerly taken to be true to the Parliament and kingdoms. Therefore we say, having had much experience of God's love and goodness in the said just undertakings for the kingdoms, We thought ourselves obliged from that duty we owe unto Almighty God the Author of this great mercy, and to all Christian good men who are lovers of truth and righteousness, and also their country's liberties, not to be altogether silent in this, but to speak and publish forth something of it to the World, that all such who fear the Lord, may praise his Name with us, who have been eye-witnesses of God's power and goodness in owning of us, and we do verily believe it may convince many, who were then great Enemies to our late proceedings, if they shall seriously lay to heart the following particulars.  
As first, when our Lord admiral went to Chatham, to order the setting out of ships appointed for that service, It is not unknown to many, that his Lordship had many Enemies who laboured night and day as much as in them lay to obstruct the setting forth the said Fleet, and yet many of these would be accounted faithful Members to the Parliament and kingdom, but they at that time proved themselves to be the kingdoms greatest Enemies.  
Secondly, There was great endeavouring in all places to hinder the seamen from engaging those wicked Revolters, and to accomplish this if it had been possible, there were great and large promises made to several mariners in case they would forbear Engaging in that Cause of God, which they themselves and many thousands had long served in, and so long as they continued faithful to their Engagements, God's blessing and favour was still upon them in their undertakings.  
Thirdly, The falling off of the seamen, was (as it were) universal in all places, for that a mighty spirit of error and Delusion had possessed them, insomuch as they were for a time given over to strong delusions to believe lies, and so far blinded in their judgements, that many or most of them went against their own Interest, in standing for those who resolved to join with the Irish or any Sea-rover whatsoever, to accomplish and bring to pass their wikced designs. And certainly this was the very road to have destroyed all Trade: and that sailing, mariners with their Families in a short time might beg their bread: and to confirm the truth of this, we do believe many can speak by sad experience, who have suffered in the loss of their ships and goods which were surprised by the Revolters, and since that what a Harvest hath the Irish had upon the Merchant and owner, even unto the undoing of some, and all this principally occasioned by the revolt of the said ships.  
Fourthly, The malice, rage, and madness of many was so high against all who engaged under his Lordship, that their mouths were filled with cursings, railings, and revilings, saying many of them, that our going forth would prove our destruction. And this our Enemies were confident of, though (blessed be God) we were persuaded to the contrary, knowing the Cause to be God's Cause we engaged in: But notwithstanding all this Opposition and Malignant working, there were a number of faithful and cordial men, whose hearts God drew forth to engage with his Lordship, and for others who were (unstable in their minds) as the Apostle saith, wanting principles to carry them out in such a time, when so much difficulty appeared: and for these many of them as they were taught, did often say, that they would never engage against their Brothers, as they called them. But when the Prince his Fleet came up into the River with a full assurance of having most or all the ships which then were with his Lordship. We say at that time of their coming up, Almighty God was pleased then to show his power in changing the hearts of many who were unstable, insomuch that they immediately resolved as one man to live and die with his Lordship against the Revolters, though then they in number for shipping and men were more than his Lordship, the Portsmouth fleet not then being joined with him, and this great work of setting the hearts of the men right, was immediately done at the very time they had first fight of the Enemy, and we must acknowledge this to be God's own work, for none hath power over the hearts of the sons of men but himself, being able to change them as he pleasesh. At that time his Lordship called a council of war, finding much gallantry and resolution amongst his men, that it was then resolved to fight the Revolters; which accordingly had been done, had not the Almighty prevented the same by a sudden gust of wind which came down upon them and us, and in this was a special hand of Providence; For had there been an Engagement at that time in the place we and they were in, being amongst the Sands, in all probability, it would have hazarded all or the loss of the greatest part of both the fleets, but this was prevented by the hand of Heaven.  
Fifthly, As his Lordship had much experience of the counterworkings of Enemies, so we the respective Commanders of Portsmouth and Harwich ships under his lordship's command, had sufficient Experience of Malignant Agents working amongst our men, as they had opportunity to meet them ashore, filling their heads with lies and falsities, as telling them the Prince had forty statesmen of war with him, many Danes ships, and the like, but this was not all; for they had variety of lies, which they daily spread amongst them, purposely to distract them, and break our design of coming forth if they could, which horrid wicked lying spirit, then working in all parts, we confess occasioned many disturbances among the men, to the grief and saddening the spirits of all honest men who beheld the same: but the blessing of God being upon our Endeavours, who were the respective Commanders, we brought the ships to Sea so soon as we had Order from his Lordship to sail towards him, and the twenty seventh of August was the day the Portsmouth Fleet set sail from that Harbour, which in number great and small were ten: And the last of the said month, the said Fleet came to an Anchor off of the place called the Long-sand head, the Revolters being then between the Lord admiral and the Portsmouth fleet, and about eight in the night they passed by, only the Swallow their rare-admiral, and the Constant-warwick came in amongst the Portsmouth Fleet to tell them lies, saying they were of the Lord admiral his fleet, and therefore advised some whom they then spoke withal, to weigh their Anchors and follow them, for that his Lordship (as they said) with his Fleet was gone after the P●●●nce to the Norward: but none of this treachery or lies of their would take with the Commanders they then spoke withal, God giving them more wisdom then to believe lies, being that which their perfidious design both by Sea and Land hath been carried on by.  
The next day being Friday the first of September, God brought the two fleets to a happy conjunction, at which meeting there was great shouting among the men for joy: and we are confident that news of our joining gladded the hearts of all honest men so soon as they heard of it: but as for the enemy, it was apparent, they were filled with fear, as also enfatuated in their minds and judgements, otherwise certainly they never would have passed by the Portsmouth fleet as they did, without attempting to do something upon them, in regard they had advantage and sight of them before night, in that they knew them to be the said fleet; yet they were mistaken in them, and knew them not to be the Revolters 'till they were passed by.  
In this very act of Providence among all others, we cannot but acknowledge God in it: But such was the enemies fear, God bringing the 2. Flee●s so near a conjunction as that they would not abide to see their uniting, knowing the same would prove destructive to them, which undoubtedly, had Providence ordered their stay one day longer upon our Coast, by God's blessing we should have given them their fatal blow, but their time not being come, in that their Iniquity and Sip is not yet at the height, they had liberty at that time to escape, and so fled into Holland Dominions: But after the joining of the Portsmouth Fleet with the Lord admirals, his Honour shaped his course for the downs, and after some short stay there, at a council of war, resolution was taken to sail for HOLLAND, and the seventeenth of September, we set sail out of the downs with our fleet the Nineteenth we arrived at GOREE in HOLLAND.  
Now at our going over, many of the Fleet had not much victual in, and after some time of our being there, the wind coming fair, a council of war was called, to debate whether we should there continue longer or no, and it was then resolved, that we should close with the Opportunity then presenting for our return to ENGLAND, and in this we did then Vote as we were then persuaded in our judgements, would be for the best, but no sooner had we taken this resolution, but GOD Almighty the very next day that we were to sail, caused the wind to shift, which prevented our going out at that time, and we further observed the wind had been three days fair before, and all that time no resolution taken for sailing from GOREE, and this we speak of, that it may appear to all honest men, as it hath to us, to be God's own work in detaining of us so long in HOLLAND, which we hope hath not been to no purpose, as some are ready to say:  
But as GOD was pleased to change the wind at that time for our stay, so he did immediately alter the minds of the respective Commanders, in letting them see, that it was his will and pleasure they should abide longer there, whereby they might see more of his Almighty power, in breaking the strength of a desperate, perfidious, wicked, proud, insulting Enemy; For certainly all they which knew them, will say as much of them, being great and desperate Blasphemers of the blessed name of GOD, deriders of goodness, and all such who professed the same, drinking till many of them died as it were in the place, we say these crying sins were common among them, and will GOD who is a GOD of holiness, prosper and bless such in those unjust ways they are now upon? We leave this to all Christian men to judge.  
6ly. As God was pleased to order our stay longer in those parts than we determined, so hath he clearly let us see it was for good to a poor distracted kingdom. For November the fifth in the night, the Constant Warwick broke away from the Revolters, and came to our Fleet, (and the eight of that current, we weighed with our Fleet from Goree, and went up to tide before Helvord sluice among the Revolters, the wind then being at North East, but falling calm, all the Fleet could not get up that night, though part did. The same night the Hind frigate broke from them also, at both these they shot guns, but did them no harm. The next day being Thursday, we got up with the rest of our Fleet, but the Enemy being amazed and struck with fear, as it plainly appeared to us by their working, for that some let slip their Cables, others cut and left their Anchors behind them, which after were taken up by our Fleet, and after this valiant act of theirs, they run their ships ashore at the head of the sluice, where they lay two or three days exposed to all weathers. But for the ships called the Love and Satisfaction, these after some short dispute were both delivered up, and not any man hurt in the action, though both of them manned with Soldiers and Seamen. And that which is remarkable in this, some of them ingeniously acknowledged that fear fell upon them.  
7ly. By our staying there, the greatest part of their men run from them, and got some of them over into England, others into Oftend, and many came away in our Fleet, so that when we left them, they were in no condition to set forth the four Navy ships this winter, their Design being much broken, which was for Ireland, and for future we hope will be prevented if God permit. Now hath not God in all this, frustrated the expectations of many, as namely those especially, who boasted high of their Interest in the Seamen, assuring themselves and Prince with his Adherents, that if the Revolters did but appear where the Lord admiral's Fleet was, all or most of his ships would come and join with them. But expertence we hope by this time hath made that persuasion, of theirs, to appear to be false, and to be only fictions, from the workings of their own carnal backsliding heart, and as experience may convince them so we heartily desire it may all others who were and are honest yet through unbelief and distrust dispaired of success, not considering God hath the hearts of all men in his hands, and the Cause being his own, certainly the Lord was engaged to fit Instruments to do his own work, his Glory, and the deliverance of his poor People being concerned therein. Had not the Almighty assured the hearts of many of us, who engaged in this business, certainly we should never have undertaken the same, but we were made confident of success, knowing we had God's enemies to deal withal, being such who had betrayed their Trust, their own Consciences, and as much as in them lay, the Cause of God, and their country's Liberties, yea to such to whom some of them became a scorn themselves, being cast off as men not fit to be trusted, such was the Justice of God upon them for their perfidiousness, and in this the promise of God was made good, as the Prophet says, the pit which they have digged for others, themselves are fallen into. Therefore be convinced all you Enemies who are fighters against God and his people, for you may see if any thing of God be in you, that all your wicked and treacherous designs, he himself hath broken from time to time, both by Sea and Land, and still will do attempt what you can, for those hom you fight against have an Interest in God, and are a praying people, with weapon we mean the spirit of Prayer, whowever derided by such desperate wretches as you are, is that which will overthrow all your designs, God having an ear to the prayers of his people. Read the story of King Pharaoh and his Host, and observe the story well, you shall see what became of them who fought against God and the Deliverance of his people, but we still pray, and wish that the Lord would awaken all such as are Enemies to his glory, that they may at length see if it be his will. For it will not be sufficient for you to say in the great day of the Lord Christ, that you sought for a King or a Prince, but remember what the Lord saith by the Prophet in the Psalmist, a place often cited by the royalists of our times, though much abused and wrested by them, for there is nothing in the Text for their purpose. The words are, [Tench not mine anointed, nor do my Prophets no harm] For I will (saith the Lord) rebuke even Kings for their sakes, who are my people. Would the arm of flesh have done your work? certainly you have had enough of that from time to time, but alas it is vain, trust not in it, for you may see it hath failed you all along, especially in this last great Design of yours, wherein you boasted high, that all the kingdoms were for you. We must acknowledge through the perfidiousness of base spirited men, who Judas like, betrayed their trust, you had gotten a great part in the kingdoms. But you have seen on may it God will please to let you, that its even all come to nothing, and shall in a short time we are confident all false you, for that we know the God of heaven is engaged against you, therefore you shall not prosper, plot what you can, for he who hath begun the glorious work of REFORMATION, is able and will perfect the same, to his own glory, and the kingdoms good, in despite of all opposition of men and devils. Now God is, and hath been our strength, whom then should we fear.  
8ly. Can any rational man think or conceive, that it can any ways be for the honour of our Nation, to have any part of the Navy, under the Command of a foreign Prince, as he is who is their admiral,' Pr. Rupers a wicked wretch, who hath been an Instrument of much ruin & spoil to our Nation in the late War, as by sad experience many Families can speak, it having been wholly ruinated and destroyed by him. Others put to death as hanged by his command, when no offence hath been given by those who have innocently suffered under him, and these horrid cruel wicked acts of his were done only to satisfy his devilish will, but we are assured the righteous God will one day reckon with him, and all such bloodthirsty ones for all their wickedness, and though they have hitherto escaped the sword of Justice which was due unto them, we are confident the Divine hand of God will one day overtake and reach them.  
9ly, and lastly. We have endeavoured in this, to give a brief and perfect Relation of those many acts of God's providence, which happened to us in our late proceedings against the Revolted Ships. And now we heartily wish, that as Almighty God hath owned us by Sea, and the Army by land, he would now put it into the hearts of the Parliament, to execute Justice and Judgement upon the kingdom's enemies, and were this once effectually done, we are confident it would deter men, from attempting to do such horrid villainous acts as these; in carrying away part of the kingdom's strength into the Ports of a foreign Nation, to be disposed of by a foreign Prince. But we may justly say, the want of executing with the sword of justice hath occasioned this and much more, to the expending of the kingdom's Blood and Treasure.  
We know these lines will distaste some, who have cause enough to be ashamed, in that they were very active, as much as in them lay, to hinder the setting forth of that Fleet under his lordship, which God hath owned and blessed hitherto in despite of all opposition of malignant and malicious Spirits, and hath made use of the Fleet as an instrumental cause of good to these poor shaken Kingdoms. But if it be objected by any that the Revolters are not as yet all reduced, therefore you might have forborn to speak any thing of the action till the whole work had been accomplished. To this, we shall give this answer, That if Men will eye Providence in their actings, then certainly we have done as much as was allotted by the Almighty at this time; For, we must consider God's Enemies are bounded, having their station set, and further they cannot nor shall not go, if so this may quit all, and teach us patiently to wait God's own time, for the bringing down his and our enemies; had we been free to have acted in that place where we were, by God's blessing the whole work of Reduction would have been perfected. For certainly never did more resolution appear among men, than God gave in general to our whole Fleet, who were athirst to see them out of the Port, where they might be free to fall upon them. But we may justly fear the Lord hath reserved the remaining part of these Revolters, to be a further scourge to this Nation, yet we verily believe the time of their reign will not be long; For, we doubt not but God almighty will still have instruments to stand fast and close to his cause in all times of straits and difficulties whatever; For, the back slider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, for times of difficulty is God's only opportunity to show himself that it may appear to be himself, who worketh all our works in us, and for us, and this is that which will teach us to give all the honour praise and glory to himself, who is the Author and fountain of all good, being due to no other in the world, which we heartily desire to do in this.  
Now to conclude, we cannot omit to speak something of that gallantry, faithfulness, and resolution, which God was pleased to give to our general, the Lord admiral, yea so much that his Lordship was willing to part with all relations to do his Country Service, Therefore we are, and shall be ready at all times (if God permit) to witness, that all those many false & scandalous reports of joining with the Prince's Fleet, as namely, that false and scandalous Pamphlet entitled; The Lord admiral and his Officers Declaration, to be utterly false, being a piece of some jesuitical spirit or other, and we are very confident his Lordship hath been as faithful in this undertaking of his, as any whoever served the Parliament and kingdoms, If so, certainly all honest men have cause to bless God for him, who hath been a instrument of so much good in regaining of lost Affections, and who so freely and cheerfully hath offered to sacrifice his life in the cause of God for his country's liberties, and as the Lord was pleased to fill the heart of our general the Lord admiral with resolution, integrity and faithfulness notwithstanding all those Calumnies cast upon him, by his and our enemies, so we cannot but acknowledge that the Lord was as gracious to all under his lordship's command, in making them faithful in their several places to the executing their respective duties, as they were commanded by his Honour, that we may truly and justly say his Lordship, and all those under him were cordially united as one man to live and die together.  
Now to shut up all, as we have had many pledges of the almighty's love and favour unto us, and not only to us, but to the Army in their undertakings, against the kingdom's Enemies; So our prayers shall be, that God who is wisdom itself, would fill the hearts of Parliament, Army, and Navy, whereby they and we may still be acted, united, and carried out with resolution and interity for the good of the public, and to this we do heartily subscribe.  
downs, December 23. 1648. 

Richard Haddock Vice admiral.  
Robert Moulton.  
Thomas Harrison.  
Andrew Ball.  
Richard Willoughby.  
James Peacock.  
John Mildmay.  
Anthony Young.  
Richard Fernes.  
William Branley.  
Frances Penrose.  
Owen Cox.  
John Coppin.  
John Peirce.  
John Lambert.  
Thomas Pacy.  
Jo. Bowen junior.  
Robert Nickson.  
John Edwin.  
George Deakins.  
Richard Ingle.  
Charles Saltonstall.    
FINIS.