A PERFECT REMONSTRANCE and NARRATIVE OF ALL The Proceedings of the Right Honourable  
Robert Earl of Warwick, Lord High admiral of England, in his late Expedition with the Parliaments Navy, in order to the reducing of the R●volted Ships, Commanded by his Highnesse, Charles Prince of Wales.  
CONTAINING, The great and Victorious achievements, of the said Lord admiral against Prince Rupert, and the Navy: the number of Ships taken, and a discovery of their great and bloody Design against this Kingdom.  
BEING An exact journal, and full Relation of each dayes proceedings, since the first setting forth of the Parliaments Fleet against the Revolted Ships.  
From the 29. of August, to the 25. of December, 1648.  
 naval battle  
Printed for Henry Crips in Popes-head-Alley.   

A Narrative of the Proceedings of the Right Honourable, the earl of warwick, Lord high admiral of England, in his late Expedition, in order to the Reducing of the Revolted Ships.  
THe first day of the appearance of ours, and the kingdoms Adversaries, who were in number, 18. great and small, was on Tuesday, the 29 of August, in the afternoon, which invited us with all cheefulnesse forthwith to fit our ships to engage with them, we being in number 12. great and small, but night so suddenly attending, could not approach to the convenient distance of Engagement. The next day being the day of public Fast, our adverse admiral, in which was Prince Charles, at tide, weighs with all his Fleet, and plied up towards us, which Motion invited us to weigh also▪ endeavouring to get the whether gauge of them, and withall to drawing them further up the River, that so we might have the more room and less danger to engage in; our Adversaries plied hard to cost up with us, being in the hea●e of their rage, not doubting, but they should soon have carried us without little or no engagement, they supposing that our men had been● as treacherous as themselves, in betraying the trust reposed in them; but to the contrary they found; they expecting some of our Ships to have come to them. But for the honour of the men in the Lord admirals Fleet, I speak it, that although our Adversaries appeared far greater in number and strength then we, yet did it not at all weaken their courage and resolutions, insomuch that I dare challenge any to parallel men that were ever seen more desirous to be engaged: which, doubtless, as it was to our Adversaries non-expectation; so, indeed, was it to our own admiration, in regard the mayor part of them were prest men, and engaged by us on this design, from their more gainful Voyages; yet with great courage, cheerfulness, and desire of speedy action did they appear, Crying out, Let us Fire, Fire.  
The Vice-Admirall of our Fleet, whose Valour and Courage I was spectato● of, which deserves to be had in memorial, who being nigh our Ad●●rs 'vice admiral, was not a little discontented, in regard he could no● Engage, It being before ordered, that our Adversaries should first begin, which they seemed suddenly to effect: But it pleased God, in the very moment of our engaging, to sand a storm of wind at North West, which immediately forced both us and our Adversaries to anchor, even nigh within shot of each other, our men seeming discontented, that they had not an opportunity of engagement; which, I am persuaded, had not God, for reasons best known to his heavenly wisdom, prevented, even by this sudden storm, it had been a very bloody day, we being assured, that God was engaged with us, and that he would appear by Sea, even by few, as he had done by Land, and gain himself glory in the ruin of his and our kingdoms enemies.  
The next day being Thursday, the storm being abated, our Adversaries at Tide weighed, which we likewise did, the weather promising fair, and our men heightened in Courage, expected a sudden engagement, but contrary to our expectations, our Adversaries, after Loose, bore away to the Noreward, with his worthy Attendants after him; which animated our men to follow after them, and force us to an engagement, we bearing after them, but night so nigh approaching, prevented our mens desires, in the close of which Evening, our Adversaries espied our Porsmouth Fleet, though we not, and thereupon resolved to act with such subtleties, as to Wave engaging, in their seeming to us to anchor the said Evening, but did drive away with the Tide till it grew dark, and then they bore away, coming through part of our Portsmouth Fleet, Calling to some of them, Weigh, and to follow the admiral, which they said, was the earl of Warwick, but notwithstanding their treacherous bait, our Portsmouth Fleet soon discerned them to be what they were, we lying at anchor the said night.  
The next day, contrary to our expectations, our adversaries were departed, which induced us with all speed to a pursuit; we Weighing, and soon after came up with our said Porsmouth Fleet, in number nine, who also by order Weighed, we steering away together for Haverford West, supposing that our Adversaries were gone that way; nigh unto which place, we had intelligence that they were gone for Holland, which caused us at convenient time, to depart for the Downs, & there went ashore, where we were spect●tors of the ruin in part, which our said Adversaries had made by land in the town of deal, and Castles adjacent. The Lord admiral Riding there about 14 daies, in which time, he sent out some frigates, and putting the said Castles into a posture of defence, which when effected with the advice of his council; winds permitting, departed for Holland, and after 2. dayes sale, arrived in Goree withall his fleet, in number 22. great and small, all anchoring nigh to Goree, the ●ide of flood being spent, and in distance from our adversaries 3. miles riding before Helf●ord sluice, which Evening the Lord admiral sent a Message aboard them, Demanding the Ships for the Parliament of England, and tendering indemnity to the Marrine●s. But Captain Batten, an● Captain jordan, with others of the grand Agents in the said Ships revolt, one of which deserves to be branded for his perfideousnes, and his unworthy requital of the Parliament, who raised him to his Estate and Honour, being aboard the admiral of the said Revolted ships; returned as to answer, that the Prince was at the Hague, whom they would forthwith acquaint thereof, whom having notice thereof, returned Answer, that he detested the surrender of the ships, declaring that he would keep them for his Father.  
And now before I proceed in the further Relation of our Proceedings, I shall crave leave to speak a few words in the vindication of the Right Honourable, the Earl of Warwick, Lord High admiral of England, against those Green headed Seamen, or ignorant serving-men, who say that if he wi●h his said F●eete had gone up to the Revolted ships at our first coming in, he had effected the work to which he was called, I will no● say, but peradventure we might have reduced some part of them▪  
But give me leave to tell you that it was no wisdom to go up before we had notice in what posture they were, or whether they had planted Guns on the shower, which they did at the first sight of us, and immediately put the Ships into a posture of defence; but grant that we had run rashly up and clapped them abroad, doubtless some of the most desperate would either have cut their Cables, and so have forced ●s both a shore, or else have blown up both themselves and us, it being ordered by the council of War, not thought fit to engage, so that I conclude, and doubt no● of the most experie●ced Seamens consent, that it was a great piece of wisdom in the Lord admiral in attaining as he did, he having such a respect to his fleet, as of that concernment, on which depends the preservation and safety of our Kingdom, whom also at all councils of War was ready & willing to hearken to the advice of his Captains under him, in all their proposals which seemed to tend to the effecting of that work to which he was called.  
And as in this he unblamably, acted so by the way, I must not omit that gallant act of his which cut of respect to our Kingdoms peace, he engaged in his coming down in a small Vessel, the Nicodemus into the Downs aboard the ships, seem after their Revolt thereby, exposing himself to the rage and fury of a desperate party, even in their greatest heat, which I presume few or none other of the Nobility of our Land would have undertook the like: the which honourable service of his, deserves to be recorded to future Ages.  
And at his b●ing in Holland retired aboard, being excluded from those wonted delights and pleasures which he frequently did enjoy in our own Kingdom, in respect to the good of which, he had thus sequestered himself, he unweariedly resided aboard, finding little or none respect in Holland.  
And now to proceed in order to our ensuing proceedings, soon after our arrival in Holland; some of the States came aboard his Lordship, acquainting his Honour that it was their desires that no acts of hostillity might be committed in their part betwixt us and our adversaries. And to that purpose, would sand some ships of theirs, the better to maintain peace. At whose departure the Lord admiral fired 21. Guns, and soon after came in at several times, to the number of 16. Dutch ships, which forthwith invited Van Trump their admiral, whom came aboard his appointed ship, and tide presenting came down and ankered with all his fleet mid way betwixt us and our Adversaries, whom declared that they which first began to engage, he would engage against; whereupon the Lord admiral being tender of acting, so as to make a breach betwixt Holland and us in these our distracted times, patiently waited; hoping that some sh●ps of our adversaries would have come in to us, and return to their true obedience; but for the space of 7. weeks no ships, onely some men came to us. But so soon as we had information that p. Rupert was appointed admiral, which caused Batten, and Jordan to dissert them, & discouraged divers of the Gentry; we were in some good hopes to effect the work to which we were designed, supposing that all English spirits that had respect either to their own good or Kingdoms welfare, would have detested the Command of him, whose name is enrolled for the grand actor of all murder, rapine, cruelty, and mischief, committed by him lately in our Kingdom of England; and indeed who hath no other character but the bloody Butcher of England, in whom may the Parliament of England behold the fruits of their Clemency, to such guilty unworthy perso●s; but contrary to our expectations this grand enemy of our Kingdoms, prevailed with the Se●men in giving them their full sway and content in all manner of Vices whatsoever, though of money very little I confess, a worthy inducement to engage men in opposition unto, and ruin and disturbance of their own Kingdom, the peace of which they as Subjects thereof are engaged to maintain; ●nd remarkable it was, on the 5. of November, the fatal day of ruin for such traytors to their Kingdom: the vessel of which they most bo●st●d, and appointed as the Father thief for their fleet, in regard she sales so well; namely, the Constant Warwick, having 32. Guns, disserted them and came to us, which occasioned our going up the next day nigh unto our Adversaries, the fruit of which was seen.  
The next Ev●ning by another Vessel, which said night deserted them, and came likewise to us; namely the Hine frigate, having 18. Guns which put us into such good hopes of regaining the rest, that the next day at ●ide we weighed and went up even amongst them, our adversaries with the Flemings, at which they likewise weighed, our Adversaries endeavouring with all speed to get into the sluice, and although Prince Rupert at our fi●st weighing, vapored and threw out divers of his new invented Oaths that he would fire at us, which I could wish he had effected, and no● so quickly to run his head into a hole for security▪ which s●id tide they got part of their ships in, and nigh about the said sluice, the rest riding among us, having not time to follow their Leader:. At which our men were mightily enraged partly to see their Kingdoms Ships hale into such a hole, which as is supposed hath broken some of their backs, and also in that we could not engage with them without breach of peace betwixt Holland and us, so notwithstanding of the Commanders of our fleet having much ado to keep their men from being in action against them, which were riding among us the next day, we without much opposition secured the love and gained satisfaction, although we could not attain the Constant Reformation▪ which with the Antilope, Convertine, Swallow, Roebuck, Ginnies frigate, & Blackmore Lady, are in the said sluice, a worthy pack together, who employ themselves in inventing new Oaths and disturbance to their Kingdom. Insomuch, that some who are come from them say; that surely, if hell be in earth, it is there, & if the Revolted ships and hell were apart, they would rather go into hell then return to them again; some of them having hastened themselves to the Devil that first set them on this work, even by their excessive dri●king of strong waters: a just judgement of God for that horrible and detestable Act, in betraying the trust reposed in them.  
And now Trinitarians, behold and see what a blessed Crew you have stood up for, justified and maintained, the reducing of whom might soon after their Revolt been effected, had not you so publicly declared for them, and abstracted all proceedings that were in agitation towards their reducement, in order to which, had you only stood but as neuters, and not countenanced them, and discountenanced those that appeared to engage for their reducement.  
The Lord admirals Fleet had long before it was Creend forth, and questionless effected the work, which had no●, only saved the Kingdom much expense of money, which already it hath cost in order to their reducement; but also preserved many Merchants goods and ships: by means of which, have been exposed to the bloody Irish. And withall, had not the Lord Admiral prevented our adversaries from coming forth, which he did by his riding there in Goree, whose Design was for Ireland to join with the Irish in robberies and murders. What further losses our Kingdom in general by obstruction of Trades and Merchants; in particular, by loss of goods and ships, would have sustained, I leave any rational man to judge: so that although we could not wholly effect our denred purpose, yet I doubt no●, all judicious men do look on our prevention of their coming forth as of no small concernment to our Kingdom. The Lord admiral waighted nigh 12. dayes after, in which time he dispatched some frigates for the Westward, for the more security of Trade a & Merchants Goods. He staying himself with the rest of his fleet, until the I●e began to threaten us, which caused us to embrace our opportunity. We departing the 21 of Novem. we arrived in the downs the 23. From whence the L. admiral dispatched more Frigors to the Westward, and forthwith acquainted the Parliament of his Lordship being here, who suddenly returned to his Honour in particular, and to the Captaines and mariners under him in general, a Letter of thanks, for our good service which we had done, in order to the Reducing of the Revolted Ships, which work, although but in part effected, yet such is their respect to Seamen, that they have ordered those that engaged in this service, the gratuity which was promised for the whole, which, I hope, hereafter will engage them all, who either have respect to their own, or Kingdoms good, in all faithful obedience, and never to desert the trust which shall be reposed to them, and so be rendered as Traitors to their Kingdom, seeing they cannot but dissert, as some of them have confessed, the immeadiate hand of God appearing both by Sea and Land, against such who act to the disturbance of the Kingdoms Peace, and I doubt no● but God in his due time will enlighten the eyes of us Sea▪ men, who in a great measure behold visible appearances of God, that we at last may with our fellow Subjects by Land, without respect of particular gain, or loss of lives, voluntarily engage for the perservation of our Kingdom, Religion, laws, and Liberties, which are inevitably struck a● by our Adversaries both by Sea and Land, although coloured over with faire pretences, when indeed, none can prosecute more dangerous ententions. But I hope, my fellow Sea-men, ere it be too late, will see how they have been misl●d, and regain their honour by a total dissertion of their kingdoms Enemies, and hereafter will be able to discern thei● Friends from theirs & the Kingdoms Fo●s, against which there are apparent evidence of Gods opposing them; I hoping for the time ensuing, ●o● will be induced to the utter detestation of the one, & love to the other, in all ready engaging for them, who have sequestered themselves for the effecting of the public good, so may you rest assured of their Countenancing you, and so confidently may expect, as you have found by experience the hand of God engaged for you, and his presence still accompanying of you ●n the perfecting of his great work, which happy a●e you in that he hath honoured, as Instruments to effect.  
downs this 28th. of Decemb. 1648.