SInce the time of our weighing Anchor at Graveſend, and paſſing the Channel of the Brittiſh Seas, great hath been the perilous diſtempers which accompanied us; for we had not been many days at Sea (being bound for Scanderoon, a place of great traffique in Turky) but immediately the raging billows of the mercileſſe Sea, began to ſwell againſt us; inſomuch, that by the extremity of weather, and vehement ſtorms ariſing thereupon, the Ships that accompanied us in our Voyage (being 5) were ſoon diſperſed, and ſeparated; and a tempeſt ariſing, every man bequeathed his life and fortune to the mercy of the all-devouring Ocean; but divine providence had ſo decreed, that in our greateſt extremity appeared Gods omnipotent and tender mercy, and when we thought the Seas to be our grave, they gaping to ſwallow and entomb our mortall carkaſſes, then did the omnipotent Jehovah cauſe the winde to ceaſe, and the waters to become calm, whereby our ſhip might ride free from toſſing and tumbling: In thankfull acknowledgment thereof, for the great mercy and freedom which we then received, our Captain and Maſter of the ſhip, ordered ſome time to be ſet a part, for an humble thankſgiving to be given to the Almighty, for thoſe his great mercies, and delivering us his poor contemptible creatures, from the mercileſs jaws of death; which with great alacrity was accordingly performed, with bended knees, watry eyes, and hearts lift up to heaven, for our miraculous deliverance from (preſent) periſhing, and deſtruction. We had not ſailed many Leagues, 'ere we perceived our ſhip to be driven near the Coaſt of Portugal, and that we had utterly loſt the reſt of our Fleet: Notwithſtanding we ſteered on our intended courſ, in which we had not continued many hours, but the Lord having delivered us out of the precedent danger, another preſented it ſelf before us; for we eſpied certain ſhips make after us, which we ſoon perceived to be French men of War, who having the benefit of the winde (and being very ſwift of ſail) ſoon hail'd us; whereupon, we commited our ſelves to the ſame providence who had formerly delivered us, and reſolved (if they proved enemies) to ſacrifice our lives and fortunes each with other: But they being approached (eſpying us to be Merchantmen) their Admirall immediately gave us a broad ſide, whereupon (they forcing us) we anſwered with a Volley ſuitable to that received; which cauſed the reſt to ſteer up, and encompaſſed us round, giving us ſeverall broad ſides; but we being ſenſible of their bloudthirſty barbariſm to the Engliſh, unanimouſly reſolved to fight it out, and anſwered them again with round and key-ſhot, which did great execution on thoſe that man'd their Decks; But the French being too numerous, we were over-powred by them, and they boorded us on both ſides, and ſlew many of our men, the reſidue deſired quarter, which was granted; and having ranſacked our Ship and Cabines, a convoy was ordered for our tranſportation to Dunkirk; where we now remain priſoners, untill a ranſome can be procured from ſome certain Merchants: for the obtaining whereof, liberty is granted to repreſent our ſtate and condition to thoſe who employed us from England; amongſt which papers, I uſed means that this Narrative might be inſerted: And truly, if timely opportunity be not ſuddenly embraced, for the cleering of the narrow Seas, and Brittiſh Coaſts, of the French Pirats, and Daniſh robbers, I much fear, that it will be the caſe of many other of our Countrymen; for under the pretence of having Commiſſion from the King of Scots, they commit great ſpoil, by annoying and intercepting the Engliſh ſhipping; and if by chance they light on any ſmall ſhips or veſſels, not able or unlikely to make oppoſition, they immediately boord them, exerciſing unheard of cruelty, tying their priſoners back to back, and mercileſly caſting them into the Sea; which had been our caſes (without doubt) but that the Lord put it in the heart of their Commander in chief, to lay a ſtrict command upon the reſt, that thoſe which deſired quarter, and ſubmitted to mercy, ſhould not receive any further prejudice. Sir, It is reported here, that certain ſhips which are now ready to put forth to Sea, are to go for the relief of Prince Rupert, whoſe condition many [in this Town] ſeem to bewail, but very few will afford to redreſſe; Here is much talk of the Parliaments Summer-Fleet, which doth much ſtartle the Governour, and retards Rupert's ſupply: Alſo, ſome Merchants (who had formerly promiſed the Governour, to be aiding and aſſiſting in ſetting forth certain ſhips) hearing of the preparations that are made for the Engliſh Fleet, are reſolved not to enter into any further engagement againſt England, but to uſe all the intereſt they have, to obtain leave to have free commerce and trade with the Engliſh. We have alſo intelligence here, that Captain Newbery, with one of the Parliaments men of War, hath lately lighted on two Frenchmen, and after a ſharp conflict took them; By which means we hope for our enlargement by way of exchange, and I entreat you, to be a means to haſten it. The Governour of Roan in Normandy (we hear) hath cauſed ſome Engliſh ſhips to be ſtaid, that were laden with Paper and other Commodities, which cauſeth ſome jealouſies (at preſent) that thoſe Manufactures will be denied tranſportation into England. There are ſome old grudges newly revived by the French, which threaten ruine to the peace and tranquility of England; But it's hoped, all their devices will be blaſted in the bud, and England (which now ſeems deſpicable in the eys of many) will ſtill be preſerved from the fury of her enemies: Which is the continuall prayer of him, who remains