pleased to send for me the other day to tell me that hee understood from his Grace how well hee was satisfyed with my services, which his Lordshipp was pleased to expresse his generous sense of, and to encourage me to the continuance of my duty. I am in all duty, my Lord,

Your Excellencyes

most obedient and most faithfull servant,

R Sept. 4.

J. VERNON.

No. 93.-FROM WILLIAM BRIDGEMAN.

Whitehall, August 29th, '73.

My Lord, Last post day upon the coming in of the Fleet into the Gun Fleet the mailes were stopt, and therefore I did not trouble your Excellency then; since, I have spoken to Mr. Bartie, who tells mee now my Lord Treasurer is come abroad againe, and so well as to doe businesse, he will put the payment of your bill of extraordinaries into a way of dispatch, and supposes it will admitt of no difficulty; however I will call upon him to minde him of it, the rather because I doe not see any body sollicite that concerne of your Excellency.

Prince Rupert came to towne on Wednesday night last and complaines much of the behaviour of the French in the late engagement, but seems to blame principally, if not onely, the C. d'Estrees, in which he is seconded by Monsieur Martel, Rear-admirall of the French, nor doe we agree among ourselves, the commanders complaineing one of the other and even accusing one another, and, though this matter occasions various discourses here, I cannot tell you of any certaine resolutions the King has taken in this matter, though I am

The words printed in italics are in cipher in the original.

told the King should say he would have it examined thoroughly. The great shipps are to be laid up for this summer and as many as are in a condition to keep the sea are to goe out with all speed. The Duke of Monmouth has desired the King's leave to goe in the Fleet, which the King haveing consented to, he has given him the command of the Swiftsure, a new third-rate, commanded by Captaine Rooth, who stays with the Duke.

I am with all respect and truth, my Lord, Your Excellency's most faithful and most humble servant, WM. BRIDGEMAN. R Sept. 4.

No. 94.-FROM HENRY BALL.

May it please your Excellency, Whitehall, August 29, 1673. The great surprize and trouble our East Indya Company have been in these 3 dayes upon an advice of Tromp's sayling with 20 frigatts to rescue their East Indya ships, has caused the Councell to meete often at my Lord's lodgings in the Court. What they have resolved on is not said, but this day Mr. Page and some others of them were sent for by the Lords about it, the marchants having some letters from Kent that said there was a squadron of 30 ships appeared off of the Goodwin Sands and they feared them the Dutch going to Kinsale, but Prince Rupert would not believe them, and sayd as the wind stood now and had mostly all this weeke directly S.W., they could not make through the channell safely, and, if they could not doe that, he was sure they were too cautious to run where they could not be secure; his Majesty was upon the first suspision of their going much troubled, knowing that Kinsale could not secure them as they were so many and the men of warr not halfe manned or gun'd and their best men sicke, no fort of any force, nor

any militia ready; but what was the forcablest reason of the feare, was that they would be surprized and consequently be ashoare and neglectfull, our orders going to have them sayle to Plymouth; but the next night after the arrivall of the newes, and then ordering them (if the messinger came time enough) to sett sayle from thence directly to Plymouth the 25th instant, which if they did so, then the merchants are out of their feares. They blame much the want of the stop to the Dutch post the last Fryday, when the newes came in, and Mr. Page told me they desired itt, but it could not be gott, which probably might have kept the advice from them some few dayes. If they loose these ships the Company say they can never hold up their heads againe, and they say his Majesty, besides his own three prize ships, will loose 80,000l. in customes from the marchants, but I hope, since our letters from Deale mentioning nothing of the appearance of any enemy, that these reports and feares may prove vaine. The seamen have been cherisht with the hope of their pay from these prizes, and that is no small benefitt, at this time, when our men, as the Dutch say, want their usuall manly courage.

On Wednesday night came up from the Fleete his Highness Prince Rupert, the Earle of Ossory, and divers principall commanders. All that night and the next the bells and trumpetts welcomed his Highness, and he was received with the greatest dearness possible as well from the King as people; his Highness, they say, went next day to make his visitt to the French Ambassador to give him account of the fight, and so from thence to the Chancellor's, Treasurer's, etc., and all people say his Highness concurred in the generall report that the French did not their duty, and Captain Barout sayes privately they did not, he thinkes, absolutely run away, but 'twas so like it, that he knows not how to call it else; he has enough of sea affaires and sayes he will goe no more. This fresh talke make the people add that the two fleetes can never be brought to fight againe with the Dutch, the common seamen in both being so angry with each other, and speakeing so opprobriously of their

actions; and they say, his Majesty complaining of his being ill served, the Duke of Monmouth presented himselfe as a suitor to his Majesty to goe to sea, which his Majesty readily consented to, and has given him the Swiftsure to command, so that his Grace is prepairing to be ready, for it's reported the Fleete shall goe out againe on Monday or Tuesday next, and that the Prince goes againe, but it's thought too late for any action this summer. This day here is a talke that the Dutch Fleete appeare againe on our coast according to their custome upon our coming in. This weeke dyed both the Earles of Warwicke and Stamford, the first leaving almost 4,0001. per annum to the Earle of Manchester, his sister's son, and the rest to the Earle of Holland; my Lord Stamford all his to his grandson my young Lord Grey. Last weeke was maryed here my Lord Herbert of Cherbery to my Lord Chandos his daughter, a great beauty of 10,000l. portion. My Lady Northumberland's marriage pleases not my old Lady Dowager, who sent this weeke for the young lady, according to her son's will, to breed her. Sir Edward Spragg's body is to be brought to towne to-morrow, and to be interred at his Majestyes charge and all the heralds to attend itt, as they did at his predecessor the Earle of Sandwich. At the Signett has only happened these few things, vizt, a grant to Tho: Oughton and Charles Tucker senior and his son, publique notaryes, the office of principal Register and Clerke of the Ecclesiasticall and Admiralty Courts of Delegates successively for their lives in reversion after John Oldbury who now holds it. A warrant to pay to Mr. Wm Perwick his Majestyes agent imployed about negotiating certain affaires at Paris, the summe of 40s. per diem for his entertainment, to commence from the 25th of March last, besides all allowances for intelligence, etc.

Richard Earle of Arran made Baron Butler of Weston in Hunting

The son of Thomas, Lord Grey, the Earl of Stamford's eldest son, who had died in 1657. This new Earl of Stamford was a strong opponent of James II., and a favourer of Monmouth's rebellion, and was befriended by William III.

tonshire, to him and his heires males. A grant to Collonell Francis Windham and the heires of his body [of] the yearly rent or summe of 600l., payable halfe-yearly out of the Excise, to commence from Christmas last, with a provisoe that if at any time hereafter his Majesty, heires, or successors, shall settle upon him and the heires of his body lands or tennements of the said yearly value, or shall pay him £10,800 at one payment, this pention to cease, etc.

To-morrow the ship Papenbourgh is to be delivered into the hands of the East Indya Company to be sold for his Majestye, out of which the prize officers hope to have a year or halfe a year's sallery, in which your Excellency being concerned I thought it not improper to acquaint you with, that you may order the receite thereof when the order is drawn, of which I shall presume to give you advice.

There are they say 4 fellowes in New Gate, that were taken on Satturday night last lurkeing about his Royal Highnesses lodgings at St. James, and in their pocketts all the implements for forceing lockes, etc., and they say there was as many more not yet taken, that had a designe to robb his Royall Highnesses lodgings, which causes a report amongst the commonalty that his Royall Highness was sett upon by 4 parsons.

Every one joyes Mr. Richards now of his new office of Secretary to my Lord Chamberlain, which they say he is promised to be, and my Lord Chamberlain answers all people now that he is leaving the place and that they must apply themselves to my Lord.

Just now came an express from the Fleete, but I heare brings nothing of the appearance of any Dutch ships, so that our hearts are att rest as to the Fleete at Kinsale, which it's hoped may be ere this arrived safe at Plymouth. This night people discourse as if the Prince was not to goe to sea againe, the French and he being not able to agree, and they will have itt that the Duke of Monmouth shall goe in Sir John Harman's ship, and have the titular honor of Commander in Cheife, but be wholely directed by him, which seemes too improbable to be believed. The talke is great still of my Lady Dutchess of Portesmouth having begged some thousands