Nov. 7.

1653. 2. As his letters informed, that his wife was brought to-bed the very hower when the congregation, of which fhe was a member, were in prayer togither for her fafe delivery; and then this gratious returne of their prayers was vouchfafed.

8.

3. That God was pleased to cause the wind suddeinly to change, whereby Whitelocke was inforced to stay his courfe that night, otherwise he had gone too farre for the watermen to have come att him with the letters.

4. That if he had not bin stayed heer, and by that means received these letters now, he could not, in ordinary course, have heard the newes in a moneth after; butt, by this stay, this comfortable newes was received by them, and it made their voyage much the more cheerfull.

5. That as foon as Whitelocke had written anfwears to thefe letters, and difpatched and rewarded the watermen, the wind inftantly came about againe very fayre to proceed in his voyage.

Wheruppon Whitelocke commaunded to fire a gunne for warning to weigh anchor, which was done by day-breake; and the wind continuing fayre, Whitelocke had a good course, and ran this day about twenty-five leagues; fo that they bid adieu to the coaft of England, their most deare and native countrey.

In the night, the frigotts were faine to towe the baggage fhips, whofe flowe fayling much hindered the voyage. The wind blew high, and the night was very tempestuous; yett Whitelocke flept foundly, till about midnight, by the breaking in funder of the great cable by which his fhip towed

the

the Adventure, fo terrible a cracke and noife was made, 1653. that it awakened all that were afleepe with affrightment, and indaungered the ship.

She carryed two lanthornes, for better direction of the reft of the fhips, who rolled and toffed very much all night, and were in great daunger. The Fortune proved very flowe and troublefome; the Elizabeth, att this time, was not well fitted, nor fleet in fayling. Whitelocke ftayed for them, lowering his fayles, and judged it no time for his fhips to fever neer an ennemies coaft, and in the midst of ftormes ; butt ordered all to keep neer togither, and be in readiness to relieve one another and notwithstanding the hinderances, and fowle weather, they ran a course this night of about thirty leagues.

By fun-rifing, they efpyed fome fayles a farre off, on head of them; Whitelocke fpredde all his fayles to fetch them up; the Phoenix ran with an incredible fleetnes: the strange fhips made away from him, Whitelocke purfued, and when he came within diftance, fired the chafe pieces att them, to warne them to ftrike fayle. One ftrucke, and came to leeward of Whitelocke; and the wind driving him to fterne, whileft Whitelocke's boate was hoyfing out to fetch the Dutch skipper on board to him, the Dutchman feeing his advantage, the wind for him, and Whitelocke's men buify, he hoyfed all his fayles, and gott clear away from Whitelocke att which affront captain Fofter was very angry, and prayed leave to chafe the Dutchman againe. Whitelocke gave way to fire fome gunnes after him, butt to little purpose, he being gott fo farre away; and before Whitelocke could tack about to purfue him, he would be gone too farre to be overtaken, without too much hinderance of his courfe fo Whitelocke wifhed his captain to be patient, VOL. I.

P

and

Nov. 8.

1653. and beare this finalle affront, which he could not helpe; and to lett the Dutchman goe for his ingenuity, butt to Nov. 8. prevent being ferved fo againe.

The other Dutch fhip made away as fast as she could; butt Whitelocke overtooke her, and made feverall shots att her, yett fhe would not ftrike fayle, till Whitelocke shott through her tackle; feeing which torne, and that Whitelocke was in earnest, the Dutchman came to leeward and ftruck and Whitelocke's lieutenant fetched the Dutch skipper on board to Whitelocke, in his cabbin, who there examined him; divers of the gentlemen and marriners crowding in to heare it, wherof this was part :

Wh. Skipper, whence art thou?

Sk. A Flufhinger.

Wh. What brought you to fea this weather?

Sk. My trade; though the weather be fowle, we must fif, or our wives and children must starve.

Wh. Haft thou a wife and children?

Sk. I hope I have a wife and seven children.

Wh. What right have you to fish in these feas ?

Sk. I thought any one might fifh in the broade sea.

Wh. Not without leave of those who have the dominion of thofe feas.

Sk.

Sk. I know not who have the dominion of the fea, butt 1653. they that have the beft fleet. I have been thirty years a fisherman, and never yett afked leave.

Wh. Indeed a good fleet is the beft argument for the dominion of the feas; butt though you never afked leave to fish on the feas of our common-wealth, your predeceffors have afked leave to fifh heer.

Sk. My father and grandfather were fishers on these seas, butt I never heard them fay they asked leave.

Wh. It may be fo; butt others have.

Sk. I muft not contradic you.

Wh. Thou maift freely speake to me.

Sk. No, I thanke you, I know to whom I speake.

Wh. Doft thou know me?

Sk. I thinke you are the English ambassador for Sweden.

Wh. Why doft thou thinke fo?

Sk. Bicaufe you carry your flagge in the maine-top; and fome of your men told me fo.

Wh. What doe they fay in your countrey of my going to Sweden?

Sk. Our lords don't like it; butt their fubjects thinke you doe wifely to gett the Swedes for friends.

Nov. 8.

1653.

Nov. 8.

Wh. We must feek new friends, when our old ones forfake us, and make warre uppon us, as your lords doe.

Sk. We poor men give our lords no thankes for it; I am fure we are fufferers by it.

Wh. Why then is it continued?

Sk. Bicause it is the pleasure of our lords; butt they are fufficiently curft for it.

Wh. God fayes, you must not speake evill of your rulers.

Sk. And God fayes, our rulers must not doe evill.

Wh. God will punish them if they doe evill.

Sk. And man will punish them alfo : I am fure you have done it.

Wh. And what did you, when you revolted from your king?

Sk. These things are too high for me; I will not speake

of them.

Wh. What doe your people fay of the English ambassador, tell me truely?

Sk. They fay, he is a very honeft gentleman, and a fitt man for fuch a buifnes, and one that loves peace, and is likely to doe his worke.

Wh. Now I fee you know to whome you fpeake.

Sk.