MRP: 5th September 1653, Letter from Mr. Longland to secretary Thurloe
5th September 1653, Letter from Mr. Longland to secretary Thurloe
Source: Vol.v.p.265.[1]
Editorial history
20/12/11, CSG: Created page & posted letter
Suggested links
Assorted letters of Charles Longland, Livorno (Various)
Letter
Leghorn, 5 Sept. 1653. [N. S]
Honored Sir,
By yours of the first of August I am again confirmed, that the advyses I send you from Rom ar not such things as you desire: however having paid for them three monthes anticipat, I must giv you the trouble of viewing them til the expiration of the said tym. Next week I am promist such a correspondant, as you desyre in Rom; as yet I do not know the quality and condition of him, but my next shall advys you. Concerning the engagement betwixt our fleet and the Duch, which you mention begun on Fryday the 28th of July, the Duch letters arrvyed here the first current say it ended the 30th wherin they got a very great victory, having sunk and burnt about twenty of our ships: they only lost theyr general Tromp. This news continued current for two dayes (for no Inglishman in town had any advys of the succes) but by the happy arryval of a French ship from Marcelles, I received a fresh letter from a frend ther, that stopt the current, and tels us, that our fleet obtained the victory, having taken, sunk, and burnt thirty of theyr ships, and taken a thousand prisoners with the los only of two ships. I hope with the next letters to hav al confirmed from your own good hand: in the mean tym the Itallians are al amazed, and althoh they ar generally our enemyes, which is much heiten'd by the mallignity of our own nation, yet they now begin to detest the basnes of the Duch, who seek to mak lyes theyr refuge, having so often bin tardy in the sam kind. That state in recompence of Tromp's good servis hav now sent comision hether, that his son be comander in cheif of al theyr ships of war in the Mediterranean seas; so 'tis clear, that they intend to keep them here al this winter. At present aboute eighteen sail ly betwixt Cales and the Streit's mouths, wher they examin al manner of ships, that com in, or go out. When the parliament and state at hom think it sesonable to send a fleet to remov them, I am confident twenty sail wil esily do't, and keep the lordship of thes seas without costing the state a penny; for since our nation hav bin outed of the Turky trade, the Duch and French hav exceedingly increased in it, that if such a fleet be sent hether with a discreet comander in chief, and stout fighting men, theyr purchas may more than pay theyr charge. Ther wants not good ships at hom to spare, besyd thos at present in the publik imployment, to say the Venis ships latly arrvyed, and the ships com hom with capt. Badiley, besyds many others unknown to us. Several other great advantages myht such a fleet bring to the commonwealth, besyds opening a trade for our shiping, it might aw the French, countenance the Spanyard, who is very low, reduce the pyrats of Barbery to such termes by theyr presence, that our captiv country men myht be redeemed at an esy rate, and good conditions setled for prevention of theyr piracy in the future. Here is in this port about ten Duch men of war, who intend sudenly to go out to look for som of our ships, which they conceiv may com from Newsoundland with fish, as also a ship or two going hom from Zant. This is what the present assourds, wherin I humbly beg your pardon.
Sir, your humble and faithfull servant
- ↑ Thomas Birch (ed.), 'State Papers, 1653: August (5 of 5)', A collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, vol. 1: 1638-1653 (London, 1742), pp. 435-445. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=55271 Date accessed: 20 December 2011
