The Same To Sir William Coventry.[a]
Portland frigᵗᵗ in Oasely Bay,[] 11ᵗʰ Sept. 1666; Tuesday, 8 at night.
Right Honᵇˡᵉ,
Yours of 8th instant, wᵗʰ his R. Highnesse order inclosed, I received this afternoone; wᶜʰ shall put in execution to morrow morning, wind and weather permiting. Sonday last, in compᵃ wᵗʰ the Adventure and a fire ship, we sayled out of Oasely bay through the Slade Way,[c] intending for the North Forland, and soe unto the Downes, in search of our fleet. About noone we gote sight of the Forland, and within one hower after we espied a fleet of shipps on the back of the Goodwin sand, wᶜʰ we deemed to be our fleet; but, standing wᵗʰ them, we found them to be the Dutch fleet, consisting of 70 in 75 sayle. Two ships of the fleet makeing us bore downe wᵗʰ us, and presantly after two more followed them. We stood away from them to the eastwards, towards a ship then to leewards, wᶜʰ we suposed to be a Hollander, but proved a Sweed bound for Burdaix Light; and, finding two of the men of warr spring there luffs againe and only 2 bore downe wᵗʰ us, we clapt upon a wind and stood towards them, haveing gote them about 5 or 6 miles to leewards of yᵉ body of there fleet. But, when they came wᵗʰin neere shote of us, they keept there wind, would not come neere to fight us, but kept fireing guns to windwards and makeing a waft wᵗʰ there ensignes for more assistance; whereupon 7 or 8 sayle more bore away wᵗʰ us. Night comeing on, we thought it not convenient to lye by for them, but stood away for our owne coast, not being able to keep our lower tire of guns out to windwards, and but 32 brˡˡˢ powder on bord. Yesterday we got into Alborough bay, when I gave accᵗ to the Comissʳ at Harwᶜʰ by an expresse from Alborough of our proceedings, desireing him to send the said letter to yoʳ Honʳ, if he thought it convenient. I have now recᵈ from Harwᶜʰ an aditionall suply of sixty barills of powder. The Adventure intends alongst wᵗʰ us. The Litle Mary, I understand, will not be ready in 3 or 4 dayes. To conclud, Sonday night proved such a hard galle of wind yᵗ I iudge the Dutch fleet either drove or bore away towards there owne coast, for we saw them all under sayle before twas dark. I shall not be wanting to give yoʳ Honʳ an accᵗ of our proceedings, wᶜʰ is wᵗ ofers at present from,
Rᵗ Honᵇˡᵉ, yʳ humble servᵗ att Comᵈ,
Richard Haddock.
Endorsed: “Copie of lettʳ to Sʳ Wm. Coventry, from Sʳ Rᵈ Haddock.”
[a] Sir William Coventry was at this time one of the Commissioners of the Navy.
[] Hollesley Bay, or Haven, on the Suffolk coast, between Orford Ness and the River Deben.