Letter to the Kings Fleet
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A96055.0001.001
Project Note
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The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
THE Earl of Warwicks SUMMONS To the KINGS Fleet at Gowry, and Prince Charles his Answer.
With His Lordships REPLY.
And a Declaration by the Hollanders, concerning the Prince and his Lordship.
Also the taking of the Lord Jermin his ship, and another ship of the Irish Rebels, by the Earl of WARWICKE.
And a great VICTORY against the SCOTS.
London Printed for R. Smithurst, near Pye-corner, 1648.
[illustration]
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE
[stylized depiction of the English royal blazon flanked by the English lion and Scottish unicorn, as well as the Tudor rose and Scottish thistle]
THE EARLE of WARWICKES SUMMONS TO The KINGS Fleet at GOWRY: AND Prince Charles His Answer.
Sir,
T He Lord Admiral with his fleet consisting of about 20 ships, hath now alarumed the revolted ships, and is laboring to reduce them, the particulars are thus.
His Lordship called a Council of War of his Officers, (upon receipt of the Ordinance for giving Indemnity to the revolted ships, the Officers and Seamen) And it was resolved to send them a summons, and therewith to offer them Indemnity accordingly.
And we attended his Lordship hither for the reducing of them, And coming within 4 leagues of them, a summons was sent to them, they being then in Gowry and we also within those limits, offering to them that if they would come in, and surrender themselves, they or any of them and their Vessells, they should have Indemnity and favor, if not to expect none.
But Prince Charles, Prince of Wales being newly come, they were all commanded to ships, and the ships to readiness, for the Prince had heard before that we were coming hither against them.
The Prince sent us answer of a positive denial to come in, or do anything in order to that summons, slighting the Indemnity offered. And declared resolution and those with him, for the restoration of the King his father to His Rights.
In the mean time the Seamen of the Princes ships drew off some Ordnance, out of their ships to plant them on the shore, to play against us, but the Hollanders declared a very great dislike of that, not thinking it fit to give any way to them to fortify upon their land. But this dispute reached not far, for the Prince of Orange, and his Council had so ordered it, that some were sent thither to act more subtly for the defense of Prince Charles and the ships, and Officers, and Seamen under him, and a Council sat for the effecting thereof. In the interim my Lord Admiral sent a reply to the Prince to let His Highnes know the dangerous courses he is in, and those with him, and what an hopeful way the Kingdom of England, is now in to be settled, and all differences composed, and very good invitation to His Highness, and those with him to hearken to an agreement, and comply with the Parliament of England.
But there is as yet no satisfactory answer, nothing visible but a countenance to stand out, and oppose, and addresses are made to the Prince of Orange, and the Estates, that they may be protected by them.
Divers Hollanders are troubled, and vext to see it, fearing that it may not be conducing to their Interest in their Liberties, to let such things be done. And there were many that did stir in it, and made some demure in the Declaration. But at last it was thought fit by the Prince of Orange and his Council, that the Agreement between the Nations of 1622. should be considered of, and in that one branch, that between England, Scotland, and Ireland, &c. there should be no Acts of Hostility, by, and in the others territories. And it was instanced that it was so Acted by England, when the Hollanders, chased the Spaniards about 10 years since, and they sailed to the Coasts of England, and there secured, so that the Hollanders were not admitted to act any hostility against them.
Indeed that was a strange action, and so is this: for those Spaniards by all probability came to invade England, and had a design by conjunction with the English Papists, who had Collections, and good store of Treasure ready for them from all parts of the Kingdom. And had not the Hollanders met with them, and prevented it, they had (no doubt) attempted to have made a surprisal of England, and destroyed the Protestants. And yet for all that, when the Hollanders had fallen upon them, and cut off, and spoiled some, and likely to give them an utter defeat, yet the Spaniards were by authority from England protected, and the Hollanders not suffered to do further execution upon them.
And the Spaniards lay several days recruting their provisions in the Downes, many of them walking up and down the Country in Kent and other places to spy out the Country.
And this for ought I know is as mad a business of the Hollanders to do anything by way of protection to the revolted ships, whose principles are so positive against their interest.
Yet it is carried by the major party (who at present prevail) that no act of hostility (according to the Articles aforesaid) be done here on either part. And so we (at present) prevented from doing what we would by the Hollanders means.
They Declare themselves Newters, and that they will not meddle at all, neither on the one side nor on the other, between the King and the Parliament of England.
And they have a fleet of ships put in (now) between our ships and the Princes, that so no hostile act may be done on either side.
But the Officers and Sea-men have differences amongst them, with the Prince, and that very great; only at present upon a little moneys paid to them, they are not so unruly altogether, since the Prince came, as they were before, and yet I do not hear that Prince Charles is aboard them.
It is thought his Highness will not go aboard any of the ships, for fear that they should have some design to carry him away.
We have just now intelligence that the Warwick Frigot hath had a fight with one of the Irish ships, and taken her, with ten piece of Ordnance, five barrels of Gun-powder, and good store of Merchandize, divers hundreds of Hides, and many thousand weight of Tallow. And there is also a little vessel taken that was (by the Lord Jermins order) going with relief to his Islands, and all the Ammunition therein taken.
Gowry this 24 of September. 1648.
Sir,
MAy it please you, at present being arrived into Chester water, having been to the Northward, and came on yesterday out of the Bay of Carrickfergus, where upon Saturday was sevennight Col. Monk did surprise the Town and Castle of Carrickfergus, and the same day did surprise Belfast: I have brought over with me the General Major Monro Prisoner unto your Honors: Upon Thursday last when I received him aboard, Colonel Monk did march away toward Colrane, I pray God give him good success, he is in great want of men and money; here is one Captain Browf come over in charge with the General Major, to whom I refer you to further relation at his coming to you. Thus with my humble service presented unto you, I take leave and remain.
From aboard the Swan Frigot in Chester River 24 Sep. 1648.
Your Honors Servant to command, ROBERT CLARKE.