     L. c. 316     Aprill ye 24th 1676                                          
+We have this morning our lettrs from fflandrs of Tuesday last which            
give us this following account, that on Satturday last the Prince of            
Orange marched with his troops from Gaesbeck [?] which is two leagues           
from Brussells, the Duke de Villa Hermosa at the same time marching with        
the Spanish horse and foot, on Satturday night the[y] quartered at              
Hall, on Sunday they continued their march and quartered at the abbey of        
Crambron about a league from Aoth, intending on Munday to have their            
quarters at Baston a league and a halfe from Conde and to attacke the           
ffrench in their entrenchments or else engage them in a battle on               
Tuesday, which according to the last advice his excellency had from the         
governour of Conde, would have been time enough to have releived the place      
ffor by lettrs dated on Satturday noone, that Governour advised, that the       
ffrench haveing notice that the Prince of Orange was on his march towards       
their releife had resolved to take the place cost what it would, that           
accordingly they had made severall assaults upon the Counterscarp but           
had been as often repulsed with great losse, and that he doubted not to         
maintaine the place till the Thursday following, adding that that morning       
he had made a sally and done great execution upon the ffrench of their          
Pioneers and some officers of note, this news I say made it not doubted         
but the Prince would come time enough to raise the seige.                       
     On Sunday the Spanish horse and dragoons arrived at Brussells from         
artois and the farthest part of fflandrs, haveing that day marched 8            
leagues and after 4 houres refreshment they continued their march after         
the Army.  [Handwriting changes here.]  The Spanish troups from Lunenburg       
and Namur were alsoe past towards Mons, to joyne ye army wch would then         
be above 50000 men Reckoning ye troups from Mons, & Vallenciens, the            
Spanish haveing Draynd all their Garrisons to strengthen their army.  &         
Wee heare the King of france has done the like, & that Marshall Destrades       
was marching from Maestrickt towards Conde, where it was beleived he            
arived on Sunday, but after all on Munday in the Evening they Recd at           
Brussells Certaine advice from all parts that Conde was taken on                
Satturday night by storme, but wthout any other perticulars then that it        
had cost a great many mens lives, that above a 1000 of the garrison had         
bene put to ye sword ye rest saveing themselves in houses in ye towne,          
where they obtaind quarter, Wee doe not heare what is become of ye Governr      
himselfe, the french its said have lost above 3000 men in ye storme.  How       
far this news may have alterd the Resolutions of ye Prince of Orange of         
fighting ye french We know not, but this is certaine that haveing a             
great army hee will not be able to find forrage & provisions for it,            
and therefore will be forcet to attempt something quickly.  Just uppon          
ye coming away of ye letters from Brussells a great report was brought          
thither that ye french understanding that most of ye Garrison was drawne        
out of Ipress had sent 10000 men to surprise or invest it & that there          
uppon ye Governr of Brussells had Commanded two Regimts that came ye day        
before from Ipress to march back with all dilligence possible                   
+ffrench Letters Just come in doe not make ye action at Conde soe               
Bloody.  They say the Counterscarp & other ye out workes were taken in          
less then halfe an houres tyme, the King was Resolvd to continue wth ye         
army 3 or 4 dayes to refresh it                                                 
     L. c. 317     [Handwriting changes here.]     Aprill the 26 1676           
     His Majesty has been pleased to make Sr John Everely Chancellr of          
the exchange in the roome of Sr John Duncomb.                                   
   The lettrs from fflanders and from ffrance doe very much disagree            
concerning the number of men said to be killed in the seige of Conde            
the former speak of thousands and the latter hardly allowing 100 to have        
been killed, and not one officer of consideration, there are some lettrs        
from certaine Gentlemen in the ffrench Camp, which speake in the same           
stile and assure us, that the beseigers lost very few men, and that             
the place was taken in a manner by a surprize on the side of the                
water, where it was weakest.  By the way of Holland we have lettrs of the       
19/29 just from the Prince of Oranges Camp, which was then near Mons,           
they say that they were on their march on Sunday was Seavennight, about         
noone they received the news of Condes being taken, upon which the Prince       
of Orange who before diverted his march towards Conde, went and encamped        
at Mons and that it was not yet known what his High: would doe, the             
ffrench Army lying encamped on the other side of the Schelde between St         
Amond and Tournay                                                               
     The lettrs from Holland add that they had a report at the Hague,           
wch they were unwilling to give any creditt to, that the Prince of              
Orange haveing sent out 3000 horse to discover the Enemy they had been          
cutt of by them.                                                                
     According to our advices from Germany it plainly appeares that the         
ffrench have a great concerne for Phillipsburg and to releive it, they          
were againe assembling their troops at Colmar in Alsatia and the Duke of        
Lorraine was on the other side goeing to march with his troops to oppose        
them.  The Confederates cannot yet agree into whose hands Stade shall be        
put when taken and that is the true reason why they doe soe long delay          
the seige of it, which perhaps may give the Swedes time to put a succor         
into the place, which it at prsent very much wants, being in a very ill         
condition.                                                                      
     The ill successe of the Spanyards on Sicily has given that side a          
great[er] discouragement then perhaps the thing itselfe deserves, to find       
themselves soe much mistaken in the strength of the ffrench, who they           
did not in the least beleive to have been able to have made a sally             
with 7000 men, as it seems they did.                                            
     This morning the Earl of Essex is parted hence towards Chester in          
order to passe over to his Goverment of Ireland.                                
     Its agreed from all hands that the Prince of Orange has at prsent          
an Army of above 40000 men togeather, reckoning the Spanish troops, that        
have been drawne togeather from all parts, but with all that he will            
find it a very hard matter to subsist with them at a time, when there           
is as yet no forage abroad, and that therefore he will be forced to             
come back towards Brussells, o[u]r fflandrs lettrs which we expect every        
minute may be able to tell us farther concerning his High: intentions,          
as those from ffrance will certainly doe of the ffrench.                        
     L. c. 318     Aprill the 28th 1676                                         
+This morning arrived o[u]r fflandrs lettrs & they tell us that the             
Prince of Orange and the Duke de Villa Hermosa continued encamped at            
Mons, whither two Captains that had been at Conde escaped, & had given          
an account of the manner of the takeing of the place Vidt that the              
attack had been made upon the side of the water, where the Governr had          
posted only 2 Companyes, haveing drawne all the garrison to the side the King   
had his quarters, for that the ffrench seemed to designe their greatest         
fury there, that the Governr finding the ffrench entred, retired into the       
towne and surrendred upon discretion, and they and their governour were sent    
to Tournay; They add that the garrison with the succors that came in            
after the seige were onely 1400 men, and that the defence of the place          
required twice that number.  That part of the towne was pillaged and 3          
Captains killed, in the first fury of the soldiers before they could be         
stopt, that the ffrench in the attack lost not above 20 men, but that a         
great part of the garrison had been destroyed dureing the seige.  The           
ffrench have put 5 or 6000 men into Conde to bridle the neighboring             
garrisons; those lettrs likewise tell us that the King of ffrance lay           
with his Army at Sebourg, and that it was beleived he had sent severall         
troops to beseige Bouchin, they tell us farther that on the 29th past           
the Prince of Orange took a revew of his Army which consisted in 32             
battaillions of foot 650 men in each battaillion, and 22 Regiments of horse,    
each Regiment containing 6 troops, each troop 60 men and 2000 drago[o]ns,       
The Spanish forces about 3000 foot and 6000 horse and dragoons soe that         
the Army may be 40000 men.  their cavalry is in an ill condition through        
want of forrage, soe that his Highnesse will be necessitated to some            
action very suddainly                                                           
     In the mean time the consternation and discontent among the people         
of fflandrs, is realy very great, who publickly declare their wishes            
to be under the ffrench Dominion, since the Spanyards are not able to           
protect them, and if Bouchain should likewise be lost, its feared there         
may happen great intestine disorders.                                           
     ffrom Germany they write that the Prince of Baden was marched from         
Lauterburg to attack the fort that lyes over against Philipsburg, and is        
of great security to that place, which if the Germans succeeded in they         
will have made a good step towards, though all the lettrs tell us that          
the Imperiall Generalls seem rather to have a mind to make an irruption         
into ffrance by the way of Lorraine                                             
     The Duke of Newburg instead of sending any assistance to the               
Spanish Netherlands will want it from thence, and he hath sent to that          
Governr to represent to him the necessity of keeping his owne troops at         
home to secure him against insults of the ffrench, and farther to desire        
his Excellency to have some troops ready upon occasion.                         
     Yesterday arrived a vessell in the Downes from Virginia, and confirmes     
that the Indians have done much mischeife there, and destroyed severall         
plantations.                                                                    
      L. c. 319     Aprill ye 29th 1676.                                        
   The Holland lettrs arrived yesterday make not any mention of the             
seige of Bouchain but tell us that according to their last advices the          
Prince of Orange continued encamped near Mons in expectation of a great         
convoy from Brussells after the arrivall of which the Army would decamp         
but with what designe was not knowne, that the troops of the Princes of         
Luxenburg were on their march in order to the seige of Stade that they were     
about 13000 men besides those of the other confederates which were to           
joyne with them that the place was in a very ill condition through the          
want of severall necessaryes and that 150 soldiers of that garrison had         
discented and taken service under the Duke of Zell                              
     ffrom Germany they write that the Imperiall Army was to randevouz the      
6 of the next month new stile near Lauterburg and that in the mean time         
the Prince of Baden was marched with severall troops to begin the attack        
of Philipsb                                                                     
     The great difficulties which remained in the matter of the forming         
the assembly at Nimeguen hath at last been removed by his Majestys              
instances in the ffrench Court, that King haveing finally discended [sic]       
to give the Duke of Lorrain the title of Duke, and stile of brother, and        
accordingly on Thursday the ffrench envoy here delivered to his Majesty         
a passeport for the Lorrain Ministers in that forme soe that now the            
assembly may be suddainly formed and the negotiation begun in order to a        
peace, this afternoon we have o[u]r fflandrs lettrs  they tell us that          
the Prince haveing finished his revew of his Army had this day 7 night          
called a councill of War where it had been resolved to passe the river of       
Mons, and to attempt on the other side of it, to see if the ffrench upon        
yt would advance and offer them battle, which if they did not the               
Prince had resolved to go with his Army into quarters of refreshment            
into the Countrey of Alost untill such as there was forrage in the feild        
for want of which their horses were already in an ill condition, and            
much lessened in number, that on the same day they had a hot allarme            
that Bouchain was beseiged, upon which the whole Army was draw[n] up            
ready to march with ordrs to leave their baggage at Mons but the news           
was contradicted againe.                                                        
     That the ffrench lay very strongly encamped at Leyburg and Kenvain [?]     
there being a very narrow laine [?] to passe before the Dutch come to them      
being supplyed there with abundance of provisions by water from Douay           
Tournay &c that on monday the great convoy marched from Brussells Vidt          
2000 waggons guided by 3 Regiments of Dutch foot 2 Regimts of Germains,         
3 of Spanish horse who arrived in the Princes Campe on Munday night,            
that on Tuesday the Prince of Orange received certain advice that               
Bouchain had been beseiged 3 dayes upon which ordrs were given that the         
army should march on Wednesday morning early towards the ffrench                
notwithstanding their being soe Advantagiously posted there being noe way       
to releive Bouchain but first to force the King from Kenvain which the          
Prince was resolved to attempt and to hazard all to succor it, soe that         
o[u]r next lettrs will certainly give us an account of a bloody engagement      
     We hear that Madam Brinvillers is brought to Paris where she had           
been under examination and to prevent all occasion of any escape has            
besides her ordinary guard 4 women to watch her, they are goeing to make        
a tryall of some balls she had in a little Cabinett, which she sayes is         
to cleare the Complexion as alsoe severall violls of water to one of which      
there was a direction how many drops were to be given to dispatch one in        
2 dayes a week or giveing longer time till 2 years which water is fine          
and of good scent.                                                              
     The Comet formerly mentioned was seen at Naples and Rome and in the        
lattr they tell us soe bright that they could easily read a lettr of a          
small hand.                                                                     
     The East India Company have made choice of Sr William Thomson to be        
their Governr & Sr James Edwards their deputy Governor for the year             
ensueing.                                                                       
[A near-square of two or three inches is cut from the second folio of           
letter; none of the text seems to have been removed.  On outside of             
letter appear seven lines in another hand, evidently part of a note.            
They are canceled with the same pen and are thus very hard to read; the         
cut in the paper may have removed much of the note.]                            
     L. c. 320     May the 3d 1676.                                             
     You see into what expectation o[u]r last lettrs from fflandrs put          
us, It seems that at a Councill of War held on Monday was seavennight in        
the Dutch camp, three things were proposed Vidt that considering the            
want they had of fforrage, and severall Provisions, which they could not        
have but from Brussells, and yt with great convoys, to the distruction          
of their cavalry, who would be extreamly ruined by marching backward and        
forward soe far that they would not be able to recover it all summer, on        
this consideration, I say, it was thought convenient to goe into quarters       
of refreshment with the Army, till such time as forrage was in the feild;       
and that the rest of the confederates began to march, which would obleige       
the ffrench to send succors to Germany.  2dly It was proposed to move           
the ffrench from the advantagious post they had taken, they should goe          
and beseige some place.  and lastly that they should march directly to          
the ffrench, and if they would not come out they would attack them in           
their Camp.  this last prevayled and accordingly the Army was to march on       
Wednesday.  However we hope the Prince will be bettr advised then to            
attack an Army not inferior to his in number, & superior to it for              
officers &c in a place where they are extreamly secured by nature & art,        
And therefore we expect with impatience o[u]r ffrench & fflandrs lettrs.        
     The Articles concluded by Sr John Narborough with Tripili [sic] are        
now made publick, though you have already seen the substance of them.           
It seems that instead of the 80000 Crownes which they were to have              
paid, Sr John has redeemed a good many poor Christians of forreigne             
Nations that were in slavery there, as perticularly severall knights of         
Malta, who thus owe their liberty to his Matys Generosity and Charity.          
     On Sunday in the morning his Maty and Royall High: went downe to           
Sheernesse among other thing[s] to see two ships yt are ready to sayle          
Commanded by Captain Wood, & fitted out at the Kings Charge, to discover        
the NorthEast passage.                                                          
     The Dutch lettrs are come in  they tell us yt Philipsburg & Stade          
will now suddainly be beseiged & that the Imperiall Army will be 40000          
strong part of which will remayne with the troops of the Circles, while         
the rest march into Lorraine.                                                   
     By the way of Holland we have advice that the Dutch and Spanish            
Army did actually decamp on Wednesday morning last, and passed the River        
at Mons over 8 Bridges takeing their march towards the enemy, but farther       
we know not.                                                                    
     [Some figures in another hand appear on outside of letter.]                
     L. c. 321     May the 5th 1676                                             
   The lettrs we received yesterday from Brussells left ye people there         
in great perplexity, being agitated between hope and fear; for that the         
Countrey people yt came on friday last reported that they had that              
morning heard great shooting, and thereupon concluded that the Armys were       
engaged in a battle, but we here doe not beleive it, for the Army marched       
but the morning before, and as for the shooting it might have been at           
Bouchain, where according to wt they write from ffrance they began to           
make use of their batteries on ffriday morning.  However it is very             
probable o[u]r next lettrs may tell us of some action.  The Princes Army        
togeather with the Spanish foot is counted 30000 foot and 15000 horse,          
soe that they doe not want number but rather provision and subsistance.         
     ffrom Germany they write that the Dyet at Ratisbonne, the Deputies         
of the Elector of Bavaria doe very much crosse the designe of the               
Austrian who endeavour all the[y] can to prswade to War and the                 
Bavarian to peace, he pressing mightily that a solemne Ambassy may be           
sent to Nimeguen in the name of the whole Empire which the Emperor is           
against for that it would lessen his greatness and authority.  By this          
proceeding it appeares that Bavaria has not as yet Embraced the Emperors        
Interest.                                                                       
     The[y] still entertaine us with the discourse [of?] the intended seige     
of Philipsburg, but it dayly appeares more and more that the Imperialists       
have noe such mind, for the Duke of Lorraine would faine get into his           
owne Countrey, and onely leave some troops to block those pleaces up.  As       
for the troops of the circles they march but slowly and will want of the        
number designed, and now they should come into the feild they are               
consulting at Ratisbon, about provideing of Magazine and Artillery.             
     The King it seems went on Sunday to see a ship that has been built         
leatly to cheat the Turkes.  She is built in manner of a fly boat with a        
narrow sterne, and to outward appearance looks like a ship of 150 tun;          
but in reality 600 tuns, and carrys 40 Guns and 200 men and besides is a        
most excellent sayler.                                                          
     This afternoone his Majesty is gone to Windsor and will be back            
againe to Morrow.                                                               
     On Sunday last Mr Baxter the eminent Preacher was committed to             
Newgate by My Lord Major for continueing to preach contrary to his              
Majestys commands.                                                              
     Last night happened a great fire in London in Bishop gate street           
near London Wall amongst the stables and 3 or 4 horses were spoyled.            
     Tis advised from Upper Hungary that a party of 400 Turkes had made         
an Inroad into the Countrey exercising all sort of Hostility & endeavouring     
to drive away their cattle but were met by the Emperor['s] Troops who           
killed 150 of them and made most of the officers prisonrs.                      
     They tell us from Hamburge of a brisk encounter between some of the        
Lunenburgrs and a party from Stade of some horses and that the Swedes           
are forst to retire, but that the Lunenburgrs following them to[o]              
near their guns charged with small bulletts the Swedes killed them there        
about 100 with 5 officers  they speake too of a sally from Stetin wherein       
the Swedes had killed and taken near 200 men and many Cattle.                   
     L. c. 322     May the 8th 1676.                                            
     The lettrs we had yesterday from Holland told us that they had an          
account from fflandrs that the King of ffrance upon the approach of the         
Prince of Oranges Army, had quitted his camp between Sebourg and Kienrain,      
and was retired to Bouchain to joyne his forces employed in that seige,         
haveing left the Marshall de Humiers with 8000 men to guard a certain           
passe, but that he looking upon himselfe [as?] to[o] weake and                  
apprehending he might be cut off from the maine Body, likewise retreated        
towards Bouchain.  That on Sunday last the Prince arrived at Valenciennes       
with intention to continue his march from thence to raise the seige of          
Bouchain, which we are apt to beleive his Highnesse will effect, for            
that the ffrench seemed to draw all their men togeather to fight the            
Prince, and consequently must quite the seige.  o[u]r ffrench and               
fflandrs lettrs when they come may be able to tell us more.                     
     In the mean time we have nothing new from Germany, things continue         
still in the same posture as formerly,                                          
    Our fflandrs lettrs are arrived and tell us that the Prince of Orange       
after haveing sent out the Prince Vaudemont on the 7/17 instant with 4000       
horse with ordrs to pass through Mons, and to march directly towards            
Kienrain, to make the enemy beleive the Army would march that way, about        
7 in the evening the whole Army decamped, and leaving their baggage at Mons     
marched towards Perwes [?], in the night the Prince of Vaudemont repassed       
the Haigue [?], and joyned the Army, which encamped at Perwes, the Marshall     
de Humieres haveing quitted the passe he was left to guard.  The 8th            
instant in the evening the Army passed the Schelde before Conde, and            
march towards Valenciennes, where it arrived this day seavennight about         
noon, and possessed themselves of a certaine hill hard by, from whence          
they could see the whole ffrench Army, for you must know the King was           
retired from Seburg, and had joyned the troops that were at the seige of        
Bouchain.  Our freshest lettrs are dated on Munday last in the afternoon        
at Valenciennes, they tell us that the Armys continued in sight of each         
other, that the ffrench had fortified their camp, and that the Dutch had        
raised two Batteries upon the hill near Valenciennes, and that both             
partys pleayed upon each other with their Cannon, and that in the mean          
time severall skirmishes had been between small partyes, that Bouchain          
still held out, but it was feared the place would be lost, if the Prince        
did not attempt some thing very quickly.                                        
     A Deserter come to Valenciennes reported that on Sunday last at            
night the ffrench made an assault upon Bouchain but were repulsed with          
the losse of 500 men of a halfe moon which they had before gained.              
     We have advise by the ffrench post that Bouchain was taken on              
Tuesday last.                                                                   
 [On outside of letter and in another hand appear these lines of verse:]        
     Here sits a Rook, & there a Raven flyes                                    
     And in that Nook a Nest of Chatter Pyes.                                   
                           [and this list:]                                     
        a  Ld Treasurer                                                         
        b  Duke of York.                                                        
        c  Nell Guins baby                                                      
     L. c. 323     May the 13th 1676.                                           
     We had the 11th instant the lettrs from Holland of ffriday last,           
they tell us they had the news that Bouchain after haveing made what            
defence it could was surrendred on Tuesday last, that in the mean time          
the Armies continued in sight of each other, and had each fortifyed their       
campe, soe that they who could hold out the longest would have the              
advantage to fall upon them that retreated, that the Dutch Army was very        
well supplyed from Valenciennes, and that a great convoy was prepareing         
at Brussells to goe to it.  The ffrench at Maestrickt takeing advantage         
of the absence of the Dutch and Spanish troops have with 5000 men made          
an incurtion into Gelderland and Cleves, burnt severall considerable            
villages, and sett the rest under contribution.                                 
     They had lettrs from Strasburg of the 9th instant which said that          
the whole Imperiall Army was actually on its march towards the Rhin,            
which it was beleived they would passe at Lauterburg and soe march into         
Alsatia, leaveing some troops with those of the Circles to keep Phillipsburg    
blocked up, the ffrench in the mean time made hast to assemble their            
forces at Sleckstadt but would not be able to make head against the             
Imperialists unlesse reinforced from fflandrs.  That they had advice from       
Copenhagen that Van Tromp was arrived with 15 Dutch men of War, and that        
there had been an Engagement in the Baltick between some Danish and             
Swedish men of War of which the successe was not yet knowne.                    
     There are some lettrs from Amsterdam which say that they had advice        
there that the ffrench King had sent a detachment of 10 or 12000 men from       
his Army in fflandrs into Alsatia, but if this had been soe our last            
ffrench lettrs would have made mention of it as they did not.  this is          
certaine that we shall now very suddainly hear that the Duke of Lorrain         
is entred with the Imperiall Army into his owne Countrey, for that is           
his designe and therefore the ffrench must take some care to oppose him,        
for as yet they are but weake in Alsatia.  In the mean time the seige of        
Phillipsburg will be carryed on by some of the Imperiall troops joyned          
with those of the Circles, who are very eager to remove that thorne out         
of the side of the Empire.                                                      
     The Emperor continues still indisposed which occasions some                
trouble in that Court.  By the ffrench post the 12 came a report that           
the Prince of Orange being upon retireing from Valenciennes had to              
that purpose laid severall bridges over the Schelde, but that the               
ffrench have sent out a strong party had cutt of those bridges and              
consequently their retreat, but this meets with noe great creditt.              
     On the 4th a Gentleman was by order taken into custody for dispersing      
a seditious libell & on the 6th appeared before the Councell, who haveing       
freely confessed from whom he had it, was discharged and the other party        
sent for to tell from whom he had it that soe the author may at last            
be found and punished according to his default.                                 
     The People of Leige since the takeing away the Cittadle were               
crumbled into partys, who are growne soe innumerous that its thought they       
can be noe longer kept from ffalling together by the Earles [ears?] among       
themselves.                                                                     
     The Copenhagen lettrs of the 25th say their forces will speedily           
be Embargued for Schonen though it was thought they would make it late          
in May ere they would be ready.                                                 
     L. c. 324     May the 15th 1676                                            
     We are wanting of all o[u]r forreigne lettrs and two posts from            
fflandrs, which make us wholly ignorant of what has passed between              
the two Armies. though we are all of opinion that there has not been            
any action between them, each Army haveing fortifyed its camp.  And if          
the Dutch can hold it out any time, the ffrench King will be obleiged           
to weaken his Army by the supply he must send into Germany.                     
     The Duke of Mecklenburg who I formerly told you had desired                
leave to come hither from ffrance, arrived here two or three dayes              
since, and yesterday in the evening was to waite upon their Majestys  It        
is thought he will stay some time here.  He has only a traine of about          
30 persons.                                                                     
     We have the 11th instant the fflandrs lettrs of yesterday was              
seavennight, and the ffrench of Wednesday last  By the former we have           
lettrs from Valenciennes of the 14 instant which tell of the great              
concerne the whole Dutch Army and especially the generall officers were         
in for the losse of Bouchain; and particularly that nothing had been            
attempted for the releife of it, which would have been had the                  
place held out a day or two longer for on Tuesday it was resolved to            
Attack the ffrench in the Camp the next morning, and accordingly                
12000 men were appointed to begin the attack &c but on Tuesday in               
the evening they had the certainty that the place was surrendred,               
upon which 2500 men were immediately sent to reinforce the garrison of          
Cambray, And now since the place was taken the great trouble was to             
get of [?] Armie, for that they should not be able to subsist [?]               
their Camp, and their out guards was soe near as to talke to each other.        
     At Brussells this news had made a genll murmering and discontent           
among the people who cry they are betrayed to the ffrench.                      
     By the ffrench post we have lettrs of the 17 instant from the              
Armies which still continued in their former station without that any           
action passed between them, the main point is who can hold out longest          
   The Imperiall Armies certainly on its march and its expected the             
next lettrs from fflandrs which are this day due will tell us, that             
they have passed the Rhine.                                                     
   We hear that the Dutch and Spanish troops are reckoned 50000 and the         
ffrench about that number                                                       
   They were in the Dutch Army in great want of their baggage for               
want of which the officers suffer much                                          
     It is impossible the Armies should part without some action.               
     L. c. 325     May the 17th 1676                                            
     On Saturday night the ffrench Ambr here receivd lettrs by                  
expresse from the ffrench camp dated this day seavennight wch was the           
19/9 instant, wch say yt the King had sent 35 squadrons of horse and            
6 or 7 battallions of foot amounting in all to about 8000 men undr              
the command of the Marshall de Lorge towards Germany, and that the              
King finding the Dutch and Spanyards had very strongly encamped                 
themselves soe that nothing could be attempted upon them, and on the            
other hand yt the ruines of Bouchain were repaired, and resolved to             
decamp the 8/18, but that receiveing that morning an account from               
some deserters that the Dutch intended to march the next day Vidt the           
19, he had deferred his resolution but finding to the Contrary, that            
the Dutch continued firme his Maty had finally resolved to decamp               
the next day being the 20, but not in the night or by stealth, but at           
noonday to give the enemy oppurtunity of comeing to an action if they           
pleased.  We have lettrs from the Princes Camp of the 8/18 which is             
a day slater [sic] then was above said, which tell us that severall             
consultations had been held to make a safe and honorable retreat, yt            
to that purpose severall bridges had been laid over the Schelde, yt             
hitherto they wanted no provisions being supplyed from Valenciennes             
and the neighborhood, however that they should not continue there               
many dayes longer.  That they had advice of the Kings haveing sent              
8000 from his Army towards Germany, but yt some deserters that came over,       
reported that the king had expected as many fresh troops from ffrance,          
and that the King resolved to continue in the Army as long as there was         
any appearance of Action, that on the 17 a ffrench Trumpeter arrived            
in the Dutch Camp to tell the Prince of Vaudemont, that the Prince of           
Sishbononne who marryed his sister & severall others of the house of            
Lorraine had a desire to see him, Vaudemont with the leave of the               
Prince of Orange and the Duke de Villa Hermosa accordingly met them             
at the place appointed between the two Armys, and had a short conference        
with them, about indifferent things onely.                                      
     It is said from all hands that if the Dutch & Spanyards had fallen         
upon the ffrench soe soon as they arrived, they might have ruined them,         
for their whole Army was not come up, the King being advanced with a body       
of horse onely.  On the other hand it is affirmed yt the King when his          
Army was come up would have fought the Dutch but was dissuaded by ye            
Marshalls.                                                                      
     At prsent the case is both Armys are desirous to draw from the             
ground where they are both prpareing for it, & o[u]r next lettrs will           
tell us who went first and whether any action had been occasioned by it.        
     In Alsatia the Imperiallists begin to be brisk, by the way of              
ffrance we have lettrs from Strasburg which say they had taken the great        
fort which guards the bridge of Phillipsburg by storme, wch would very          
much contribute to the lose of the place, from whence severall deserters        
are come of late, who say that ye place is in an ill condition.                 
   ffrom Sicily we heare that ye Spanyards with the help of the Dutch           
have retaken the citty of Augusta.                                              
   Just now came the fflandrs lettrs wch say yt the 20 instant the              
ffrench king decamped marched towards Doway and yt on the 21 the                
Prince of Orange began likewise to decamp and to march towards Mons             
without that any action had passed betwixt them.                                
   The ffrench king has sent a second detachmt towards Germany.                 
     The Imperialists have not yet taken the great fort at Phillipsburg         
but severall redoubts that are about it.                                        
     L. c. 326     May the 20th 1676                                            
     There was a lose report on Tuesday of a fight between the Dutch            
and Spanyards and the ffrench fleets in the Mediterranean, which met            
not with any credit till the Dutch lettrs arrived the 17th, the                 
accounts they brought is made publicke, soe that I have onely to adde           
here, that the Dutch complaine extreamly of the Spanyards who kept              
at such a distance that their shot which they did not spare, hardly             
reached the enemy, soe that the whole stresse lay upon the Dutch ships          
who are onely 17 and much inferior to the ffrench as well in strength           
as number  what losse the ffrench sustained neither the ffrench or              
Dutch lettrs mentioned, though there be some reports as if Monsr                
d'Almeras was killed and some of their ships lost, the designe of the           
ffrench we doe not know, whether it was purposely to fight de Ruyter            
and releive Augusta, which de Ruyter shut up by sea, or whether they            
were goeing to meet their gallyes  however it was they fayled in it,            
if o[u]r lettrs say true, that the ffrench were retired to Messina.  Yet        
they have obtained the advantage of putting the Dutch fleet out of a            
condition to doe any service till they have been repaired at Palermo,           
which will take up time.  We all fear that de Ruyter will hardly recover        
considering his age, if not he will dye lemented by all people                  
     You see in what posture the Armies in fflandrs are, the one marched        
towards Doway and the other towards Mons, it is said the Prince of              
Orang will take his measure from the Motions of the ffrench, that is            
if they shall goe into quarters of Refreshmt and that the King                  
returnes to Paris, as is beleived the Spanyards & Dutch will doe the            
like, takeing the Countrey of Alesso [?] to quarter in till such time as        
all the Confederates are come into the feild, when they think they              
shall be able to give the ffrench worke enough, but in the mean time            
in fflandrs the people are not a little troubled that this Campagne             
has been soe unsuccessfull to them contrary to their great expectation.         
     It is certain that soe soon as the Germans have taken the fort             
of Phillipsburg, they will leave some troops only to block it up,               
while the Duke of Lorraine marches with the main Army as is thought             
towards Haguenaw, where the ffrench have laid up a very great Magazine          
of all sorts of Provision for the subsistance of their Army this                
summer, and if the Imperialists could take place [?], the ffrench would         
be extreamly disappointed for want of their provisions                          
   Three dayes since the Duke of Newburgs Residt here prsented his              
Maty with a lettr from his Mr in which he gave the king an account of           
his being entred into the confederation, and the reasons that have              
induced him to it, and desires if his Majesty would be pleased to               
procure of the ffrench king passeports for his Ministers that are to            
goe to Nimeguen.  It is not doubted but that the Elector of Bavaria             
will by means of the Duke, they being near related be likewise drawn            
into this Confederation and in recompence the Emperor will marry the            
Duke of Newburgs daughter, who is now goeing with her father and                
Mother to their territorys on the Danube, to be soe much the nearer             
Vienna.                                                                         
     The Councell after severall prsons examind of whom they had the            
libell brought it at last up to one Mr John ffreake of the Temple who           
not produceing whence he had it, is supposed the Author and sent                
prsoner to the Tower                                                            
     The Lord Leiut of Ireland landed safe at Dublan on the 6th                 
     On the 15th the Dutchesse of Portsmouth went to the Bath to make           
use of the waters for her health                                                
     L. c. 327     May the 24 1676                                              
+By the way of Holland we have advice that the 12/22 instant the Imperiall      
Army marched from the neighbourhood of Spire, And that it was beleived          
it would take its way towards Haguenaw to beseige it, which was said            
to be already invested by Prince Pio, who had passed the Rhine at               
Lauterburg with the Impll troops that came from Suabia, and lately              
passed the Neighborhood of Strasburg, but the Lorraine troops who came          
with the said Prince Pio almost to Lauterburg were countermanded and            
sent backwards from Strasburg to guard a passe and to prvent the                
ffrench from sending any succors to Phillipsburg on that side the Rhine,        
that the Duke of Luxemburg intended in few dayes to march with what             
troops he had from Sleckstadt to have an eye upon the Imperialists  That        
a squadron of Danish men of War who were at sea had made a disent upon          
the Island of Gotland which lyes in the midway between Sweden and               
Pomeren, notwithstanding the opposition of 600 Swedes, landed and               
made themselves Masters of Wisby the cheife port town in the                    
Island, if the Danes can but keep there they will greatly incommode             
the Swedes Navigation.  That the Elector of Treves was dead.                    
   That they had lettrs from Antwerp of ye 18/28 instant which say              
that the ffrench Army was come from Ligne near Aoth into the Countrey           
of Alost & was quartered between the Grammont & the Ninoven, in the             
same place where the Prince of Orange & the Duke de Villa Hermosa               
intended to have taken their quarters of Refreshmt  that the inhabitants        
of Dendermont which lyes between Ghent & Brussells were in a great              
apprehension of the ffrench, to secure themselves had opened their              
sluyces and lett all the Countrey round them underwater.  The Dutch             
& Spanish Army continued at Hall near Brussells.                                
   ffrom Copenhagen of the 9/19 instant they write that the Admirall            
tromp after haveing been honored by the King with the order of the              
Elephant was sayled with 12 men of War to joyne the Danish men of               
War that were at Gotland, & that the King intended to begin to march            
with his Army On the 30, On the other hand we hear very little of               
the preparations of the Swedes.                                                 
   We have this afternoon o[u]r ffrench lettrs  they confirme what is           
above Vidt that the King is come with his Army into the Countrey of             
Alost & had his quarters between Ninoven & Grammont  they had a report          
at Port that de Ruyter was dead but we hope bettr.                              
     L. c. 328     May the 27th 1676                                            
     They write from Hollandrs [sic] that a conspiracy was discovered for       
betraying Venlo into the ffrench hands & that the authors were secured          
& that it was supposed a fire that burnt an house near the Magazine             
of Gueldre was the effect of some designe.  They tell us that on the            
15th at night the ffrench sallied out of the great fort on this side            
the Rhine upon the 2 Redoubts which the Imperialists had gained, & that         
with such a brisknes that they killed 60 & wounded 100 Imperialists, but        
that it cost the ffrench dear who had lost 6 Captaines a Canissary [?]          
of the Artillery &c                                                             
     The ffrench lettrs that dat the 27th tell us their fleet was               
commanded by Monsr de Quesne & give those killed which were mentioned           
before, as alsoe Monsr Valbello & Chevalier Jacerville with severall            
persons of quality.                                                             
     Those from Holland dat the 26 tell us the reason why the Prince            
fought not, for that the States considering that the great strength             
of ffrance was upon his hand, write severall lettrs to him not to               
hazard a fight without appearent advantage, but to keep his Army                
entire for the more vigorous designes when the Imperialists and other           
confederates should be entring upon action, which must probably divide          
& weaken the ffrench Army which effect is already seen in the detachments       
sent to Alsatia, which must be followed by others, both for those parts         
& to oppose the Osnaburg forces.                                                
   The Duke of Lorraine had advice that the ffrench have quitted the            
great fort and a sufficient force being putt into it, soe that now              
nothing can get out or into Phillipsburg  he was marching with the rest         
of the Army towards Sleckstadt to aid out [?] the Duke of Luxenburg             
     On the 19 Mr Radford was sent prisoner by order of the Councell to         
the tower upon account of the Libell & he and Mr ffreake are ordered            
to by [sic] tryed the next session at Hickshall and the partys concerned        
bound in 500 L to give in their evidence.                                       
     The lettrs from Nimeguen dat the 10th tell us that though the              
people promised to send to Maestricht to Compound with the ffrench              
intendent for their contribution & that Monsr Cabro had told them in            
case they did not he would come and take it as he found it, the                 
townsmen of themselves were not very forward to pay it, & Heer                  
Amerongen one of the States passing 3 or 4 dayes before through that            
towne had confirmed them in that resolution soe that they sent a                
Gentleman to Cleve to Prince Maurice the Governr to consult with him            
about the bringing into the feild a small Army to defend the Land of            
Cleves and Maes land that joyne together from the Incursion of the              
ffrench & to that purpose they were about drawing out their garrison            
& to bring some Newburgh forces into the Neigborhood but they had noe           
horse among them.  It was said there that the ffrench King had reserved         
to himselfe to enter a protest at the treaty that his calling the Duke          
of Lorraine Duke in his passeports could not produce his Right and title        
in that Dutchy.                                                                 
     The Dutch lettrs of the 28 tell us that the Bishop of Munster              
had raised some new difficulties before he made farther progresse               
disputeing first the repartition of the Conquests of which he                   
required the 5th part & alsoe refused to ratifye a late treaty with the         
Emperor & allies till such time as he should receive his subsides  the          
latter he was satisfyed in by the Emperors paying of the Due remaineing,        
and as to the other they offered him a 5th part valued in money, but            
he told them that he wanted not money, being willing to lend them 4             
Millions upon good security but it was beleived they should compose the         
difference.                                                                     
     The ffrench lettrs of the 25th speake but imperfectly of the 2d            
engagement with de Ruyter in which they worsted him, they will not owne         
any disadvantage in the 1st [and?] value themselves upon account they           
putt de Ruyter of from his designe of assisting the Spanyards in                
takeing Augusta, they tell us that their fleet of 25 galleys went               
off from Civitta Veschia the 18th where they were furnished with                
plentifull Refreshments, besides which they were sending another supply         
of Victuals & other necessarys with 4000 men under the Convoy of 9 men          
of War were then in readinesse.                                                 
     The Copenhagen lettrs of the 9th say that the Comrs met on                 
Wednesday at the Cittadle for the tryall of the Chancellor Griffenveldt         
where the siscall [?] accused him of high treason  on the 10th they             
were to meet againe to receive his answers  On the 22d was appointed            
the generall Randevouz of the Army who made noe question to retake              
Schonen.                                                                        
   On the 25th it was ordered in Councell that the Proclamation against         
Privateers be renewed                                                           
   We had lettrs from Paris of the 24th instant which said very                 
confidently that the Queen had received an expresse giveing among other         
things an account that Leiutenant de Ruyter dyed the 5th day after the          
fight  the wounds he received then putt him into a feavoar but we expect        
our Italian lettrs for the confirmation.                                        
     You see by the gazett the posture of the Armys to which I adde that        
according to what they write from Germany we all beleive that Haguenaw          
is beseiged by the Duke of Lorraine while the troops that are left at           
Philipsburg will doe some thing more then block it up, the Elector              
Palatine presses very much to have it formally beseiged and will                
contribute all he can towards it, & tis said that the Imperialists have         
begun to [o]pen some trenches against Phillipsburg, and their attacks will      
be more vigorous as the troops of the circles arrive.  The detachment           
the King of ffrance sent from fflandrs arrived the 11/21 instant                
under the command of Duke de Villory at Sedan and to continue their             
march with all diligence to Alsatia to joyne the Duke of Luxenburg.             
   ffrom fflandrs we hear of nothing but complaints from all sorts of           
people whose trouble and affliction for the losse they sustained is             
soe much the greater for that they are as much ruined by their freinds          
as their enemys and that the great Army they have doe nothing to secure         
them.  In fine the lamentations of those people are soe great and soe           
just likewise that every body that hears them must be concerned, there          
is not at present any appearance of action, for till other confederate          
troops as those of Osnaburg &c be come into fflandrs the Prince of              
Orange will not think fitt to attempt any thing, in the mean time both          
Armys will refresh themselves in the Countrey of Alost where there is           
a bundance of things for their subsistance.  ffrom fflandrs they write          
that the most Christian King will leave his Army about the midle of the         
next month & returne to Paris which will likewise divide and weaken the         
Army by takeing from it the guards du Corpes.                                   
     They write from Holland that the ffrench had a designe to surprise         
Briell, thus, four or 5 ffrench vessells appeared upon the coast & sent         
in to tell them that they had 500 English Recruits on board by an               
Englishman but the governr of Briell being more circumspect then they           
imagined sent back word that he wanted order to receive them ashoar,            
but said he would send to the Hague, this is a currant story in Holland,        
but the truth I cannot warrant                                                  
     The ffrench keep the Elector of Bavaria in their interests and are         
endeavouring to conclude marrage between him & the Dutchesse of Savoy.          
   On the 26th instant about 2 a clock in the morning happened a very           
sad fire in Southwarke hard by the tolbat Juno [?], which continued till        
about 3 or 4 this morning dureing wch time the best part of Southwark           
was burnt downe  they reckon about 400 houses & St Mares Over Church            
hardly escaped & about 50 houses were blown up.  We doe not hear any            
thing farther of de Ruyter & there are those that still hope the late           
report of his death may be false.                                               
     L. c. 329     May the 31th 1676                                            
   By the ffrench post which arrived Sunday there were lettrs from              
good hands, which said that the ffrench Army in Alsatia commanded by            
the Duke of Luxenburg consisted in 20000 men, all Veteran troops,               
besides the detachment that lately went from fflandrs which was not             
yet come up, but that soe soone as it did the Duke of Luxenburg had             
orders to attempt the releife of Philipsburg, which notwithstanding             
all the pressing instances of the Elector Palatine remaines onely               
blockt up                                                                       
   We are told sicknes begins to get among the Dutch soldiers in                
fflandrs & that their troops are already lessened very much, but this           
hoped that some time of refreshment in the Countrey of Alost will               
recover those that now lanquish.                                                
   The delay of the Osnaburg troops does very much disappoint the               
measures of the Prince of Orange & the Duke de Villa hermosa for it             
was all along concented [?] that the said Duke should with the Spanish          
troops joyne the said Osnaburgs & beseige some place, while the                 
Prince of Orange with his Army recovered them from the enemy                    
     We have o[u]r ffrench lettrs of Saturday last which say that the           
armys in fflandrs continue in the same quarters as formerly in the              
Countrey of Alost, the K being lodged at Ninoven that they had lettrs           
from Alsace of the 20/30 instant giveing an account that the Diligent           
march of the Duke of Luxenburg who on the 18/28 encamped between                
Haguenaw and Saverne, had broke the measure of the Duke of Lorraine,            
who still lay on the other side of Haguenaw, being not able to advance          
any farther by reason of the narrow lanes he must passe, which he could         
not doe with out giveing the ffrench a great advantage upon [?] him, the        
ffrench promise themselves they shall be able not onely to secure               
Haguenaw, but likewise to releive Philipsburg.                                  
   The ffrench pretend absolutely to the victory in the late sea fight,         
for they say our fleet kept the sea 9 dayes after the fight, passed             
twice in the vew of Siracusa, where the Dutch & Spanish fleet lay to            
repaire, being extreamly torne and disabled & haveing raised the seige          
of Augusta, returned the 10th of May new stile to Messina, where the            
ffrench galleys are dayly expected haveing on board 1200 foot & 300             
dragoons to be mounted at Messina, besides which the death of De                
Ruyter will be of great advantage to the ffrench, whose affairs seem            
to be at prsent in a bettr posture then they have been for some                 
months past, soe that the Spanyards will hardly remove them from                
thence unlesse by a peace.                                                      
   A lettr from a good hand which sayes that the Dutch and Spanish              
forces in fflandrs are not at prsent above 38000 fighting men soe               
much are they lessened since they came into the feild, but besides              
we must beleive they never were this summer 50000 as was said & adds            
that the Spanyards are not at all satisfyed with the proceeding of the          
Dutch, however they think fit to dissemble it all they can, & to                
submitt to the necessaty of their affaires.                                     
     L. c. 330     2d June 1676                                                 
     The Last weeke arrived here the Sieur Olivikrans in an english             
man of War from Sueden, being one of the plenipotentiarys of that               
Crown for the treaty of peace, he comes hither in order to his                  
passing with his Colleague the Baron Sparre from hence to Nimeguen,             
whither its said the ffrench Ambassdrs are likewise on their way                
from Charleville.                                                               
     His Majesty takeing notice of the severall abuses that are                 
committed by the men of War of the severall partys now in War, has              
commanded a very strict proclamation to be published for the security           
of our Navigation, as far as it lyes in his Majestys power to provide           
for the same.  Mr ffreake a gentleman of the Temple continues a close           
prisoner in the tower on account of a very scandelous and seditious             
lible of which he is charged to be the author of, at least he will              
not declare if he be not, from whence he had it, the thing is of that           
nature that its beleived he will be proceeded against according to              
the severity of the law.                                                        
     Mr Hide who I formerly told you was appoynted to goe to Poland             
to Christen in his Majestys name a little princesse lately borne to             
that King, as godfather will have the Character of Ambr Extraordinary           
& a traine suitable to that quality.                                            
     Mr Skelton who has soe long continued at Ratisbon by reason of the         
difficulties arisen in that matter of the Lorraine passeports seeing            
those difficulties are now taken wholly away & that the Congresse is            
goeing to be formed will have very suddainly ordrs to proceed to                
Vienna to sollicite the liberty of the Prince William of ffustemburg            
   The gazett will give you an account of what o[u]r last advices               
from abroad are concerning the posture of the severall Armys as well            
in fflandrs as Germany to which I can onely add that the Confederates           
begin to have some discouragmt finding their expectation soe far                
deceived for before the Campagne began they had almost persuaded                
themselves that the ffrench would not be able to make head against              
them                                                                            
     It is now not doubted but the Duke of Newburgs daughter will be            
the future empresse                                                             
   We hear that the English [Indians?] in New England doe continue very         
much to vex and annoy the English, & to ruine their plantations.                
   They write from Mosco Aprill the 29th that there was then a great            
fire with them which had continued for 3 weeks without intermission &           
was burning when the lettrs came away haveing been soe violent that             
day that it destroyed above 1000 houses.                                        
     L. C. 331   [Size of paper changes here.]    Whitehall June 3d 1676        
+On Thursday his Maty accompanied with his Royall highnesse went to             
Windsor, to see the new buildings in the Castle there, wch goe up               
apeace, & this daye about noone his Maty returned hither againe.                
+The severall ambrs begin now every where to putt themselves on                 
their Joyrneys to Nimiguen, in order to the forming ye assembly                 
them [there?], and to begin the negotiation of a peace, wch its plaine          
ye ptyes in warr seeme every daye more and more disposed to, so far             
that some of ye cheifest Confedrts doe not stick to declare that if             
the rest of this Campagne doe not prove more favourable to them, then           
ye begining has done, The best way will bee to make peace: and it is            
certaine that ye ill Success of things in flanders, so contrary to              
expectacon, has been a great means to begett the aforesaid disposition          
to a peace  Some Gentlemen lately arrived from Sweden doe assure us             
that that King will have a fleet some tyme this month att Sea;                  
consisting in 60 very stout men of war, the Swedes lying this for a             
fundamentall pocrit [?], that unlesse they can bee Mrs of the Sea, their        
Territorys in Germany must bee absolutely lost.                                 
+Yesterday arrived two English vessells in ye Downes, who about ye              
lands End mett with three Algerin men of warr, who upon producing               
their Palles Treated and dissmised them very civilly, the said                  
Algerins had taken a duch East Indy ship outward bound.                         
+This day Mr Freake a gentleman of ye Temple, who was committed close           
prisoner to ye Tower on account of a most Infamous and treasonable              
libell, charged upon him, was broaght, upon a habeas corpus to ye               
Kings bench Barr, and after some examination, was remanded backe to             
ye Tower by ye Judges, on Munday hee will be brought againe to ye Same          
barr, when its beleived an information will be given in agt him of              
high treason, soe that its like to goe very hard with him.                      
+Wee have nott any forraigne letters.                                           
     L. c. 332    [Size of paper changes here.]   June the 7th 1676             
   We are in great expectation to hear what has been the issue of the           
mattr in Alsatia, you have seen in the news booke how the Armys                 
then were posted on the 6 instant.  the Imperialists you see the                
assailants & the other the defendants  the great point then in contest          
was about gaining a village in which the ffrench posted themselves              
to cover their Army, & if the Imperialists could get it, ye ffrench             
would be in a very ill condition for their whole Army would lye                 
exposed to the Implls Cannon, the next point is whether the Imperialists        
could hinder the ffrench succors from Lorraine from joyning the Duke of         
Luxenburg                                                                       
   ffrom Holland they write of ye 9 instant that ye Resident of the             
Duke of Osnaburg had assured that ye troops of his Mr began to march            
the 8th, but the lettrs adde that it was yet a secret whether those             
troops would be employed on the Moselle or in fflandrs                          
   The Count de Caperara who is envoy from the Emperor in ye Dutch              
Army in fflandrs haveing written in disrespectfull termes of the                
Prince of Orange, to the Ministers at Vienna, it happened those                 
lettrs were intercepted by the ffrench who sent them to the Prince              
to let him see the respect his allyes had for him, upon wch the Prince          
was very much offended, & Caprara has left the Army.                            
   yesterday Mr ffreake was againe brought to the Kings bench barr              
when Mr Aturney Generall moved that seeing there was but one wittnes            
against him, & yt in case of high treason the law required two, their           
Lordpps would take baile which was accordingly done for his appearance          
at the next sessions at the old Bayly for yt in ye mean time new                
evidence might come in, the other Gentleman that is a prisoner on               
the same account will hardly escape for there are two wittnesses                
against him besides his own confession.                                         
   we have advice from Portugall that the ffrench are useing great              
endeavours to draw that Prince into a war agt Spaine, & yt to that              
end great offers are made but hitherto without any effect.                      
   We had the 6th o[u]r fflandrs lettrs of an old stay he [?] bring             
nothing new farther then that the Prince of Orange entended on Wednesday        
last to take a turn to antwerp to conferre with some of ye States that          
were come from the Hague & that the King had taken a revew of his Army, &       
yt it was compleat 40000 men, stronger then the Dutch & Spanyards &             
yt severall civilitys & compliments passed between ye King & ye Duke            
de villa Hermosa  they confirme what is above said concerning the               
Count Caprara.                                                                  
     We have likewise o[u]r ffrench letters of Saturday last, they bring        
us nothing new from the Armys in Alsace, for ye last lettrs they had            
from thence were of ye 6 instant, which gave just ye same account you           
have already seen onely add that in the action that had passed, in              
which Sr George Hamilton was killed yt the ffrench had lost 100 common          
soldiers & severall officers & part of their bagage, soe yt we must             
expect o[u]r next lettrs from fflandrs to hear the particulars &                
what happened after the ffrench came to Saverne.                                
     The ffrench gallys are arrived at Messina & the Duke Vivonne is            
dead of an apoplexy.                                                            
     L. c. 333     June ye 9th 1676                                             
   It seems the Swedes have got their fleet to sea sooner then the Danes        
expected, on the 23 past the Swedish fleet consisting in 52 sayle met           
with the Danes which were 27 men of War  onely the former had the wind,         
& notwithstanding their superiority in strength, avoided a close                
engagement, but after haveing for severall houres continued in sight            
of each other, fireing all the while at a great distance, the Swedes            
stood a way to the coast of Pomeren to putt on shoar as is beleived             
the troops they had on board, by which means the Swedes have gained             
this point of succoring Pomeren.  Though as to Stade they have not              
succeded soe well, for the Confederates being Masters of the fort on            
the hoinge [?], noe releife can be brought to the place by water                
     There are lettrs at Court from ffrance wch say that the succors            
consisting in about 10000 men were come up to the ffrench Army in               
Alsatia, which still continued encamped under the Walls of Saverne, &           
the Imperialists near it both partys makeing use of their Canon                 
against each other, but the Imperialists had not yet been able to take          
the village in wch the ffrench are posted.                                      
   We have this afternoon o[u]r lettrs from fflandrs of friday last,            
they say yt the Prince of Orange, haveing been two dayes at Antwerp,            
was returned to his Army which continued encamped as formerly, as did           
likewise that of the Enemy, though the King was gone to Aoth with               
intention to be back againe in his Army in a day or two.  The lettrs            
we have this way from Alsace are onely of the 5th instant & tell us             
nothing but what we know already                                                
     There has been a pretty Action in fflandrs on the side of                  
Cambray, which was thus the Governour of Cambray understanding that the         
Baron de Quincy who lately quitted the Spanish service, was every day           
[space for about seven letters left blank] went out with 35 Squadrons of        
horse and some foot to endeavour to lay an Ambush for the ffrench, but          
the Baron de Quincy had it seems information of the Governrs designe, &         
therefor came out to meet him, being one third stronger then he, The            
Dispute was sharpe but at length the Spanyards had the victory, 400 ffrench     
being killed upon the place severall prisoners taken, 12 Standerts, &           
2 ketle drums, with which the Governr returned to Cambray in Triump.            
     The fflandrs lettrs confirme the takeing the fort of Stade, the            
Garrison it was 150, of which two was killed & 3 wounded in the attack,         
& the rest were made prisoners of War, Stade is by this means in a              
bad condition & must be starved for no succors can come to them by              
water which happens very unluckily for them, for 5 men of War & 4               
ships were arrived with men & provisions in the Albe.                           
     On the 6 was a tryall betwixt the Loyall Indigent officers plantife        
& Sr John Benet defendant wherein he haveing proved the payment of the          
moneys charged to be received by him & the verdict went for him.                
     On the 8th 2 of the Cornwallos foot men were tryed at the king             
bench about killing a boy in St James parke & by the Jury discharged.           
     L. c. 334     June the 12 1676                                             
     Yesterday according to his Majestys order the mercers attended             
his Majesty in Councell & there received a positive command not to              
sell any forreigne silkes or stuffes for the future, with a checke              
that they had not bettr observed his Matys late order in Councell on            
this subject, & at the same time the Lord Chamberline has commanded all         
the officers undr his directions that they turne out of the Court any           
person that shall presume to come into it, weareing such forreigne              
Manufactures, his Majesty been resolved to doe all that in him lyes             
to encourage those of his owne kingdome & especially the English                
drapery.                                                                        
     We are informed from a good hand that the Spanyards have lately            
intercepted a lettr written from Messina by the Duke de Vivonne to              
the ffrench king in which he complaines of the ill condition the                
ffrench affaires there are in, through the wearinesse those inhabitants         
seem to have of their forreigne protectors & their desire to returne to         
their former obedience & that therefore the ffrench soldiers live in            
continuall fear of haveing their throats cutt by the Messinesses, which         
he almost seems to apprehend himselfe, the sight of this lettr has              
very much rejoyced the Spanyards,                                               
   We have o[u]r letters from Paris of Wednesday last which say that            
there had been some fresh skirmish between the ffrench & the Germans            
in Alsatia in which the former pretended to have had the advantage              
& to have taken severall hundred prisoners but this the lettrs say              
positively the 9 instant the succors came up to the ffrench Army                
which was then about 30000 men & that the Imperialists wanting                  
provisions & especially bread were retired towards Strasburg ye ffrench         
continueing in the neighborhood of Saverne.  The lettrs add that                
their fleet of men of War were arrived from Messina at Thoulon, but             
would in few dayes returne to Sicily with fresh supplyes.                       
   In fflandrs the army continue as formerly without any action,                
+We have lettrs from Strasburg of the 1/11 instant which say the                
Imperiall army had that day passed the Rhine there over the bridge of           
Strasburg (haveing after all obtained the passage[)] & that their designe       
was to goe & beseige Phillpsburg, with the whole Army by which means            
the ffrench if they intend to releive the place will be forced to goe           
after the Germans and give them a fair opportunity of A battle, which           
now the Germans could not obtaine, the ffrench act defensively  this            
gives a great turne to things in those parts, & will putt the ffrench to        
take new measures who must passe the Rhine.  likewise if they will succor       
Phillipsburg, & consequently goe far from their owne garrisons, the             
Rhinsians with the Imperialists now have hindred all succors from               
comeing to Phillipsburg from Alsatia side.                                      
     L. c. 335     June ye 14 1676.                                             
+The ffrench triumph mightily at the Imperiall Army passeing the Rhin,          
saying that as to Phillipsburg they doe not fear at all, but time must          
show.                                                                           
   Yesterday we had o[u]r Dutch lettrs of Satturday was seavennight             
they tell us that the Readt Pentionary ffagall was returned to the              
Hague & with him Count Horne Generall of the Artillery who had                  
embarked at Dort 45 peices of Canon & 25 at Delfe, which are to be              
Convoyed up to the Rhine towards Ruremond & Venlo, the same lettrs              
adde that the designe is to beseige Maestrickt, which the troops of             
Osnaburg, Lunenburg, Newburg &c makeing in all about 25000 men & that           
the Prince of Orange will command at that seige leaveing the command of         
his army in fflandrs undr the Command of Waldeck but this news seems            
almost incredible, when we Consider the strength of Maestrickt  at prsent       
it is provided with men & all things necessary for its defense but a            
short time will make things plainer to us.                                      
   By a shipp arrived the last week we understand yt in new England             
& even in Virginia things stand very ill, the Indians doeing them great         
mischeife dayly, in soe much that its said the English have lost more           
ground then they will be able to gaine againe in severall years  Its            
said that his Majesty will send them some assistance from hence though          
hitherto I cannot hear that the New English men have sent for any               
   We have o[u]r lettrs from ffrance of Wednesday last wch gave us an           
account of a great victory obtained by the ffrench fleet in the Mediteranean    
who on the 2d past attacked the Dutch & Spanish fleet as it lay at              
Anchor off of Palermo, & comeing downe upon them with the wind, the             
ffrench made a such good use of their fire ships, that in an hours time         
they burnt 11 men of War of which the Spanish admirall & the Dutch              
admirall made two & the other 9 are said to be most considerable ships          
as well Dutch as Spanish some of which to seave themselves endeavoured          
to get into the Port of Palermo, by which means they fell soon on the           
Spanish gallys, that 5 of them were burnt, Capitana being one.                  
   We must expect to hear what account our fflandrs lettrs will give            
us of this great action.                                                        
     L. c. 336     June the 16th 1676                                           
  Though the news concerning the burning the Dutch & Spanish ships at           
Palermo, is related with severall perticulars & circumstances which             
might seem to be of credit to it, yet we cannot absolutely beleive it,          
till we see what o[u]r Italian letters will say to it which we expect           
on Saturday next.  the relation we have now comes from the ffrench              
Consull at Leghorne, who sent to Monsr Colbert at Paris the coppy of            
a lettr he had received from the master of a barke attending the                
ffrench fleet & it is wondred at that none of the cheife officers have          
given an account, as well as that master, of soe great an action. and           
even the ffrench ambr that is here says he does not know what to                
beleive of it.  some Gentelmen that are come from ffrance this last             
weeke, assure us that that King intends to remayne the whole or greatest        
part of the Campagne with his Army which is contrary to what they write         
from fflandrs of his Majestys intention to leave it very suddainly.             
   We have this morning our fflandrs lettrs of ffriday last, they               
say that this day seavennight very early in the morning the ffrench             
army decamped from Ninoven, & marched towards Aoth, that the apprehension       
was the King would goe & beseige Valenciennes or Cambray, haveing               
already 8 or 9000 men in that part of that Countrey.  This noebody              
doubted but that the King had some great designe in hand.  To prevent           
which the Prince of Orange likewise decamped the day following, which           
was friday last, and that evening encamped againe at Hall, intending            
to regulate his march according to the Motions of the ffrench.                  
+Those letters tell us that at Brussells they were very much surprized          
at the news they received of the Imperialists passing the Rhine,                
occasioned partly by the want they were in of provisions at a time              
when they looked upon the ffrench Army to be soe penned up, that they           
could not escape & absolute destruction by ffamine or sword, but they           
now comfort themselves with the expectation of the takeing of Philipsburg       
which they doubt not to be masters of before the end of the month               
   The troops of Osnaburg are certainly on the march towards the Rhine          
+We have likewise the lettrs from Holland of ffriday last, they tell            
us that the ffrench Ambassadrs were arrived at Nimeguen                         
   That the Province of ffrezland had made a difficultie to send the            
troops of their partition to joyne the body that is forming in                  
Gelderland  The discourse of the seige of Maestricht comes to nothing           
& yet people are puzled to know what use the Canon, that hath been sent         
from port up the Rhine, is designed for  Some think they are for the            
service of Osnaburg & the other confederate troops that are drawing             
together on the Rhine but the[y] would not need soe great a number.             
     The Swedes men of War who came into the Elbe to releive Stade,             
finding they cannot pass in their succors are upon the point to returne,        
to Gottenburg, & it will behove them to make hast or else they will be          
snapt by the Sieur Bostinenz, who is sayled with severall Dutch men of          
War towards the Elbe to look after them, The Sieur Engell de Ruyter             
sonne to the late Leiutenant admirall being arrived from the Streights          
is goeing to the Dutch fleet in the baltick to be Vice admirall of it           
     L. c. 337     June the 19th 1676                                           
   The ffrench King takeing a strickt vew of his Army found some of             
his Captains made false Musters of men out of service for which he              
Casheered & Imprisoned the Captains & in exemple of terror to the men           
caused 3 of their noses to be cutt off.                                         
   Madam Brinvillers claimeing the Priviledge of her quality is to be           
tryed by the Parliament the grand Chamber & Tournalle, in the mean time         
many persons are brought in as accomplices  among the rest the Sieur            
Penellier receiver of the Clergy & Treasurer of the States of Languedoc         
was arested on the 15th & clapt into prison.                                    
   On the 9th was ordered in Councell that the Proclamation should be           
renewed for burning his Majestys part of prohibited forreigne goods             
   On the 15th instant his Majesty went to Sheerenesse & returnes the 17th      
   On the 29th the tryall of my Lord Cornwallis will be held.                   
   We have the Dutch lettrs of Tuesday last, they tell us that they             
were very much surprized at the various Motions of the Duke of Lorraine,        
who haveing understood that the Duke of Luxenburg marched towards               
Haguenaw, had in great dilligence passed the Rhine againe on the 15             
instant at Lauterburgh, & was resolved once more to advance towards             
the ffrench, & try them if he could engage them to a battle, the                
ffrench on the other side seem resolved to attempt the releife of               
Phillipsburg, which they cannot doe unlesse they fight their way through        
the Germans                                                                     
     On the Thursday was seavennight the ffrench King decamped from             
Ninoven in the Countrey of Alost & marched towards Aoth, upon which             
the Prince of Orange likewise decamped, & took his way towards Hall             
resolveing to regulateing his march according to the motions of the             
enemy, some apprehend that the King will goe & beseige Valenciennes,            
& the rather for that the Monsr d'Humires is already in that                    
neighborhood with 8 or 9000 men, but the more probable opinion is that          
this [sic] Majesty is only marched off that he may be the better able           
to send more detachments towards Germany.                                       
   The Baron de Quincy has been in some sort revenged of the disgrace he        
lately received near Cambray  Coll Mosielle out of Valenciennes with a          
good party, he had laid an ambush for him totally routed the Spanyards          
killed 80 upon the place, together with the Coll Mosielle [?] who is much       
lamented                                                                        
     ffrom Copenhagen they write that Griffenvaldt was pardoned at the          
Minute he should have been executed & that they were in great expectation       
of news from sea, which they wanted through Contrary winds that the last        
they had left the fleets soe near that some of the formost ships were           
already engaged & some report that the Danes had the victory.                   
   We have just now o[u]r ffrench lettrs which bring us the conformation        
of that great action in Palermo, a person of quality haveing been sent          
expresse to give the King an account of it, the perticulars cannot              
be inserted here but the substance is the same you have already heard,          
only they say that 12 of the principall ships were burnt & 6 gallys,            
the admirall & Vice Admirall of Spaine & the Reer Admirall of Holland           
being of the number                                                             
     L. c. 338     June the 21th 1676                                           
   Though the ffrench Ambassadrs are already arrived at Nimeguen, yet those     
of the Contrary party seem not to make any great hast, for in reality           
they doe not desire a peace, till the posture of things are soe farr            
altered by the continuance of the Warr, that the[y] may be able to make         
it on bettr termes, then as matters now stand they can pretend to doe,          
& therefore many people who very well know the dispositions of the              
Princes of Germany are of opinion that we must not expect any suddaine          
peace.                                                                          
     It is much wondered that the Danes & Brandenburgs are soe backward         
in their preparations by land, consider how much it is their interests          
to presse upon the Swedes, & not to give them leasure to recover                
themselves.  Much will depend upon the successe of the Swedes ffleet            
for if they can be masters at sea & consequently send over the succors          
they intend for Pomeren the Count Coninsmarck who commands in those             
parts may be sufficiently able to make head against the Brandenburgs.           
It happens mighty well for the Swedes that the Confederates cannot              
agree about Stade, or else that place which is the onely one remaining          
to them in the Dutchy of Bremen must inevitably have been lost                  
     We want all our forreigne lettrs wch makes us [?] we have not              
wherewithall to enlarge.                                                        
     L. c. 339     June the 24th 1676                                           
   The lettrs we received the 21th instant from Holland & fflandrs              
left those people much dejected at the news they heard of the burning           
their shipps at Palermo, they have not as yet the perticulars but on            
the losse of 10 men of War & 6 gallys, and adde that it was easy to             
foresee that some such disgrace would befall them, through the                  
disagreement between the Dutch & Spanish admirall, about the Supream            
command which was soe great as to hinder any good resolution to be              
taken or executed, this encreases a desire in Holland to a peace &              
those poore people in fflandrs are not wanting to joyn with them herein,        
for the expectation they had of the Confederates doeing such great              
matters this Campagne, has hitherto fayled them, & what between freinds         
& enemys their Countrey is quite ruined & eaten up, It is veryly                
beleived that the Prince of Orange will for his own honors sake beseige         
Maestricht or Charleroy & if he can succeed in it, perhaps the Spanyards        
will have little reason to be glade at it for in all appearance the             
ffrench will in the mean time make themselves mastrs of Valenciennes.           
They are soe posted round about it that it is in a manner blockt up             
& not able to draw any provisions from abroad & to reduce the                   
Inhabitants to greater streights & thereby to a desire of change  the           
ffrench have destroyed all the corne & forrage round about,                     
   ffrom Hamburgh they write that though Stade is in the worst                  
condition immaginable for want of provisions & both soldiers & Inhabitants      
on that account are full of dissatisfaction, yet it is preserved by the         
quarrelling among the confederates, which are very great between the            
Bishop of Munster & the Dukes of Luxenburg                                      
+On the other side the Swedes are like to gaine a great advantage by            
the slownesse of the Elector of Brandenburg, who does not yet appeare           
in the feild.                                                                   
   The Swedes are very much blamed that either through want of Courage          
or experience, or both, they made noe better use of the advantage they          
had; when their fleet consisting of 50 men of War met with 27 Danes             
(which was before Tromp came up to them) after fireing some houres              
at a distance parted, & thought that they had done enough to make               
their enemys retire before them, though soe much inferior to them in            
number.                                                                         
   In Alsace the designe seems to be wholly turned upon Phillipsburg,           
the Duke of Luxenburg has posted himselfe so advantagiously that it             
will be a hard matter to releeve the place, & therefore it is beleived          
the ffrench will not attempt it, by way of diversion, & perhaps they            
may take this time to call Strasburg to an account for their partiallity        
to the Imperialists.  But its feared the seige will cost the Imperialist        
(who are more dextrous in the feild then in the trenches) much time, &          
that thus most of the summer will be spent.                                     
   It is very much apprehended that the last successe of the ffrench            
in Palermo may endanger the losse of that Kingdome  the ffrench intend          
to doe their part towards it, & we are told that at Thoulon & Marseilles        
are 4000 soldiers to be embarqued for Messina, and the ffrench beeing now       
masters of the sea the Messinesses will receive store of provisions from        
a broad.                                                                        
   There are some lettrs which say that the ffrench King finding the            
weak posture the Spanyards are in Catalonia he has remanded part of the         
troops he has in those parts in order to the imploying them in Germany          
where the ffrench seem to have the hardest game to play.                        
                    [Handwriting changes here.]                                 
   On ye 21 ye Court of Verge was held at Westminster, who by Especiall         
Comission are to try ye prisoners in ye Marshalsea & discharge as               
they shall see cause, there was 3 grand Jurys, one of ye yeomen of              
houshold, One of Midlesex & one of Surry to whom Sr James Butler                
steward of ye Marshalsea haveing given ye charge, ye Court adjourned            
till July 17 [? seal tear damages second digit]                                 
   The same day his Maty was pleasd to take notice of ye many late              
accidents of fire, wch had given Ocation of Rumours as if designd               
by Evill men & therefore appoynted ye Comittee of ye board of                   
Greivances to Examine all persons that can give Information of ye               
begining of any such fires Especially those of Southwark & East                 
Smithfeild, (wch latter begining Tewsday night last about 20 houses             
were burnt & blowne up) & that ye Neighbouring justices doe appeare             
& give notice to ye Constables & others that can give Information to            
appeare before ye said Comittee who begin to sit on ye 23d                      
   On ye 16 the defiance a 3d Rate ship of 70 guns was Launcht, wch             
promises to be an Excellent ship & wth wch his Maty seemes very well            
pleasd.                                                                         
[These names and amounts appear in another hand on outside of letter:]          
ing.0-3-6.                         Millhouse   5. 1 thatch                      
----0-4-0                          J. Atk:     6. ------                        
----0-3-4:                         N. Ball.    5. ------                        
----0-3-6.                         W. Hill.    6. ------                        
----0-3-6.                         Hackwd.     6. ------                        
----0-3-6.                         J. Holms.   6. ------                        
----0-2-4.                         J. Paul.    5. ------                        
----0-3-6.                         J. Britten. 6. ------                        
----0-3-6.                         R. Paul.    6. ------                        
----0-0-7.                         J. Wotton [?]  ------                        
----0-2-6.                         R. Holms.   5.                               
----0-1-3.                         Wm. Ashby.  5. ------                        
----0-2-0.                         N. Sergt.   6. ------                        
----0-3-9.                         Taylor.     5. ------                        
----0-3-6.                         Lan: Knight.6. ------                        
----0-4-0.                         J. Harris.  6. ------                        
----0-4-0.                         Bolt.       6. ------                        
----0-3-6.                         M. Merry.   6. ------                        
----0-3-6.                         Th. Musson. 6. ------                        
[It seems that the writer of this list held or folded his paper so that         
the left side of each line is a continuation of the right.]                     
     L. c. 340     [Handwriting changes here.]     June ye 24th 1676            
+This day the Comittee of the board sate to heare Informations                  
Concerning fires &c: & severall persons were Examined, one [sic] Munday         
their Ldpps meet againe tho hitherto there appeares to have bene noe            
other Cause then ye hand of god & ye Negligence of ye people                    
+Thursday next my Ld Cornwallis will be brought to his tryall for               
Killing ye boy in St James's Park  ye Court & all other things are              
prepareing, & ye Ld Duke of Ormond is its said to be Ld High                    
Steward for ye day.                                                             
   The states have an account of a great victory obtained by tromp              
over ye Swedes, The fight was on ye 11th instt at ye begining of                
wch ye Swedish Admirall carrying 130 brass guns, & 1000 men was blowne          
up, that there upon Tromp wth his Owne ship attackt ye Vice Admirall            
of 90 guns & 800 men & after some fight haveing shot downe her maine            
mast & very much disabled her a Duch fire ship clapt her a board &              
burnt, severall others of ye Swedes being burnt sunk & taken at least           
8 or 10 & Tromp still in pursuit of ye Rest  The farther perticulers            
wee expect to heare                                                             
     L. c. 341    [Handwriting changes here.]   June the 28th 1676              
     Though we have as yet from Holland onely the account of the                
defeat of the Swedes fleet, yet we doe not doubt the truth thereof,             
though perhaps there may be some abatement as to the losse, there               
are lettrs that assure us that before the fight the Swedes had                  
landed severall thousand men in Pomeren, but that will not doe the              
worke, the consequences of the Danes being Mastrs at sea, will                  
have such influence upon their affaires every where, that the Swedes            
in all likelihood will find themselves obliged to have recourse to              
a peace.  The King of Denmarke has an Army of about 10000 foot & 6000           
horse & being now freed of all fears of the Swedes fleet comeing                
upon the back of him when he has passed with his Army into Schonen, we          
expect in a post or two to hear that his Army is accordingly transported        
thither, though the King of Sweden is at prsent there with 20000                
men to oppose the passage of the Danes.                                         
     It is not to be doubted but that we shall in a post or two hear            
that the Prince of Orange has beseiged Charleroy or some other                  
important place  his designe is to goe with 10000 men from his Army             
to joyne those troops that have for some time been drawn together in            
Guelderland, while the Duke de Villa Hermosa remayns with the rest              
of the Army to observe the motions of the ffrench .                             
     The troops of Osnaburg according to o[u]r last advices were                
marched towards Bonne & it seems their intention is not to come                 
towards fflandrs but to march towards Mosselle & make a diversion               
into Lorraine                                                                   
     On Satturday last the citty of London elected Sr Thomas Harges             
& Sr Charles Rich sheriffes for the year ensueing.                              
     we want all o[u]r forreigne lettrs.                                        
     L. c. 342     June ye 30th 1676                                            
   You see the defeat of the Swedes is confirmed, & there be lettrs             
from Stockholme, which apprehend it to be soe great that the fleet of           
Sweden will hardly come out any more this year, or if it does, its              
feared it will be to very litle purpose.                                        
+The Elector of Brandenburg is now ready to take the feild, & he                
promises himselfe no lesse then the conquest of all Pomeren this                
summer, In the mean time the difference of the Confederates is the              
security of Stade; though wee are told that the Garrison & Governour            
desire nothing more then to be beseiged, that they might deliver the            
place honorably, seeing other wayes they must leave it through want             
of subsistance.                                                                 
   In fflandrs they now talke of great matters & nothing will serve             
but the seige of Maestricht in which the States are perticularly                
concerned, because of the Vexation that Garrison gives to the                   
neighboring Countries, from whence it raises by way of Contribution             
no lesse then 220000 L p annu  The Prince of Orange in order to this            
seige is gone from his Army but has not taken with him above 5 or               
6000 men, the rest of the Army under the command of Duke de Villa               
Hermosa will goe & post it selfe near Namur, from whence it may                 
be supplyed with all things necessary, & at the same time have                  
an eye upon the enemy, the great fear is that while the Prince of               
Orange is makeing the seige of Maestrickt, the ffrench will make                
themselves masters of Valenciennes, with the assistance of the private          
intelligence there is great ground to beleive they have in the towne.           
     We had certaine advice that the ffrench king intended to part              
from his Army (which he leaves undr the command of the Marshall de              
Schomburg) on Satturday last, & to be at Paris to morrow, which will            
give a great encouragemt to the Confederates who have an opinion that           
if the King had any good prospect of things he would stay with the              
Army to have himselfe the honr of it,                                           
   The States are soe much concerned at the late disgrace that                  
happened to them & the Spanyards at Palermo, that its sayd they all             
[are?] about resolveing to fit out a squadron of 20 men of War to be sent       
into the Mediterranean against the ffrench, whose fleet is at present           
arrived at Thoulon, but will suddainly returne againe to Messina with           
a great supply of men & provisions.                                             
   Yesterday one Mr Jewkes of London linen draper was by ordr of                
the Councell, committed prisoner to the Gatehouse, for haveing on               
the 24 instant at a common hall then assembled for the chooseing of             
Officers for the next year in a most seditious manner, openly moved             
& stirred up persons there present, that before they did proceed to             
the choice [of] officers (which was the onely occasion of that assembly)        
they should go to the Lord Major & desire him to call a common Councell         
that they might make an addresse to his Majesty to call a new Parliament        
as appeared by the dispositions of the Sherriffes of London & others            
which the sayd Jewkes was to farr from denying or extenuateing, that he         
did in a presumptious & arrogant maner endeavor to Justifie the same.           
   The[y] write from Paris that the advocate Genll has at last drawn up         
the Sentance of Madam Brinvillers that in way of repentance she shall           
stand with a burning torch in her hand before Nostre Dame then to be            
carryed to Monsr d'Albrays house whom she poysoned & thence to Grave            
where she is to be hanged & burned.                                             
[On outside of letter and in another hand appear some figures and:]             
17 July . 10s' [?] pd Johnson.  [Perpendicular to this note but with a          
bracket:]                                                                       
             16 manusc.         Dr. Mr Townes.                                  
             27 Print.                                                          
     L. c. 343     [Handwriting changes here.]     July the 4th 1676            
   Yesterday the Lord Cornewallis was brought to his tryal before his Peers     
in Westminster Hall concerning the killing a boy some time since in St          
James Parke, a Court was according to custom prepared in Westminster            
Hall, the Lord Chancellor being Lord high Steward for ye day & 35 Lds           
                    [Handwriting changes here.]                                 
sumond to be ye tryers, the Court being set ye kings Councell manag'd           
ye tryall agst my Ld wthout omitting any thing to set out ye offence to         
ye full, & ye Evidence haveing bene heard the Lds Tryers went out &             
after about 3 houres Consultation returnd, & all of them declared ye            
prisoner not guilty except 6 who found it manslaughter, & accordingly           
he was acquitted                                                                
   The 1st instant arived a vessell from Stockholme, at Stockton [?] ye         
master sayes he saw ye Swedes fleet before it put to sea that it Consisted      
in 58 or 60 men of warr, & that he Likewise saw it when it came in after        
ye fight wth ye Danes & then it consisted in onely 36 sayle.  He gives          
ye same account you have already heard of ye loss of ye Swedes admirall         
& Vice admirall & that that soe much discouragd ye whole fleet that             
they began to run for it, That ye Swedes intend to Call many of their           
officers to an account for not fighting but that one Capt Lee of                
Whitby had savd severall of ye Swedes ships, & therefore had bene made          
an admirall & rewarded wth a gold Chayne, the master adds that ye               
danes in that fight, & afterward, had taken 6 great men of war of ye            
Swedes.                                                                         
   This afternoone are Come in all our forreigne letters, they tell             
us that ye french King arived at Versailes on Satterday night last &            
that ye Prince of Conde would in few dayes goe & take ye Command of             
ye army wch at present was under of [?] ye mareschall de Schomburg, &           
continued Encampt at Revanna [?] & about Vallenciennes being very much          
Weakened by ye detachmts that had bene sent from it & greatest part of          
ye troups of ye houshold that went away wth ye King                             
   That in flanders ye troups designed for ye seige of Maestricht,              
Vizt, those of Duke of Newburg & ye states are on their march, that on          
fryday last in ye afternoon ye Prince of Orange arived neare Maestricht         
& Causd it to be invested, ye forces that are to beseige it are 26000           
men & they pretend to take ye place in 14 dayes, the Duke de Villa              
Hermosa Continues in ye meane tyme at Nivell to Cover ye seige                  
   In alsatia ye armies Continue as formerly ye Imperialists at                 
Weisenburg & ye french neare Stratsburg where they burne & destroy all          
ye Country, they make not as yet any step towards ye releife of                 
phillipsburg, ye seige of wch advances but slowly, however ye Germans           
hope to take it by august.                                                      
   ffrom Hamburg they write that ye King of Denmarke upon ye late               
victory of his fleet will in few dayes pass wth his army into Sweden,           
& that ye Confederates are now in good Earnest goeing to beseige Stadt,         
it is affirmed from all hands that ye Swedes lost 12 Capitall ships in          
ye late fight                                                                   
+Mr ffreake & Mr Radford have had their tryall upon account of ye libell,       
& are acquitted.                                                                
     L. c. 344     [Handwriting changes here.]     July the 4th 1676            
   The Prince of Oranges resolution to beseige Maestricht (notwithstanding      
all that was said of it yt none beleive it till they have seen him set          
downe before it) putts us into great expectation of the sure [?] successe,      
for without doubt it will produce some brisk action seeing the ffrench          
cannot in honor lye still & see it taken, and as for the beseiging              
of Valenciennes at the same time, the Spanyards are not soe                     
apprehensive of that, since they have assurances of the good disposition        
of those inhabitants towards their King.  ffor to attack Valenciennes           
with a formall seige is lookt upon as a thing impossible soe long as an         
Army of 25000 men is soe near it, as that of the Duke de Villa Hermosa          
whose buisness is to have an eye upon the enemy, & to hinder all action         
on their side, while the Prince makes seige of Maestrickt with a body           
of 20000 foot & 6000 horse, all that is feared is, that such difference         
may fall out between the Prince of Orange & the Duke of Osnaburg                
concerning the Supreame command, but surely they will be soe wise as            
to avoid the occasion.                                                          
   The Germans goe on but slowly with the seige of Phillipsburg, it is          
a work they doe not well understand, & they say that the necessary              
provisions has not been made for it, & besides the place is one of the          
strongest in Europe.                                                            
   The severall Ambrs begin to hasten to Nimeguen the place appointed           
for the treaty;  My Ld Berkley his Majestys Ambr at Paris has orders            
to repaire forth with thither, & Sr William Temple from the Hague, but          
it is very apparent that there will be very little to be done till              
winter, the severall parties especially the confederates being soe              
intent upon the war to have any thoughts of peace, of which the Swedes          
seem to stand in greatest need considering the present posture of their         
affaires, & their divisions among the great men at home.                        
   It is said that the ffrench are goeing to send 7 or 8 men of war             
under the command of the Duke de Estrees to the assistance of the               
Swedes, but they will now come to late.                                         
     At the sessions at the Old Bayly on ffriday last Mr Bradford was           
indicted of high treason, for publishing a very infamous libell but             
for want of sufficient proof he was acquitted.                                  
     L. c. 345 (1)     July the 7th 1676.                                       
+All o[u]r fforreigne letters coming in yesterday you will have an              
account in the newsbook of the present posture of the Armyes abroad,            
so that I shall not need to repeat it here But shall add what is not            
made publick vidlit.                                                            
     That in ffrance they were much surprised to heare of the seige             
of Maestricht by the Prince of Orange though it has been discoursed             
of all most this months post yet they could not beleive the Prince would        
undertake a work of so much weight and difficulty  The King has here            
upon declared his intention of passing from St Germans as this day              
upon his returne to his Army whither he will not be followed with so            
great attendance as formerly, many of his servants being ordered to             
stay behind so that its beleived the King designes some notable                 
action  It is true his Army in fflandrs is att this time very much              
weakened and not reckoned att present above 14000 men but he can                
reinforce it with his troops he may draw out of his Garrisons in                
fflanders.  On the other hand the Duke de villa Hermosa besides the             
troops that are employed in the seige of Maestricht has an Army of              
30000 men and if the French attempt to raise the seige the first action         
will be with him so that there must be a battle to decide the matter.           
     The seige of phillipsburgh is like to prove a tough peice of work          
and the Germans have allready lost a great number of men  as yett the           
Duke of Luxemburg though twas said he has an Army of 45000 fighting             
men does not make any step towards the reliefe of it but it seemes              
the ffrench thinke it time enough.                                              
   We have letters from Stockholme which say that the destractions              
there are so great as well through the ill success abroad as their              
divisions among the great men att home that that Kingdome seems to              
hasten to its ruine  they very much feare that the Muscovites will be           
tempted with this opportunity to fall into Livonia which if they do             
in all appearance they will find no great opposition.                           
     The States are positively resolved to repay the affront they and           
the Spaniards received att Palermo, and therefore they are goeing to            
fitt out a very considerable squadron of men of warr  some speake of            
26. [?] to be sent into Scicily  the Sieure Allamond, who is Reare              
admirall of the Dutch Squadron in the Baltick is sent for to be vice            
Admirall of their ffleet in the Mediterranean.                                  
     yesterday Sir Philip Munkton was by order of Councell committed            
to the Tower for writeing into the Country scandalous and seditious             
letters to defame the Goverment and Lords of his Majestyes privy                
Counsell.                                                                       
   Among the rest of the Prisoners att Newgate there was one this               
Sessions that Confessed there was money offered to him to sett houses           
on fire  And that it was by such persons who living by theivery may             
take Advantage thereby to carry away the goods of the distressed                
people                                                                          
     Since the late great fire att Musco tis advised that on the                
19th of May there happened another which consumed 5000 houses; so that          
what with the former and that, there is not left above one 3d part of           
that great Citty Standing.                                                      
     Our Frigatts and Yachts which are sent to Looke after pirateers            
are very diligent in the quest of them and sent severall in.                    
     On the 30th of the last About 12 att night broke out a fire at             
Southampton which being soone discovered was by the diligence of the            
Major as suddenly putt out & only the Master of the house being in bed          
with two of his Children was much burnt of which one of                         
           [Rest of letter is numbered L. c. 345 (2).]                          
his Children is since dead  Tis beleived the Carelesse takeing a pipe           
of Tobacco in bed was the Cause of that unhappy accident.                       
     There are lately arrived 3 great East India ships from the Coasts.         
     The Muscovites are said to have been on their March against the            
Swedes in Livonia with 20m foot and 47800 horse of which 30m Gentlemen          
which have onely his man [?] some 2 or 3 or more all mounted and armed          
who are not accounted amongst the Number.                                       
     The letters from the streights give account of the great                   
disturbances att Palermo where the Arch Bishpp being fled they Razed            
his house to the Ground, And that the people being gott in had                  
killed all the Messineses and ffrench they could find.                          
   Sir Thomas Clargies haveing been excused and Sr Charles Rich fined           
for Sheriffes a Common Hall was called on the 3d when they proceeded            
in an orderly election of 2 worthy Citizens.                                    
   They write from Holland that the States of Drent have made the               
Prince of Orange their Heriditary Stadt-holder after the Death of the           
Prince of Frisland.                                                             
     Sir William Temple his Majestyes Ambassador was on the 8th to have         
his Audience of the States upon his departure from Nimeguen the next            
weeke.                                                                          
   The letters from Smyrna Aprill the 29th Confirme the Returne of the          
Grand Segnior to Constantinople which he for a bout 14 yeares had               
abandoned but the occasion of that sudden and unexpected resolution             
they give with Certainty, some say it was a dreame which took so great          
Impression in him that he could not be att rest till he had done it,            
others say the disturbances att Cairo are the Cause, some add to that           
the Commotions of Babylon, as allso that the Xeriffe of Mecca wrote             
to the Grand Segnior in which he sayd he could not acknowledge him              
for protector and head of the Mussell man faith so long as he abandoned         
his Imperiall City and lived in the Mountaines, Others say the murmure          
of the Janizaries.  But most are of the opinion that the Grand Segnior          
Intends not to fix att Constantinople, but to remayne there till the            
great Seraglio be built, The soldiers who were to come from Alexandria          
under the Convoy of the Tripolines upon news of the disorder att Cairo          
and the Imprisonement of the Bassa are Returned to their home  And              
Report makes the Disturbance there more then a popular Tumult.                  
     L. c. 346    [Handwriting changes here.]   July ye 8 1676                  
   Mr Hide who you have formerly heard was appoynted by his Maty to             
goe his Amb to ye king of Poland to performe ye Ceremony of Christening         
that Kings daughter in his Maties name will part hence ye begining of           
next Weeke haveing a very noble trayne & Equipage                               
   Mr Justice Ellis of ye Common Pleas has his quietus Est & Sr Wm              
Scrogg is appoynted by his Maty to succeed him                                  
   Sr John Narbrough haveing finally Confirmd ye Peace he made wth              
Tripoly so much to ye Honnr of his Maty & Advantage of ye nation,               
is now returning home but Sr John Berry will Continue wth 8 frigatts            
to secure our trade agst all accidents, By Sr John The Tripolines have          
sent his Maty a present of Horses & severall Wild Beasts,                       
   My Ld Berkley has Orders to repaire forthwith to Nimeguen whither            
Sr Wm Temple is already gone from ye Hague in Order to ye Opening ye            
assembly.                                                                       
   The master of a Vessell arrived from ye sound tells us that before           
he came from thence ye Whole danish army was landed in Schonen, where           
ye people seemd very much to favour them, the Swedes had not at all             
Endeavourd to Oppose their landing & ye generall Opinion is that ye             
Danes will wthout any great Oposition recover yt provence wch formerly          
belongd to them.                                                                
   There is noe fresh forreigne letters come in                                 
     L. c. 347    [Handwriting changes here.]   July the 11th 1676.             
     Yesterday arrived the Dutch post of ffriday last, by wch we have           
letters from Copen=hagen of the 4th instant  they give us an account            
that Admirall trump after haveing been battered by severall ffrigatts           
Upstadt in Schonen, had with his shallops landed neare the towne 3000           
men, notwithstanding the Swedes with severall hundred horse and 200             
foot endeavoured to oppose the same, which after about the loss of              
200 of them were found to give way, and leave the Danes att liberty to          
advance to the towne, which they did, and were ready to storm it, when          
they understood that the Swedish Garrison was retired, and accordingly          
the Danes entred it, and Admirall Tromp had the Oath of Allegiance              
sworne to him in the name of the King of Denmarke.  On the 10th whilst          
Admirall Tromp continued before Upstadt with the greatest part of the           
fleet, the King of Denmarke landed with all his forces neare Essenbourg         
which is a small towne and Castle right opposite to Elsinore                    
without the Least opposition on the part of the Swedes, who had drawn           
all their force that was in those parts towards Upstadt to recover that         
place, and immagining the King would have landed there abouts.  Essenbourg      
surrendred to the King the 11th, who had Encamped his Army not farr             
from thence which consisted in 16000 men.                                       
     In Pomeren the affaires of the Swedes do not goe better, they have         
abandoned the strong pathe [?] of tribsee as also the Isle of Usodome;          
and the Brandenburgs are advancing into the heart of the Swedish Pomeren        
with intention to goe and attack Straetsond, which, and Stetin are the          
only considerable places that remaine to the Swedes in that Country.            
     Stade is hitherto secured by the difference between the Confederates       
that lay before it, for they write from Hamburgh of the 14th that the           
Bishop of Munster has permitted 12 Waggons laded with provisions, to            
pass through his quarters into Stade, att which the Duke of Lunenburg           
was much offended, and its beleived thinges will be so farr as to               
begett acts of hostility between them.                                          
     I had forgott to tell you that in Pomeren Domnim is beseiged               
by the Brandenburg's, and that there goes a report of a sharp action            
that had happened between the Swedes and the Brandenburgs but the               
particulars we know not, nor who had the better.                                
     The beseigers of Philipsburg began the 9th instant to batter the           
towne with 12 halfe [?] Cannon, and had done Considerable execution, their      
other batteryes would be allso finished in a day or two, and then they          
hoped to make quick worke with the seige, 5000 men of the Circle of             
Franconia were arrived in the Camp  The beseiged in the meane time              
continued to made vigorous sallyes as well the Duke of Lorraine as              
the Duke of Luxemburg remained encamped as in o[u]r former, only the            
latter had sent 3000 horse to Lorraine; where Creguy gathers an Army            
together in order as it is beleived to releive Maestricht on that side.         
     Our letters from Maestricht are of the 14th, when the Cannon was           
not yett arrived in the Camp, nor the trenches opened, but they were            
hard att work to finish their lines, and prepare their batteries.  The          
Dutch say the Garrison is stronger then they expected, and that they            
had made a salley with 400 men with designe to have destroyd the                
Bridge, in the Princes quarter, but that they had been repulsed with            
great loss, and Coll: Fennicks English Regiment had been concerned in           
that action or att least part of it, and had behaved themselves much            
to the satisfaction of the Prince.                                              
     L. c. 348     [Handwriting changes here.]     July the 14th 1676           
   My Lord Berkley being removed from Paris to Nimeguen his Majesty             
has appointed Mr Montague master of the horse to the Queen to goe his           
Ambr into ffrance.                                                              
   A great inconvenience haveing been found in the brasse farthings             
that are at present current for that they may be easily counterfeited,          
as well as for other reasons his Majesty has resolved to call them in,          
and to cause in their stead farthings and halfe pence to be made of             
Tinne to the full value every peace beares.                                     
   To Morrow or next day Mr Hide will passe hence on his Ambassy to             
Poland                                                                          
   Our ffrench & fflandrs lettrs comeing in the 12th, the publick               
news, leaves me little to adde here, the great expectation what the             
ffrench will doe  in fflandrs they make great preparation, and it is            
the generall beleife they will beseige some place of importance to              
countervayle the losse of Maestricht, the seige of which goes on as             
yet but slowly, & men are wanted.  The Bp of Munster who is to have             
part in that seige not being expected till the latter end of the month          
new still [sic].                                                                
   At Phillipsburg they begin to be pretty briske & the beseigers seem          
to promise themselves to be masters of it before the begining of                
August, certaine it is that the Duke of Lorraine wishes to see an end           
of it desireing nothing more, then to be moveing with his Army towards          
Lorraine.                                                                       
   ffrom New England we have an account that the Indians continue to            
doe much mischeife & to burn severall plantations, The Constant John            
of Hull arriveing at ffallmouth on the 3d reports that he departed on           
the 23 of May last from St Maryes in Mary Land where he left a very             
incouradgeing trope on the ground, though the people were in dayly              
expectation of the Indians riseing for prevention of which had in               
continued motion 100 Troops in each countrey whose pay was 30 L of              
Tobacco p Diem  there was an expresse to the governr of St Maries from          
Virginia acqu[a]inting that the Indians were up in Armes at Rapahanac           
& that the English were at difference among themselves about a generall         
Leavy made as well upon those that fought as those that did not fight,          
In the Latitude of the western Island he met a private man of war with          
ffrench coullers who kept him 4 houres aboard took from him a Hogshead          
of tobacco some furre & his & his mens clothes.                                 
                  [Handwriting changes here.]                                   
   Mr Jenkes who stands comitted prisoner to ye Gatehouse did on ye             
6th by Councell move to ye Ld Chancellr for a Habeas Corpus, wch                
motion was answerd by his Maties Councell, & afterward ye                       
unreasonableness of it soe amply showne by ye Ld Chancellr as not               
onely gave satisfaction to all those of ye long robe but Even                   
Convincet those of Jenkes' freinds of ye Justice in denyeing it                 
+There is a young man lately taken for Coyning false mony, ye                   
Occation this, hee went to Turnestile to buy shoos for wch he                   
chargd a pistoll & Causd ye shoemakers Boy to Carry them to his lodging         
wch was in Warwick Street neare Charing Cross  The shoemaker finding            
his mony false made Inquiry after him & Causd him to be apprehended             
after wch they found in his Lodgings severall Impressions on hard               
mettall of Guinneys & forreigne Coynes, of wch he had offerd some               
counterfeit to a Goldsmith & thereupon he was sent prisoner to ye               
Gate house.                                                                     
   The Comission for ye Wine Leevies is renewd in wch Sr John Griffith,         
Mr ffletwood & Mr Bringhouse are continued, & Mr Nathaniell Coursen             
Mr Robert & Mr Charles Rives added to ye number in place of Mr Ously            
Mr Downes & Mr Young wth a sallery of 200 L to each                             
     L. c. 349    [Handwriting changes here.]    July the 17th 1676             
+The 14th we had o[u]r Dutch & fflandrs lettrs of Tuesday last, they            
tell us, first as to fflandrs that the Duke de Villa Hermosa had for            
three or 4 dayes been much allarmed with the marches & countermarches           
of the ffrench & with the advice he had that they were drawing troops           
out of the severall garrisons in fflandrs, they had summoned some               
thousands of Pioneers, & had drawn out a great many cannon out of               
Lille & Tournay, that thereupon his Excellency had on Tuesday morning           
last being 10/20 instant marched wth all the Spanish foot & 6000                
Dutch foot from Genap towards the Province of fflandrs leaveing the             
rest of the Dutch Army with count Walder, to have an eye upon the               
Marshall de Scomberg, who continued with the body of the ffrench                
Army at Kienvain, and in the effect [?] the close of o[u]r lettrs they          
say they had certaine advice that a detachment sent from Scomburgs              
Army, haveing joyned the marshall de Humieres & the troops he had               
drawn togeather out of the severall garrisons, at Lille, they had               
marched with 30 peices of Cannon & all other necessarys for a seige             
towards Ipresse, and that passing forward the 9/19 instant they set             
down before Aire, the utmost frontier of the Spanyard in the Countrey           
of Artois, which would it [is] thought hasten the march of the Duke de          
Villa Hermosa who encamped on Tuesday night near Hall, they say that            
Air is very ill provided, haveing but a small garrison & some of the            
fortifications not perfect, soe yt Its feared it cannot hold out till           
it cannot [sic] be releived, considering that it will take up the Duke          
de Villa Hermosa at least 10 days march thither, which would tire his           
soldiers & make them almost unfitt for action, & then it is a question          
whether the Duke de Villa Hermosa will think it safe to march soe farre         
from Maestricht while Schomburg lyes still at Kenrain  the next post            
will tell us what measures they have taken.                                     
   The Batteries were not finished before Maestricht till the 10/20             
instant, and that night or the next morneing they would begin to make use       
of them  the Lines on the side of the Princes quarters were perfectly           
finished but on the side of the wyche they were not, & on that side they        
wanted mightily the troops of the Bp of Munster, the beseigers fired very       
briskly with their cannon, & few dayes had past, that 20 of the beseigers       
were not killed with the Cannon.  many of the Pioneers had been likewise        
killed  The States to encourage the soldiers had sent 300000 crownes to         
the Prince, to pay them  they had not yet opened their trenches                 
     In Alsace the two Armyes continued as formerly  the seige of               
Phillipsburg went on after the old rate, the beseigers have as yet but          
on[e] battery of 12 Cannon, with which they fired furiously upon the            
towne & had made severall breaches in the walls  two thousand fresh             
troops of the circles were expected in the Camp but this seige will             
take up some time as yet                                                        
   Marshall de Crequi gathers an Army of 14000 men in Lorraine, Its             
not doubted but it is for the releife of Phillipsburg & that he will            
come by the way of Deux Ponts, while Luxenburg keeps the Duke of                
Lorraine in play                                                                
     ffrom the Northern quarters we have as to the affaires of the Danes        
that the castle of Hollingburg was not surrendred till the 3/13 it              
haveing held out 3 dayes that the Danish Leut Genll Rosencrans was killed       
before it & that the King of Denmarke was goeing to beseige Landscroon a        
place of great strength.  The King of Sweden was gone for Stockholme            
where its said 10 captains was hanged for not doeing their duty in the          
late sea fight.  Nothing considerable from Pomeren or Stade.                    
    L. c. 350     July the 19th 1676                                            
+Yesterday & the day before arived in the river two or 3 vessells in 6          
dayes from the Soundt, the masters not onely tell us of the King of             
Denmarke being landed in Schonen & his haveing taken the castle of              
Holsinburg, but what is more considerable the Sieur Galdensien viceroy          
of Norway was come with an Army near Gottenburg & had already taken             
possession of all their iron mills, & that the towne of Gottenburg was          
in soe great a confusion that it was feared it would fall into the hands        
of the Danes                                                                    
   We are assured from all hands that the Duke of Luxemburg, has orders         
to try his utmost to releive Phillipsburg & our last lettrs from ffrance        
told us that the Duke of Luxemburg was on his march in order to it.             
   The ffrench seem resolved to goe on with the affaire of Sicily with          
all the vigor possible & with their fleet they are now sending near 8000        
fresh men into Sicily with which & the troops they have already there           
they mean to conquer that whole kingdom                                         
     Our ffrench lettrs just now arrived tell us that in Alsace the             
Duke of Luxenburg being possitively resolved to succor Phillipsburg             
decamped the 8/18 instant & marched directly towards the Duke of Lorraine       
who had quitted his quarters at Weissenburg & was retired nearer                
Phillipsburg haveing demolished & abandoned the fortifications at               
Lauterburg, that the 20th instant the 2 Armys were within 3 leagues             
of one another & that the next day the Duke of Luxenburg intended to            
advance nearer the Duke of Lorraine, who lay encamped near Gersmerseine,        
soe that by o[u]r next we must expect to hear of a battle.                      
+Aire as you have already heard is beseiged by 15000 men under the              
command [of] Marshall d'Humiers.  It was invested ye 21 in the morning,         
the 22 at night they opened their trenches within 60 paces of the fort St       
ffrancis, which the[y] attacked but were repulsed with the losse of             
between 40 & 50 & 3 or 4 officers  The 23 they would begin to batter the        
said fort which they must take first before they can make their                 
approaches to the towne which the ffrench pretend to take very quickly          
for though it be strong yet it has but a weak garrison.  The Duke de            
Villa Hermosa continued his march for the releife of it, & for that             
reason Scomberg had sent 5000 men more who passed by Lisle the 24 instant       
to reinforce it.                                                                
   The ffrench say that the seige of Maestricht advances very heavily           
& that the beseiged have in their sallies killed & taken prisoners              
above 500 of the beseigers                                                      
     Some lettrs say that Scomberg was likewise marching with his               
whole Army towards Aire, but this is not certaine as it is                      
that we shall hear of a great deale of brisk action in few dayes.               
     We have just now o[u]r Dutch lettrs  they tell us that the trenches        
before Maestricht were opened ye 20 at night & at the same time they            
battered the towne with 20 peices of Canon. but the 22d they had                
advanced their trenches very considerably & the beseiged [?] had not            
disturbed them with any sallies                                                 
     The seige of Phillipsburg goes on briskly.                                 
     L. c. 351     July the 23d 1676                                            
   In Germany you see things are drawing to a Crisis, & a battle in             
all appearance has by this time determined whose Phillipsburg shall be,         
The Duke of Lorraine has quitted severall Posts to reinforce his Army           
with the Garrisons, & without doubt the dispute has been very sharpe.           
     In fflandrs the Duke de Villa Hermosa is at a stand & finds it out         
of his power to releive Aire for that the Marshall de Scomberg marched          
with his whole Army to cover the seige, de Villa Hermosa alone is to            
weake to attempt to raise it, unlesse Count Waldecke with the Dutch             
troops would joyne him, but he will not stire from Maestricht to assist         
the Prince upon occasion, soe that Air must be given for lost                   
   But as to Maestricht the Prince of Orange hopes to make an end of it         
assoon as he could have expected, the trenches are advanced beyond what         
he could have hoped for in soe short a time, not haveing received the           
least disturbance from the beseiged, which is very much wondered at &           
makes it beleeved the garrison is not soe strong as the ffrench pretend;        
Wednesday was seavennight the 3 English Regiments commanded by ffennicks        
Ashley & Widdrington, had the guard of the Trenches where about 40 of           
them were killed as an officer of one of those Regiments writes, and adds       
that the beseiged did very great execution with their cannon, soe that          
hardly a day passed in which 30 or 40 men & horse did not fall besides          
those killed in the trenches, to conclude the action is sharpe & will           
be sharper when they come to attack the counterscarpes, which are soe           
mined that of necessaty many must loose their lives in takeing of them          
+The affaire of Palermo troubles the Spanyards very much & good                 
reason, the Mutineers though they have chased out the Spanyards &               
sett up a Goverment of their owne yet they pretend that it is without           
prejudice to their Allegiance to the King of Spaine  this was likewise          
the plea of the Messinesses in the begining.  In Naples things have             
likewise a very ill aspect & seem to protend [sic] the like revolutions,        
if not prevented by the Spanyards manageing their affaires a little             
better then hitherto they have done                                             
   This news will make the Dutch hasten the equipage of the 14 men of           
War they intended to send to reinforce their fleet in the mediterranean         
but let them make all the hast they can the ffrench will have all the           
remaineing part of the summer to play the masters, which they will doe          
to [sic] with great advantage to themselves considering the force they          
will have upon the returne of their fleet to Messina                            
     The Prince of Mecklenburgh that has been here some time is returning       
to his Estate in Germany                                                        
   Mr Hide is parted on his Embassy to Poland,                                  
     L. c. 352     July the 24th 1676                                           
   By the Dutch post arrived yesterday we have advices from Copenhagen          
dat July the 20th that the King of Denmarke goes on with the seige of           
Landscroon a place of great strength, the 16 the king received advices by       
an expresse from the viceroy of Norway that on the 28th past he had a           
successefull reincounter with the enemy, of whom 800 were killed upon           
the place 8 collers taken & severall prisoners & that he was marching           
directly to Gottenburg to beseige it.                                           
Hamburg July the 24th  The brandenburgs have taken Anclam in Pomeren            
& its said the Confederates are agreed to attack Stade.                         
Spire July the 21.  The 19th a new batterie was finished in Count               
Steremburgs quarter before Phillipsburg of 11 Canon, they had played            
all day & dismounted severall of the beseigeds Canon, that night about          
10 a clock Count Steremburg attacked two great retrenchments made by            
the ffrench between their counterscarpe & the head of his trenches &            
cavated [?] them about midenight  the ffrench made a vigorous sallie to         
dislodge the Germans but were repulsed, the next morning the enemy              
made another great sally & beat the beseigers out of one of those posts         
but they came on againe & repulsed the ffrench the second time & kept           
those posts, its said that in those actions were killed on both sides           
above 800 men.  The Imperiall Army was come to Gernesheim where they            
expected the ffrench who was comeing downe towards them, soe that we            
expect a battle.                                                                
     ffrom the Camp before Maestricht 25 July  This seige grows now             
very hott, we have three batteries & have dismounted severall of the            
beseiged['s] Cannon & made two large breaches.  The Trenches in the             
Princes quarter are come within pistole shot of their out Bastions, we          
are likewise workeing on severall approaches which branch out in diverse        
lines to find out their mines which they very much apprehend.  In a             
day or two we shall attack some of their outworkes.  This day the               
Prince as he came out of the Trenches, which he vissits twice a day             
received a musket shot in the Arme which onely passed the ffleshy part          
without touching the bone soe that it was of small importance.  The             
Rhinegrave was wounded in the cheek but without danger.  We have since          
we opened our trenches lost about 30 or 40 men every night.  We have            
just now our ffrench lettrs & they bring us these advises                       
Paris July  We hourly expect to hear of a great battle in Germany, the          
ffrench Army being marched towards the Germans who are encamped on the          
River of Landaw & soe reach as fare as Spire, by which means they               
perfectly cover the seige of Phillipsburg & may on occasion be succored         
by the troops of the circles  Yesterday the King received expresse from         
the Duke of Luxenburg but the contents of them are kept secret  we shall        
now in few dayes hear of great actions                                          
     L. c. 353     July the 27th 1676                                           
+We received not till the 24th instant o[u]r fflandrs lettrs of Tuesday         
last  the advices we received by them from Germany & Maestricht are of          
the same date, as those we have by the way of Holland of Satturday last,        
what they tell us new is, that the Duke de Villa Hermosa had for 2 or           
3 dayes been encamped near Ghent in expectation of Count Waldecke with          
the Dutch troops who had been at last perswaded to march towards fflandrs       
& accordingly the 16/26 he encamped from Navere after haveing sent a            
detachment to the campe before Maestricht & the 18/28 lodged near               
Brussells from whence the next morning he could continue his march              
towards Ghent, but he moved soe slowly that the Spanyards were highly           
displeased with him, that the Marshall de Scomberg lay encamped at              
Pontespecies between Tournay & Audenorde to have an eye upon de Villa           
Hermosa who besides could not possibly come time enough to releive              
Aire for the ffrench had there the 4th or 5th day of the seige taken            
the fort of St ffrancis.  The Spanyards finding themselves too weak             
after they had withstood two assaults retired into the towne in the             
night  the garrisons of Bruges & other places are marched to joyne              
de Villa Hermosa & two Dutch Regiments were likewise marched for the            
same purpose from Ghent.                                                        
     We have lettrs from Dunkerke of the 30/20 instant which said that          
the ffrench pretend to take Aire by Tuesday next though the Spanyards           
beleive it will hold out much longer.                                           
     We have lettrs from Naples wch say not any thing of the revolt at          
Palermo, soe that we look upon that report to be altogether false & that        
the ffrench at Messina had attacked the Scalotta but had been repulsed          
with great losse.  The Scalotta is a very strong post possessed by ye           
Spanyards about 2 leagues from Messina.                                         
   We are assured that the Emperor will marry the Duke of Newburgs              
Daughter.                                                                       
     We have o[u]r ffrench lettrs of Satturday last  as to Aire they tell       
us that the place makes a very good defence but yt ye Marshall de               
Humiers pressed the seige soe clossely that it was not doubted but the          
place would be taken in few dayes.  But o[u]r lettrs just now arrived           
from Calais say that it surrendered on ffriday last the outworkes               
haveing been taken the night before by storm.                                   
     L. c. 354     July the 28th 1676                                           
+Yesterday the ffrench Ambassadr here received an expresse from ffrance         
giveing him the perticulars of the takeing of Aire, Vidt that on the            
2d day after the opening the trenches the Spanyards abandoned the fort          
of St ffrancis, that on the 5th the ffrench by shooting bombes into the         
towne set fire to their Magazine, that on thursday night last that is           
yesterday was seavennight the beseigers took the counterscarpe by               
assault, that the next day the beseiged capitulated, & that on Satturday        
last the ffrench entred the towne, the Spanish garrison consisting in           
700 men marched out to Ghent.  The losse of this place is of soe great          
concernment to the Spanyards, the ffrench being by this means lett into         
Ortais, It was very strong & might have made a better defence, if it            
had been better man[n]ed, but it is the misfortune of the Spanyards that        
they are not able to make the provisions for the security of theire             
ffrontiers as they ought, as to the seiges of Maestricht and Phillipsburg       
litle may be added to what is in the Gazette  I may tell you that as to         
the former the Dutch pretend to be masters of it in few dayes & at the          
same time the ffrench seem not to doubt, but it will hold out yet a             
good while if not bafle the Prince in the end, but the successe of the          
generall assault which is said was to be given on ffriday last at night,        
will decide the dispute, This in the mean time is certaine that the             
Prince has not men enough for such a seige his whole Army being not             
above 23 or 24000 men by which means the soldiers are at hard duty, it          
being their turne to goe every 4th night into the trenches, & on the            
side of Wycke they have noe attackes at all, there lying on that side           
but 5000 in which hardly serve to close up the place.                           
+As to the seige of Phillipsburg the late overflowing of the Rhine has          
put it 8 or 10 dayes more backward then it was before.  It seems that           
after all the Duke of Luxenburg will be forced to stand & look on, &            
see the place taken being not able to succor it The Germans haveing soe         
strongly fortified themselves.                                                  
  The affaires of the Spanyards in Sicily grow dayly worse  Palermo has         
certainly revolted, though as yet they pretend to act with some respect         
to their King while in the mean time they came [sic] (as some lettrs            
say) sent deputies into ffrance to pray for assistance for them.  It            
is expected that Malezzo & other places will follow the same exemple,           
As unsuccessefull are the Swedes  they are lost every day, & we                 
(cannot to the admiration of all people) hear that they have a body             
of 6000 men together, for all that was said of that Kings haveing               
an Army in Schonen, it appears that he had but 8000 men & they are              
now disperst & be gone for Stockholme, It is certainly said that the            
Muscovites are comeing downe to fall into Livonia                               
     On Tuesday morning his Majesty & his Royall Highnesse went to              
Windsor & returned on Thursday in the evening                                   
     The Emprs marriage with the Princesse of Newburg will now very             
suddainly be declared.                                                          
     Sr George Lane is created Baron Lane of ffulske in the County of           
Rossecomen & vis[coun]t Lannesborrough in the County of Longford                
   His Majesty has been pleased to grant 6 months liberty to the                
Coffe house to vend Coffe under the condition mentioned in the                  
proclamation.                                                                   
[Some figures and this note appear in another hand on outside of letter:]       
     oats for                                                                   
      4 Coach horses 45/4                                                       
     10 other horses.130.                                                       
     L. c. 355     July the 31th 1676                                           
   We have our lettrs from fflandrs of Tuesday last  they tell us               
from Spire dat 28th July that the ffrench Army continues encamped near          
Croon Weissenbourg & Soltz without any appearance of removeing from             
thence, that at Phillipsburg the place almost advanced their trenches to        
the foot of the Counterscarp nothwithstanding the beseiged continue             
their sallys almost every night in one of which Count Staremburg was            
wounded in the Arme, that the beseigers batter the towne very furiously &       
began to throw in fireballs, that the Duke of Lorraine continued encamped       
from Spire to Mecktersseim.                                                     
Brussells 4 August  That the seige of Maestricht goes on with great             
difficultie, that the 30 past the Prince ordered the English to                 
attacke the Dolphins Bastion which they did & after much resistance             
gained it, but before they could make their Lodgements the ffrench              
made a thundering sally & recovered that post with great losse to the           
English, upon which the Prince made another attack with his owne guards         
but they were likewise repulsed & many officers & persons of quality            
killed & wounded                                                                
   Stade was finally to be putt into the hands of the Duke of Zell              
on Monday last, who was already in possession of one of the gates, by           
which means a considerable Army will be free to act against the ffrench         
   There has been a lettr received from a perticular hand which saith           
that the English after they had gained great honor in gaining the               
Dolphins Bastion, was againe beat of by the accidentall fireing of              
some powder that was bringing to them, after they had been near 2 houres        
in possession of the Bastion, which putt them into great confusion              
they apprehending the Springing of a Mine, whereupon the enemy being            
ready & near attacked them with a great body of men & beat them of, Then        
came on the regiments of the guards but they were repulsed likewise.  That      
above 1000 men had been killed on both sides, but the greater number on         
the part of the ffrench, in so much that there had been a cessation for         
two houres to carry of their dead on the part of the Dutch  the Prince          
de Vaundemont the Count de Sosne &c were wounded.  That another unlucky         
accident had happened in the Camp, the powder on a battery happening to         
take fire had destroyed above 50 men, Monsr Ronvigny narrowly escapeing         
However cost what it will the Prince is resolved to have the place              
dureing the above Mentioned attacks, the Princes Regiments of horse             
were drawn up within Pistole shot of the Palisadoes, for the enimys             
horse appeared in the Counterscarp, where standing exposed to the               
enemys shot they suffered extreamly there hardly being one troop of             
which one third was not killed or wounded                                       
   The beseigers are about mineing the said bastion to blow it up.              
     L. c. 356     [Handwriting changes here.]     August 1st 1676              
   Tho ye attack that was made at Maestricht on ye 20/30 past did not           
succeed well yet ye English gained a great deale of Honr & in all               
proballity had ye attack bene left to them as they desired wthout               
manyting [?] any Duch among them, they had kept ye Bastion haveing              
soe bravely gained it, but ye Duch granadoes spoiled all, for upon              
that accident of some Powder fireing they run all out of ye Bastion             
as the Divell had drove them & by their Example many of ye English              
soe that ye french had an Easy taske to beat out ye rest                        
   from Spire Aug 1st They write that ye seige of Phillipsburg grows            
every day warmer, that ye beseigers had advanced their trenches within          
20 or 30 paces of ye Counterscarp, tho wth great difficulty, ye french          
makeing a Continuall fire uppon them & killing them a great many men,           
amongst others Prince Pio had bene kild wth a Cannon shott & ye Barron de       
Say desperately wounded that ye Marquess de Grana was wounded wth a musket      
shot in ye arme & other persons of Note, that ye 30th past in ye morning        
the beseiged made a salley wth 200 foot & 150 Horse but were repulst tho        
wth loss of 60 killd & 30 wounded on ye part of ye beseigers  Notwthstanding    
they soe far advancet wth their Trenches that ye Night a generall attack        
was to be made upon ye Counterscarp Prince Harman of Baden was wounded          
in ye arme.  The Duke of Lorraine continues posted as formerly & ye             
french army wee heare are Coming downe to releive Phillipsburg                  
+ffrom Pomeren they write that ye Brandenburghs had taken Anclam by             
storme, most of ye souldiers & many of ye Burghers being put to ye              
sword, & that ye Danish fleet had appeared upon that Coast their                
designe being upon ye Isle of Rugen in Schonen, the Castle of                   
Landscroon holds out still                                                      
Hague July ye 7th  We have letters from Maestricht of ye 5th instant            
wch gives us an account that ye mines being ready the Prince Orderd             
the Dauphins Bastion to be againe attaqut ye night before, wch was              
accordingly done but that his men were thrice repulst but renewing              
ye attack ye fourth time they entred ye Bastion & tooke it & Continued          
in posession of it when these letters came away wch was about noone.            
Tis said ye Duch had about 400 men kild & wounded & ye french many more         
but ye further perticulers we yet know not, the Governr in ye meane             
tyme resolves to defend the place to ye last extreamity & has made              
proclamation that if any person whatsoever doe soe much as speake of            
a parley or surrender he will Imediately Cause him to be broken on              
ye Wheele.  The 3d instant arived in ye Camp 5 or 6 fresh Regiments             
wch were posted on ye side of Wycke                                             
   Wee have Just now our flanders letters  They Confirme ye retakeing           
ye Dauphins Bastion by ye beseigers the Honnr of wch is due Cheifely            
to ye English who behaved themselves to admiration & had above 200 kild         
& wounded.  On Saterday night last ye Prince intended to attack ye              
Counterscarp  Marshall Humiers has taken ye fort of Linck                       
     L. C. 357     [Handwriting changes here.]     August the 4th 1676          
   There is noe doubt but our next lettrs from ffrance will give us             
an account of some attempt of the Duke of Luxemburg in order to the             
releife of Phillipsburg.  He has positively ordrs from the King to              
hazard it, and he has as fine an army as can be to doe it with, he has          
130 squadrons of horse & 130 battaillions of foot which togeather may           
be about 35000 men                                                              
   In fflandrs you see the seige of Maestricht begins to draw to an             
end for which they are not a little obleiged to the English, who behaved        
themselves soe well that an English modesty can hardly relate it, noe           
action is performed without their haveing a principle share in it, &            
have even the preferrence before the Princes owne guards but this is but        
grining [?] honor, a great many of the English being killed & wounded in        
soe much that ffenwicks Regiment who went over 700 men is at prsent             
hardly 400                                                                      
   The Spanyards in the mean time are not at all pleased with the hopes         
of takeing of Maestricht, when they consider that in the mean time they         
have lost Aire & Lyncke places of great importance & that which gives           
them the greatest trouble is to observe how the affection of the                
people to them abate daily, & that on the contrary they extreamly               
encline to the ffrench in soe much that there is hardly on[e] towne in          
fflandrs that would not willingly open their gates to the ffrench.              
   The Earle of Inchequin being now in England by his Majestys leave            
upon his request to act something in his own affaires, his Majesty has          
granted a Commission to Colonall Roger Alsop & to Sr Palmer ffairbon            
dureing the Earls stay to command that garrison or either of them in            
the absence or indisposition of the other.                                      
     His Highnesse Prince Ruperts Invention of Iron guns has been               
throughly tryed none of which have brooke, but tis found they are of            
more service then the others of a far greater charge                            
   There are still great complaints of our Merchants against the ffrench        
for injureing their ships & carrying away their goods                           
   On the 28th Mr Monancy was brought before the counsell & after               
examination sent Prisoner to the gatehouse upon vehemt. suspition of            
haveing counterfited the kings Signet & Sign Manuall as alsoe the               
hand of the Earle of Arlington now Lord chamberlaine when Secretary of          
State to make forreigne ships free                                              
   A ship lately arrived from Bristoll in New England adviseth that the         
English had in 3 or 4 engagements severly beaten the Indians killing &          
takeing many of them prisoners which wrought so far into their hearts           
that 100 of King Phillips men came & submitted themselves to the English        
& Uncas an Indian Christian King and Ally had made a prsent of                  
severall of his English prisoners to the Magistrates of Norwich.                
     L. c. 358     August the 7th 1676                                          
   Our Dutch & fflandrs post being come bring us these advices                  
Spire 4th August  The March of the Duke of Luxemb and his designe to            
put a succor into Phillipsburg haveing hastened the Resolution of the           
beseigers to attacke the Counterscarpe, the 2 instant was the day               
appointed and the Duke of Lorraine came into the Leaguer [?] to be              
present at an action of soe great importance, four Battaillions of foot         
were appointed for it, and about 8 at night Generall Vermuller begun with       
a false attack on the Counterscarpe on the side of his quarter, when            
presently after the true attack began on the quarter of the Marquis of          
Dourtack; the assailants made the attacke at three severall places,             
succeed [sic] at all of them, and lodged themselves in three                    
places on the Counterscarpe, though not without great effusion of               
blood, for the beseiged makeing a most vigorous defence, a sharp &              
bloody fight was continued for 8 houres, dureing which time showers of          
small shott, Granadoes, spring of Mines &c was the sole entertainment,          
& covered the place with dead bodies.  The Germans being in possession          
of the Counterscarpe quitted 2 of the Lodgements they had made, &               
united in one, that they might be the better able to defend it, & in            
few houres had soe strongly fortifyed themselves as to have                     
sufficiently secured their new conquests.  It is reckoned that on the           
part of the Germans 1000 were killed & wounded in the attacke, all              
owne 600 and among them most of the officers that commanded at the              
attack, on the part of the beseiged 150 were killed, & in the                   
counterscarpe the Germans took a great quantity of amunition, and               
owne [sic] Canon, in a day or two some farther assault will be made             
upon the towne which cannot hold out long.  The ffrench Army is at              
prsent very near the Imperiall & they are bringing downe the Rhine              
their Machines to break or burne o[u]r bridge, the Duke of Lorraine has         
taken all possible care to prevent the same by putting chaines crosse           
the River maning [sic] out boates &c soe that we are here in great              
impatience to see the successe of this enterprize.                              
     L. c. 359     August the 9th 1676                                          
   The Dutch lettrs arrived the 8th bring us these advises                      
   Hamburg the 11th of August.  All the newes now is that Stade is to           
be delivered to the Duke of Zell the 13th instant, Landscroon gives the         
King of Denmarke a great deale of worke                                         
Spire the 8th of August, The french Army has for these two dayes been           
within halfe a league of the Imperiall Army, who has almost ever                
since been drawne up in Batalia & tis said the Duke of Lorraine has             
thrice offered the Duke of Luxemburg battle, which he has not yet               
thought fit to accept, but we are assured that he has not provision             
for above 2 dayes longer, soe that in the mean time he will be forced           
to fight or retire.  In the mean time the ffrench Machines prepared to          
ruine o[u]r bridge have not succeed, one of them was noe sooner launched        
but through the great weight it was charged with sunck & the other              
rune a shore in the Rhine & there stuck, however the Duke of Lorraine           
keeps a great number of boats on the Rhine to have an eye upon the              
ffrench, whom they doe not now apprehend on the side of the water, Major        
Generall Dunewaldt & Schultz haveing been a board with parties of horse         
are returned into the Imperiall Campe with above 200 ffrench prisoners.         
The Duke of Lorraine haveing drawne all the forces that could be spared         
from the seige of Phillipsburg to his Army, that seige has not at all           
advanced since o[u]r last, the beseigrs makeing it their bussines onely         
to maintaine what they have gott, till it be seen what the Duke of              
Luxemburg will doe                                                              
   Just now we have advice that the ffrench Army is retireing.                  
      L. c. 360      August the 12th 1676                                       
   The lettrs that came in the 9th from ffrance seem to give                    
Phillipsburg for lost, for the Duke of Luxemburg being now come to              
Germersheim had found the Imperialists soe strongly posted that he              
could not attempt any upon them, for besides their retrenchments the            
Imperialists had a wood just before them, that would be passed onely            
by three narrow passages & when that was done there was not roome               
between the Imperialists retrenchments & the said wood for the Duke             
of Luxemburg to draw up the one halfe of his Army in Battalia, & as             
for the boats & Machines the ffrench had prepared on the Rhine, they            
did not answer the designe intended.  These difficulties its said made          
the Duke of Luxemburg retire againe with his Army towards Landaw, &             
consequently leave the Germans to pursue the seige of Phillipsburg,             
which being thus disappointed of the releife the beseiged expected,             
it will doubtlesse hold out not many dayes which will be great losse to         
the ffrench, In the mean time tis thought it might goe hard with                
Phillipsburg the Governor of which it seems sent out a girle of 12              
years of age with a billet wove up in her haire to give notice to the           
Duke of Luxemburg that without prsent releife he must capitulate on             
the 10th, which child being intercepted by the Duke of Lorraine has             
confirmed him of their distresse.                                               
   The ffrench Armyes in fflandrs have ordrs to joyn (as supposed)              
to endeavour the releife of Maestricht for the preventing of which              
Count Waldeck has posted himselfe conveniently upon the advice of the           
march of the Marshall de Humiers to be joyned to the Duke Villa Hermosa.        
   The Bruxells Gazet speaks of a new Conspiracy at Messina carryed on          
by one Carlo Lana one of the antient Jurates for putting the place              
into the hands of the Spanyard but that the Duke de Vivonne had made an         
early discovery of it, seized severall conspiratyrs & putt 4 of them to         
death, but whether that Carlo Lana was one of them is not said.                 
   The Paris lettrs dat August the 12th tell us the nobility of Naples          
had made an offer to the Vice Roy of 20000 ducates by way of voluntary          
contribution but would not suffer any new imposition.  The troubles             
of Palermo tis said are appeased & the Dutch ships ready to saile               
ready to cruse [sic] but the Spanish ships not in the like condition.           
They had nothing from Rome about a new Election of a Pope the conclave          
being not shut up.                                                              
     The Streights lettrs informe us that Sr John Narborrough arrived           
July the 17th with 7 men of War from Algier before Malaga, that they            
of Algier had carryed in severall English ships for want of passes,             
some of which were cleared by Sr John Narborrough among which the               
Leopard, of others they condemned the goods & paid the commandrs the            
ffreight, made a distinction between the English built & the fforreigne         
bottomes.  By lettrs from Constantinople they apprehend noe cause of            
fear from the Turk this year by Sea & therefore judge the great fleet           
that was seen must have been the ffrench.                                       
   On the 9th the Envoy from Russ[i]a had audience from his Majesty             
     On the 3d was carryed undr guard from Portsmouth by waggon to              
London 66 L weight of plate & Coin brought thither by Sr John Berry in          
the Bristoll ffrigat.                                                           
     On the 4th upon Complaint against some Justices of Westminster for         
not putting the lawes against conventicles in execution they were               
commanded to doe it, but more particularly that at Westminster.  Since          
the admonition given they have caused searce [sic] to be made for the           
teacher who is not found.                                                       
   Upon the farther exemining the bussinesse of Lawrance for printing           
popish books he was ordered to be out of custody giveing bond of                
1000 L to stand the prosecution of the atturney Generall                        
     Monsr Morel [?] secretary to the Portugall Ambassadr is sent to            
the gate house for proposeing a warrent for printing the Masse books            
in Latine & English but Upon his humble petition he was on the 9th              
ordered to be at liberty giveing security to appear before the Councell         
upon summons & to abide the tryall & judmt in any of his Majestys               
Courts and the like was granted.                                                
   Mrs Anne Brewster is sent to Newgate for unlicensed pamphlets till           
she give security of 500 L for her good behavior for a year                     
   The Earle of Kinkoldin is discharged the Councell.                           
                   [Handwriting changes here.]                                  
  Upon ye Death of Dr Reynolds late Bp of Norwch Dr Sparrow Bp of               
Exeter is to be translated to that see.  Dr Cary Deane of Exeter to be          
Bp of Exeter & Mr North to succeed him in ye Deanery, but Dr Cary               
haveing in a modest letter refused ye great Charge of a Bp, Dr Lamplugh         
is made Bp of that see, Dr Lake Arch Deacon of Exeter, held by ye late          
Bp, & Dr Barker Chaplaine to ye house of Commons, made arch Deacon of           
London held by Dr Lamplugh, Dr Castilban is made Deane of Rochester & Dr        
Horne [?] of St Mary Overs prebend of Worcester                                 
     L. c. 361     [Handwriting changes here.]     August the 14th 1676         
   A gentleman, who arrived here yesterday from Germany & passed                
through the ffrench Army in Alsace, assure us, that it consists of              
40 battaillions of foot reckoning each Battaillion one with another             
betweene 5 & 600 men & in 120 squadrons of horse, a squadron being about        
120 men, soe that it is the greatest Army the ffrench have had in               
Germany since the warr, & there fore the Confederates may the more vallue       
themselves, if that they take Phillipsburg, as it is not doubted but            
they have ere this time expetially if it be true what some perticular           
Lettrs did mention by the last post that the Duke of Luxemburg was              
retired to Landaw after haveing been soe near, that 3 or 4 men were             
killed in the Imperiall Camp, by the canon the ffrench had before their         
right whing, Just now arrived our fflanders Lettrs but being late I             
can onely tell you what is most remarkeable,                                    
Spire 11 of August  The 8th instant the ffrench made an attempt to              
succor Phillipsburg by water & accordingly brought downe the Rhin 5             
great Machines followed by a great numbere of boates, but Prince Herman         
of Baden, wholy posted att Rhinsheim, sent of the number of boates              
hee had prepared who set fire to the said Machines & quite burnt them           
this successe being soe bad, the ffrench in the night passed 500 men            
over the Rhin to gett into Phillipsburg but they were discovered &              
many of them killed & drowned, & this morning the Duke of Luxemburg is          
retired to Landaw, despaireing it seems to releive Phillipsburg, wch            
wee hope now in few dayes to bee masters of, though the place                   
continues to make a stout defence                                               
+The Camp att Maestricht 16 August  wee have not been able since our            
last to make any farther progresse, but onely to keep what wee have             
got the 12 & 14 instant  the beseiged made 2 great salleys but were             
valiantly repulsed in the last by the English, though with Considerable         
losse, Coll: doleman being killed & the Rhingrave dangerously wounded           
whose place is to be supplyed by Monsr Lonnigni  wee are raiseing               
batteries on the Dauphins Bastion & are mineing the Hernewort though            
the great number of officers 6 soldiers wee have lost makes the                 
service soe hard  however wee hope a good successe                              
Brusseles the 18 August  all the news wee have here is that the ffrench         
are drawing their forces together to releive Maestricht, & Marshall             
Humiers is goeing to Joyne Schomburg upon wch villa Hermosa is marchd with      
all dilegence to Joyne waldeck & renew the seige  Stad is surrendered to        
the Duke of Lunenburg whose forces entered the town                             
     L. c. 362     August the 16th 1676                                         
+You see by the publick news in what posture the seige of Maestricht            
is, & the preparation of the ffrench to releive it, to wch I can                
onely adde that the Slaughter of men has been soe great & especially of         
the English that of three Regiments there can hardly bee made 3 good            
companies, there not being above 150 [?] sound men in each, wch att the         
begining of the seige were between 7 & 800 men, however that they lost          
their lives honorably & with great reputation to their Country, The             
Princes Regiments of guards have been likewise severly treated 8                
Captaines being killed of wch you may judge of the rest, there being            
killed, wounded & sicke att least 5000, the Rhingrave is much missed            
being their best generall officer they had there.  The Army the                 
ffrench are draweing together in order to the releife of it consists            
in 45 battailions of foot & 130 squadrons of horse.                             
   Upon the complaints made by our Merchants against the ffrench                
privateers, orders have been sent to the ports to stop all that shall           
putt in their till farther order                                                
   Just now arrived o[u]r ffrench Lettrs  they tell us that Phillipsburg        
holds out still the late report of it being taken proveing without              
ground  however the place is given for lost.                                    
     L. c. 363     [Handwriting changes here.]     August the 19th 1676         
   On the 11th severall Merchants brought to the Councell the Counterfit        
warrants which they bought to make forreigne-ships free, which warrants         
were returned then againe that they might take their remedy or law              
against those that sold them.  The same day Mr Monancy who stands               
committed to the gate house upon that account caused a petition to be           
presented to his Majesty in Councell desireing his liberty upon good            
bayl, but was answered that Counterfiting the Kings hand was treason            
& therefore not bayliable.  The same day the Councell adjourned till            
wednesday October the 4th.                                                      
     The Viceridge of St Martins in the feild held by Dr Lamplugh is            
given to Dr Lloyd Dean of Bangor.                                               
     Upon the death of Dr William Belke late Prebend of Canterbury his          
Majesty has appointed Dr Thomas Belke his sonne to succeed him.                 
     The Lord John Botelar Earle of Gowran is lately dead in ffrance            
by which the place of Captaine of the guards in Ireland is become voyd.         
     By the fflandrs lettrs which arrived the 17th instant we had               
what followeth                                                                  
   Brussells the 22d August.  after all the noise the ffrench have made         
with their marches in order as they give out to releive Maestricht, we          
have great reason to beleive they have some other designe in hand, which        
may be of as great importance to them as to raise the seige & of which          
the successe may be the more certaine, we therefore very much apprehend         
they will beseige Cambray or else on the suddaine turne back towards            
fflandrs & beseige Ipres, the first is most likely 20000 Boores being           
commanded out of Picardy to repaire immediately to Peronne, where the           
Marquis de Lonvoy is to be as they say as this night.  Certaine it is           
that those marches & Countermarches of the enemy doe strongly confound          
us, & makes that we hardly know what we have to doe, In the mean time           
Count Waldeck marches with all dilligence to Maestricht & de Villa              
Hermosa followeth him, though perhaps he will not make soe much hast            
till he see what the designe of the enemy in reality is, which we shall         
doe in a day or two.  In the mean time the seige of Maestricht goes on          
but slowly & instead of makeing any further progresse, the 18th instant         
the beseigers were beat out of the lodgements they had on the Counterscarp,     
which they attempted the night following to regaine, but were repulsed          
with great losse which news we received by an expresse the 17th instant         
in the evening.  Soe that unlesse his highnesse receive a considerable          
reinforcement of Infantry he will not be able to finish the seige &             
this was the reason that Count Waldeck was sent for in soe great hast           
with his Infantry, who by this time is arrived there, haveing passed St         
Tron on Thursday last.                                                          
     L. c. 364     August the 21th 1676                                         
+By sea we have received lettrs from Sweden, which give us an account of        
the sad posture of affairs there, occasioned as much by the factions            
at home as the ill successe of things abroad, that the great Chancellor         
who is a man of great parts is altogeather removed from businesse being         
lookt upon as the cheif author & promoter of the prsent warr, & nothing         
but his near relation to the King being married to his Ant keeps him            
from some publick disgrace; That the Crowne admirall who went to sea            
with the fleet in 1675 & returned without effecting any thing, it being         
soe late in ye yeare, & therefore commanded not the fleet this last             
summer, has now received a very severe sentence, vidt: to be put from           
all his places & offices & to be fined in 100000 Crownes, & yt these            
being men of great emenence & quality make factions by their partisans,         
That in the mean time the yong King is left himselfe without money,             
troops or Councell, That as his last refuge he has called as it were the        
arreare ban of Sweden, that is all prsons from 16 to 60 years to take           
up armes for the publick safety & of these the King will forme an Army          
& march agt the Danes, who in all appearance will in the interime               
possesse themselves of Hassandt & Schonen.  At the same time the Muscovites     
are certainly on the borders of Lonvonia with 20000 men, though hitherto        
they have onely keept the Swedes in fear, & have not done any thing to          
breake the peace.                                                               
     The King of Denmarke haveing sent out 1000 or 1200 horse towards           
Christianstadt, the King of Sweden who was there with a body of horse           
went in great hast from thence to Colmar leaveing part of his baggage           
& a good summe of money a pray to the Danes, who by the help of the             
Bores possessed themselves thereof.                                             
   The States Generall have sent ye Sieur Amerongen to ye Duke of Zell to       
convers with him about the speedy march of all his forces towards the           
Rhin soe that they may be able to give the ffrench a great diversion            
on that side.                                                                   
   No forreigne lettrs have arrived since o[u]r last, therefore little          
can be said of the seiges of Phillipsburg & Maestricht, as to the first         
it is ye generall opinion that in a post or twoo we shall here that             
it is taken for besides the troops of the circles all the Infantry of           
the Imperiall Army has passed the Rhin & are now imployed in that seige.        
But as to Maestricht it is the opinion of most sober people that it will        
take up much time yet, if it be not in the mean time releived, which the        
ffrench still give out they peremptorily resolve, though the lettrs from        
fflandrs make us doubtfull, whether it be not advice to draw the Dutch          
& Spanish Army that way, while they have some other designe in hand, but        
this doubt o[u]r next lettrs will fully clear, Count Waldeck is gone to         
assist at the seige with the troops that were left undr his command             
especially the foot wch the Prince very much wanted.  It being affirmed         
by very good hands that he has lost above 6000 men since the seige, that        
is killed wounded diserters & sicke                                             
     L. c. 365     August the 23d 1676                                          
+The accounts we have had from Maestricht for these two posts, not              
haveing been very perfect, you may see by what followeth the account,           
which hath been received from a very good hand at the seige Vidt that           
on the 2/12 instant the beseigrs had lodged themselves on the                   
Counterscarpe of a Horneworke.  That from that day to the 17th the              
beseigrs made severall sallyes in which many were killed on both sides          
& nothing else considerable passed, save that the beseigrs raised 3             
new batteries & one near the Daulphin Bastion.  That the 19th at night          
the English being upon the guard made an attack upon the enemy between          
the first & 2d row of their palisadoes & beat them from thence but the          
beseigers were soe gauled on their flankes with the enemys shot from the        
Horneworke & halfemoon that they were forced to quit their new post.  The       
next day Monsr de Lonvigny came into the trenches & the night following         
made 2d attack upon the enemy though with noe bettr successe then that          
the night before, Though the Duke of Osnaburg was himselfe the whole            
night in the trenches; and this was that wch occasioned the report of the       
beseigrs being beaten out of the Counterscarp, from the 19 to the 22            
was spent in battering the towne, prepareing of Mines, and makeing              
other preparations for assaulting the Horneworke.  And there has been           
a lettr received from a very good hand at the ffrench Court, which              
says that the King had by an expresse received lettrs from the governor         
of Maestricht, in wch he gives an account that ye beseigrs had taken            
a ravelin, and a halfe moon, & were lodged on the Counterscarp of the           
towne that ye garrison was soe wearried & weakened that it would                
be impossible to hold out many dayes longer & that the Kings Leiut: of          
the place & severall other principall officers were killed, and that            
upon the news, it was the generall opinion at the ffrench Court, that           
the place would be taken, before Marshall Scomberg could come up to             
releive it, & its added in the said lettr that the King had sent                
ordrs to Calvo to retire into Wyke but when he could noe longr defend           
Maestricht to make honorable conditions for the garrison, soe that the          
ffrench themselves seem to give the place for lost.                             
   The 22d Capt Wood who went out 3 or 4 Monthes since to discover              
the northwest passage came to towne haveing lost his ship on Novasembla         
after haveing been 20 dayes togeather in a very thick fog, the fly boat         
that went to attend him saved him & all his men except twoo & brought           
them home                                                                       
   None of o[u]r lettrs due are arrived.                                        
     L. c. 366     August the 26th 1676                                         
+The fflandrs lettrs which wee received the 23d, brought us the ill             
news of the raiseing of the seige of Maestricht, you will see what is           
made publick which you may give creditt to for it comes from a good             
hand, & there are besides some perticulars which were not fit for the           
news book, & those I will tell you here; first that the seige was raised        
soe suddainly & in soe much disorder, that they had hardly time to draw         
of their cannon, & truely its said some were left behind, which was             
occasioned as well by the enemys comeing downe a day or two sooner then         
was expected, as by the hopes the Prince had to have gained the horneworke,     
in which case he would have left 10000 men at the seige & with the rest         
would have engaged the enemy.  The first must be attributed to be for           
want of intelligence, otherwise they would have had a better account            
of Scombergs march, who came to Tongresse within two houres after de            
Villa Hermosa passed through that place, hastning to joyne the Prince,          
whose attack upon the Horneworke that afternoon proveing soe unsuccessefull     
with soe terrible a slaughter of men, his measures for the leaveing             
10000 men at the seige were broken, & soe in a Councell of war it was           
resolved to abandon the seige & to fight the enemy, the confederates            
being joyned togeather being 40000 & upwards, & the ffrench were about          
3500 [?], The seige was noe sooner raised but Montall gott into Maestricht      
with 6000 men, it may easily be imagined in what consternation the army         
was, to see themselves in an enterprize which has cost them already             
soe much sweat & blood.                                                         
     Our lettrs add that the Prince of Orange would be forced to stay           
a day or two near Maestricht to see his cannon ship away, dureing               
which time its not to be doubted, but the ffrench Army will retire, or          
else post themselves soe as to be able to avoyd fighting if they please         
which surely they will seeing they have done their businesse without            
it, & besides the Confederates are soe numerous, and the leaguer [sic] being    
broke up, That they will not be many dayes able to subsist soe that in          
all appearance they will in few dayes be forced to retire or separate.          
This ill successe falls the heavier upon the Hollandrs, for that the            
seige was undertaken against the sentenient [sic] of the other confederates,    
who lookt upon it as an enterprize to great to succeed in as things             
stood.                                                                          
   Phillipsburg holds out still but however it must yeild at last               
   On Satturday last the Portugall Ambassadrs Chapell at St James               
was shutt up by his Majestys command.  It being his Majestys pleasure           
that that chapell shall not be any more used for the exceriseing the            
Roman religion                                                                  
   On Thursday his Majesty went to Windsor & will be back againe on             
ffriday or Satturday                                                            
   His Majesty has sent a lettr to ye Lord Leiut of Ireland that the            
Lord ffetz Harding may have the command of the troop of guards, become          
voyd by the death of the Earle of Gowran, son to his grace the Duke of          
Ormond, as alsoe another for makeing Sr Thomas Newcomen one of his              
Majestys most honorable privy Councell of that Kingdome.                        
     L. c. 367     [Handwriting changes here.]      Aug 26 1676                 
   There is noe further account of what has passed betweene ye 2 armies         
since ye raiseing ye seige of Maestreicht, tho tis ye Generall Opinion          
that they have parted wthout doeing any thing, The Spainiards its said          
doe very much apprehend ye Consequence of this Misfortune as to them,           
& feare it will Occation great revolutions in flanders, where ye people         
before seemed estreame weary of ye Spanish Governmt, as not being able          
to protect them as appeard at aire, wch may bee said to be deliverd up          
to ye french by ye Inhabitants Notwthstanding they were some yeares since       
counted ye greatest haters of ye french of all ye Townes in flanders            
+The last letters wee had from Spaine sd that ye two factions (vizt,            
that of ye Queen, & that of Don Juan[)] did very much disturb ye affaires       
of that Governmt to wch in great measure may be attributed all their            
ill success abroad                                                              
   Our ffrench letters say that this day sennight the King Recd an              
express, from Mareshall Schomburg giveing an account of ye raiseing             
ye seige of Maestricht & that Montall was got into ye towne, That               
on Munday last the King Recd another express, wch brought advice that           
Montall goeing out of Maestricht againe wth a body of Horse & dragoons          
had taken 35 boates wch were passing downe ye Meuse toward Ruremond             
after haveing defeated a body of Horse that guarded them, That in ye            
said boates 40 peices of Cannon a great many Bombes & mortar peices,            
great store of amunition & 500 wounded men amongst whom 60 officers, &          
that they were in pursuite of a great number of boates more, wch were before    
these, that ye Rhinegrave & his lady who were in a litle Castle hard by         
Maestricht were taken prisoners by ye french.  As to Phillipsburg they          
say that ye beseigers are not advancet farther then they were 14 dayes          
since that they loose dayly a great many men, & that ye beseiged had            
burnt ye Gallery they had laid Over ye Ditch & yt ye Duke of Luxemb was         
goeing to pass ye Rhine againe to attempt to releive it                         
+We have likewise ye Duch letters  They say that ye Prince of Orange &          
ye Confederates were retired toward Diest, that they were greatly               
astonisht at ye news in Holland, but say noething of ye loss of any             
Cannon.  as to Phillipsburg they owne ye Gallery had bene burnt by              
ye beseiged but adde that ye beseigers would quickly repaire it, they           
speake of ye loss of many men dayly & amongst others of some persons            
of quallity, in fine they say Phillipsburg may hold out 14 days longer          
yet                                                                             
     L. c. 368     [Handwriting changes here.]     August the 30th 1676         
   On Monday morning her Royall Highnesse was brought to bed of a               
Princesse                                                                       
   Sr Phillip Monkton upon his humble petition to his Majesty his               
[sic] discharged from his imprisonmt in the tower upon baile, as is             
likewise, Mr Jenks out of the gate house.                                       
   We have o[u]r ffrench lettrs of Satturday last  they give us                 
this particular account of Maestricht that the Prince of Orange                 
upon the advice he received of the approach of the enemy caused a               
generall assault to be made upon the Hornework Halfemoon & pallisadoes          
& were thrice repulsed with the losse of 1000 men killed & wounded,             
& that prsently after a Councell of War being held it was resolved              
to raise the seige, that the said 26th in the morning Scomberg                  
came to Tongresse & took there 1200 prisonrs being the Rear                     
of the Spanyards, that the 27th in the morning the confederate                  
troops drew of from the siege & drew up into Battailia behind a                 
fort which the Prince of Orange caused to be made dureing the                   
siege to favor his retreat in case he was obliged to raise the                  
siege, while in the mean time their Cannon were embarked of which               
Scomberg haveing advice advanced with 8 squadrons of horse &                    
skirmised with the Rear of the confederates while the Sieur                     
Montall & the Duke de Villeroy marched in on the otherside of the               
Meuse & took 50 of the enemys boats, in which were 40 peices of                 
Cannon, besides a great quantity of ammunition & baggage & many                 
sick & wounded men & 3 peices of Cannon more the Dutch left behind them         
in their trenches, after this Scomberg thought not fit to make any              
farther attempt upon the enemy, who retired toward Hastel & Diest               
in a consternation & disorder which may easily be imagined.  ffrom              
Alsace they write that Phillipsburg deffends it selfe to admiration,            
the beseigrs have done nothing since the burning of their gallerys,             
they had a great deal of raine there, & if the weather continue soe             
the ffrench doe not fear the losse of the place this Campagne.  The             
Duke of Luxemburg was the 29th two leagues below Brisace where he could         
goe & passe the Rhine to goe & beseig ffriburg in Brisgow or at least to        
destr[o]y that Country                                                          
     yesterday we had o[u]r fflandrs lettrs of this day 7 night by which        
we have lettrs from the Prince of Oranges Camp near Tron of the 31              
August, they tell us that after haveing with extraordinary difficulty           
embarked their Cannon & all their provisions except a great quantity of         
meal which they were forced to throw into the River, after haveing set          
fire to 14 or 15 empty boats which were on ground they retired thither in       
some disorder. That they arrived near Tron the 30 where they continued          
that day the next and on the first of September intended to march to            
Warrom on the Grand Chaussy to observe the enemys motions, the[y] had           
news in the Campe of Rhingraves death & that the ffrench had taken two of       
their boats as they were passing to Ruremond & in them 14 peices of             
Cannon & that they were in pursuit of the rest which ran in great danger,       
soe that we must expect by o[u]r next lettrs to know whether the news           
from ffrance be true of taking of 50 peices of Cannon, the trouble &            
constarnation was great throughout fflandrs.  The lettrs add that the           
Duke of Osnaburg left a great many sick & wounded men at Maestricht for         
want of Carridge.                                                               
     L. c. 369     September the 1st 1676                                       
   We have all our forreigne lettrs that are due, & the publick                 
news you will see in the news booke, I shall add first as to the                
raiseing the seige, the Spanyards lay it all upon the Prince of                 
Orange, for that de Villa Hermosa & the Duke of Osnaburg were of                
opinion that they ought to have continued within their lines,                   
& rather venture all, then make soe shamefull a retreate, but that              
the Prince of Orange alledged they wanted foot, & that a pointe of              
honour ought not to drive them to dispersion, that his advice                   
prevayled, others againe say the quite contrary, & say the Prince               
would have continued in his lines, but the others would not; this               
appears plainly that the disagreement among the generalls in their              
opinions is the great source of their misfortune, as to the takeing             
of the cannon, the lettrs from the Hague & Brussells speake of                  
hearsays only, & those from the Princes Camp of the 3 instant take              
noe notice of it [?], which is very strange, for there seems not room to        
doubt the truth of it, there was a lettr from Monsr Scombergs own hand to       
a person of quality in London, where in he says they had taken 46               
peices of Cannon &c & there be other lettrs from Maestricht of a                
farther date, which say that not only these but 10 more taken                   
afterwards had been brought thither, & that a great many boats                  
laden with Merchandizes, which were brought to the leauger to be sold           
had been likewise taken.                                                        
     The Prince of Monaco & the Marquesse of Sossas [?] are lately come         
hither to take the divertisment of this Court, Tis said that his                
Majesty if the weather prove seasonable will goe to Newmarket the 18th          
   His Majesty sends a man of War to attend the Russian Envoy as far            
as Narva & with him goes Mr John Hobdon as Envoy from his Majesty to the        
Czar & not Sr Peter Wyck as was formerly notified.                              
   We are informed from ffrance that his Majestys lettr to that king            
& Ministers instances, on behalfe of the English Merchants satisfactions        
for the injuries they have sustained have wrought soe effectually in            
that Court, that their cases are speedily and carefull heard, every             
day severall dispatched & the ships carried in on false pretence                
discharged.                                                                     
   The Envoy from Muscovy haveing since his Compliment acquinted his            
Majesty of the earnest desire of the Prsent Czar not onely to maintain          
the antient freindship & allience, but to enter into a nearer treaty            
for the advancement of traffick and commerce, as a matter which was             
left him particular command by the late Czar, his fathers last will             
& Testimony has in soe serious an obligation resolved to pay the                
respect of his memory, as on Sunday next to putt on mourning.                   
     L. c. 370     September the 2d 1676                                        
   This week is arrived the Prince of Monaco, a soveraigne Prince in            
Italy, & its said will make some stay here to visit the Kingdome.               
   We cannot now any longer doubt the takeing of the Princes Cannon, for        
there is a lettr from an officer who says he was at the takeing of 52           
peices 7000 Musketts &c but makes no mention of any wounded men, some           
passengrs come from Holland tell us that the discouragement among the           
people there is very great, & that the Louvestein party make all the use        
they are able of this ill successe to cast reflections upon the Princes         
conduct.  And that the States had sent an expresse to their Minister with       
the Duke of Zell to hasten the marches of the forces of that Duke, as a         
thing upon which the good of the alliance depends.                              
     Our ffrench & fflandrs lettrs arrived late this evening, they tell         
us that yesterday was seavennight the confederate Army upon the news they       
had, of the ffrench being within a league of them decamped from Jancke,         
and drew up the Army into Battailia on a hill between Jancke and Perioys        
[?], the Generalls riding from Squadron to Squadron to encourage their          
soldiers, when they had certaine advice that the enemy was still at Warem       
4 leagues of, upon which the confederates marched to Perioys being              
resolved to hinder the returne of the ffrench from Charleroy, but in the        
mean time the Bishop of Osnaburg begins to talke of returning home soe          
that its feared the confederate Army will soon break up.  as to mattrs          
in Germany the Duke of Lorraine haveing left 24 battailions at the seige        
of Phillipsburg is marched with all the rest of his foot & all his horse        
in great hast to oppose the designe of Luxemburg, who is passed the Rhine       
the 1st [?] instant  the Duke of Lorraine joyned Caprara at Wistel near         
Strasburg                                                                       
+Nothing considerable has passed at Phillipsburg  the beseigrs had              
repaired their gallery, and againe filled up the Ditch, and in a day or         
two intend a generall assault.                                                  
     L. c. 371     September the 7th 1676                                       
+We have o[u]r Dutch lettrs on the 6th instant of ffriday last, & by            
them have these advices                                                         
Copenhagen the 1st of Sept.  what we told you in o[u]r last concerning          
the defeat of Major Genll Duncan proves true; he was sent out with              
3000 horse & foot to invest Holmstadt, but he had hardly taken his              
post there, when the Swedes who were much stronger, fell upon him, the          
Danes made a brave defence, & sold their lives very deare, soe that the         
Swedes sustained very great losse, of the 3000 Danes 800 with Durane            
were taken prsoners & 250 escaped, & the Danes lost likewise 14 peices          
of Cannon; This successe will without doubt putt the Swedes into some           
heart, & the King of Denmarke upon it is marched with all his forces to         
Holmstadt, where the Swedes Army lyes encamped being about 12000 men &          
if the Swedes keep their ground we shall suddainly hear of a battle.            
Admirall Trump is ordered to goe & cruise upon the coast of Sweden to           
give them a diversion.                                                          
Strasburg the 4th Sept:  The ffrench have made a great revenge in               
Brisgow, the Imperialists comeing to late to hinder them, however               
some rencounters have happened between the Croats who had the vanguard          
& the ffrench, in which the former had the advantage.  We have just now         
advice that the ffrench haveing made a very great body, have repassed           
the Rhine and are marching towards lower Alsace againe, upon which the          
Imperiall Army marches likewise back towards Phillipsburg, Crequi               
gathers a body of an Army on the Soar.                                          
Spire 5 Sept:  The 3 instant in the afternoon the beseigrs made an              
attack upon the Ravelin with 400 men onely, they surprized the ffrench          
that were there, who were 200 killed most of them, without any great            
difficulty gained the Ravelin, but before they had lodged themselves            
the ffrench made vigorous sally, & with the assistance of the mines they        
sprung, quite beat the beseigrs out againe.  The last night the                 
beseiged came out againe & had already sett fire to the ffagotts with           
which the Ditch is filled up, but the beseigrs quenched it againe, this         
afternoon the beseigrs will again attack the Ravelin in 4 severall places       
Hague the 11th Sept.  The States Generall as well as those of Holland,          
have writen to the Prince of Orange to inform him, & to assure him of the       
sattisfaction they have of his conduct &c  3000 munsteriens are fallen          
into East ffrizeland on pretence to secure their winter quarters,               
while 7000 more, & as many Lunenburgs are marching towards the mosell,          
mattrs succeed hitherto soe ill at Phillipsburg that we begin to fear           
that seige will have the same end as Maestricht.                                
     L. c. 372     September the 8th 1676                                       
+In fflandrs the Campagne seems at an end with soe much dishonor &              
disadvantage to the confederates; The retreat of the ffrench to                 
Charleroy in their view, without any the least opposition, is by many           
counted a disreputation almost as great as the raiseing the seige of            
Maestricht.  On yesterday was seavennight the ffrench Army was advanced         
within a league of the Confederates, & they instead of meeting them, as         
they all along gave out their designe was, turned out of the way & not          
onely gave the ffrench a free passage, but likewise an oppurtunity to           
attack their baggage & take part of it, the Dutch turne the blame upon          
the Spanyards & say de Villa Hermosa would not be perswaded to a battle,        
alledgeing the disadvantages they should engage the enemy upon, & that          
the preservation or losse of fflandrs dependes upon the successe;               
however it is, most are of opinion that the Campagne will have begot in         
the Dutch a disposition to a peace, & will lett all parties see how             
impossible it is to doe any thing with confederate Armys.  The truth is         
the successe of this Summer in fflandrs & Germany has been soe contrary         
to expectation, that nothing can be more, and ffrance who pretends to           
act defensively comes of the great winner, The slow advance that is             
made at the seige of Phillipsburg, has made the Princes thereabouts who         
are concerned, enquire into the conduct of matters, which they say has          
been very ill in many perticulars, but those are things of which                
people generally speake according to their perticular affections, or            
else through ignorance make conclusions from successe.  there is a              
lettr from a very good hand which says that there appears some                  
disagreement between those that have the cheife command at that seige,          
& that even they begin to suspect their Generall, they seem to mean             
the Duke of Lorraine but goe noe farther, it being in those parts a nice        
point to touch upon.                                                            
+The 5 instant new stile as o[u]r lettrs tell us the beseigrs were to           
make a generall assault, upon the successe of which soe much depends,           
that there are those in the campe, who beleived that if they succeeded          
not they should be forced to raise the seige.                                   
     In Brisgow the ffrench pretend only to eat up the country & ruine          
the poore people, & that they doe with a witnesse to make the cry for           
a peace the greater.                                                            
     L. c. 373     September the 9th 1676                                       
   The Luce of ffalmouth arrived home August the 24th from Virginia,            
reports that the Indians still continue War but soe as they dare not            
appear in a body to give Battle but Skulke up & down in the woods, &            
as they find advantage fall upon them as they are at worke.                     
     Tis said her Majesty will be pleased to spend some dayes in                
divertisment at Euston, Newmarkett, &c:                                         
     A Ketch arrived at Cowes Road from Salley gives advice of a peace          
made upon a late treaty by Sr John Narborough & 14 dayes time will be           
allowed to them to send to the King of Morocco for a Ratification of it,        
which those of Salley made not the least question to obtaine.                   
   By the Dutch post which arrived on ffriday night we had these                
advices[:]                                                                      
Hague the 15th of September.  The 15th instant arrived here the Secretary       
of the Envoy of the State in the Imperiall Army, sent expresse to give an       
account that the governor of Phillipsburg had finally capitulated, &            
the accord was signed the 9th, but that the garrison was not to march           
out till the 15th, to have the more time to prepare their baggage, or           
that the Governor expected some change might happen in that time, the           
conditions are very honorable Vidt.                                             
1  That the governor & garrison shall march out within 6 dayes Vidt. on         
the 15th, with Armes colors flying &c in case a Royall succor arrive not        
in that time                                                                    
2  They shall take with them two halfe & 2 quarter Cannon.                      
3  As likewise all their baggage, Gold, linen, and whatever belongs to          
the King as well from Contribution as otherwise.                                
4  In the mean time all the Cannon upon the walls shall be turned &             
noe more use shall be made against the beseigrs be it that the succors          
arrive not.                                                                     
5  The Dutch sentenalls & guards shall be putt with the ffrench upon the        
breaches to see that they be not repaired by the beseiged                       
6  they shall take noe soldiers with them but such that have been raised        
by the King.                                                                    
7  The Burgers may march out with what belongs to them & be conveyd to          
Brisack.                            Signed the 9th of Sept: 1676                
     L. c. 374     September the 13th 1676                                      
   The news of the Capitulation of Phillipsburg has very much revived           
ye Spirits of the confederates in fflandrs as well as the hopes they have       
that the Imperiall Army will be able to make some farther attempt upon          
the enemy before the end of this Campagne, besides the diversion is             
expected the Munster & Lunenburg troops will give the ffrench on the            
side of Treves, This consideration will its beleeved keep the Confederate       
Army in fflandrs yet some time in the feild, & there is those that              
beleeve that the Prince of Orange will returne againe to his Army soe           
soon as he is perfectly well, (haveing been very indisposed when he             
left it) & that he hath setled some mattrs in Holland, where his                
prsence was necessary to breake the contrivances of those of ye                 
contrary party, grounded upon the successe;  his Highnesse has been             
very well received by the States, who were satisfyed sufficiently with          
his conduct; for what has happened ill cannot be laid at his doore, but         
must be attributed either to the want of good officers & Ingenrs                
which appeared in the seige of Maestricht, or else to want of good              
intelligence by which means the ffrench Army gave them the goe by &             
returned to Charleroy, & this lattr the Spanyards are blamed for,               
being in their own Country.                                                     
     It is not known whether the Emperor will putt a garrison into              
Phillipsburg, or whether he will cause it to be demolished, but it is           
beleived the Emperor may consent to the latter, because the vast charge         
he would be at to putt the place into a posture it was before.                  
   On Monday the Envoy of Russia had his Audience by their Majestys &           
was afterwards treated at dinner by Mr Secrary Williamson, & on Tuesday         
by my Lord Major.                                                               
   Some English soldiers are come over that were at the seige of                
Maestricht, and among other things assure us, that Weddringtons Regimt          
which was at first 700 men, marcht not above 40 into Bolduce [?] where          
the 3 English Regimts are now in garrison.                                      
     The ffrench Ambr here owns not as yet to have any news of the              
Capitulation of Phill, though it is soe without doubt.                          
     We have not any fforreige Lettrs since o[u]r last.                         
     L. c. 375     September the 14th 1676                                      
+By the ffrench lettrs arrived the 13th at night we understand that             
the garrison of Phillipsburg was actually marched out, consisting as            
the ffrench say hardly in 600 men, which were not able to resist a              
generall assault, besides the want they had of powder, haveing for 6            
or 7 weeks had none but what they made themselves, which was not above          
6 pound a day.  The ffrench notwithstanding they long time told us they         
expected this news, are now it is come very much concernd at it, for            
in reallity they had of late perswaded themselves that the Germans              
would not have been able to take the place, till the ill weather which          
must now quickly be expected come in, & are not now a little troubled           
to part with such a darling as Phillipsburg was.  The ffrench themselves        
who pretend to be the great Mrs in millitary matters commend the Conduct        
of the Germans in proceeding slowly & securely in that seige; that is           
by makeing good workes & Lodgments every step they advanced, which              
though it cost much time, which was much bettr then to have proceeded           
more briskly, as at Maestricht, then to have imagined to have taken             
the place by force of attacks for in such cases Phillipsburg alone              
would have destroyed a whole Army, & then have been easily releived.            
     The Dutch fleet say the Naple lettrs dat August the 25th went              
in thither from Palermo consisting of 14 men of War 4 fire ships & 8            
tenders, they say the[y] met the ffrench fleet goeing from Messina, &           
both fleets stood on with another & both called councells of war,               
which done each stood their owne Coarse without disturbing each other           
& there they staid in expectation of a fleet from Holland.                      
   On the 13th his Majesty was pleased to Dinne with Sr Richard Mason,          
and his Royall highnesse with the Artillery men of London.                      
     His Excellency the Lord Ambr Montague is soe forward in his                
preparations that it is said he will set forward about the begining             
of the next week for ffrance.                                                   
     The Allys promise themselves somewhat of action from the Lunenburg         
& Munster force, marching towards the Rhine whom they account 18000             
men effective under the command of the Duke of Zell, who the last year          
had great successe against Marshall Crecqui.  The differences that were         
between those princes about shares, they say by the Emperors Mediation          
are at prsent accomodated & they doubt not will very suddainly be               
throughly composed soe that their forces may unanimously act togeather          
& noe farther delay be occasioned by future disputes.                           
     L. c. 376     September the 18th 1676                                      
     We received the 16th instant our Dutch & fflandrs lettrs of                
friday was seavennight, and from the Hague they write that the Prince           
of Orange upon an expresse he had received from the Army was returned           
againe to it in great dilligence in order as is beleived to the                 
executeing some designe upon the enemy.                                         
     The news we had of a fight between the Swedes & the Danes Army             
near Holmstadt proves false; but most certaine it is that the Sieur             
Geldenlien has defeated 3000 Swedes on the ffrontiers of Norway.  Its           
said the said Guldenlien is marcheing to joyne the King of Denmarke             
   Admirall Tromp Cruises on the Coast of Sweden to intercept 5 or 60           
vessells comeing with soldiers from ffinland, under a convoy of 7 men           
of War.                                                                         
     Just now arrived o[u]r ffrench lettrs of last wednesday & assure           
us that the garrison of Phillipsburg was actually marched out with 6            
peices of Cannon, & were arrived at Haguenaw, & that the Kings Leiutenant       
of Phillipsburg was arrived at Paris.                                           
     On the 6th a ffrench privateer of 6 guns & 53 men called the Vive          
Orange Captaine Du Vall Master was by contrary winds forced into                
ffalmouth, & there according to order stopt the rudder being taken off &        
the sayls from the yards & carryed ashoar, the Master saith he hath not         
been 6 dayes from St Malos.                                                     
     L. c. 377     September the 20th 1676                                      
   The Prince of Orange hath since his returne to the Hague layd in             
his discourse concerning this Campagne, the whole blame upon the                
Spanyards, and as they have not been wanting to retort the same upon            
him, soe now particularly they think they have reason to complaine of           
his Highnesse: for that through him they were disappointed in the               
designe they now lately had upon the enemy, It seems the ffrench had            
prepared 1000 waggons with all sorts of provisions conveyed to Maestricht       
by the greatest part of the Cavalry of Scombergs Army under the command         
of Montall, of which the Duke de Villa Hermosa haveing advice, proposed         
the army should march immediately to intercept the said convoy or if            
they came not time enough for that to march directly & attack Monsr             
Scomberg in his quarters, being soe considerably weakened through the           
detachment sent with the said convoy; Count Waldock approved of the             
thing but said he could not enter upon an action of soe great importance        
without haveing first his highnesse orders, wherefore an expresse was           
immediatly sent to the Hague & the Prince came post to Masines which            
would not be done without the losse of 2 or 3 dayes & when the Prince           
came to Masines he received advice that the said Cavalry was returned           
from Maestricht and had joyned the ffrench Army & thereupon he                  
returned immediately towards the Hague.                                         
   The last lettrs from Holland said that the Equipage designed for             
Sicily was counterman[d]ed, for which noe other reason could be given,          
but the great dissatisfaction the Dutch at prsent have against the              
Spanyards soe far that many are of opinion the States will make peace           
with the ffrench this winter                                                    
     L. c. 378     September ye 22d 1676                                        
   His Majesty has appointed Sr John Beery, Coll: Morison, & Major              
ffairfax to goe his Comrs to Virginia to setle mattrs there which               
have of late been in some disorder.                                             
     The new England men we hear are now pretty well at ease haveing            
quite overcome the Indians, & though King Phillip still holds out yet           
his party is soe inconsiderable, all the Collonies about Boston &               
Plymouth haveing been forced to submit, that they doe not at all feare          
him.                                                                            
   Sr John Narborough is arrived in the Harwich with a fireship & a             
satee [?], a vessell he took from the Tripolins at Plimouth, where he is        
deteined through contrary winds, the rest of his squadron remaine in the        
Streights.                                                                      
   As to fforreigne news I can add little,  our lettrs arriveing before         
the last ordinary, there were some things I had not time to tell you, &         
therefore will doe it now; Vidt that in Holland the discourse runs mightily     
of a peace occasioned by the observation that is made, that the States          
incline delay [daily?] more & more to it.  They have of late made severall      
stepts towards it, & one great one is their takeing upon them to fix            
a day for the Ministrs of the allies to repaire to Nimeguen, or otherwise       
they will begin the treaty without them, yet soe as to communicate to them      
whatever passes, which the States have been obleidge to, because of the         
delay they perceived their allies made to send their Ambassadrs to              
Nimeguen, soe yt without some resolution like this, it might perhaps            
have been yet this 6 monthes ere the treaty had begun.  There are those         
that beleeve the States may be induced to clap up a seperate peace              
with the ffrench this winter, but that seems very improbable &                  
whatever their inclinations may be, they will think it their interest to        
disobleige soe many & soe great allies, but this is generally beleived          
that they will push on the treaty, & perhaps obleidge their allies to           
abate of their pretentions, which otherwise they would not, this                
however is certaine that the allies are not pleased to see the States soe       
forward to a peace nor are they lesse allarmed at the report spread             
abroad in Holland of the Prince of Oranges comeing for England, this            
winter, what the ground of it is I know not, though the thing is likely         
enough.  Not long since it was the prayers of all Germany to see                
Phillipsburg out of the hands of the ffrench, because of the Scourge it         
was to all the neighboring Countries, & all that while the discourse            
of the Imperiall Ministers that the place must be demolished but now            
they change their note, & speake of the importance of soe commodious            
a passe on the Rhin, & that the Emperor is obleiged for the good of the         
common alliance to secure, dureing the war a post, which may be of soe          
great an advantage to his affaires, & how true soever their allagations         
are, yet the neighboring Princes are apt to fear, that when the Emperor         
has it in his own possession, it will be a hard matter to perswade him          
to part with it againe & therefore for their own perticular interests           
they would have it demolished.  The Place antiently belonged to the             
Bishop of Spire, & he pretends to it, but that the Electr Palatine              
cannot endure.                                                                  
   They write from Yorkshire of great stormes with raine, Thunder &             
Lightening on Satturday night & Sunday morning last & perticularly at           
Beverly where part of the Steple of the Minster was carryed away, some of       
the stones being thrown above 60 yards, though the greatest part brook          
through the lead into the Chancill to the damage of at least 500 L and          
that at St Maryes another church in the same towne most of the chancill         
was beaten downe & the stones thrown above 40 yards from the church to          
the damage of above 1000 L                                                      
     L. c. 379     September the 25th 1676                                      
     The 17th instant arrived at ffalmouth the James of London in 30            
dayes from Neavis in Ameri[c]as, the mastr reports that there was in            
those parts a Squadron of 9 Dutch men of War commanded by the Sieur             
Binches that they had taken from the ffrench 3 considerable Islands             
Vidt Cajanna, Marigoland, & St Martins, & that they pretended to make           
farther conquests upon the ffrench before they leave those parts; where         
are likewise 8 or 9 Dutch privateers who had taken severall prizes.             
   It seems Sr Dennis Gawden [?] who came in on course to be chosen Lord        
Major of London for the next year, has this last week quitted his               
gowne of Alderman for some perticular reasons to himselfe.                      
   The Dutch Ambassadr here has acquinted his Majesty with the                  
resolution of the States for their settling a day for their begining            
the treaty at Nimeguen & seemed to intimate the 1 of November might             
be the day, by which time the Emperors Ambrs & those of Spaine which            
are the farthest of, may arrive at Nimeguen if they please, But the             
Confederates are not at all pleased that the States should take upon            
them to prescrib them a rule, & 2d that they soe much hasten the                
Congresse.  The King of Denmarke in his perticular is not at all                
satisfyed to find them soe exact in keeping of 6 months, (which                 
according to agreement their Squadron ought to remaine in the Balticke)         
as to recall the same soe soon as the said terme expires without haveing        
regard to the service they might by staying a month longer render that          
King.                                                                           
+We have o[u]r fflandrs lettrs of Tuesday last  they tell us, that the          
Duke of Lorraine continues near offenburg in expectation of the                 
infantry that was at ye seige of Phillipsburg wch joyning with him              
will make his Army between 16 & 17000 horse & 13000 foot the troops of          
the Circles being comprehended therein, & yn the Duke of Lorraine will          
begin some farther action.  The other day the Baron de Mercey a Lorrainer       
had a rancounter with a ffrench party & took 150 of them, & since the           
Major Generall Schultz fell upon the ffrench forrages & upon the guard          
they had with them, killed 300 took 80 with 150 horses & a standart.  The       
Duke of Luxemburg has quitted his quarters & marched higher to Brisac           
whither he has removed his bridge in order to his repassing the Rhin.           
     The Brusells lettrs of the 22 tell us that the Governor of Newport         
had given advice to the Court of a conspiracy laid there to betray the          
place into the hands of the ffrench but that it had the same fate with          
that of Bendermond that the conspirators were discovered & secured.             
     L. c. 380     Sept: ye 27th 1676                                           
   The ffrench lettrs which arrived Sunday told us, that commissions            
were already prepareing for raiseing recruits against spring, which             
were to be at least 30000 men, many more then can be possibly presumed          
that king has lost this summer.  the conduct of Luxemberg was mightily          
decryed at Paris, where people are touched to the quick at the losse            
of Phillipsburg, & its written by a good hand that the Marshall de              
Grammont had taken the liberty to tell the King, that there were twoo           
things which were the cause of the losse of Phillipsburg; Vidt the              
death of Turenne, & the indispositions of the Prince of Conde, makeing          
by that means a shew of reflection upon the Conduct of Luxemburg as if          
he was not capable of soe great a command.                                      
     The 25th we had 2 Dutch posts, the most considerable news they             
brought us was, that in Holland the disposition to a peace increases            
dayly, not onely in the ordinary sort of people upon whome the                  
burthen of the war lyes the heaviest, but likewise those that were in           
the goverment.  The States had certainly sent ordrs to their men                
of Warr at Naples to returne to Cadiz & expect farther ordrs there,             
being resolved to trouble themselves no farther with the affaires               
of Sicily, but to leave it wholly to the Spanyards to take care of              
them.  that the discourse of ye Prince of Oranges comeing for England           
this winter still continued, though it was said his highnesse would             
make a step to the Army in fflandrs which was goeing to march towards           
Namur, to have an eye upon the ffrench that are on that side, who seem          
to have some designe in hand by their possessing themselves of Marsheen         
ffanines &c though others think monsr Scomberg will be obleidged to             
send a great part of his forces towards Lorraine (to oppose the Munstrs         
& Lunenbergs &c who are arrived not far from Coblent) as not to be              
able to attempt farther in fflandrs this Campagne.  It is most certaine         
that the confiderates will keep the feild as long as they are able              
to favor their allies in Germany, but after all it is in soe ill a              
condition that it cannot stay long abroad, the Osnaburg troops who              
when they came to Maestricht were accounted 8000 are now not 4000.              
     L.c. 381     September the 30th 1676                                       
+The 27th arrived o[u]r fflandrs lettrs  what they brought you will             
see partly in the print, what may be added here, comes from very good           
hands, Vidt that the Confederates troops are in soe very ill condition          
& soe dimolished & especially the Cavalry, that it is hardly to be              
beleived, & that for that reason they are forced to look after winter           
quarters, into which they will goe in 9 or 10 days at farthest, leaveing        
the ffrench by that means at liberty to send great detachments towards          
Germany, which they have already done, soe that Monsr Scomberg has at           
prsent but a small Army with him.                                               
   We cannot be able to imagine what the Munster & Luxenburg troops will        
be able to enterprise on the Moselle considering how far the season is          
spent, & besides that they will have a body of 14 or 15000 men to deal          
with commanded by Marshall Crequi & therefore there is great reason to          
beleive their cheife aime is to seek winter quarters which the                  
confederates are extremely put to it to provide for all the forces they         
have on foot, & this is not one of the least cares of the Emperor who has       
hitherto had a bundance of trouble to provide winter quarters for his           
Army, every countrey useing all means possibly to be excused, & this            
winter it will be more difficult then the last, because of the seat of          
the War being in the heart of the Empire, dayly more & more wasts & ruins       
its severall countries, & untill ye war can be brought into the territory       
of the ffrench, that King will never be brought to a necessaty of               
desireing a peace.                                                              
   The Duke of Lorraine according to o[u]r last advices from Alsace by          
the way of ffrance which are alwayes the ffreshest by 2 or 3 dayes, was         
advanced very near the Duke of Luxemburg, the former has doubtlesse the         
bettr Army & that his troops are in a bettr condition & even as to the          
number the Germans exceed the ffrench who have been much weakened by sick       
men since their retire [?] from Phillipsburg, I mean after their designe        
to releive Phillipsburg.                                                        
   We may now in a post or two expect to hear who shall be the Imperiall        
bride.  The Generall opinion is that, in favor of the Princess of               
Denmarke, by which means the house of Austria will have a near alliance         
with that Crowne in opposition of the ffrench, who have the Swedes on           
their side.  The talk of the Prince of Oranges comeing for England seems        
to have some ground & in a short time we shall know the certainty               
     We are told that at Brest & Rochell the ffrench are fitting out            
severall men of war designed for the West Indies where the Dutch play           
at prsent the Mastrs & have taken severall ffrench ships.                       
     L. c. 382     September the 30th 1676                                      
+On the 29th Sr Thomas Davies was elected Ld Major for the year ensueing,       
Sr Dennis Gawden who was before him haveing laid down his gown of Alderman      
   This morning we have o[u]r Dutch lettrs & they bring us these advises.       
Copenhagen 25th September  o[u]r King continues with his forces, near           
Holmstadt, & Major Generall Arendorst having been out with 1600 horse is        
returned with an account that the Swedes Army is retired from the place         
they had for some time layn encamped at, 4 leagues beyond Helmstadt.            
Hamburg 2 Oct: The Brandenburgs continued to presse Deminin [?] very            
closely, & with the fireballs they shoot into the town, they have burnt         
greatest part of it, however the garrison is obstinate, & will not heare        
of a capitulation as yet.                                                       
Strasburg 29th Sept:  the 26th Instant the Imperial troops being joyned         
with the troops that came from Phillipsburg, decamped & took their march        
directly towards Brisace where the ffrench Army continues encamped,             
yesterday the Imperiall Army had its quarters at ffrisenheym, between           
the River Schatter & Lohr & this day they intended to advance to Wiell,         
where the Duke of Luxemburg not many days since had his quarters                
Cologne 2 Oct:  The Munster & Luxenburg troops march very slowly, the           
former according to o[u]r last advices had their quarters still in the          
Country of Nassaw near Wetzlaer, & the latter about Seigen, we have reason      
to beleive these troops will not doe much this Campagne otherwise               
they would make more hast,                                                      
Hague 6 Oct:  The Prince of Orange haveing made a turne to Breda, where         
Count Waldock mett [word of about five letters torn off] is a gaine             
returned to Soesdike  we have nothing new from the Army in fflandrs which       
was prepareing to goe into winter quarters  ffrom Leige they write that         
the ffrench at Maestricht had caused Tongues, Maseyche & all the                
castles in that Countrey to be demolished that the Dutch might not              
take their winter quarters there, that they had had the boldnes to              
put 400 men into the castle of Herontalls & another castle near                 
Malines but that Count Nassaw with 4000 had retaken them & made the             
ffrench prsonrs of War.  The Marshall Scomberg has sent some troops             
who beseige Bouillon.  Admirall Tromp is expected very suddainly with           
the Dutch men of war from the Baltique & there is noe appearance that           
he will returne thither again in the Spring  the discourse of the               
Prince of Oranges goeing for England ceases but the desire of a peace           
among all sorts of people encreases dayly.                                      
   We have News from the West Indies of the Sieur Binches haveing               
taken the Isle of St Martin from the ffrench & that severall Dutch              
privateers had taken 14 or 15 Dutch Merchant ships from the ffrench             
at St Dominico.                                                                 
   Our Merchants have advice that 6 Dutch Capers who went out from              
Holland in March last, have quite destroyed the ffrench fishing fleet           
at Newfoundland in soe much that of 100 sayle above 90 were taken &             
destroyed togeather with their convoys & that the Dutch had afterwards          
landed & possessed thems: of a Castle of Canida                                 
   The King of Spaine is to marry with the young arch Dutchess of               
Austria the Emprs daughter & the marriage is declared.  The news                
goes that after all the Princesse of Newburg will be Empresse.                  
[Figures in another hand cover about a third of outside of letter.]             
     L. c. 383     October ye 3d 1676                                           
     On Satturday arrived a vessell from Virginia which brought an              
account that the disordrs there are grown to a great hight, that Bacon          
who is at the head of 12 or 1400 men did play the absolute Master that he       
had imprisoned Sr John Chichley the deputie Governor & severall of the          
most considerable planters & that the governr Sr William Berkley fearing        
the like or worse treatmt had retired by the Convenience of a ship then         
in the Road to Neavis &c upon which the King has resolved to send 1000          
men thither with 2 ffrigatts to quell ye Mutineers.                             
   The king not being able to endure the insolence of the Algirins, who         
have even taken severall English ships that had passes, the King is             
resolved to make war upon them & that a fleet to be fitted out with all         
speed as is said of 16 or 20 men of War to be commanded by Sr John              
Narborrough as Admirall, by Mr Harbert as Vice admirall by Sr Roger             
Strickland as Reer Admirall who will be ready to sail with in 2 months,         
but what is most extraordinary is that the Duke of Monmouth goeth to sea        
with this fleet in quality onely of Captaine of the Resolution a ship of        
between 60 & 70 guns.                                                           
   An Embargo is laid upon the ships bound for Virginia to the end they         
may be deprived of the necessarys they receive from thence, & may be            
the easier reduced                                                              
     Upon the Petition of severall Merchants complaining of ye ffrench          
Capers haveing carryed [?] up an English ship to Dinkirk, his Majesty was       
not onely graciously pleased to assure them that the said ship &                
others taken by the ffrench should be restored without delay, but yt ye         
treaty of commerce should be very suddainly held with ffrance to prvent         
the like inconveniences for the future & that his Majesty would not admit       
of any farther delay from ffrance in the matter.                                
    The East India Companie resolved this day to lend the king 40000 L.         
    The 23d [?] the King parts for Newmarket  We have no forreigne lettrs       
     L. c. 384 (1)     October the 6th 1676                                     
   We cannot now expect to hear much from abroad, for it is likely no           
farther action will happen this Campagne, unlesse it is occasioned by           
their striveing about winter quarters, It appears plainly that the              
Imperialists have no other design, then to provide for themselves good          
quarters & out of the Empire in which they will gaine a great advantage,        
for nothing has made the war to seem easy [?] to the States of the              
Empire, as their being obleiged to grant winter quarters to the Emperers        
forces, by which means their countrys are extremely ruined & they               
disabled to raise their proportions of men granted by the dyett &               
therefore if the Duke of Lorraine can winter his Army in [two words of          
about five letters each illegible] on that side the Rhin they will have         
gained a great point, which ye ffrench are very sensible of & endeavour         
to hinder the same by opposeing force in guardeing the severall passes,         
& by induceing the Swisses likewise to doe their parts to hinder it,            
we shall see what the successe will be, the ffrench in the mean time            
have repassed the Rhin, at Brisack & said to be in a very ill condition         
through the many sick they have in their Army & that the Duke of                
Luxemberg has not 20000 men with him, haveing sent of severall detachmts        
towards Lorrain.  While the Imperiall Army is 16000 horse & 12000 foot          
effective & in a very good condition.  The Bishop of Basle is wholly            
inclined to the Imperialists, but the Suisse Cantons are prevailed upon         
by ye ffrench.  The 5 instant new stile ye Imperiall Army was at Rhinfeld       
where its thought it would passe the Rhine, the Elector Palatine makes          
great instances at ye Court at Vienna to have Phillipsburg demolished,          
& severall neighboring Princes haveing joyned with him, but there is noe        
appearance that the Emperor will gratify him in this point soe long as          
the war lasts  It being a post of soe great importance to part with soe         
easily after soe much pains to take it, it is said that a body of men           
is marched from thence togeather with some troops, of the Elector               
Palatine & severall peices of Cannon to attack Deux ponts where the             
ffrench have at prsent a garrison  as to the Munster & Lunenburg troops         
who togeather may make 14 or 15000 men, I cannot think they have any            
other design then to take winter quarters in or near Lorraine soe that          
they may be ready to begin an Early Campagne the next year.                     
     ffrom fflandrs they write that ye Osnaburg troops who from 8000            
were reduced to 4000 will likewise march to the Rhine to joyne the              
Lunenburgs & Munstrs above mentioned  In fflandrs both quarters are             
goeing into winter quarters, Count Waldeck who lately met the Prince of         
Orange at Breda being returned with finall orders in that matter.  The          
Duke of Osnaburg at his late being at Antwerp, received from the Spanyards      
10000 crownes   the marryage between the King of Spaine & his Neice             
the Emperors daughter is much wondered at considering that Princesse is         
not above 7 or 8 years old, & that in Spaine their cheife aim ought to          
be to marry the King to a Lady that might prsently bear children, but           
its the Queens party which prevails not without occasioneing great              
discontent, In the last you had an account that the King had resolved to        
send 1000 men to Virginia to quell the Mutineers there, of which 500 are        
to be drawn out of the [--L. c. 384 (2)] starts here.--] companyes which        
are dispersed in severall garrisons in this Kingdome & 500 are to be new        
raised & to be commanded in cheife by one of the Captains of the Kings          
guards, Capt Jeffryes.                                                          
   It is certainly said yt the Emperor will marry the youngest Princesse        
of Newburg, by which means that Duke will be recompensed for what he            
suffers from ye ffrench of Maestricht, who not content with the ordinary        
contributions have commanded all the Dukes receivers to pay what they           
receive to them.                                                                
   His Majesty the day before he went to Newmarkett ordered in councell         
a more strickt care to be taken for hindring his subjects resorting to          
the Chappeles of forreign Ambassadrs or any places of masse & caused some       
former orders to that purpose to be revived, Captaine Herbert Jeffries is       
appointed in place of Sr Henry Chichley formerly mentioned & Capt Robert        
Waters in place of Thomas fairfax Esqr in their charges relating to             
Virginia.                                                                       
     L. c. 385     October the 7th 1676                                         
   The 6th we received the Dutch lettrs of ffriday was seavennight, & of        
Tuesday last togeather, & in them these advices.                                
Hague 9 Oct.  Yesterday was held a conference between the Deputies of           
this State, & the Ministers of the allies, concerning the putting into          
execution ye treaty of Commerce lately concluded with Sweden, which             
some of the allies oppose, The Mutineers at Roterdam who hindred the            
setting of the Winefarme, & intend to have begun the same game as               
was plaid in 1672 will without doubt receive the punishment they deserve,       
two Regiments of foot being brought into the towne & quartered there by         
order of the State,  We are told that the Duke of Hanover is goeing to          
leave the ffrench party, & to embrace that of the Emperor, & that there         
is a treaty on foot which if it succeeds the Duke of Hannover will put          
8 Regiments into the service of his Brother the Duke of Zell  The Dukes         
of Lunenburg & severall other Princes of the Empire, continue to demand         
yt ye Ministers they send to Nimeghen, be treated with the stile of             
Ambassadrs which ffrance says they have no right to, & this begetts             
great difficultys                                                               
Hague ye 13th of October.  The Dutch Squadron of men of War which has           
been in ye Baltique, is now returning home, Spaine is in arreare for the        
part of the charge, of this Squadron, & that in the Mediteranean                
80000 L Sterling which this State calls for very instantly, The Bishop          
of Munsters Envoy haveing adjusted the matter of his Masters Subsidies,         
& received assignments for them from the Spanish Ministers hath exchanged       
the Ratification of the leat [?] treaty.  We are informed from good hands       
that the Confederates in fflandrs will not goe into quarters yet this           
month wch the Duke of Zell & the Bishop of Zell have engaged them to,           
that the ffrence may not be able to oppose the designs of their forces,         
who are now near upon passing the Rhine.                                        
Copenhagen the 6 Oct:  Our troops being very much worryed with the              
service of this Campagne, & on the other side the Swedish fforces being         
retired into Sweden & their King gone to Stockholme, his danish Majesty         
is putting his Army into winter quarters, except a flying Camp, which he        
will have at Holmstadt to keep that place blookt up & in a day or two his       
Majesty is expected at Helsinburg where he will reside most of the              
winter.                                                                         
Hamburg ye 9 Oct:  The Brandenburgs have made a Generall assault upon           
Dommin, but were repulsed however the place cannot hold out long.  The          
Elector himselfe continues with 8 or 9000 men near Stetin.  The 7 instant       
the Duke of Zell parted by post to joyn his troops, who are now near the        
Rhin                                                                            
Strasburg 5 Oct.  The Imperiall Army haveing prsented the ffrench batle         
and they refuseing, marches towards Rhinfeldt, to passe the Rhine there &       
to winter in Stuntgow [?] & Burgundy & the Duke of Luxemburg has sent a         
detachment to hinder their passage  It is said that Luxemburg has not at        
prsent with him above 15000 men, & those in no very good condition.             
Collogne 9 Oct:  The Lunenburg & Munster Troops have not as yet passed          
the Rhine, but we expect they will in few days, when we shall be able to        
inform you further of their designe, ffrom Vienna they write that the           
Rebells in Hunguary have appeared 9000 in a body & that the Empr finds it       
necessary to send severall fresh Regimts thither from Bohemia & Austria.        
    On the 8th by the fflandrs post that ought to have arrived on               
Satturday we have these advices.                                                
Naples 22 Septem.  This morning arrived here 3 Spanish men of War from          
Cartagena, & 7 more are dayly expected  We hear not as yet of any action        
of the ffrench fleet                                                            
Brussells ye 13th of Oct:  our Army continues still at Tillemont, from          
whence severall troops are dayly sent into winter quarters, Yesterday the       
Prince of Chinnoy marched from thence with severall troops designed for         
Namur & Luxemburg.  The Osnaburg forces doe not march towards the Moselle,      
as you heard in the last, but will winter in those countries being              
extreamly harrassed & reduced to 1900 horse, & 1600 foot, who when they         
came into the feild were between 7 & 8000.  Marshall Scombergs Army is          
likewise goeing into winter quarters, part of them are past at Conde &          
Pont a Haine & another part is arrived at Chasteau Cambreso, & besides          
has sent a detachment of 4000 horse towards Lorraine.  The Duke de Villa        
Hermosa is expected here about the latter end of the weeke.  We are             
assured by an expresse from Vienna, that the Emperor has declared his           
marriage with the Princesse of Newburg & that Count Souches is made             
Generall against the Rebells in Hungary, who grow dayly more & more             
powerfull, being as is said assisted from abroad.                               
   We have the Dutch lettrs  the most considerable news is of a great           
victory obtained by the Poles against 30000 Tartars, whom they beat out         
of the feild.                                                                   
     L. c. 386     October the 14th 1676                                        
+In the last I told you that the ffrench lettrs gave an account that            
the Imperiall Army had passed the Rhine at Rhinfeldt, which was the             
great point the ffrench contested with them, & which it seems the               
Imperialists have at last gained, but we must expect to hear what the           
consequence will be, The Duke of Lorraine seems to have a faire game to         
play if the weather hinder not, that is rainy weather.                          
   In fflandrs we see the troops are seperated & most of them gone              
into winter quarters, but the ffrench intend to order matters so as to          
block up Cambray & Valenciennes this winter, that soe the place may             
the more easily fall into their hands in the Spring when they intend            
to be very early in the feild, and are already makeing preparations             
for it.  ffor the rest of fflandrs seems to bear the greatest burthen           
of the warr & the poor inhabitants are ruined with the miseryes &               
devastations of it, there hardly being a foot of ground which is not            
fortifyed, that pays not excessive contributions, & besides that does           
not secure them from secret plunderings, &c soe that those provinces            
are mealy [?] an object of compassion.                                          
     ffrom Vienna o[u]r last lettrs spook as if there were some                 
appearance of the Elector of Bavarias marriage with the Arch Dutchess           
of Austria, the Emperors sister, which if the Imperialists effect,              
that they would have that Elector in their interests with an addition           
of 20000 men (which he has at prsent on foot) to their forces.  But             
hitherto this Elector remaines very firme to his engagments with                
ffrance, in expectation of marrying his daughter to the Dolphin of              
ffrance.                                                                        
   They write from Rome that ye new Pope Innocent the 11th is hitherto          
very much commended & that the Nephews of the late pope haveing been            
to waite on him upon some businesse of great moment, staid with him             
3 houres but were observed at their gowing out much discomposed, He             
is one of the Richest familys of Sujects in Italy & has made his                
Nephew heire of the family generall of the Church, but without any              
pension telling him that he has already 40m of Crowns p ann to                  
which he would joyne 10m left him by his ffather with which if                  
vertuous he might live like a Prince  if extravagant he deserved noe            
more.  The onely persons he has yet disobleiged are some officers               
and Captains of the Guards from whom he hath taken away most of their           
pensions.                                                                       
     His Majesty tis said will stay at Newmarkett till Satturday come           
seavennight.                                                                    
     L. c. 387     October the 21th 1676                                        
   Severall Complaints haveing been made by the Merchants against Sr            
Ellis Leighton, employed to sollicite the concerns of those whose ships         
are carryed up by the ffrench privateers, & his Maty haveing [been]             
pleased yesterday to hear the whole matter in Councell, ordered Sr Ellis        
to be sent prisoner to the tower                                                
     Yesterday morning the ffrench Ambr acqu[a]inted his Majesty of a           
great victory obtained by the King of Poland against the Turks & tartars,       
haveing quite beaten them out of the feild & taken 6000 prisoners               
   This morning we had our Dutch lettrs of Tuesday last  the onely news         
they bring is of the Emperors marriage with the Princesse of Newburg            
being declared, for the advices they bring from Strasburg are of the            
19, which we had by the last post from ffrance, they say that the               
Imperiall Army will now hardly passed the Rhin, but that it is beleive[d]       
the Duke of Lorraine will fortify Newburg in order to the blocking up           
of Brisac this winter, ye Munster & Lunenburg troops have not yet               
passed the Rhin which is much wondered at.                                      
+In Pomeren the Elector of Brandenburg is indeed before Stetin, but it          
is much questioned whether he will goe on with the seig considering             
the season                                                                      
     The Prince of Orange returned on Tuesday last to the Hague &               
there was still, some discourse of his goeing for Zeland, an officer            
haveing been sent from the Hague to Roterdam to seize severall prsons           
who were disorderly upon the late letting to farme the excise upon              
wine, the Magistrates at first declared they would protect the                  
Burghers, but were afterwards forced to yeild, & some of the Mutineers          
were taken & others were forced to flye.                                        
   Twoo of the 6 Privateers that destroyed the ffrench fishing fleet            
at Newfoundland, and afterwards took the Castle of Canada, are arrived          
in Zealand with 3 or 4 prizes.  At Amsterdam is likewise arrived a              
prize taken by the Sieur Binche at St Domingo in the West Indies, by            
which the States have an account that 7 or 8 ffrench privateers mounted         
from 24 to 6 guns were taken & destroyed.  The Dutch men of War that            
were in the Baltique this summer are arrived in the texell.                     
     L. c. 388     October the 22d 1676                                         
   The Society arrived at Bristoll from Barbados reports that they have         
not recovered then the great distruction of the last years Hurricane, soe       
that severall ships of London went thence halfe laden for want of               
Sugards [?].  The[y] speake of a Guiny man arrived there who met 3 Dutch        
men of War goeing to settle Tobago on whom they were severall dayes aboard      
& were very civily treated  in their way home they putt into Ireland            
where they say the Dutch carry into Crookhorne a prize belonging to             
ffrance laden with salt from Newfoundland.                                      
     The Swedes lettrs reach but to Sept: ye 9th  they can onely tell           
us of some Regiments arrived at Stockholme from ffinland & that more            
were designed to come from thence assoon as they could clear themselves         
of the apprehensions they still have that the Muscovites may taken [sic]        
an opportunity & fall upon them upon their former pretentions, to which         
the Swedes have not hitherto given satisfaction.                                
     The Legorne lettrs of October the 5th tell us that the people              
now begin to be satisfyed again, that English ships with passes goe             
free, & begin to lade againe on English ships.                                  
     His Majesty went on the 14th to Euston the Lord Chamberlains house,        
the same day his Royall Highnesse came to towne.                                
     By lettrs from Bristoll dat 14th tis advised that a new English            
man goeing from Lexbon to the Maderas with salt &c mett two Turkes men          
of War who told them they had bin long out and for that reason could            
not possible have new passes on which consideration they lett the ship          
goe.  They tell us farther of 4 English ships of which the Katherin of          
London was one who haveing been taken by the Turkes were retaken by             
the Portuguez & in them 79 Turks.                                               
     The ffrench lettrs dat Oct: the 20th say their last advices from           
Rousillon told them that the two Armies were in sight of each other,            
which made them impatient of the successe of the battle which if to their       
advantage may be an inducement to the attacking of Punanda [?].  They           
say that the Imperiall Army are still on the other side of the Rhine,           
except the detachment of 2000 men who passed under Generall Schultz at          
Rhinfeildt & are passed under the Cannon there, without entring in to the       
territory of Basle & that the Cantons had sent to the Duke of Luxemburg         
to pray him to for bear coming thither promissing to usse all their             
force to maintaine the passage in case it should be attacked & to that          
purpose had sent to desire the assistance of the other cantons.  They           
say that the Spanyard had a designe to quarter their troops in Leige            
& the Bishoprick & that it was upon that account the ffrench had                
demolished severall places, in those parts as Judgeing the best way to be       
rid of those birds was to pull down their nests.  The Sieur de ffay             
late Governor of Phillipsburg is made governour of Brisac the present           
governour there being preferred.                                                
     They write from Hamburg dat October the 6th that the Duke of Holsteins     
Ambassadrs were arrived at Coppenhagen upon which the 2 kielmans would be       
sett free, yet the late Chancellor of Denmarke now Schunenmaker had             
gained more liberty in prison viz: 2 Chambers a servant, books paper            
Inke & a greater allowance of bread & wine, & Burghermaster                     
ffalkenburghs wife was made prisoner her husband beeing fled for                
haveing correspondence with the Swedes shortly before the action with           
Duncan, & haveing related the Swedes not to be soe strong as they               
were  The Swedes Garrison who went out of Staden consisting of 7                
Colours & many waggons of sicke marching through the Duke of Zell               
Country to Lubeck of which the Elector of Brandenburg haveing notice            
sent to the Magistrates of Lubeck that if they gave passage to them             
through their town and suffered them to embarke he would treat them             
as enemys soe that haveing noe hope of goeing that way tis not known            
how they can dispose themselves unlesse the Duke of Mecklemburg suffer          
them to enter into their territorys.                                            
     His Royall Highnesse on the 16th returned to Newmarkett                    
     They write from Jamaica date August the 2d that about 5 dayes              
before a vessell from Tartudos advised that 7 saile of Dutch men of war         
had been at Cape ffrance & taken it & made all the ffrench there swear          
allegiance to the States Generall & that afterwards they made saie for          
Petit Ruarris where the ffrench haveing advise of their comeing made all        
the preparation they could in that time they had to defend themselves           
placeing their ships in a halfemoon throwing up a small fortification &         
planting their guns to annoy the Enemy soe that when the Dutch went up          
which [was] about July the 20th the ffrench defended themselves for some        
considerable time, but haveing the misfortune to have one of their best         
ships blown up & the Dutch being farr bigger and treble the number of Guns      
they took all the ffrench, notwithstanding which the ffrench dared them         
to land, But the Dutch not thinking themselves strong enough went of.           
     It is advised from Malaga dat Sept. the 29th that the fruit & wine         
are generally very good this year, but by fall of some late immoderate          
raines much damage was done both to the one and the other by which the          
price of the good might be encreased  Cartagena continues infected, but         
the Contagion Spread not to other places.                                       
     The German lettrs tell us that the Emperor haveing declared the            
Princesse of Newburg his Empresse had sent the Count de Bichstein to            
carry her prsents & that the marriage would be consummated at Newburg on        
the Danube, November the 19 being the feast of St Leopold.  Tis said that       
the Rebells in Hungary have gott together above 12000 men soe that a            
considerable part of the forces under the Generall Cobs are called to goe       
against them.                                                                   
     The Paris letters of October the 24th tell us 6000 men are in Basle        
that the forces on each side the River fire one another frequently, but         
the officers in each parly meett often in Basle & eat & Drink kindly            
togeather.  The Duke de Vivonne with the ffrench fleet has taken Leontini       
a very advantagious post on the sea coast & the frrench land forces,            
another post called Mirillo near Saracusa;                                      
     His Majesty is God be praised safely returned to Whitehall.                
     L. c. 389     October ye 25th 1676                                         
Vienna Oct: ye 13th  We are prepareing for Sollemnizeing the Emprs              
marriage on the 15th of the next moneth & we are told that the Duke &           
Dutchesse of Newburg will accompanie their daughter hither                      
Copenhagen 20 Oct:  The Danish men of war yt was sent towands Gottenburg        
have obleiged the Swedes, who had their Station there to retire in some         
disorder 5 of o[u]r men of war haveing taken the fort at Carelshaven, soe       
that the whole province of Bleking as well as that of Schonen is now in         
o[u]r hands.  In the said fort was found 370 Iron guns & a great quantity       
of amunition.  Griffenfeld is treated every day better in his prison. one       
of o[u]r great men of War took fire yesterday by accedent & burnt in the        
road, but the men & Cannon saved.                                               
Strasburg ye 23rd Oct:  The Imperiall & ffrench Army continue encamped          
as formerly, & as yet we cannot hear whether the Imperialists will passe        
the Rhine or not, but this is most certaine that if they doe the Swisses        
will oppose them in it.  In the mean time the citty of Basle has sent           
deputys to the Duke of Lorraine to pray him not to approach their               
territorys.  On the side of Basle the ffrench have planted 16 ps of             
Cannon to hinder the Imperiasts passage if they should attempt it there,        
A ffrench party goeing from Saverne towards Lorraine has been defeated          
by Some troops belonging to Keyserlauterne & 300 as is said killed upon         
the place.                                                                      
Hamburg the 27th Oct:  ffrom Pomeren they write that the Elector of             
Brandenburg had resolved to turne the seige of Stetin into a blocked for        
the weather being cold & wet the soldiers grow sickly & ill in case             
[ease?].                                                                        
Cologne the 13th Oct: on ffriday last 6000 Luxenburg & Munster troops           
passed ye Rhine over two flying bridges on this side.  It is beleived           
the ye said 6000 have joyned the Imperiall detachmt under Dunewaldt             
will attack Deux Ponts & haveing succeeded in it, will then goe into            
winter quarters, the ffrench we hear have quitted Sarbrucke & Marshall          
Crequi is encamped between Diedenhaven & Walderfangen.                          
Hague the 30th Oct: The Prince of Orange appears here with a new equipage       
all his guards being new cloakt & especially his new suisse guard of            
50, who watch 20 at a time in his Court.  The deputies for secret               
affaires have had severall meetings this week, concerning the matter of         
the peace, which this State is very much inclined to, considering the           
offers ffrance makes to restore the commerce between this State & ffrance       
to the same state it was in some years since to restore Lorraine &              
what hath been taken from the Spanyards since the war, provided Denmarke        
& Brandenburg & the other allies restore what (or at least part of it)          
they have taken from the Swedes.  Here is still a discourse of the              
Princes goeing for Zealand though without any certainty.  we doe not            
expect much from the Munster & Luxenburg troops, & the minister of the          
Duke of Zell here, has said that since the forces in fflandrs were gone         
into winter quarters, they must not wonder if his Master doe the like.          
     L. c. 390     October the 27th 1676                                        
   The Paris lettrs dat Oct: 31 speak uncertainly as to the Imperialists,       
some saying that the Duke of Lorraine would returne & take quarters in          
the Vetaenother [?] as if the Catholick Cantons of Switzerland had too          
much intelligence with them & might appear in their favor, but as to the        
Army under Marshall Crequi they tell us they received lettrs from the           
Campe betwixt Sambrie & Mozell dat 25th to this effect. That they had the       
same day gained advise that the confederates were marching all together         
in great hast towards Treves which had obleiged Monsr de Crequi who was         
troubled with the gout in one of his hands to send a dispatch to Monsr de       
Reynel to passe the Mozell with 4000 horse & joyn him with all speed.           
They add that they expect to give battle to the Confederates who were           
coming to them on the same designe. The Duke of Zell haveing taken post         
to fight  in person & to command the whole Army.                                
     The Citty have sent with due ceremony to invite his Majesty &c to          
doe them the Honour of dineing with them at Guildhall on the Lord Major         
Day.                                                                            
   Some ships lately come from the Streights doe intimate that a peace          
is lately made with those of Salle & Tetuan.                                    
     We cannot at this time of the year expect to hear any great store          
of news from abroad & in effect the ffrench & fflandrs lettrs which             
arrived the 25th brought not any thing besides what is made publick for         
most of the forces are already in winter quarters & the rest are goeing         
to follow & perticularly the Elector of Brandenburg who is obleiged to          
leave the seige of Stetin till the next year before which time the              
Swedes hope to be in a better posture then they have this  The Armys            
being gone of the stage the generall discourse now every where runs             
concerning a peace which in Holland people seem very eager after.  And          
hitherto we doe not hear of any talk there of prepareing against next           
year, but on the other side the States presse all they can the oppening         
the assembly not without some offense to their allies, And perticularly         
from Vienna they write that the Emperor is very much displeased that the        
States should goe to impose a law upon him & his allies for fixeing a day       
upon which they would begin the treaty at Nimeguen, whether the                 
Ambassadrs of their confederates were arrived or noe.                           
   It is said that his Majestys Ambr in ffrance upon the instance he            
hath made to that King for satisfaction in behalfe of o[u]r Merchants,          
who have great complaints against the ffrench Capers hath obtained a            
very satisfactory answer & that that King has given possitive ordrs to          
the ffrench Privateer not to bring up any English vessell.                      
     L. c. 391     Oct: 30th 1676                                               
Warsaw the 19th of October.  We have this morning very ill news from            
o[u]r Army that it had been engaged with the Turkes, Tartars, & that in         
the fight 6000 Poles had been killed, & among others severall prsons of         
quality, & though its said the Turks have lost twice that number, yet           
that will doe us little good, since they will not misse that number, &          
that o[u]r fforces are in a manner beseiged by the enemy.  The Arch Bp of       
Guesne has issued out Patents for ye calling the arreare ban with all           
speed.                                                                          
Copenhagen the 27th of Oct:  Yesterday o[u]r King party [sic] home againe       
for Schonen upon the advise that ye Swedes approached towards Holmstadt.        
The affairs of that town are in much bettr condition then they were             
lately; & we are told that King has an Army of 18000 men, with which its        
beleived he will not lye still this winter.  The takeing of Carelshaven         
is lookt upon as a matter of great importance.  There were 4000 Sweds           
in it.                                                                          
Hamburgh 30 Oct.  As yet the Elector of Brandenburg continues the seige         
of Stetin & since o[u]r last he has begun to batter it, but the beseiged        
seem resolved to hold it out till the last, & it is generally beleived          
this seige may prove a worke of to much difficultie at this time of the         
year.                                                                           
Strasburg Oct: The 21 instant  the Duke of Lorraine upon the report of          
the Duke of Zell decamped & from the quarters at Heytersheim, which is          
not farr from ffriburg, & marched to Scheffinger near Rinfeldt in order         
as is said to his passing the Rhine there, being resolved to force his          
passage if the Swisses should oppose him in it, as we are told they will,       
& to that end they guard their ffrontiers with some 1000 men.  The              
ffrench Army is here upon likewise marched higher up into Suntgow & has         
beset all the passes in Burgundy, soe that we may yet expect to hear of         
some action.  The 24 instant the Duke of Lorraine was still at Scheffingen      
expecting ye comeing up of the Electorall Prince of Saxony, with 1400           
horse & the return of the Major Generall Schultz who was abroad & some          
think the Imperialists will not after all passe the Rhine.                      
Cologne ye 30th Oct: The Osnaburg troops that were in fflandrs are              
arrived in this diocesse & are at prsent quartered within 5 leagues of          
this citty.  & this afternoon arrived here the Count of Lippo to                
acqu[a]int o[u]r Elector that they must winter in this Countrey.  ffrom         
ffrancfort they write that the Munster & Lunenburg troops, who passed           
the Rhin, expected only the conjunction of the Imperiall detachment             
under Dunewaldt & that then they would march directly against Marshall          
Crequi, who had put 2000 men into Deux Ponts.                                   
Hague the 3 Novembr  Though severall consultations are held here with           
the forreigne Ministers concerning a peace, yet in the mean time the            
Councell of State is prepareing the State of the Warr against next year         
& in ordr there unto a good summe of money would be demanded of the             
States of Holland who assemble next week.  The States at the instance           
of their allies are resolved to deferre the opening the assembly at             
Nimeghen till the 14 instant (the 1st instant being the day at first            
appointed)  There is a new treaty concluded between Spain, this State,          
& the Duke of Newburg.                                                          
     L. c. 392     November the 1st 1676                                        
   On the 30th of October arrived the ffrench lettrs due on Satturday, &        
brought what follows.                                                           
Brussells 3 November.  Our lettrs from Germany say there is noe                 
likelyhood the Imperiall Army will passe the Rhin, but that they will           
take up winter quarters in Suabia & ffranconia.  In the mean time the           
ffrench guard all passes haveing abundance of provisions & all things           
necessary.  We must not expect to hear of any thing considerable this           
year except it be about takeing winter quarters.  We hear that his              
Imperiall Majesty is sending his prsents to the Princesse of Newburg.  We       
are told from Valenciennes that the ffrench haveing left a strong               
garrison in Chasteau Cambresier are retireing into winter quarters.  That       
don ffrancisco Marcus de Velascons got safe to Cambray with all his             
troops haveing narrowly escaped by reason of Baron Quincys comeing              
halfe an hour to late with 58 Squadrons of horse, who we hear has since         
received ordrs to march towards Lorraine with his forces.                       
   That the Elector of Bavaria will send his Plenipotentiarys very              
suddainly to Nimegen.                                                           
   Our Troops designed for St Omers are likewise safely arrived there.          
ffrom Sicily we have likewise advice that that Viceroy was endeavouring         
to retake Mesilla from the ffrench.                                             
     The 30th the Lord Majors day passed with the usuall sellemnity             
their Majestys & Royall Highnesses honoring it with their presence.             
     The ffrench Ambrs pretend to have advice by the last ffrench               
lettrs which arrived on Sunday that as well the Duke of Lunenburg               
with his & the munster troops, as Major Generall Dunewaldt with the             
Imperiall Regimts have repassed the Rhine, the first near Coblentz              
& the lattr near Phillipsburg, haveing found the Marshall Crequi                
has soe posted himselfe that they could not effect their designe of             
entring into Lorraine soe that now they are goeing into winter quarters         
which we doe not entirely give credit to, till we have it by o[u]r own          
lettrs                                                                          
   Just now arrived o[u]r ffrench lettrs of Satturday last  they say            
nothing of the Duke of Zeles repassing the Rhin, but on the contrary            
that their last advices gave them cause to expect an engagement between         
him & Crequi.  Lonvignoy had joyned the Duke of Zell with 3000 men              
drawn out of Luxemburg.  The Duke of Lorraine was still on the other            
side of the Rhine prepareing to goe into winter quarters.                       
     L. c. 393      November ye 3d 1676                                         
   It is a very considerable peece of news that the Dutch & fflandrs            
lettrs brought the 1st instant of a peace concludeing between the               
Poles and ye Turks, for by that means the Turks will be at liberty to           
looke towards Hungary, & whether they doe breake the peace or not               
with the Emperor, yet they will still give that Court great jealousies,         
& consequently the lesse against the ffrench in Germany.                        
   As you have heard the States of Holland formerly resolved they would         
begin the treaty at Nimeguen the first of November, whether the Ambrs of        
their Allies were upon the place or not, at which the Emperor & the             
Spanyards especially were not a little offended, for that the States            
should goe about to impose upon them.  Since the States have deferred the       
opening the said assembly till the 14 instant upon the instance of              
their allies.                                                                   
+It is said their hath been lately a new treaty concluded between ffrance       
& Sweden by which the former warrants to the latter the restitution of          
what ever has been lost in the war, which will without doubt serve to           
lengthen the warr, ffor that the Northerne Princes will by noe means            
hear of restoreing what they have taken from Sweden.                            
     ffrom fflandrs they write that the king of Spain intended to have          
an Army entire [sic] the next Campagne in fflandrs & that in ordr               
thereunto a great summe of money will be remitted thither from Spaine &         
the truth is without such an Army the Spanyards will never be able to doe       
any thing of Moment                                                             
     Besides the Marriage of the Emperor we are told that the Prince of         
Newburg is to marry the Archdutchesse of Austria the Emprs Sister, by           
which means the family of the Duke of Newburg will be raised to a greater       
height, & to make it yet higher that Duke pretends to make one of his           
youngest Sonnes Coadjutor of Cologne & Consequently in time Elector of          
Cologne.                                                                        
     All the instances that has been made on the part of the Emperor            
& the Empire to the Elector of Bavaria, has not been able to withdraw           
him from his engagements with ffrance, soe that he is resolved still to         
maintain his neutrality.                                                        
     The Right in question between ffrance & the Prince of the Empire           
concerning the sending Ministers with the Character of Ambassadrs to            
Nimeghen, is not yet determined, & that for that reason the said Princes        
declare they cannot send Ministers thither.                                     
     Tis writ the Electresse of Brandenburg given her Lord a visset             
before Setin [sic] walked soe near the town that a canon bullet gave her        
that affreight which occasioned a miscariage & that the Elector caused          
his tent to be pitched upon the same place voweing he would not quit            
it till he had taken the citty.                                                 
     On the 20th arrived at ffalmouth the assist [?] ffrigget Capt.             
Holden Commander from Lixbon in 18 dayes, who gives account that he left        
70 leagues off the Katherine Captain Andrews Commandr & the other 3 ships       
taken by the Portuguez from the Algerins who were all cleer at Lixbon.          
There were then at the same port 9 saile of ships from Bourdeaux & other        
places of ffrance & more goeing in.                                             
     L. c. 394     November the 4th 1676                                        
     The Elector of Brandenburg has at last consented that the Swedes           
garrison of Staden shall be transported to Leifland, the Raine & Riggr of       
the season render the continuance of the seige at Stetin almost impossible      
& therefore the Elector to make shorter work ordered 3000 Bombes to be          
spent which upon the 28th of the last had that effect as to set fire on 4       
severall places which burnt 2 hours before they could be quenched.              
     By a vessell arrived from the Soundt we have advice that the king of       
Sweden had reinforced his Army with 8000 ffinlandrs that were come to           
him, & that he expected other reinforcements of new raised troops, that         
with this Army the king means to be in Action most of the winter to             
endeavovr to regaine what he hath lost this summer, in which he is the          
more likelyhood to succeed, for that the Danish Army is not only very           
much lessened through the service of this Campagne, but the troops which        
remains (and which its said doe not exceed 12000 men) are extraemly             
harrassed & unfit for father service this year.                                 
     The Elector of Brandenburg is not at all pleased with the peace            
between the Poles & the Turks, as apprehending the Poles may give him           
some trouble on the account of Prussia ducase [?], wch the Elector              
formerly held in Homage of the Crowne of Poland, but in soveraingnty            
since the concession of King Casimire, which in such a case would be            
occasion of the quarrell, seeing as it is said Casimire would not make          
such a concession to the prejudice of the Crowne.                               
     The 3rd his Majesty was pleased to order in Counsell that a reward         
of 100 L sterling shall be given to any such person as apprehends, Sr           
Ellis Leighton, who lately as you have heard made his escape.                   
     We have nothing from abroad.                                               
     L. c. 395     November the 8th 1676                                        
   The following which we received by the fflandrs maile on the 6th, will       
informe you of the prsent posture of things abroad.                             
Brussells 10 Novem:  Our Governor the Duke de Villa Hermosa is in               
great expectation of receiveing vast summes of money from Spaine, &             
by the next ordinary he hopes to receive bills of exchange for a                
million of Crowns & they talke of an other million to follow soon after         
the disposition of which is already ordered Vidt part of it to recruite         
the old Regiments, which are at prsent very weake, another part for the         
buying 12000 in Germany, which are to be old Regimts with all officers          
compleat to them, in which affaire the Prince of Vaudemont is to be             
employed; & those 12000 men with the Spanish forces shall forme an Army         
to be commanded by his Excellency, the residue of the money is to pay in        
part what is owing to the confederates for subsides; but if these bills         
come not by the next post they will be disappointed in all their                
measures.  As for the assistance they expect from the States their              
forces shall act seperately & passe by Sluyce [?] through fflandrs to           
divert the ffrench on that side by their entring into Boulonnois.  These        
are the resolutions that have been taken before hand, the Bp of Osnaburg        
is returned home with his guards only, & hath promised to recruit his           
forces agt Spring, who are at prsent under the command of Monsr de              
Lonvigny not above 2000 strong;  they have left the diocesse of Cologne         
& march towards Mosell to joyn the Duke of Zell, though they are in a           
very ill condition.  His Excellency has sent 4 Regimts of horse from            
hence to joyn the said Duke of Zell, upon whose advance towards the             
Saar (haveing had the 5 instant his quarters at Rushell about 4 leagues         
from Deux Ponts) Marshall Crequi is said to have retired with 2000              
horse, & that Leiut. Generall Chavenet was sent after him with a                
considerable boody of horse.  Some lettrs add that the ffrench have             
quitted & demolished Deux Ponts, but that needs a confirmation  The             
Munster & Lunenburg troops & especially the former have committed great         
insolencies & outrages in their march.  We hear from Alsace that the Duke       
of Lorraine for want of subsistance will be forced very suddainly into          
winter quarters & that he had laid aside all thoughts of passeing the           
Rhine.                                                                          
     We had the 7th instant o[u]r Dutch lettrs which ought to have              
arrived on Satturday, as to the news from Germany they speake in the            
same manner as above, & as to their own affaires say, that the Councell         
of State had not yet finished the State of the Warr, but in the mean            
time they discourse is, that 8 new Regiments will be Raised agt Spring, &       
that the Prince of Orange had been severall dayes in the Court of Justice       
upon the affaire of the Sieur de Groot, to whom he suspected the Judges         
were to favorable.                                                              
     The Elector of Brandenburg can doe noe good upon Stetin.                   
     L. c. 396     November the 10th 1676                                       
   We hear of severall ships arrived from ffrance & other places who in         
their passage have lately mett with privateers, but make noe complaint of       
any injury done them, nor soe much as any mollestation which is noe small       
encouragement to our Merchant men.                                              
   His Royall Highnesse received some hurt on the 3d by a fall of an            
horse, but God be praised took good rest that night & is in an undoubted        
way of speedy recovery                                                          
     Our lettrs from the Downes tell us that on the 2d & 3d there               
arrived about 250 saile of English from Bourdeaux most bound for Holland        
   His Majestys declaration for preventing his subjects from resorting          
to the Chapels of fforraign Ministers to masse has by the care of the           
Principall Secretarys of State, who acqu[a]inted the severall Ambrs with        
it appointed a messenger to observe those that went thither, had such           
reall effect that very few are found to continue that practice & those          
being noted tis not doubted but they may forbear in future.                     
     On the 8th Mr John Gibson was by the councell committed to the gate        
house for speaking seditious words tending to the scandal of his Maty &         
disturbance of his Goverment & peace of his kingdome.                           
     Though the States Generall continue constant to a former resolution        
of haveing the treaty begun the 1st instant at Nimeghen only with this          
difference that at first they meant the new stile, soe now they are             
content to reckon the old; yet it appears plainly that their confederates       
do all they can to retard the same, & therefore I cannot think there is         
any likelyhood of a peace this winter but on the other hand we hear that        
great preparations are makeing every where agt Spring.  It is said that         
the Emperor will have above 10000 men more in his service then he had           
this, & besides has engaged the Elector of Saxony to raise 8000 men, &          
the Duke of Newburg almost the same number, as for the peace between the        
Poles & the Turkes the Court at Vienna seems not at all concerned               
thereat, lookeing upon the Poles as well as the Turks at prsent not to be       
in a condition of giveing them any disturbance, though others beleive           
that the said peace will have a great effect in the prsent War to the           
advantage of the ffrench, which time must show.                                 
   In fflandrs the Spanyards talke high of the Army they intend to              
have the next Spring  without all doubt they will keep their word if the        
Spanyards supply of money come in time from Spaine which they more rely         
on for that in Spaine there is a new Ld Treasurer or President of               
ffinan[c]e & Don ffernando Velencuela. (the Queens favourite is declared        
first Minister) who is beleived will signalize their first entring into         
their Ministry with the perticular care they will have of fflandrs              
     The Duke of Zell is with his troops he commands before Deux Ponts          
& has begun to batter it which will be the only action he intends this          
year, for when that is done he will putt his men into winter quarters           
as the Duke of Lorraine & the Duke of Luxemburg has by this time done.          
It is much taken notice of that the Prince of Orange should give hims:          
that trouble to be prsent whole dayes in the Court of Justice upon the          
tryall of Sieur de Groot, who is lookt upon as one of the Lovestein party       
& is at last quitted.                                                           
     L. c. 397     November the 11th 1676                                       
     The Portugall Ambassadr here haveing some time since resigned              
his place of Lord Chamberlain to the Queen, her Majesty has been                
pleased to make choice of the Earle of Ossory to succeed him in it,             
& accordingly this evening her Majesty delivered the key to his Ldpp            
     We have the certainty of the conclusion of a peace between the             
deputy Governr of Tangier & the governr of Sally in the name of                 
his Majesty & ye Emperor of Morocco, & the articles have been sent              
over by the said deputie Governr, which are very much to the advantage          
of the nation.                                                                  
     There have of late noe vessells arrived from Virginia soe that we          
have nothing new from those parts, but in the mean time the soldiers            
designed thither are embarked & the ships ready to saile.                       
   By o[u]r next lettrs from Nimeghen we expect to here that the Dutch          
Ambrs have begun the treaty or at least made some steps towards it              
   We have this afternoon o[u]r Dutch & fflandrs lettrs but very little         
news by them, the Imperiall & ffrench Armes in Alsace, continued in             
their former quarters  only it was beleived they would in few dayes             
march into winter quarters.                                                     
   In fflandrs the Governr is makeing what preparations he can against          
spring.  And the news at Brussells was that as well the States Generall         
as the Empr had resolved to continue the war.                                   
   In Schonen the 2 Armies continue in the feild.  The Swedes pretend to        
succer Malmoe soe that its possible some action may yet happen in those         
parts.                                                                          
   The Elector of Brandenburg maks little advance before Stetin & its           
probible that he will after all be found to leave it                            
   In Sicily the ffrench have taken a place near Scaletta by the                
treachery of the governor  The Duke de Vivonne has its said write to the        
ffrench King that if he had 4000 men more he would conquer the whole            
Island & that they will be accordingly sent to him.                             
                   [Handwriting changes here.]                                  
+The last advices say ye army comanded by ye Duke of Zell was very neare        
Deux Ponts, but it was thought his designe upon that place would not            
succed, for M: Crequi besides that he had put a great garrison into ye          
place, was very neare wth a good army to observe ye Lunenb motions, & ye        
Baggage of the Imperiall Detachmt under Dunwalt had already past ye Rhyne       
at Mayenne.  The Lunenb: & other troops that were marching toward ye            
Mosell are come back into ye Diocess of Collogne where they will Winter         
     L. c. 398   [Earlier handwriting resumes]    November the 15th 1676        
     By the last Dutch post which arrived on Satturday last we had              
lettrs from Nimeghen of the 14th which said that the Dutch, Swedes              
& ffrench Ambrs that are upon the place had resolved to open the next day       
ye assembly by delivering their powers into the hands of the Mediators,         
in ordr to the haveing them perused & examined to see whether they be           
in due & authenticke forme, & when that was over they would then                
proceed to the more substantiall part of the treaty.  but in the mean           
time we doe not hear that the Ambassadrs of the Empire or of severall           
of the other partyes are yet in their way.                                      
     We had o[u]r Dutch lettrs of ffriday last  the greatest news they          
bring is concerning the Danes & the Swedes, & therefore take an                 
extract of the lettrs themselves.                                               
Copenhagen 10 No:  We are at prsent in great confusion here at the              
unexpected news we receive from Schonen Viz: that the Swedes are come           
downe 19 or 20000 men strong, which (the more to distract o[u]r forces          
we are not above 13000) they have devided into 3 bodys the one commanded        
by the King of Sweden of 8000 men, who haveing deceived the Danes with          
their countermarches, on the suddaine turned towards Helsinburg (which          
lyes on the Soundt opposite to Elsenore, & where we still land o[u]r            
forces & provisions that were sent into Schonen) which they attacked            
yesterday & in a short time made themselves masters of, putting to the          
sword almost all that were in the place & another body of 4000 Swedes is        
marched towards Malmoe to releive that place, & we have reason to fear          
that in ye prsent disorder they have effected their design & 8000 Swedes        
more are in a body for a reserve.  Our Vice Admll has ordrs to ship of          
this night 3000 seamen for Schonen & the whole garrison of this place           
will follow tomorrow to reinforce o[u]r King who lay yesterday encamped         
with his Army of 12 or 13000 at Landscroon.  Prince George our Kings            
Brother with 2000 horse has had an unfortunate rancounter with the Swedes,      
but the particulars we as yet know not.  We have just now news that the         
Sweds have burnt Helsinburg, but we shall not know the certainty till           
tomorrow.  Our king its said is endeavoring to give the Swedes battle           
     Our ffrench lettrs, just now arrived, they say yt the Duke of              
Luxemburg was expected at Court in 3 or 4 dayes & that the Duke of Zell         
haveing beseiged Deux Ponts upon the approach of Monsr Crequi raised ye         
seige in great hast, the 1/11 instant, & afterwards repassed the Rhine          
     The Swedes have taken the Town only, but not the castle of Helsinburg.     
     L.c. 399     November ye 16th 1676                                         
     They write from ffalmouth dat the 9th that the Rebecka of New yorke        
arrived there haveing been 9 weeks on her passage who reports that              
he left that place in good & flourishing condition & that at New England        
the Indians were wholy sudued king Phillip being taken his head set up at       
Plymouth & his body at Boston & the rest of them driven to such                 
necessatys that severall came into the English halfe starved for want of        
victualls, however that the war had cost much blood there haveing been 17       
villages & townes destroyed & according to the nearest computation 2500         
men women & children killed.  At the same port arrived the Inseguin from        
Tangier who reports that the Moores were neer the towne but that at his         
departure there had noe act of hostility past betwixt them.                     
     To [?] advised by some lately come from Virginia that Bacon haveing        
sent the 2 ships which of Merchant men he had made men of Warr, with            
about 500 soldiers being landed at some distance, whilst the ships              
made towards him with severall turnings of the River one in the ship            
sent out a confident of his to acqu[a]int the governr that the ships            
were reduced soe weak by landing soe many that a few brisk men might            
surprise them & that if the governr send them out in a boat he                  
would by his handkircheif give them a signall when they should fall             
on which was accordingly performed on both sides with effect.  And              
the governr haveing gained the ships & placed good men in them went             
to James Towne & possessed himselfe of that & that 400 men whom                 
Bacon sent to carry Sr Henry Chickley the deputy Governr from one               
place of security to another had submitted to Henry & offered to him            
their service as alsoe that the planters had Generally left Bacon who           
had none now with him but slaves & of those but few white but that he           
has drone [?] that Rascality the wives the children of the diserters whom       
when the Army drew towards him placed in ye front for his security.             
   The ffrench lettrs of the 21 doe confirme with cirtainty that the            
ffrench king had given out orders for an edict commanding his privateers        
not to give the least stopp or mollestation to any ship carrying passes         
either from his Majesty the Ld Comrs of the Admiralty the Comrs of the          
custome house, officers of the other ports & places.  By their advises on       
the 13th they say that the Duke of Zells Army advanceing to Duex Ponts          
had thrown in severall Bombes & burnt almost halfe the houses, when the         
Duke of Crequi marching to their succor a skirmish hapned betwixt the           
troupes commanded by Dunwaldt & the ffrench dragoons in which about 20          
on each side were killed & wounded & that the allies troops retired             
towards Kinserlautron & the Marshall Crequi encamped neer the river             
Blisse not far from Duex Ponts expecting his allies to repasse the Rhin         
before he disposed his troops into winter quarters.                             
   On the 14th hapened a fire in Southwark which burned down, about 20          
houses                                                                          
   Her Majestys Birth day being on the 15th the Court appeared in very          
great splendor every one striveing to out others in that occasion.              
     His Royall Highnesse has some dayes left his chamber & gone about          
the Court                                                                       
   The last Hamburg lettrs gave account of the consternation of the             
Danes upon the Swedes retakeing Elsingburg, succoring Malmo & takeing           
the baggage of Prince George Count Revenslow & Coll: Schoffeidt with            
great part of the infantry & which addes yet to their misfortune an             
English ship come from the Sound into the river on the 15th reports             
that he saw the castle of Elsingburg alsoe delivered in to the Swedes           
possession.  The Swedes are mighty severe to the Danes, hanging all             
they took, which made those yt escaped fly to the Kings Army, where             
they were a great burthen to the King for want of provisions.                   
    [Some figures in another hand appear on outside of letter.]                 
     L. c. 400     November the 18th 1676                                       
   We have this afternoon our Dutch lettrs, they tell us concerning the         
danish affairs, this following.                                                 
   The Danish affaires in Schonen are in a much better condition then           
was apprehended upon the supprise of Elsinburg.  The Governr haveing            
made good the castle, the Swedes were forced to retire after haveing            
plundered the towne, neither have they releived Malmo as was supposed           
haveing been twice repulsed in the attempts they made to that                   
purpose.  The two Armys when the lettrs came away stood very near               
each other being devided by a River & each had invited the other to             
passe it in order to a battle, but the offer was not accepted, some             
adde that the two Kings had had a conference, of a cessation of Armes,          
though this is not certaine  as to what has passed at Deux Ponts, we            
have this account.  That the Duke of Zell finding it impossible to              
continue the seige at this season, was retired & marching into winter           
quarters  That in his march severall squadrons of ffrench horse &               
dragoons attacked his reare, which was commanded by Monsr Chavenet,             
who routed the ffrench & its said tooke the Marquis of Bisly who                
commanded them prisoner.  there be other lettrs which differ from this          
relation & say that they were 17 squadrons of horse, of the detachmts           
sent from Luxemburg & Schombergs Army under the command of Monsr                
Joyeuse & Monsr Renet & that they were totally defeated.  Those lettrs          
adde that the ffrench had quitted Duex Ponts but we cannot give                 
credit to it, nor doe we know what to beleive of the Rencounter above           
mentioned  soe farr we may beleive that there has benn some litle action        
in which the Lunenburgs had had the advantage & perhaps it may be the           
same was mentioned in the last.                                                 
   The Elector of Brandenburg has left Stetin blocked up & is returned          
to his Residence at Berlin  The Armies of the Duke of Lorraine & of             
Luxemburg are actually marched of to their winter quarters which the            
first take in Suabia ffranconia &c & the latter in Alsace, Lorraine.            
     L. c. 401     [Size of paper changes here.]     November ye 22d 1676       
   My Lord Power son to the Earle of Tyrone of Ireland haveing had a            
quarrell with the Lord Chavendish, the former challenged the latter,            
& on ffriday last they fought with their seconds.  My Lord Mohun was            
second to Chavendish & is dangerously wounded.                                  
+At Nimeguen the Dutch Ambassadrs have made severall exceptions                 
against the ffrench & Swedes powers, & at the same time the ffrench             
have made an exception against one clause in the Dutch powers, soe that         
this is like for some time to hinder the begining of the treaty.                
   By the last ffrench post we received a copy of the ffrench Kings             
ordinance published there, by which that King commands all his men              
of Warr & privateers not to give the least disturbance or molestation           
to any English ships they shall meet with they produceing their                 
passeports.                                                                     
   His Majesty at the instance of the poore protestants of Hungary              
has resolved to interpose with the Emperor in the most effective                
manner in their favor, in order to the recovering their churches &              
the free exercise of their religion, In which its said the States               
Generall will likewsie joyn with his Majesty.                                   
  We want all o[u]r fforreigne lettrs.                                          
     L. c. 402    [Size of paper changes here.]    November the 24th 1676       
     The Paris lettrs dat ye 24th give account yt ye Duke of                    
Lorraines Army being gone into winter quarters ye Duke of Luxemburg             
advanced toward Montbelbrind [?] where the Prince of that name had under        
pretence of neutrality putt a garrison, but whether finding themselves          
too weak to maintaine it when the Imperiall Army was gone, or what              
other cause ye place surrendred to the ffrench & they have placed a             
considerable garrison in it.  They speake nothing of any losse received         
from the Duke of Zells Army more then what their former lettrs                  
mentioned & affirme that they were going into winter quarters & part            
of them already past the Rhine.  The Edict formerly mentioned forbiding         
any of their privateers to give any stopp or molestation to any of              
his Majestys subjects, whether English Irish or Scotch is sent down             
& affixed in ye severall ports of ffrance & they proceed soe fairely            
in the discharge of the ships deteined in their ports, that they have           
ordered the copies of all proceedings agt such as have been condemned           
to be delivered into the English Agent to p[er?]use, that if cause should       
be found a review may be made & as for the ships which since his time           
have been brought to tryall we have an account of 3 released in one day,        
the mary of LondonDerry, the St John Babtist of Galloway & another of yt        
Kingdome, & the Jeweller who was taken in the pacquett boat was                 
discharged & his Jewels restored, processe was formed agt him yt killed         
the Mr of the Mary of London Derry, who was to be hanged & the privateer        
who retooke the ship released at Bologne & carryed & [sic] it to Calais         
it was said would be sent to the Galleyes.                                      
   And indeed we have not heard of late of any cause of complaints agt          
the ffrench, the ffalmouth letters of the 16 tell us of severall English        
& Scotch come into that Port, who in their passage from ffrance mett            
severall Capers, but none speake of any of the least injury offered             
except one vessell of Scotland & he onely sayes that meeting 2 Capers           
they took from him one Hogshead of Wine & some bread.                           
   On the 17th the Portsmouth & Dragoon were paid at Spit head where were       
severall Merchant men with convoys bound for the streights who it was           
said would saile thence that day                                                
   His Maty after a due & serious Consideration of the severall                 
proposalls made for the ffarming & managery of the duty of excise, was          
pleased on the 18th to declare his choice of yt offered by Mr Baker             
Sr John Corriton, Mr Jaggard Mr Solmes &c by which they stand obliged           
to the certaine paymt of five hundred & seaventy Thousands pounds p annum       
whilst the additionall duty continues & of [space left for about seven          
letters] if the additionall duty be taken off desireing onely 10                
Thousands pounds p annum for the Managery all over plus & other                 
advantages to redound to his Maty upon which contract they advance 250m L       
& are to enter upon the Managery of it at Midsummer next                        
   The care for suppressing the papists resorting to Masse either to            
the Queens chapple or those of fforraine Ministers is still strictly            
prosecuted by the Bishop of London & his Majestys principall secretraries       
of State to a visible abatement of that sort of practise                        
   On the 19 in pursuance of Warrants from ye Justices of peace to that         
purpose severall Teachers of Conventicles were enquired after & are to          
answer the law in that case provided                                            
   A Patent is past the privy seale giveing to Samuel Hutchinson Citisen        
& Ironmonger of London the benefit of an Invention for 14 years for             
melting down lead Oare &c into malleable Mettall with Sea Coales & pit          
coales.                                                                         
[Here a tear from the right margin of this sheet begins to remove words         
from the next two paragraphs:]                                                  
   The Lord Mohun who was lately wounded in a duell &c that there was           
great appre[hension of?] his recovery tis said is now in an hopefull [way       
of?] amendment.                                                                 
   On the 21 were in the Downes sev[erall?] Merchant men bound to the           
Streights, the [about six letters torn away] & the Virginia fleet from          
London [about eight letters torn away] a fair wind to proceed on their          
[Rest of sentence and sheet is torn away, but letter probably ends with         
this sentence.]                                                                 
     L. c. 403     November the 25th 1676                                       
     This morning we have a Dutch & ffrench post which ought to have            
arrived on Tuesday last.                                                        
Copenhagen the 17th Nov:  The two Arm[i]es in Schonen stand in the same         
posture I advised in my last, & only one or 2 rencounters have hapened          
between partyes to the advantage of the danes.  It is said the 2 Kings          
happned to be one night abroad with their guards upon discovers [sic] & to      
meet, they skirmished sometime & then parted, & ye Danes say they had           
the bettr.  In the Swedes retreat from Helsingburg it is said they lost         
300 men, the governr of the Castle haveing sallied out upon them.               
Hamburg 24th Nov:  In Pomern all action is ceased, & ye Elector of              
Brandenburg is returned to Berlin.  & on Monday last ye Duke of Zell            
arrived at Zell haveing left the troops ready to goe into their winter          
quarters.  We have from Poland as if the Turks made some difficulties           
about executeing the peace lately concluded.                                    
Strasburg 20 Nov:  The Imperiall troops march in 3 bodys to their winter        
quarters, the ffrench in their marching of have made thems: masters of          
of Mombelliard, the Duke of wch refused to receive a ffrench garrison,          
whilst the contest was about ye Imperialists passing the Rhine, severall        
ffrench Regimts of Luxemburgs Army are come to Saverne with ordrs to            
goe & joyne Crequi, but ye campagne being likewise at an end its                
beleived they will not proceed.                                                 
Cologne the 24th Nov:  The 20 & 21 instant ye Luxemburg & Munster               
troops repassed the Rhine, in order to their goeing into their winter           
quarters.  The Osnaburg troops live with great licence in this Countrey,        
and ruine all they come neare.  The Duke of Newburgs Ministers have             
absolutely denyd the winter quarters in his countrey.  The Bp of                
Osnaburg is goeing to begin his recruits agt spring, & besides to raise         
3 or 4 new Regimts soe yt he means to have an Army of 12000 men.                
Hague the 27 Nov:  Yesterday his High: with the councell of State               
in body was in ye assembly of ye States of Holland, to propose the State        
of the war for the year ensueing which is now under debate, to morrow or        
next day his Highness parts for Zealand, in ye mean time the discourse          
of a peace lessens dayly & its plaine that the confederates doe wholly          
employ their thoughts how to continue the war with the most advantage           
next summer, & its not doubted but this State will adhere to their              
allies.  We have news from Brussells that there were some speech[es] at         
that Court, of the Prince of Parmas comeing the next year from Spaine           
to command the Spanish Army in fflandrs                                         
Paris 28 Nov:  The Duke of Luxemb as well as M: Crequi is dayly                 
expected at Court.  The former has putt a garrison into Mombelliard &           
the Duke of yt name is retired to Basle.  ffrom Sicily they write that          
o[u]r troops have taken the Scaletta, & that the Duke of Vivonne draws          
great supplies from the Country round Catanea, which he has set all             
under contribution, great preparations are makeing against spring.              
   This afternoon arrives another Dutch post & 3 from fflandrs, but             
altogeather bring not any thing of moment, one speake of some                   
difficulties the confederates meet with about takeing their winter              
quarters.  The treaty that was on foot between the ffrench & the                
Spanyards about setling the contribution is quite brook of, & those             
poore countries lye expossed to the incursions & devastations of the            
ffrench, however the provinces have resolved to give for the next yeare         
a Million & halfe of Glds [?] which [is] about 1500000 L Sterling, which        
togeather with the moneys expected from Spaine, will put the Spanyards          
into a pretty good posture.  They are very much offended at ye retreat          
of ye Duke of Zell, after the hopes he had given of entring Lorraine &          
pforming great mattrs.                                                          
     L. c. 404     November the 29th 1676                                       
   Wee cannot expect much news from abroad now the armies are gone into         
their winter quarters, wch are very heavie upon the Princes of the              
Empire, not only for ye number of troops they are to provide for, but           
alsoe through their licence which is soe great, that the poor people            
had rather have the ffrench among them then these freinds.  It was              
expected that the Duke of Zell would have provided his troops with              
quarters in Lorraine.  And therefore the Emprs Ministers are hard               
put to it to assigne them in the Empire, conplaining in the meantime            
that they are extreamly disappointed by the said Dukes so suddain &             
unexpected retreat who on the other hand lays the blame upon the Elector        
Palatine & other Princes, who did not supply him with provisions &              
other necessaryes he wanted, & which they had promised him.  In the             
mean time the preparations against Spring are every where begining              
proportionable to the Exegency of affaires.  The Dutch will have the            
same number of forces they had this year, & if the Spanyards make good          
their part of haveing an Army of 25000 men in fflandrs, the allies may          
with reason promise themselves great advantage upon the ffrench, but the        
truth is the Spanyards have hitherto managed their affaires soe ill,            
that their Allies can hardly rely upon them.  & one great instance of           
the ill conduct of that crowne appears in Sicily, where the ffrench are in      
a faire way of overcomeing that Kingdome with 6 or 8000 men.  They have         
now taken the Scaletta & by that means have above 60 miles in length from       
Missina under their contribution, & will be able to draw provisions             
from thence sufficient for theire subsistence.                                  
   We have this afternoon o[u]r fflandrs lettrs of ffriday last, they           
say.                                                                            
   That they were hourly in expectation of ye arrivall of ye Spanish            
ordrs with bills for 3 millions of Crowns without which their preparations      
for the next Campagne would be very slender.  that in the mean time his         
Excellency is modelling ye Army & is prepareing a placart for encourageing      
men to come into his service by giveing them liberty after two years to         
retire whither they please.  That his excellency had promised ye Duke           
of Osnaburg 100000 Crownes out of the moneys expected from Spaine to            
enable him to make his recruits agt Spring.  The Duke of Newburg & ye           
Dutch likewise sollicite the paymt of what is due to them.                      
   Lettrs from Alsace of the 27th past say that 3000 ffrench are in             
garrison in Mombeillard, by wch means the passage into Burgundy is shut,        
& the rest of ye ffrench Army are gone into Burgundy, except some foot          
which remaine in the townes in Alsace                                           
   The head quarters of the Imperiall Army for this winter is at Eslingen       
in Suabia, where it was the last year, & yt the Duke of Lorraine is now         
there in pson.                                                                  
     We have nothing new from the Northerne parts.                              
     L. c. 405     December the 1st 1676                                        
     The ships designed for Virginia are deteined in the downes by contrary     
winds, but by o[u]r next we may hear that they are sailed.                      
   At Nimeguen the Ambassadrs are still buissied about adjusting the            
preliminaries, in which the partyes spend soe much time, that it argues         
noe great indisposition in them, to the more substantiall part.  The            
Dutch seem the most forward & by their zeall in the worke seem to stire         
up the others, but as yet no state can be made of what the treaty may           
produce this winter.                                                            
     We have severall late instances of ye Algeirins civill treatment           
of those ships of o[u]rs they meet with haveing the new passeports they         
ought to have                                                                   
   It is a great question whither the Count d'Estrees with the ffrench          
Squadron, that sailed from Thoulon some time since is gone, some say            
he is cruising off of Cape St Vincent to intercept the Spanish Plate            
fleet that is expected home, others say they are gone for Guinnea to            
endeavor to drive the Dutch from thence, this is certaine that the              
Spanyards are very uneasie till the said fleet arrives.                         
     Our Merchant men have news of the losse of two of their ships              
comeing from Moscovie very richly laden.                                        
     This morning arrived the Dutch lettrs of ffriday last but bring            
nothing new.  They give us an account of ye arrivall of the Prince of           
Orange at Midleburg, where his Highnesse was received with great honrs          
& respects by the Burghers, & in all appearance his Highn: would                
determine the affaire about d'Momma to his Highnesse satisfaction.  The         
said lettrs bring nothing new from the northerne quarters.  The Danes           
and Swedes Army stand as formerly but without comeing to action.                
     On the 30th past his Majesty parted hence for Windsor and will be          
back againe on Satturday.                                                       
     Tis said the Ministers of Sweden had obteined of the ffrench King          
a treaty of Guaranty by which he stood obliged not to conclude a peace          
till the places lost by the Swedes in the prsent war should be restored.        
     On the 24 his Majesty by the Lord High Chancelor gave his answer           
to the citties addresse which was delivered with the hight of Eloquence         
& strength of reason & such convinceing arguments to every perticular           
conteined in it that all that heard it were abundantly satisfyed &              
the Lord Major & Court of Aldermen througly convinced that nothing              
could be offered for the good & advancement of the citty in which his           
Majestys care had not prevented them.                                           
     On the 29th one Thomas Parkhust was committed to the Gatehouse             
for printing an unlicensed booke called a freindly debate between               
Satan & Sherlock.                                                               
     L. c. 406     December the 2d 1676                                         
   His Majesty did the Duke of Ormond the honor to dine with him to             
day at Rockhampton in his returne from Windsor.                                 
   In this barren season you must excuse us if o[u]r letters are some           
what short, nor can it be otherwise expected, considering how little            
news passes at home & abroad.                                                   
   The King of Denmarke makes great instance to the Electorall                  
Colledge at Ratisbon to have a toll renewed at Gluckssadt on the                
Elne, which was formerly granted to his ancestrs, but has been                  
discontinued ever since the yeare 1629; The said King has already soe           
farr proceeded in the matter as to engage severall of the Electrs               
to favor it, but this being a thing which may prove very prejudiciall           
to o[u]r trade:  We are told that his Majesty is resolved to interpose          
with the Emperor & the Electors (in whose power by the constitutions            
of the Empire it is to grant it) to oppose the same: & the States               
Generall we heare will doe the like & in the mean time have declared            
to the King of Denmarke that his endeavrs herein are contrary to the            
allyance and freindship that is between them.                                   
   We have this afternoon o[u]r Dutch lettrs of ffriday last, & by them         
the following.                                                                  
Hague 8 Decem:  We have noe news as yet of any action past between              
the Armies in Schonen; but the States have advice that the peasants             
had cut in peices a considerable boody of Swedes (of some thousands as          
is said) under the command of Alefeild; & that another body of Swedes           
haveing made two or 3 assaults upon Christianople, were repulsed in all         
with considerable losse, of 500 men at least.                                   
   ffrom Zealand we heare yt the Prince of Orange had prevailed there,          
& that the States had put d'Momma out of his Ministry, notwithstanding          
all the endeavors of Midleburg, soe yt his High: is expected here in            
3 or 4 days, fully satisfied.                                                   
     The Osnaburg troops by ordr of ye Empr have left the diocesse              
of Cologne, & are to winter in the Countrey of Leige.                           
   Yesterday Monsr d'Groots sentence was pronounced by which he was             
acquitted.                                                                      
     L. c. 407     December the 2d 1676                                         
     [First paragraph is the same as L. c. 405, paragraph 8.]                   
     [Second paragraph is the same as L. c. 405, paragraph 9.]                  
     The Nimeghen lettrs dat the 20th say that defects had been found           
in the powers of the Ambassadrs & that the shortest way to avoid                
disputes about the commissions, was thought to be expedient to gett             
new ones, as had been done at Munster & accordingly those of the States         
were already come to their Ambassadrs, the rest were to come assoon             
as they could, whilst in the mean time they were considering of some way        
how they might proceed in the treaty, as alsoe was in the same case             
done at Munster.  The Lord Berkley was arrived & had received the visits        
of the ffrench Ambassadrs  Count Kinsky was gott as far as Cologne &            
Monsr de Somnits as far as Cleves.                                              
     They write from Nimeghen dat the 15th yt ye Diet at Ratisbon seemed        
unwilling to allow winter quarters to the Army of ye Empire, but yt             
every Prince or State should provide for his own men, wch if they should        
persist in would be of all consequence the next Campagne it being not           
to be expected yt they should be early enough in the feild, if the              
troops should be soe farr divided.  The Lord Ambr Hide hath sent                
to his Majesty Envoy at Vienna to procure him the Emprs passes for his          
returne home, which will be thorow Germany, soe that he is expected             
there in 6 weeks.                                                               
   The Hamburg lettrs from their Germaine advises give out that the             
Elector of Bavaria has reinforced his Army with 6000 men to be in a             
capacity to oppose the Imperialists if they should take winter quarters         
with him, but the ffrench lettrs intimate him more kindly inclined              
when they tell us the Empr haveing united him to [?] the marriage in            
quality of his Cousin Germaine & that he had promised he would not              
faile to meet him.                                                              
     They write from ffrance that though the Duke of Luxemburgs Army            
is at prsent gone into winter quarters, yet if the weather prove                
hard in Germany they may make use of it upon some designe.  The Duke            
of Monmouths Regiments are lodged, the horse at Soissonois, the foot            
at Metz.                                                                        
     A Bristoll vessell from Vienna in Portugall reports that meeting           
2 Algeir men off the North Cape they boarded her & took some sugars             
out of her, the vessell goeing into Waymouth roade drove a shoare, on           
the 24th in the night the ship splitt in peeces & most of the goods lost.       
     The ffrench lettrs of December the 5th speake much of action in all        
parts if the weather shall permitt, as well in the Spanish Netherlands          
as else where, some talke as if the Scene would be at Cambray, others           
are for mons & some have Ypres in their eye, but they generally agree           
that some attempt will be made  none mentions it with any certainty,            
& the greatest grounds of their conjectures seemed to be yt Monsr               
Lonvoy was gone into fflandrs  The King has received the Duke of                
Luxemburg very kindly & in approbation of his conduct told him                  
publickly that he had done as much as man could possibly doe in persuance       
of his ordrs.  They have received an expresse of takeing Taormino &             
the Scaletta, at the later of which they say they were assisted by the          
Jurats of Messina in person & 6000 Messinois under the command of Monsr         
de Valaovir, who raised 3 batteries against it, each planted with 16            
peices of Canon whilst Monsr de Vivonne blocked it up by sea & hindered         
the releife the Spanyards intended from Naples.                                 
     They write from Madrid Mon: the 19th yt Carthagena is not yet free         
of the sicknes, but that more dye of Hunger then of the plague by reason        
of the very strict prohibition of all communication with the Port.              
+[Of this letter the remaining paragraphs, numbers 10 through 16 are            
practically identical with paragraphs in L. c. 405, as follows:                 
     No. 10 is the same as L. c. 405, paragraph 10.                             
     No. 11 is the same as 405, 1.                                              
     No. 12 is the same as 405, 2.                                              
     No. 13 is the same as 405, 4.                                              
     No. 14 is the same as 405, 5.                                              
     No. 15 is the same as 405, 6.                                              
     No. 16 is the same as 405, 7.]                                             
     L. c. 408     December the 6th 1676                                        
   The last lettrs from Holland among other things said that the Duke           
of Newburg soe soon as the Empr has consumated his marriage with his            
daughter will resigne the soveraignty of his Countries to the Prince            
his sonne, who its said will there upon marry the Arch dutchesse of             
Austria the Emprs sister, & that the old duke shall be made Governor            
of the Spanish netherlands.  but this is a peece of news which we               
know not how to credit.                                                         
   It is certaine the Governr of ye Spanish Netherlands has an                  
assurance of 3 millions of Crowns from Spaine, upn wch they make soe            
farr account that he is goeing to make leavies in ordr to the formeing          
the Army he intends to have on foot.  In Spaine the administration of           
affairs is now altogether in the hands of the first Minister the Marquis        
de Villa Sierra; & though its generally beleived he will be to hard for         
his enemys, yet at the same time its probable he may meet with some             
trouble, most of the grandees & nobility sideing with Don Juan agt              
him, who in ye mean time is intent upon severall things which may gaine         
him a generall applause; the one is his care of fflandrs whither he will        
send great summes of money; & the other his perticuler applications to          
increase the Navall force of Spaine, to which end severall new ships            
are to be built & others bought in Holland soe far that the Spanyards           
pretend to have the next summer in Sicily a fleet of 500 men of War of          
their owne.                                                                     
     We have our fflandrs lettrs of ffriday last  they tell us new              
from Germany, unlesse it be of the disputes about winter quarters & as          
for their own affaires in fflandrs they onely speake of the great fears         
they are in for Valencienes, near wch place the ffrench prepair great           
Magazins as if they intended to make the seate of the War in the                
Spring there abouts.                                                            
   Monsr de Lonvoy has been about in fflandrs to visitt the Magazins            
& the fortifications of ye most important places, which as yet appears          
to have been the maine designe of his comeing into fflandrs                     
   There was news at Ostend when o[u]r letters came from thence that the        
Spanish plate fleet arrived at Cadiz the 27 past.                               
   The Elector of Saxony has absolutely refused to permit any of the            
Brandenburg troops to winter in his territories as they did the last            
year which its though[t] might occasion some disorder.                          
   The affairs of the Spanyards grow daily worse & worse since the              
takeing the Scaletta (which was by force of Canon both by weater & land         
for the place being Scituate on a rock the soldiers could not dig nor           
cast up any works to cover thems[elves] & soe were forced to surrender,         
though the garrison consisted in 1000 men) have taken severall other            
advantagious posts & besides was goeing to beseige Catanea where the            
Spanish viceroy was & what was worse all the nobility begun to encline          
to the ffrench, & many fall of to them daily.  The citty of Perlermo            
begins to be very Mutinous, the inhabitants haveing rescued a Gentleman         
that was to be beheaded for holding correspondence with the ffrench.            
     L. c. 409     December the 8th 1676                                        
+The ffrench lettrs which arrived the 6th gave us reason to beleeve that        
we shall ere long hear of some great action exploited by the ffrench in         
fflandrs & in all probability Valencienes or Cambray are places they have       
an eye upon; & there is reason to suppose that Monsr de Lonvoy, however         
he disguised the matter by saying he came onely to visit the garrisons &        
Magazins, came about this designe into fflandrs.  This they write for           
certeine that the troops in fflandrs are ordered to be ready to march           
about the midle of January, & that the M. Crequi is to come about that          
time with part of those troops he has at prsent in Lorraine into fflandrs       
   The ffrench doe extreamly please themselves with their successe in           
Sicily, & the expectations they yet have of greater & by this means             
propose to procure the Swedes restitution of what they have lost in             
the War; by their restoring their conquests in Sicily to the Spanyards,         
but even in such a case it will be a hard thing to perswade the King            
of Denmarke, Elector of Brandenburg & Princes of Lunenburg to part with         
the conquests they have made upon the Swedes.                                   
   The ffrench lettrs dat December the 12th  they tell us that the              
ffriday before Sr Ellis Leighton was gott to Paris haveing after his            
escape continued some dayes in London & fearing the other Ports might           
be laid for him, went to Plymouth then to ffowey where took shipping for        
Bourdeaux & went thence by land to Paris                                        
   A ship lately arrived at Cowes brings lettrs from New England dat            
Oct. 23d which say that the trouble still continued in Virginia that            
many were killed & James Towne burnt, that the governr was gone                 
abroad & the ship he had taken for accomacke & that Sr Henry Chickeley          
was taken by Bacon & condemned, but kept in Chaines with designe as             
was thought to exchange for Bland                                               
     On the 6th one William Berry was committed to the gate house               
for printing & dispersing a Popish book called the naked Catholicke             
truth.                                                                          
   On the 3d the Wind presenting fair about 50 saile of English                 
Merchant men, set saile for the downes to the East Indies, Streights            
& Virginia.                                                                     
   The Chichester lettrs of November the 26 confirme the losse of ye            
ffrench men from the Bank 10 of which gott off to Portsmouth & 9                
struck upon a Pole which runs out of the mouth of the Harbor  8 were            
stranded  the men gott off & some part of their goods might have been           
saved if they would have suffered the countrey to have given assistance         
in due time,  they were all stout ships of about 2 or 300 Tuns from 10          
to 16 peices of Canon.                                                          
[Note in another hand written at end of letter, then canceled:]                 
                    740. by ye Pit M. K                                         
                    600. by Bicklys well.                                       
     L. c. 410     December the 9th 1676                                        
     The Dutch lettrs dat December the 11th tell us that the same               
state of War is agreed as formerly, but to continue noe longer then the         
conclusion of the peace, & that they had resolved to grant noe farther          
subsides to the allies.  The Muscovites who were drawn off from the             
frontiers of Sweden are upon fresh sollicitations of ye Elector of              
Brandenburg returned thither againe.                                            
   We expect to hear what effect the lettrs wch his Majesty has been            
pleased to write to the Empr & the Electors for the opposeing the               
endeavors of the King of Denmarke for the renewing a toll at Gluckstadt         
will have, though in the mean time we are told that the said King of            
Denmarke has already some of the Electors on his side, & perticularly           
the Elector of Brandenburg, who has declared to the Ministers of the            
States resideing with him, that he had already given his promise to             
assist him in it.                                                               
   Our Merchants had news on the 8th upon the exchange from Virginia            
that Bacon haveing gathered what force he could togeather went to James         
towne & had burnt part of it, takeing Sr Henry Chickley the deputy              
Governr againe prisoner & forced Sr William Berkley to retire on board          
his ships in the Road & when this was done the said Bacon retired               
againe into the Countrey.                                                       
   Here are arrived Comrs from New England to answer before his                 
Majesty certeine complaints made against them, they arrived on Tuesday          
last, & say the Indians in the Eastern parts of that collony have               
taken armes againe & pretend to renew the War.                                  
   From Nimeghen they write that the Popes Nuntio intended to come              
thither from Cologne if the States would grant him protection &                 
security.  In which we doe not yet hear they have as yet resolved.              
     We want o[u]r forraign lettrs                                              
     L. c. 411     December the 16th 1676                                       
   On the 3d a Dutch Caper of 26 guns carried into Cowes a ffrench              
Merchant man of 14 guns richly laden from Martenico, they fought 2              
dayes & had the ffrench stood by their commander it is thought they             
might have made their escape.                                                   
     In Monsr Lonvoys Journey it was resolved to renew the former               
designe of fortifyeing Cateau Cambresi to which end that minister               
gave order for its seisure & upon his conference with the Marquesse de          
Quincey, who commanded the forces which in a manner blocked Cambray             
it was concerted that from time to time those troups should be                  
releived by others out of the neighboring garrisons to make the ffatigue        
of yt Blocns [?] the more supportable, It was alsoe ordered that a generall     
detachment be as well of all the horse as of those of foot to randevous         
near Lows on January the 6th but the designe not said.  The businesse           
of contribution is at last agreed by Comrs on both sides whereby it is          
concluded that each party should recriprocaly abate one third in future,        
& that nothing should be exacted for time past.  The Governr of Cambray         
had made proclamation that who ever brought in provisions should be             
well paid, upon which alsoe the ffrench published that what ever of the         
neigboring villages under contribution should send or carry provisions          
to that place fire and extreamity should be their punishment.                   
     The lettrs from Cowes of the 3d mention only the arrivall of the           
Blessing of Boston from New England                                             
     ffrom Deale they write that 2 Canary ships bound for London rune           
aground betwixt Deale & Dover & staved in peeces, & all the wine is lost.       
   On the 5th the Rose his Majestys ffrigott sailed from the downes after       
Sr John Berry for Virginia.                                                     
   ffrom Lyme they write that severall ships were there laden with corne        
for Holland but the frost was soe great that they durst not adventure out.      
   On the 8th the Lord Major & Court of Aldermen of the citty of London         
were required in councell to put the great part of the act of                   
corporations, which is perpetuall relateing to takeing of oaths daily           
in execution against the choosing of the comon councell next.                   
     There has lately been a noise about the towne as if 6 English              
ships comeing from Bourdeaux were carryed by some privateers into               
Dunkirke which being in prejudice of the ffrench Kings late edict, his          
Excellency Monsr Courtin the ffrench Ambassadr soe far concerned                
himselfe to send to the judge of the admiralty of Dunkirke to give him          
a true account of it, who returned an answer date December the 10th             
that since the publication but one ship brought thither & that she              
was immediately discharged, & with this agrees very well the account            
of o[u]r consul there, who makes noe complaint of any ship brought in           
thither, & says that though ships had be carryed into ports by                  
privateers it had been done by such that were not present and could             
not have notice of the divulging the edict.                                     
   The Intendent of Picardie is at prsent at Bologne makeing processe           
against Jacob de Wyne who murthered Alexander fferry the Mr of the              
ship the London Derry                                                           
     The Pope has desired of the ffrench King a reconciliation to               
Cardinall Alliery the late cardinall Patron but that he had not yet             
yeilded to it, Abbot Mazians who is very familiar with him represented          
to him the Resentment of Dom Lewis his nephew, that he could never appear       
at Rome as the former Nephews of the Popes did; to which he was answered        
that what temporall fortune he had, he had disposed to him which might          
make him live a Prince in his Countrey, & that he might give God thanks         
that his owne family had the honor to be advanced to the chaire.                
     The Embargo being now taken off from the ships bound to Maryland           
& Virginia they have ordrs to saile to James River & there expect               
ordrs of Sr John Berry commandr of his Majestys ship the Bristoll               
& to receive his direction before they proceed to the Ports to trade            
under the penalty of what his Majestys subjects are by law for aiding           
such as are in open rebellion against his Majesty.                              
     Mr Baker &c who made the proposall for the managery of the duty            
of excise haveing made noe late progresse in it, it was resolved on the         
11th that it should be putt into the hands of Mr Kent & Mr Brat &c the          
prsent farmers of the excise.                                                   
     The Blossome of Barnstaple arrived home reports that since the             
killing of King Phillip the English had spoiled most part of the                
Indians corne, & that the Indians had quitted all the West part of              
the land where the war had been, & went to the East of Piscatoway               
where English men inhabited for the fishing trade & killed about                
100 English & forced about 300 others from their habitations  about             
the begining of September above 300 were gott into a Swamp to the               
Eastward of the Piscatoway, whence they could not be removed by force,          
but were drawn out by termes, to every one to have a dram of Liquor & a         
Biskett cake & then disarmed & sent prisonrs to Boston.                         
     By the ffrench lettrs we have an account that Quincy has been              
fitted with horse & foot & Monsr Lonvoy is to furnish 2500.  They               
adde to their late conquests in Sicily the takeing of Terminni within 10        
miles of Palermo & that 2 other considerable places had sett up the             
ffrench Standards is desired their protection, but there is with all some       
what of mortification by a storme which lasted 10 dayes & had carryed           
away 4 of 10 men of War whom they gave over as shipracks on the coast of        
Sardinia and they feared Captaine Granier with a ffrigott of 60 guns            
might have rune the same fate.                                                  
     L. c. 412     December the 20th 1676                                       
+On Sunday we received thre Dutch & as many fflandrs posts togeather            
     As to the northerne quarters, they told us, that the Arm[i]es in           
Schonen are still in the feild, that the Swedes are the stronger by             
severall thousand men, & prtend to have a great advantage upon the              
Danes, whom they think they shall totally ruine by obleidgeing them             
to continue in the feild in this hard season for which the Danish               
soldiers are not at all provided, and yet after all they will be forced         
to goe into winter quarters, and then the Swedes will be at liberty to          
play their game, this is certaine the Swedes look upon their afairs             
to be in a much better condition then they were some months since, &            
there are lettrs which say though with out certainty, that the King             
of Denmarke has sent to offer to the Bp of Munster, that if he will             
immediately assist him with a succor of men, he will renounce to his            
share of his conquests in Bremen.                                               
   In Germany nothing is to be heard but crys & lamentations of the poor        
inhabitants, who in many places abandon their habitations to the                
soldiers, for that there is not roome for them both                             
   In all appearance Sicily will be lost this winter                            
   The Spanish Courier was arrived at Brussells but brought noe money.          
[Some division and multiplication are figured on outside of letter; three       
drawings of what seems to be a house window as viewed from the outside          
also appear.]                                                                   
     L. c. 413     December the 23d 1676                                        
     On the 14th his Majesty in compassion of the poore in this very            
severe weather made a gratious motion in councell & ordered the Bishop          
of London to signify his pleasure to the respective Ministers within            
the lines of the communication that they earnestly presse in the                
severall congragations a contribution for their releife, & hath farther         
given order to the Lord Major & Aldermen of London that they make use           
of all means to take care for their preservation in pinching weather.           
     A proclamation is ordered for the prohibiting the importation of           
printed earthen Ware, & order given for one to be prepared to signify           
that its his Majestys pleasure that the parliment meet at the day               
appointed at the last prorogation and to require all the members to             
come accordingly.                                                               
     The Dutch are very instant in their application to those of Algiers        
for a peace under pretence not soe much for preservation of their owne          
trade as to annoy the ffrench to which purpose they offer 18 saile of           
men of war to guard the coast of Barbary, to prsent those at the Helme          
with 8000 Rix Dollars to redeem their slaves, in 4 months to give them          
2 brasse guns for their Caffabee & a considerable quantity of powder,           
yet after all at a publick Duana called November the 2d, it was                 
unanimously declared that they desire noe peace with any Nation but the         
English, & the Dey & some others were then put in mind to make provision        
for the continuance of it.                                                      
   On the 16th the duty of excise was disposed to George Dashwood Esqr &c.      
   Our advises from the Streights say they have not yet heard that the          
Turks have taken any of o[u]r ships with new passes & that many newfoundland    
ships had been taken by the salley men but for the late peace.                  
    They write from Vienna dat December the 6th that that morning the Ld        
Ambr Hyde arrived there & it was said that the Elector of Bavaria was           
gone to Straubring to receive & treat the Empresse there and convey her         
to Passua.                                                                      
    Our Merchants have conceived some doubt that in regard of the ffrench       
Kings edict gives order to his ships of War & privateers not to molest          
any that are furnished with passeports from the King the Comrs of the           
admiralty & the passeports signed by Majors &c & that the ffrench               
might give them lett if they went not furnished with such passeports,           
the ffrench King is willing to give them satisfaction has caused it to          
be explained & made the passeports of the King or Comrs of the                  
admiralty signed by Majors &c as alsoe caused an addition after the             
English Irish & Scottish vessells & alsoe of all English collonies in           
any part of the world, where the governr or Magistrates passeports of           
the said places shall be of the same vertue.                                    
     On the 20th the proclamation requireing the members to meet &              
make up a full house according to the time of their prorogation was             
read & approved.                                                                
     You must know that upon the Ambassadrs produceing their powers             
which was the first step that was made, the Dutch excepted against              
severall clauses and expressions in the ffrench powers & the ffrench            
did the like of those of the Dutch upon which it was proposed by the            
Dutch that to remove this & all other difficultys of this nature, the           
English Ambassadrs mediators should draw up a certain forme of a power to       
be made use of by all the partys & that the severall Ambassadrs should by       
a sollemne act engage the Mediator to procure by a set time new powers          
from their respective Masters & that in the mean time the treaty should         
be begun.  To this the ffrench & Swedes have finally agreed & the               
mediators are about drawing up a forme of the said power & engagement &         
when that is done & the Ambassadrs signed the said engagement, the Dutch        
declare that without expecting the Emprs Ambr (who is still at Cologne          
indisposed) they will give in their demands in writeing to the ffrench          
which as we understand will consist in these 4 heads.                           
1  In restitution of Maestricht.                                                
2  In reimbursement of the Prince of Orange concerning the principality         
   of Orange in ffrance.                                                        
3  Reglement of Commerce.                                                       
4  Satisfaction of their allies.                                                
[This letter is addressed to Newdigate "at Mr Sergeant Newdigates in            
Leaden=Porch Court, in Holburne / London"]                                      
     L. c. 414     December the 25th 1676                                       
   On the 22d arrived a lettr date the 5 instant at Elsenore in                 
Denmarke from the Kings Resident there (which comes by shiping) and             
says:  That the day before the 2 Armys in Schonen engaged, that there           
were severall reports concerning the successe, but that not knowing the         
certainty, he would not venture to give relation till by his next but           
in the afternoon we received lettrs from Deale with addvice that there          
arrived a vessell from the Soundt, which came from Elsenore the 13th            
instant, that the master reported that the Danish Army had been totally         
defeated, & that 7000 of them had been killed, and among the rest 1400          
Seamen, of these Tromp lately [space for about five letters left blank]         
over into Schonen, that the King of Denmarke narrowly escaped being taken       
prisoner, haveing fled onely with 4 persons in his company, This relation       
though it be thus perticular we are unwilling to give entire credit to,         
for yt the reports of Masters of ships are often very ill grounded, but         
o[u]r lettrs which we expect every houre from Hamburg and those parts           
either by the way of Holland or fflandrs will without doubt give us the         
certainty.                                                                      
     We have o[u]r ffrench lettrs of this day seavennight, they bring           
nothing of moment save that they say that the marriage between the              
Dolphin and the Elector of Bavarias daughter was very much advanced by          
the Ambrs which lately arrived at that Court on the part of that Elector        
     We want o[u]r Dutch & fflandrs lettrs                                      
[In left margin of letter, which occupies only half a bifolium, appear          
the name "Mr Mark," a drawing of a bisected isosceles triangle, and some        
figures probably in Newdigate's hand.  Verso has a long but canceled list       
of books and prices thereon.]                                                   
     L. c. 415     December the 27th 1676                                       
     On the 25th we received the Dutch & fflandrs lettrs which were             
due, but brought nothing of certainty concerning what had passed in             
Schonen, between the Danes & the Swedes, by the way of Holland as well          
as fflandrs we have lettrs from Hamburg of the 12/22 instant, which             
say, that as then their lettrs were not arrived from Denmarke, but              
that by a vessell arrived at Lubecke from the Soundt they had advice,           
that the Armys engaged the 4/14 instant, that at first the Danes whole          
left wing was routed, but that the King of Denmarke comeing in person           
with 5 fresh Regiments, made a great slaughter among the Swedes of whom         
3000 are said to be killed, but what the issue of the battle was, is not        
said, & in the whole this is lookt upon as a very uncertaine account            
     It was thought that the Prince of Orange had wholly settled mattrs         
in Zealand but on the contrary it seems there remaines yet a great faction      
at Midleburg, where even the people are very stubborne, & will not come         
to church to hear the Minister put in by the Prince & demand to have de         
Momma restored.                                                                 
   On[e] Rothes a fifth Monarchy man, who has putt out in Holland severall      
infamous libells agt the States & the Prince of Orange The last weeke           
hee & severall of his Complices were seized at Amsterdam & made prisoners       
& will be severely proceeded against.                                           
    L. c. 416    [Handwriting changes here.]   Whitehall 30 december 1676       
   Mr hide his Majesties late Ambassador Into poland Being on his               
Returne home by the way of Germany is Appointed by his Majesty to stop          
at Nimegen And to Assist at the treaty held there with the Character of         
Embassador Extraordinary And plenipotentiary till farther Order                 
   As for the Affaires of the Conquests They still Continue at a                
stand, Through the dificulty that still Remaines about the Concert              
of the severall Embassadors which it is Endeavoring soe to order that           
They may be to Mutuall Satisfaction                                             
   Two dayes since Arrived a Vessell In the River ffrom Spayne who the          
11th Instant Met off of the Northerne Cape 9 duch Men of warr Bound for         
the West Indies                                                                 
   It is the Generall Report That the ffrench Squadron That sailed ffrom        
Thoulon some time since under the Command of the Count d'Estrees is gone        
for guinea to Attacke the dutch There                                           
   The Merchants Tell Us that the Returnes of the Spannish plate fleet          
This yeare have Been Extreamly poore, Insomuch That the Merchants               
Concerned In that trade have lost 20 p Cent of there principall; of             
which the greate Reason is That the Indies are at present overstored            
with European Commodities, And for this Reason the Spannish Merchants           
have petitioned there King That No ffleet may Goe out This Next yeare           
   wee want our fforraigne letters                                              
     L. c. 417  (1) [Handwriting changes here.]    December the 30th 1676       
   As for the engagement between the Swedes and the Danes, you may see          
fully by what is made publique, then can yet ye given.  It is most              
certaine that the Danes have received a great brush which will appear yet       
more when we see the consequences of this action.  ffor the Danes haveing       
left their Enemys Master of the feild, tis not to be doubted but they           
will make the use they ought of it & there be some lettrs which say that        
the Swedes have already invested Christianstadt which they hope to              
regaine in as short a time almost as the Danes took it in.                      
   The Governr of the Spanish Netherlands haveing desired of the                
Prince of Orange an assistance of 6 Regiments has had a perfect deniall,        
at which the Spanyards are not a little displeased, & think the Dutch           
have not the concerne for the common interest as they ought to have.            
     The States of Holland have declared against raiseing more moneys           
by extraordinary wayes till all arrears of former moneys are brought,           
for the effecting of which they have consented under approbation of             
their principles, that the defficient places shall be proceeded                 
against by execution, a way that some Judge will hardly be brought in           
practice with out much difficulty if not much opposition                        
     Mr Brisband hath been hitherto very lucky in his Negotiation on            
behalfe [of] o[u]r English Merchants for the discharge of their ships           
deteined in ffrance, haveing on Monday discharged three of o[u]r ships.         
     On the 17th the Unicorne of London arrived at ffalmouth from               
Bantam haveing been out of England 21 months  they had much sicknesse           
aboard lost 15 men and were forced to winter by the way.                        
     There hapned a late dispute at Nimeghen about a visitt to the              
Lord Berkley, at his comeing the ffrench Ambassadrs sent seperately             
for their houres, the Marshall d'Estrades had that of 2 given him,              
Monsr Colbert halfe an houre after, & Monsr d'Avaux 3.  The Swedes              
had likewise sent for an houre & had that of between 3 & 4, Monsr               
d'Avaux came some what before 3 and went away from his visitt about             
3 quarter of an houre after 3, but he had noe sooner been in and had            
scarce time to sitt downe when news was brought that Count Oxensterne           
was at the door, who finding the place taken before him would have              
that taken for a form all visitt, but that it is since reconciled by            
a meeting at the ffrench Ambassadrs the Swedish Ambassadr finding               
him by appointment payd him all the respect of a formall vissitt.               
     A proclamation is comeing forth to call all copper farthings in            
which that noe damage may accrew to the subject, they are to receive            
as many of Tynne which are to be made of Intrinsicke vallue with an             
abatement for coyne onely.                                                      
     They tell us from Paris dat December the 30th that the day before          
many ships were released at St Germains the perticulars of which they           
did not give, the Secretary Marme being not then come thither, onely            
mentioning 2 ye Sarah of the Isle wight with her goods & the little             
mary of London  The king complimented the English officrs telling them          
that they had signalized [L. c. 417 (2) starts here.] themselves in             
all places where they had been but however tis thought that they may be         
reduced to fewer companies to make the rest compleat, in regard that they       
cannot Judge that they can gett recruits enough to make them up.  The           
same lettrs say that the marriage between the Dauphin and the Elector of        
Bavarias daughter was very much advanced by the Ambassadr which lately          
arrived at the Court on the part of that Elector.                               
     His Majesty has been pleased to creat the older son of Madam Guyns         
Baron Heddington & Earle of Burford by the name of Charles Beauclaire.          
[On outside of letter appears the following agreement in Newdigate's            
hand:]                                                                          
Mem.  It is agreed by and between R. N: of A. in ye county of W & Thomas        
Wise of London stonecutter their exs and assigns that hee the said Wise         
or his Ass[igns] shall provide work and well and finely polish for ye said      
R N his Ex or Ass a certain Number of black & white Marble substantiall         
stones to ly diamond wise all but the first list or step, wch is to bee         
wrought wth a small botele mould and list, for wch hee the said R N doth        
promise to allow him money [?] and that hee shall likewise provide & well       
& finely polish 2 hearths or footpaces to ly before Chimnys, one of black       
another of white Marble, and both to bee compassed wth lists or edgs of         
the like Marble of about four inches wide, for all wch hee the said Wise        
is to have and receive of him the said R N two shillings eight pence the        
foot when they shall bee so polishd & finely jointed & laid (hee the said       
R: N: paying for the Carriage, & allowing three shillings a day to              
Henry Wise the Brother of the said Wise or some other sufficent                 
workman for 2 days going & two days coming back: & hee the sd Wise doth         
hereby covenant & agree to provide the stone by Midsummer next & that           
hee the said R N shall take his own time to fetch it between that time          
& Michaelmas next at his own conveniency & hee the said Wise doth               
farther covenant to deliver to him ye sd RN or his Assigns as much              
Normandy stone wch hee the sd Wise doth warrant to endure the fire as           
shall serve for one chinmy & shall send a sufficient workman to lay the         
same being well & truly facd wrought & jointed at one shilling a foot           
square superficiall measure, & of large Surry fire stone for one other          
chimny at fifteen pence a foot well facd wrought jointed and laid. and          
shall before our Lady dye [?] send 2 good & sufficient workemen readie to       
hew & set up 6 statues 3 foot high apeice of stone which hee the said           
R. N. is to provide, for all wch six statues hee the said R. N. doth            
hereby covennt & agree to pay to him the said Wise seventeen pounds             
and to allow the workman [the?] aforesaid dyet & house room All wch             
mony hee the said R N. doth for himself his heires Executors and Ass.           
hereby covenant & promise well & truly to pay to him the said Wise his          
Executors or Ass. respectively as the said Works shall bee performd             
and done, & hee the said Wise for himself his heires Ex & Ass. doth             
hereby covenant and engage to and [?] wth the said R. N. his Ex. and            
Ass. that hee will well and sufficiently accord to the judgment of any          
indifferent Workman perform the said works as abovementioned.  In               
witnesse whereof the said partys to these presents have interchangeably         
set their hands and seals this present 2d of Jan 1676/7 &c.                     
+& Whatever work the said R N shall employ the said Tho. Wise his               
workmen about hee is to allow them 2-6 a day apeice besides their               
Dyett.                                                                          
Over & above the two shillings & eight a foot for the superficiall              
measure of the whole flat                                                       
     L. c. 418     January the 3d 1676                                          
   We have our ffrench and fflandrs lettrs  they tell us that 3                 
Regiments of Spanish horse & 4 Companies of Dragoons haveing by the             
helpe of Ice passed 2 Rivers between Douay & Bonchain, got safe into            
Valenciennes, which is a thing of great importance, for that place is           
now lookt upon as safe enough haveing provisions and all other necessarys       
for five months, before which time they hope to have an Army in the             
feild able to make head against the ffrench  The Spanish ord:y was              
arrived at Brussells but without money, however by the next they shall          
infallibly have it, and in the mean time to keep up mens spiritts it            
is publickly affirmed that they are come.  The Governr of fflandrs              
has sent into Holland to buy severall men of War for the service of             
Spaine, where they make all preparations possible to have a fleet at            
sea able to oppose the ffrench in the Mediterranes.                             
   ffrom Paris they write that the Chevalier d'Estrades Collonell of            
horse is prisoner in the Bastile, because of some disorder committed            
by his Regiment near that citty, & for that he was not there to hinder          
them, severall march from thence already towards fflandrs.                      
   By the Dutch post wch arrived the 2d instant we have advice yt the           
King of Sweden haveing caused those that were slaine in Schonen in the          
late fight to be numbered found them to amount to 9400 men, of which the        
Danes own not the losse of above 4000, but acknowledge 22 peices of             
Cannon to have been taken by the Swedes, to supply which they are               
prepareing a new traine of artillary, The Swedes are certainly Mrs              
of the feild, when the Danes are forced to look on & see them overrune          
the whole countrey with their partys, & what is worse if they have not          
assistance from their allies they will be in an ill condition.                  
     L. c. 419     January the 6d 1676                                          
   We have now a certaine account that Jacob d'Wynne who killed                 
Alexander ffenny master of the Mary of London Derry was condemned at            
Calais December the 30th by the Intendent of Picardy to be hanged at            
Bologne & his body to be exposed on the wheel on the most part of the           
haven next the sea, as alsoe Captaine Nicholas Goure of Calais was              
condemned to the Galleys for 20 years for haveing stranded a ship               
called the Christian of kincardy George Blythe Master which had been            
released at Bologne by the ffrench Kings order & the Master of that             
privateer not appeareing according to sumons sentence past that he              
should be hanged.                                                               
     On the 31st of the last dyed the Lady Duras wife to the Lord               
Duras & daughter to the Earle of ffeversham.                                    
     They tell us that a scuffle hapned at Nimeghen by one of the               
Brandenburgs footmen, who standing before his Masters doore knocked             
down one of the Swedes footmen with a ffflambeau & that the Swede crying        
out for help some of his countrey men & most of Count d'Estrades footmen        
went in to his releife, & forced the Brandenburgers to retire, which            
being a riot thought among the worse sort, the Mediators intended to            
take care that the beginers of it may be punished that the Example may          
spread noe farther.                                                             
+Tis Confidently affirmed that the Lord cheife Justice Baily [?] dyed on        
Christmas day last.                                                             
     On Christmas day dyed the Duke of New[castle?] aged 83 upon the            
receipt of which his son the prsent Duke hastned down to take care of           
preparations in order to an honorable interment in Westminster.                 
     By the letters from Vienna dat the 14th they say that the rebells          
in Hungary begin to be very strong & that it is said they would have            
an Army of 30m men towards the next spring, they say alsoe that if they         
can made themselves Masters of some strong places in Hungary they will          
make choise of a new King which caused great apprehensions in those             
parts & that the Empr had but few troops to resist the rebells if               
they should attempt any thing.                                                  
     The fflandrs lettrs of the 8th tell us of a Conspiracy at                  
Cambray & that a woman who was a principall party in it being found             
with a lighted match in her bosome was condemned to be burnt.                   
     On Tuesday his Majesty was pleased to goe to see a street of 38            
houses on the Thames betwixt Lambeth & ye Lower end of Westminster              
called now Thames Street but since they have been wasted away.                  
     The Spanyards in fflandrs are very much enlivened since the                
arrivall of the Spanish ordinary which brought them bills of exchange           
for a million of Crownes, of which 20 thousand are to be paid to the            
Prince of Orange to satisfy him & to stop the reprisall he has obteined         
of the States for the moneys oweing him by Spain ever since the peace           
of Munster, & besides the governr of the Spanish Netherlands expected           
another million of Crownes very speedily, but that which troubles them          
more then this rejoices them is that they perceive the Dutch push on the        
treaty with the greatest earnestnesse & show an inclination even to a           
seperate peace.                                                                 
     L. c. 420     January the 8th 1676                                         
     Our last lettrs from Spaine say that the new great Favorite the            
Marquis de Villa Sierra finding himselfe unable to withstand the                
opposition that was framed agt him by the Grandees & the nobility, had          
endeavored to bring don Juan of Austria to Court, to support himselfe           
by him, & reconcile him to the Queen  as to the affairs at Nimeghen             
they still continue in the same state, the disputes concerning the              
formeing of a power for the severall Ambassadrs to the satisfaction             
of all partys still remaineing.  The Emprs Ambr is now upon the place           
haveing hastened his journey thither from Cologne upon the advice he had        
of the great forwardnes of the Dutch to begin the treaty.                       
     It appears yet more and more every day that the Danes received a           
great defeat in Schonen, the Minister of that king at the Hague haveing         
represented to the States that the affairs of his Master are in soe ill         
a condition that without a speedy & considerable assistance from his            
allies he cannot make head against the Swedes, but what the said                
Minister presses the States in, is the payment of the arrears of the            
subsidies due to Denmarke & the Equipage of a fleet for the Baltick, in         
neither of which doe the States seem to gratify him, but on the                 
contrary expresse themselves on all occasions much dissatisfyed with            
the conduct of their allies & even to be weary of the War.                      
     At Nimeghen the Ambassadrs cannot yet agree about a forme for the          
powers of the severall Ambrs those they brought with them haveing               
expressions in them which to the contrary partys, by which it notoriously       
appears that they are not desirous for a peace since they spend their           
time about disputes in such triviall mattrs.  But the Dutch are not soe         
backward as the rest, & doe declare that they will not loose more time          
about mattrs of soe little moment, but that they on their part will             
begin the treaty forthwith in which they will advance faster then their         
allies will desire.                                                             
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