Sʳ, my most humble duty presented unto yoᵘ wᵗʰ my deare Mother, Grandfather, and Grandmᵒ, wᵗʰ my loveing saluts to my wife, broˢ, sisters, and freinds. My last, of 18 instant, I sent by my Broʳ Wm., whome I gave leave to goe to London; wᶜʰ hope is safely arrived with you. Since wᶜʰ, litle of acction here in these parts. The 21 instant, about midnight, heere escaped out a small pickeron of 4 or 6 guns out this haboʳ, notwᵗʰstanding our vigilancy and indeavors for his surprizall, haveing oʳ boates in wᵗʰ the shore and a small frigᵗ, who gave him chase and fired seavrall guns at him; but the darknes of the night prevented there long keepeing sight of him, and, notwᵗʰstanding they made after him to the best of there understanding, yet he got away and noe sight of him at day light. Last Saturday heere went from Mardike Marshall d’Aumon, Duke of Bouligne,[a] wᵗʰ 13 hundred French souldiers, imbarqued in seaverall vessells, and gone to Oastend, before wᶜʰ place they arrived that night wᵗʰ the Vice Admirall.[b] If the intelligence given me be true, we shall see a sodaine alteration in Flaunders. Its said yᵗ, for a considerable summe of mony, the towne of Ostend is to be delivered up to yᵉ King of Fraunce by the Governor and inhabitants of sᵈ place, they being in such a sad condition by reasone of the extreame burden yᵗ lyes upon them. For security of performance there is a considerable man, who hath confirmed the accord wᵗʰ the K. of Fraunce, now wᵗʰ Marshall d’Aumon, that belongs to Ostend, who hath ingaged his life for performance. I pray God they faile not in there undertakeings; and, although treachery be hateful and odious throughout the world, yet doubtles ’twill prove hapye for our poore traders when such a considerable place as yᵗ is, a neast of roages, shall be routed. If it proves efectuall, farwell most pᵗˢ of Flaunders this sumer. Sʳ, please to keepe this intelligence to yoʳ selfe, least it should come from me, being privately advized me. I hope, when our victualling is out, we shall come over to tallow; wᶜʰ God graunt, that I may not fayle of my earnest desire of seeing you before you goe forth. I intend sodaynly to send to the Vice Admirall to know where we shall be disposed by him or otherwise from the Comissʳˢ of Admiralty. Sʳ, I have not other at present. Wᵗʰ my humble request to yᵉ Allmighty for yoʳ preservation, I remayne Yoʳ most loveing and obedient son till death, RICHARD HADDOCK. To his honᵈ freind Capt. Wm. Haddock, at his howse nere the Newstaires in Wapping, these present, in London. * * * * *