This day came into us the Katherine, Princes, and Advice, wᵗʰ 2 fire ships more; soe yᵗ I supose we are neerer 90 then fowerscore men of warr, upwards 25 fireships, amongst wᶜʰ my unckle R. H. is come. The Dutch fleet not soe many men of warr as we, I beleive, by 8 or 10 saile, many small vessells and fire ships. Had it pleased God yesterday to have given us faire weather, God assisting, we had given a good accᵗ of oʳ actions; our men briske and brave and very ready and willing to fight. The Earle of Bristow[a] on bord wᵗʰ us. I thinke a fourth part the nobles of England in the fleett. This I send on shore to Sowle, to take its fortune towards thee. Being in hast, have not tyme to wright any body else. If my broʳ Bradenham be in towne, shew him this letter. I two dayes since recᵈ a letter from Mr. Clarke, yᵉ apothecary, wᵗʰ a case of spiritts, come very opertunely (as he wrights me) to raise my courage, but I have not yet tasted them. Pray returne him my kind thanks. I hope shall survive this warr to make him amends. My deare, I should be glad to heare from the, but I know not how. I shall not be wanting to give the a constant advice, as opertunity presents, of my wellfare and our actions. Youl excuse me to my loveing relations yᵗ I wright none of them. At present it is fowle weather. Am glad we gote hither, for stormy weather may shatter us and disable us more then a bataile. God Almighty be our guard and defence, and give us victory over our enemyes. His providence hath hitherto prevented our ingageing twice. My deare and loveing saluts to all my loveing relations at Rederif,[b] and to my lo: Coz. Goodlad at Wapping and London, &c. Wᵗʰ intire love and saluts to thyselfe wᵗʰ my daughter, I remaine Thy loveing husband till death us part, RICHARD HADDOCK. His Royal Highness the Duke of Yorke is very zeolus to ingage yᵉ Dutch, God sending a good opertunity and watter enough under our keels. I had almost forgot to desire the to returne my thanks to Capt. Grantham for yᵉ barill of Muscadine he brought me from Mr. Wilkinson, of Messina, and for a chest of Florence he sent me from himselfe, wᵗʰ seavrall other things, all wᶜʰ I recᵉᵈ, wᵗʰ a chest of Florence for my Lord Sandwᶜʰ. Pray pay him three pound for itt. I shall recᵉ it heere of Mr. Lowe, my Lord’s servᵗ. Thyne, R. HADDOCK. * * * * * [a] George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol. [b] Rotherhithe. THE SAME TO THE SAME. R. James, in Southold Bay, this 25th May, 1672; Saturday evening. MY DEAREST LOVE, These I send by Capt. Poole,[a] who, wᵗʰ the Garland frigᵗᵗ in compᵃ, hath leave to goe his former intended voaidge for Barbados. Pray advize my broʳ Bradenham of itt. They will be good convoy for Mr. Naufan’s ship wᵗʰ masts, &c., wᶜʰ lyes at Gravesend, to goe thorough the Channell wᵗʰ them.