I have but little else to write to thee. Sʳ Roger Strickland sends his hoy to Deptford for watter; and these goe by Sʳ Ed. Spragg’s yacht, who caryes up one Coll. Hambliton into the River, who lost his legg on bord us. Pray lett me heare from thee by one or both of them. My humble duty to my deare mother; love and saluts to all freinds in genˡˡ. Wᵗʰ my deare love to thy selfe, my daughter, and little Richard, I remayne Thyne, till death us part, RICHARD HADDOCK. JOURNAL [OF CAPTAIN RICHARD HADDOCK] IN HIS MAJᵗʸˢ SHIP R. CHARLES, MAY, 1673. _Aᵒ. 1673._ May 11. This Sonday morneing, about 7 aclock, we anchored in the Prince’s fleet, to the westwards of them, about 2 leagues to the westwards of Dongenesse, in 1 fadom watter, yᵉ lighthouse beareing N.E. by E. This day I went on bord the St. Michell to waite on yᵉ Prince, who comanded me to weigh and plye up to his ship; but, bloweing so hard, could not. 12. This Monday morneing wind at N.E. and N.E. by N.; blew very hard, and raine some part of the forenoone; could not weigh. 13. This Tuesday morneing, yᵉ wind at north, we wayed and gote up to the Prince’s ship, the St. Michel; anchored alongst her side without her. This forenoone his Highnes Prince Rupert came on bord us, but went of at noone; dyned on bord the R. Prince; after diner returned on bord us. This day we tooke on bord all the Prince’s retenue and goods, &c.; struck downe some of our gunns into hold, to recᵉ new ones in ther roomes. All this afternoone yᵉ wind at north; constant rain. 14. This Wedensday we tooke on bord seaverall of the new gunns and mounted them. The wind this day came round from the N.W. to S.Wᵗ., S.E. and E. by Nᵒ. This day the French fleet apeared in sight about noone; being litle wind, they anchored short of us about 3 leagues. 15. This Thursday we mounted all the rest of the new gunns; the wind at N.Eᵗ. to E.N.E. Yᵉ French fleet wayed and plyed towards us; anchored about 4 miles short of us. 16. This Fryday morneing the French fleet weighed and plyed up to us. About 9 a clock this morneing Monsʳ Conte d’Estrees,[a] ther Admˡˡ, who wore his flagg at yᵉ foretopmast head, being V. Admˡˡ of Fraunce, past by us about musket shote or somewᵗ more asterne of us; struck his flagg, lored his topsailes and saluted us, I meane yᵉ Prince, wᵗʰ 13 peece of ordnance; we returned him eleven in answer. Presantly after Monsʳ Conte d’Estrees came on bord us, to waite on his Highnes yᵉ Prince. This evening came of from Rye his Majᵗʸ and R. Highnes in there yachts; came on bord us; stayed about one hower and a halfe, and then returned to the yachts againe after 8 at night.