The number of our capital ships or men-of-war was about fifty, which were very well rig’d, mann’d, and provided with all things requisite; the number of our fire-ships was about five and twenty; lesser Men-of-war or Frigats about six and twenty; the number of Merchant Ships, Pinks, Fly-boats and others was about three hundred and odd; so the total number of the Fleet as they sailed from the Brill was about four hundred and odd ships. But at our setting out the second time, at Hellevort-Sluys, there were near an hundred vessels more, which were Schievelingers or Boats which the Fisher-men of Schieveling went to sea in. Whittle gives the following account of the final departure of the expedition:— Upon Thursday, Novemb. 1, Old Stile, Novemb. 11, New Stile, after the Prince of Orange had din’^d with all English, Dutch, Scotch, and French Lords, Knights and Gentlemen attending his Sacred Person, about three or four of clock in the afternoon, he went on board a new vessel of about Twenty-eight Guns, with the Rotterdam’s Admiral call’d the Brill, as some will have it, and being now in his Cabin, fired, for to give notice unto all the Fleet to weigh their anchors and make Sail, which was accordingly done by every Ship with all possible expedition. The whole Fleet was divided into three Squadrons; the Red Flag was for the English and Scotch, commanded by Major-General Mackay; the White Flag was for the Prince’s Guards and the Brandenburghers, commanded by Count Solms; the Blew Flag was for the Dutch and French, commanded by Count Nassau. Now every Ship had a certain Mark, or Token, that it might be known unto what Squadron she belong^d. So once more the whole Fleet (thro’ God’s blessing) was under sail for England, with a very favourable East Wind. The darkness coming on us, all the Ships set out their Lights, which was very pleasant to see, and the Ship in which the Prince of Orange was, had three Lanthorns, the Men of War two, and each other Ship one. Whittle brings the fleet to the English shores, and thus continues:— On the morrow-morning, being the Lord’s day, Novemb. 4, Old Stile, which was the happy Birthday of his thrice Illustrious Highness, the Prince of Orange; most men were of opinion that we should land either in the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, or some other convenient place, about which matter they were much mistaken, for the Prince of Orange did not sail, but observe the duty of the day; so all were driven of the Waves. Prayers and Sermon being done, he went to Dinner with some Nobles attending him, and about Four of Clock in the afternoon made sail, all the whole Fleet following the example of his ship; now every Schipper endeavour’d for to keep sight of the three Lanthorns or Admiral of Rotterdam’s Ship for the sake of his Highness therein. The darkness shutting upon us all our Lights were set out as before.