L.c.2146: Newsletter received by Richard Newdigate, Arbury, 1692/1693 March 2

L.c.2146

London March the 2d: 1692

Sir

A person who had never opportunity till now has made his Escape from ffrance: & came Straight to whitehall & given Satisfactory account of the Enemyes late & present posture of Maritime Affaires & sayes that Monsieur Chateau Renalt was with 19 Men: of warr actually gon to meet 22 of the Thoulon Squadron & Carryd with him some secrete orders from the King And hee Sayes they are not to goe directly to Brest but Hault in halfe the way & there to Expect the English & Dutch Squadron bound to the Streights

His Maiestie has sent his orders to the Office of Ordinance to gett the 2 traines of Artillery ready to bee Shipped with all the Materialls of warr by the last of this Month

Circular Letters are sent to all Lords Livetenants to disarme all persons suspected that will not take the Oaths & secure all service also horses in any of theire possessions & to have the Malitia of the Kingdome in a readines to march vpon the first notice

Edingburgh the 23 on the 20th past all the Recruites here were shipped for fflanders

Wee had an account from the Bass that one Mr Day adventured to goe in a Boat with 4 men thither to discover the Condicion of

the Informacion of the Affaires of Ireland it appeared for these 4 last Yeares there hath been Illeguall & Arbitrary proceedings in that Kingdome & resolve to Address the King to certifye the same The Lords have passed the Game Bill And alsoe that for takeng Bayle in the Countrey together with the Mutiners Bill with Amendments which the house: of Commons have Ingrossed a Bill to take away Lotteryes and alsoe a Bill vpon East India Commodityes

of the place pretended to them that hee was a ffreind to King Iames & had news to tell them from ffrance: but the Garrison being Iealous searched him & vnluckly found in his Pockett one of King [Toms] passes vpon which they secured & laid him in Irons but Sett the men a Shoar & burnt the Boate

Sir Thomas Levison who is now Said to bee Gentleman of theire Maiesties forces in this Kingdome is Expected here from London to Morrow

Plymouth: the 26^o vltima wee have an account from Marizon that the post Boy in his way thither from Penzance in Cornwall was 3 dayes agoe Attacked & robbed of his Maill by 6 persons in disguise who not only took & wounded him soe that his life is despaired of vpon which the Countrey are in pursuit of them

Yarmouth: 27th past the Master of the Danish Shipp lately driven Ashoar att wexenham sayes that when hee came from Norway vnbart agreat ffrench: Privatteer was in the port of H leary with his Squadron where hee was Inclosed by 5 English & Dutch Men: of warr

Harwich 28th Yesterday the Gray hound ffrigatt Sayled hence with 2 Mailes for Holland & some Recruites for fflanders

Theire Maiesties came this day to Towne & summoned an Extraordinary Councell ths this Evening & I am told the Circuits are putt of for affortnight the Iudges being to Assist with theire Opinions in Parliament = This day was an Eleccion of Member of Parliament: for this Citty & the Poll fall betwixt Sir William Ashurst & the present said Maior = The house: of Lords this day vpon heareing

Wee have an account from Whitby in Yorkshire that some ffrench: Privatteers of Considerable force lately mett off of that place 22 laden Colliers vnder Convoy of an English ffrigatt who Exchan =ged severall Guns with them but the Privatteers falling in with the Colliers took Severall of them but the ffrigatt is Safely arrived in - Harbour

Two persons are appoynted vnder the great seale to give discharges for money not Accompted in the Exchequer Levyed on dissenters

Dartmouth the 26 past Yesterday a Prize of 16 Guns taken by the Soldadoes was brought in here in theire way to Spithead the Soldadoes alsoe took 3 other Prizes which were Seperated in bad weather

Letters Yesterday from Hull Advise that some ffrench: Privatteers have lately taken Severall Shipps from that Coast among them the Ostery Man: of warr Ketch Tis alsoe Confirmed that 5 of the Amsterdam Squadron is taken by them

The 3 ffrench: Merchants who were detayned here by way of Reprisall for as many Imprisoned att Paris formerly mencioned are to departe the Kingdome in 4 or 5 dayes att farthest & 4 others were ordered to departe with them but vpon great Intercession made by some att Court they have obtained Leaue to Continue here

Yesterday being St Pattyes day theire Maiesties wore each of them a Leek & came to the Chappell att whitehall where the Bishopp of London preached & the said [Ioward] of Effingham Carryed the Sword before theire Maiesties = A person being fined 20^s by the Iustices att Hixes Hall this Sessions for disturbing Dr Burges att his Meeting house & refuseing to pay itt was Yesterday Committed to New Gate ==

but deferred the Earl: of Pembrookes Bill till tomorrow The house of Commons this evening went in a Body & presented the King in the Banqueting house .theire Address to dissolve the East India Company his Maiesties Answer ed that hee would take speciall Care of the Trade of the Nacion & particularly of that Afterwards the Spanish Embassador had Audience with his hath on his head & was Conducted back in great state

2 March 9 2/3 News Letter

To The honorable Sir Richard: Newdigate Baronet at Arbury 64 near Coventry