L.c.2163: Newsletter received by Richard Newdigate, Arbury, 1693 April 11

L.c.2163

London Aprill the 11th- 1693

Sir//

Yesterday the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen attended the Queen at Whitehall to Compliment her Maiestie upon the Safe Arivall of the King in Holland

On Sunday the Lord Cutts Kissed the Queens hand for Captain and Governor of the Isle of Weight & yesterday the Warrant to draw the Pattent was sent to the Attorney Gennerall and will be as full and as Ample as his prodcessor Sir Robert Holmes -

Mr Iohn Poultney went yesterday for the Kingdom of Ireland and an Express was dispatched to the Lord Sidney upon some Extrordinary occation

Yesterday was held a Cabanet Councill Secretary Trenchard assisting and the Commissioners of the Victualling Office Office of the Ordnance and Commissioners of the Transport Shipps attended relateing to the precednce of the Discent all Matterialls except powder being shippt off at the Tower

Sir Iohn Cutler aged above 80 years lyes verry weak and has sent for his Son & Daughter the Earle: & Countess of Radnor 8 Falmouth the 6 the German Spyboat is come in here from Cruzeing where the

ffriday last haveing in affight of 4 houres with a ffrench: Man: of War of 70 Guns lost her Missen Mast- ffire mast much disabled- Last Night a most Malitious and Invective Libell against the government was scattered about the streets & this Morning brought to Secretary Trenchards Office & Strict Search is Made Libells after the Author 7 Its Generally said that the Lords Middleton [Dunnmore]

came up with 15 of Merchants ships under Convoy of aPrivateer of 10 Guns she gott between them and shoar and began to Chase them when the Plimouth and York ffriggats came Down with ffench Coullers and ffired severall Guns at her but the Enemy knewe her by her working and made to the Rocks of Pivesell where most of them ran on shoar

Weymouth the 8th- yesterday came in to Portland Road the Iohn and Richard Privateer who on Munday retook off of the Isle of Bass aVessell of Topsham of 70 Tuns Laden with Coales from Milford

Harwich the 8th aVessell is come in here which saies that 3 ffrench: Privateers have lately taken off of Oldfordness a laden yatch and that severall other Vessells were Rideing there but Cutt Cables & gott Clear

Cowes the 8th an Ostend Pri =vateer has brought in here affrench: Barque bound for Bayone

Cutts The Lord Cutts besides the Government of the Isle of Weight has 500^li Per Annum allowed him for a Table & tis said the old deputy Governor will be continued as alsoe Captain Clerk Commander of Cowes Castle

blowing up destroyed some people - Here is advice from Italy that the Duke: of Savoy performing the usuall Ceremony in the Church at Easter has brought his ague upon him again but yet is herty and Declares he will make this Campaign in person Two ffrench: shipps have brought into Thoulone 7 English & Dutch prizes with 700 Livers on Board They write from Gernsey that the Wiltshire ffrigat came in there on

Soe soon as the ffleet is come to Spithead the Queen will goe to Portsmouth to see the Men of War

On Tuesday her Maiestie goes to Greenwich to see the House there that is Makeing into a Hospitall for Seamen and Souldiers-

One of the Spies who has been in most of the Marratime Towns in ffrance: being affrench: Protestant is come in here and has given the Secretary an account of the posture of their sea Affaiers boothe at Brest & elswhere & saies they begin to be appreehensive of aDiscent from us & have some forces draweing thitherwards to guard their Coasts & adds that some of their biggest Shipps at Brest & Rochford are in great backwardness of being Manned and Equipped but those of aLesser Rate are Nigh Ready & aSquadron of 8 are put to Sea and concludes that the Province Squadron will continue in the Mediteranian to watch the [tilorion] of the Spannish Armado now at Naples & he Talks of some other Matter which is kept aSecret

All the Iustices of the Peace of Middlesex are expresly ordered upon Penalty of looseing their Commissions to attend this after noon on the Earl: of Bedford being Custos Rottalonum of the said County but I doe not yeat know the Occation yesterdaies Gazett has given the full account of all fforreign Affaiers

that has left Little to add more then that the Campaign is in amanner begun in fflanders Soe that the next Post may in all probabillity give an account of the Enimies being Sate down before some Town of Importance - Prince Lewis of Baden is come to Hidleberg from whence he will press forward to Speak with the King in Holland The Arsenall with out the Town of ffrankford lately took ffire & by accident

and Sir Andrew ffinester are privately slipt away to ffrance- Captain Richardson of Newgate Cruzeing on Satterday near his own ffort was attacqued and layd on board by affrench: Privateer who decently Diveing into his pocket found aprize of 25 Guinnees besides Silver and made an honorable Retreat to the Great Disreputacion of the afforesaid Captain he being better Mann'd - I am tould the Earl of Bath has adisposicion to lay Down his Commands to endevour to get off the Embargo layd upon their Shipps & were referred to the Cabbinett Councill that is to sit this Eavening = this being the usuall Demonstrations the Coronacion Day it was Cellebrated with the usuall Demonstracions of Ioy -

To the honorable Sir Richard: Newdigate baronet At Arbury 4 near Coventry