L.c.2164: Newsletter received by Richard Newdigate, Arbury, 1693 April 13

L.c.2164

London Aprill the 13 - 93

Sir

Plimouth the 9th the Master of the ffrench: Vessell lately taken by the Portsmouth ffriggat say that 4 ffrench Men: of War from 40 to 50 Guns are [l...ing] in the Soundings That the Privateers of St Mallo took on the 17 ultimo 6 English & Dutch Shipps comming from Spain and Portugall and Carryed them into Brest that the ffrench: king: had layd an Embargo on all Shipping & small Privateers That 20 Men of War from 40 to 50 Guns are now gon from Brest for the West Indies That 4 [..ee] Deck Ships & 16 from 50 to 60 Guns are now at Brest That 4 first Rates from 100 to 120 Guns are now built and ready to Sail that on the 17 past 2 Vessells were sent from Haverdegrace as Spies who Stood [in to] our shoar & discovered our ffleet at Spithead Landed some Men for Intellegence & then went for the Island of the Bass

Mr How one of the Commissioners of the transport Shipps Dyed yesterday 9

the distribucion of the Queens Monney being made to aGreat Number of poor people in Scotland yard the Crowd was soe Great that an Old woman and aboy were trode to Death - The Private Letters further say that the ffrench were Invited to the Enterprize of the burning of the Spannish ffleet at Naples by by an Abbott and some other Preists who were on Board the Admirall

other ffleets should have LIberty to sailes soon they might rest assured that the ? sunk - ? is a ? advise that a Instant that the homeward ? will reside in the house by ? Pond built by the Late Serj^t Trumpet ? and some of the men of ? - This Week 60000^li has been issued out of that the ? of the ? of Middlesex that were to attend the castes accoun^t of all ? & and to ? their horses and Arms - This being ? ? & to as many poor people as the King & Queen were years of age that ? being 43 the ? 31

the same Eavening an apothecaries Wife out of the Citty coming to Clare Market a town Spark would have picked her up but the Gentlewoman being too Civell he cryd out aWhore upon which ^the Mob most barberously abused & Punched her to that Degree that she is since Dead & severall of the Mobb are committed to Geole

Edenburg the 6 the Lor^ds Ralling Ross & 2 others are sworn of his Maiesties Privy Councill a Proclamacion is published here promising full Indemp =nity to all Soldiers who have Disserted their Maiesties service provided they return to their Coullers in 2 Months time

One M^r Penshouse in Hertfordshire was lately Robbed of 8000^li in monney Plate &c

The Queen: has sent to the Interlopers to stop their Voyage to the Indies but assured them she would oblige the Company to buy their Goods at a Market Price

The Merchan^ts who attended the Councill to get the Embargo taken off their shipping were very tart in their Expressions and required a Seperate Convoy, but were tould respect must he had to the benefit of the Kingdom as well as to theirs in particuler they might rest assured that the Turkey and other ffleets should have Liberty to sail as soon as it will be don with safety to the Kings Officers

that the Iustices of the Peace of Middlesex that were to attend the Custos Rottulorum which they did & were ordered by the Earl of Bedford to take an account of all Papists &c and to seiz their horses and Armes - This being Maunday Thursday the Ceremony was performed in the Banqueting house of delivering Monney Cloth ffish &c to as many poor people as the King & Queen were years of age the ffirst being 43 the Late 31

Here are private Letters from Geneva which say that one of the ffrench ffireships of Count De Estres Squadron was forced in there by stress of wether & Run among the Rocks & is since Sunk - Here is alsoe advice that a Conspiracy being discovered on board the Spanish ffleet in Naples to assist the ffrench: in burning the same - 6 persons have been executed on board the Vice Admirall; one of the^m being aPreist the same advice further saies that the Berkley Castle in her way from Leghorn lately met & fought a ffrench: Man of War of 50 Guns who had boarded her but she Cleared the Doks & Obleiged the [Mounsieur] to bear off with Great Loss

They write from Portsmouth of the 11th Instant that the homeward bound Lisbon ffleet under Convoy of 2 Men of War sailed by that place to the Eastward and that the Vurgini^a & West: India ffleets are commanded not to sail till further Order

My Last said that the Earl of Bath had aDisposicion to Lay down his Command but now I find it was only to have a new Commission for Lord Livtenan^t of the Counties of Cornwall and Devon & Governo^r of the Cittidell of Plimouth which before was coniunct with his son the Lor^d Lansdown His Lor^dship has bought the Rainger ship of St Iameses

Park of Mada^m Hardbord relict of the late Embasendor to Turkey and his Lord ship will reside in the house by Rossamonds Pond built by the Late Serieant: Trumpet Price Yesterday 50000^li was Issued out of the Excheque^r to pay off the yard at Portsmouth and some of the men of War - this Week 60000^li has been Issued out of the Exchequer for the use of the Discent My last Informed you

the Intregue being Mannaged by the ffrench: Embassendor at Rome and was discovered the very Moment the ffrench were in Sight of Naples upon which discovery the Vice Roy caused to be hanged up at the Yardarm the Abbott and 4 Preists whereby the ffrench: perceiveing their design to be discovered and the unexpected Resistance went off the Coasts - The Paris Lettres say that the Count De Estre has sent the ffrench King an account of his [latest] success upon which the King dispatched back the Messenger with orders to the Count to refitt & Revictuall whichwill take up some weeks time- the King of Denmark has signifyed by his Embassendor in ffrance that none of the Confederates shipps taken by the ffrench shall be brought into any of his Ports

To the honorable Sir Richard: Newdigate Baronet at Arbury near Coventry 4