I am assured that 500 transport ships in the River in severall. ports are taken up for the service of the Descent
This day the New Mortars for bombarding the ffrench Maritime townes were carried downe the River to be experi --mented.
Yesterday 12000l was brought into the Exchequer. by 100l at a time upon the Million proiect Bill which makes it nigh 300000l.
The Queene yesterday meeting a flanders officer in Saint. James's parke who had a few dayes before taken his leave of her Maiestie to goe to his post the Queene called him to her and said she thought he had beene in Flanders the wind being faire, but if he did not like his Commission bid him bring it to her & she would dispose of it - where upon all officers hurry away least the Queene should say the like to them
The Gunners & Bombarders dayly exercise at Black heath and above 60 Gunners. are taken into service to be imployed in the Descent.
The Dutch St Tubes fleet in Holland is taken in to service to be imployed as transport ships in the Descent
Yesterday the Virginia Merchants attended the Cabinet Councell & prayed that the Embargeo might be taken off their shiping which was granted and orders
raiseing a Ban and A near Ban throughout his dominions intimateing that the Kingdom is threatened with an English & Dutch Descent and they will be mixed withSir some regular forces. Corne is extereame scarce in severall parts of this Kingdom the people flying about in troops to seek after bread. Wee are advisid from [Hsez] in the low Languedocke that the Dragoons Catholicks of that Province likely assembled to the
are gone to Portsmouth for the virginia and .... ^west India fleets to saile the first wind.
Letters since my last from Dublin say that they haue an account there that the Lord Sidney will be made Marquesce of Dublin Sir Charles Porter apeere of that Realme Esquire Coresbey a Barronet & Mr Thomson of the Exchequer a Knight.
They write from Plymouth of the 16 inst. that Sir Martin Beckman their Maiesties Cheife engeneer went from thence on saterday last to veiw the forti -fications at Pendernis and at his returne would doe the like there.
It is said that Dr Greenvill (Brother to the Earl of Bath) who followed the late King Iames to ffrance and by him made titular Archbishop of Yorke is arrived here but does not yet appeare in publicke.
Wee heare that all the first and 2d rate ships are to ioyne the rest of the Royall Navy by the first of the next month about which time there will be an encampment at Black heath.
Wee haue received a forreigne Maile since my last which furnisheth us with the following Novells from france
Paris the 22th Aprill Two dayes agoe an English Lord who formerly served King. Iames. as secretary of state arrived here haueing made his escape from England
and has brought with him some papers of greate Consequence being [..sclene] of all the English affairs - It is wrote from Brest that they are working on the Grand fleet with utmost diligence & that 2 small squadrons which were goeing to sea are stopt by order from Court that they may be in readinesse to ioyne the English Thoulon squadron that the while may make head against the Enemy. - The King has given orders for