2

I am assured that 500 transport ships
in the River in severa^ll. 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 12000^l was brought
into the Excheque^r. by 100^l at a time upon
the Million proiect Bill which makes it
nigh 300000^l.

The Queene yesterday meeting
a flanders officer in Sain^t. 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 Gunn^ers. 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

I am assured that 500 transport ships
in the River in severa^ll. 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 12000^l was brought
into the Excheque^r. by 100^l at a time upon
the Million proiect Bill which makes it
nigh 300000^l.

The Queene yesterday meeting
a flanders officer in Sain^t. 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 Gunn^ers. 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 with
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

& M^r Thomson of the
of the 16 inst. that S^r Martin Berkman
-fications at his
with the following