Government." Ashley Cooper, indeed, has been chosen for Wilts: but, on the other hand, Bradshaw has missed in Cheshire; Sir Henry Vane has tried in three places and missed in all. * This is of date 26th August 1656; poor England universally sifting itself; trying what the arithmetical account of heads will do for it, once more.

LETTER CCXIV.

THE Portugal has done justice; reluctantly aware at last that jesuitries would not serve him. ** The Spaniards, again, cower close within their harbours; patient of every insult; no ship will venture out, and no Plate Fleet will come in: and as for "attempting Cadiz or Gibraltar," the Sea-Generals, after mature survey, decide that without other force it cannot prudently be done. This is what Montague, with his clear eyes, has had to report to Secretary Thurloe on the latter enterprise: "I perceive much desire that Gibraltar should be taken. My "thoughts as to that are, in short, these: That the likeliest way to get it is, By landing on the sand, and quickly cutting "it off between sea and sea, or so securing our men there as that they may hinder the intercourse of the Town with the "Main; frigates lying near, too, to assist them: - and it is "well known that Spain never victualleth any place for one "month. This will want Four or Five thousand men, well "formed and officered. - This is my own only thought which 'I submit, at present.' "***

แ

แ

Whereupon the Lord Protector sends the following Orders; one other Sea Letter of his which we happen to have left. Mainly of Thurloe's composition, I perceive; but worth preserving on various accounts.

* Thurloe to Henry Cromwell, date 26th Aug. (v. 349).

** Meadows to Blake and Montague, 13th May 1656: Thurloe, v. 14; see ib. 69, 116, and 118 (the Portugal's Letter to Oliver, 24th June 1656).

*** Montague to Thurloe, in cipher, 20th April to 29th May 1656 (Thurloe, v. 67-70), "received by Captain Lloyd, who arrived here 11th July," — and has brought other Letters, joint Letters from the Generals, of somewhat later date, as we shall perceive.

To Generals Blake and Montague, at Sea.

GENTLEMEN,

Whitehall, 28th August 1656.

We have received your Letters of the 19th of June brought to us by Captain Lloyd, who arrived here the 11th of July.

By those Letters, and by what Captain Lloyd related by word of mouth, which is not contradicted by yours of the 1st and 3d of July, 'since' received by the Squadron of Ten Ships (which are all safely arrived in the Channel), nor by any other intelligence received by other hands, we find That the Spaniard keeps 'within' his Ports, and doth not yet prepare any considerable Fleet to come to Sea; and that, in the condition you and they were then in, they were not to be attempted in their Harbours. And as for any design upon Gibraltar, we see by General Montague's Letter to the Secretary, that nothing therein was feasible without a good Body of Landsmen. So that, upon the whole, there remains nothing to be done, in those seas for the present, which should require the whole Fleet now with you to remain there. Besides that the Great Ships cannot, without great danger, be kept out, the winter-time, upon that coast.

Upon these grounds we are of opinion, with you, That a good Squadron of Frigates will, in this season, be sufficient to answer any opportunity of service which may present itself. And therefore we have resolved That about the number of Twenty Ships, such as you shall judge proper and fit for that purpose, be kept in those seas; and the rest be sent home, with the first opportunity of wind and weather: and desire that you will give order therein accordingly. And in re

spect it will be necessary that we advise with one of you at least, upon this whole affair; and it being also very inconvenient that you should be both from the head of the Fleet which remains behind, the management thereof being of so great concernment to the Commonwealth, we would have General Blake to stay with the Fleet, and General Montague to come with the Squadron which comes home.

the

For the service which these Ships 'that stay' should be applied to, we need say nothing therein; but refer you to the former Instructions. That which we believe the Enemy will most intend will be the carrying-on his Trade to the West Indies; which if he can effectually do, he will not much care for what else is done upon him. And our intelligence is, That at this time he is fitting out some Ships of war, and others, to send from Cadiz into those parts; certainty whereof we suppose you may know. And therefore that which is most to be endeavoured is, The spoiling him in that Trade, by intercepting his Fleets either going to or coming from those parts, and as much as may be To destroy his correspondencies thither. It will be of great use also to prevent the coming of any Materials for Shipping, or other contraband goods into Cadiz or any of his Ports: which you can have an eye to; and, as much as may be, prejudice his correspondency with Flanders.

*

Besides these things, and what other damage you may have an opportunity to do the Enemy, we, in our keeping the said Fleet in those Seas, had an eye to the Preservation of the Trade of this Commonwealth

* "thence" in orig.

Carlyle, Cromwell. III.

25

in the Straits and to Portugal:* which we suppose could not be driven on without a very good countenance and strength, in respect the Enemy would otherwise be able with a few ships to obstruct this Trade wholly, and to take all that passed either to or from the one place or the other. But our intention is not To reckon up every particular wherein this Fleet may be useful, but only To let you know our general scope; and to leave the management and improvement thereof to the prudence and direction of him who is to abide upon the place. Whom we beseech the Lord to be present with; and to guide him to that which may be for the good of this Commonwealth, and according to His own will.

These have been our thoughts, and the considerations we have had upon this Affair. If anything else doth occur to you different from what is here expressed, either as to the number of Ships to remain in those seas, or the way and manner of weakening the Enemy and managing the War against him, we desire to understand your sense and advice hereupon, with all possible speed; sooner, if it may be, than the return of the aforesaid Squadron. And in the mean time we are not willing to tie you up positively to the number of Twenty Ships to remain on that Coast; but give you a latitude to keep a lesser or greater number there, for answering the ends aforesaid, and 'so' as you shall find the occasion to require, which possibly may be very much varied since the last we had from you. For what concerns the Provisions of victuals and other

*Here, I think at the beginning of this Paragraph, the Protector himself has more decidedly struck in.

things which the Fleet will stand in need of the Commissioners of the Admiralty have direction to write at large to you. Unto whose Letters we refer you; and desire you and the whole Fleet to rest assured that nothing shall be omitted to be done, here, for your supply and encouragement upon all occasions.

Your loving friend,

'OLIVER P.'§

very

About a fortnight ago, August 13th, learned Bulstrode went with the Swedish Ambassador to dine with a famed Sea-General, Sir George Ayscough, of whom we have occasionally heard; who lives for the present, retired from service, "at his House in Surrey:" House not known to me; which by the aid of "ponds, moats," and hydraulic contrivances, he has made to "stand environed in water like a ship at sea," charming indeed; and says he has "cast anchor" here. Our entertainment was superb. The brilliant Swedish Ambassador and Sir George spake much about frigates, their rates of sailing, their capabilities of fighting, and other technical topics; which a learned mind might, without much tedium, listen to. "After dinner, the Ambassador came round by Hampton Court, to take his leave of the Lady Claypole and her Sisters; "* which latter small fact, in the ancient Autumn afternoon, one rather loves to remember! As for this Swedish Ambassador, he is just about quitting England, the high-tempered, clear-glancing man; having settled "copperas, ,” “contrabanda," and many other things, to mutual satisfaction; — nay it is surmised he has thoughts of inviting Ayscough into Sweden to teach them seamanship there; which, however, shall not concern us on this occasion. **

§ Thurloe, v. 363. "Sent to Plymouth, To be sent to the Generals by Captain Hatsell."

* Whitlocke, pp. 638, 9.

**Biog. Britan. § Ayscough.