L.c.2137: Newsletter received by Richard Newdigate, Arbury, 1692/1693 February 9

L.c.2137

London ffebruary: 9th (92 3)

Sir

The lyst of the Men of War Designed for the streits are as followeth the Russell Breda Mammouth Lyon Munk Suffolk Burford Northumberland Eagle Return Royall Oak Woolwich Chatham New Castle Shereness & Lark with the [speed....] & Vulture ffore ships

His Grace the Duke: of Ormond has Ordered all his tents Wine Kitchen utensills &c to be packed up for fflanders his Maiestie holding his resollucion of going the begining of Next Month

One of our ships is returned from the Coast of ffrance & brings advice that the Marques De Nesmond is put to sea with 6 Men of War & that 25 others will suddenly follow to Cruize in the Channell

An Express Arived yesterday from Holland with advice that the Dutch squadron which is to Ioyn ours for the streights are in the way [latter ]Desireing ours to hasten that wee may ffight the Houlond squadron as they come into the Ocean

Mrs Merrywether who was reprived to Munday last hath obtained a second Reprive to the 17 Instant

were Great Debates those for the Bill alledged that all the [Misse..s] that formerly hapned to the Nacion proceeded from the want of Parliaments & that they did not in the least Mistrust but they would provide us agood Reign against aBad besides Ministers of state would not adventure to do Illegal things when a Parliament was in [Veiw] otherwise would stave off Parliaments that they

The Barbados Merchants here design to peticion his Maiestie that 800 Men May be raised Clothed & Armed here & sent into that Island for the security thereof & to be paid by the Islanders they being under some apprehension the Negroes may Make some New attempts upon them

The Earl: of Donaterson to the late Duke: of Munmouth is prepareing asplendid Equipage to attend his Maiestie in fflanders & will Carry with him 26 ffine horses the son of the Lord Cornwallis is alsoe prepareing his Equipage designing to serve as Vollenteers next Campaign in fflanders

Mr Venbroik & 2 other English Merchants who were Imprisoned in ffrance: arived here this week whereupon the ffrench: Merchants that were detained here by way of Reprizall are set at Liberty

The Iudges appointed for the Lent Assizes are the Lord Chief: Iustice Holt Mr Iustice Rookby for Norfolk. the Lord Chief: Iustice of the Common Pleas and Barron Letchmore the home Circuit the Lord Chief: Barron Atkins & M Iustice Ayres the Oxford

This Morning Sir William Turner Eldest Alderman of this Citty and Member of Parliament for the same Dyed in a Chaier and is much lamented the House: of Commons read this day the bill for takeing the publique accounts the suffolk butter bill was alsoe read ordered to be engrosed likewise the bill for setting Leases in Cornwall the House: afterward went on the bill for tryennial Parliaments & a sessions every year & there

Mr Iustice Dolbin & Barron Powell the Western Iustice Gregory & Mr Iustice Nevill the Midland & Barron Turton & Mr Iustice Powell the Northern Circuit

Last Night the Committee appointed to search into the Miscaradge of our Men of War in the Downes letting affrench: ffleet pass by them into Port met & Examined into the Matter but the Lord ffaukland one of the Commissioners of the Admiralty tould them there was noe such ffleet got into Dunkirk But that the ffleet was seen put into Havredegrace & noe further & that wee have seized 5 or 6 of them but Idoe not find as yeat how the Matter will be proved be fore them

The House: of Commons yesterday went into a Grand Committee upon ffurther raiseing of Monney Examined strictly in to Matters reconing 750000^li to be made Good for the Poll they found they must Augment the same notwithstand =ing they gave 500000^li upon 4 Years further duty upon Wine Brandy Viniger &c they had yeat 320000^li to raise & have appointed tomorrow to Consider of Waies & Meanes how to doe it which when ffinished the session will soon end

Plimouth .5 Instant the master of the Portuguees lately Mencioned from OPorto saies they were 2 ffrench: Privateers which Met the 2 Portuguees Men of War & one of the former sunk by their side the other the Portugees took & Carryed into OPorto he adds that 13 Privateers are seized in several Ports of that Kingdome by way of Reprizall for some Portugees shipps taken by the ffrench: in their way home from Brazeil & some bound for London which tis beleived will occation a Rupture between those two Crownes

might not be Called to account & that it Did not Inteach upon the Kings Prerogative for that it was formerly Practised & the Word Prerogative was from Perago which was a priveledge the King asked & had Granted by the People for their protection In ffine it twas Carryed in the Affirmative by 39= Scotch Letters of the 3^d Instant Say a Proclamacion is published there for the further Adiourning that Parliament to the ffirst of next Month & that Duke Hamelton designes suddenly for Court & is expected back with the Title of Lord Commissioner Great Quantities of Coin are bought up there for fflanders --

9 February. 92/3

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