Letter – John Rushworth to William Blackett – 15 Jun 1676

      London June 15th 1676

      

      These lines are written before the Gazet is abroad if this be defective let the Gazet Supply it, but thus runs the discourse in Westminster Hall and the Exchange, that the King of France’s Flett have Sheerness & the Dutch Fleet in the Port of Palermo in Italy & soe have revenged our quarrel against the Dutch for Sheernes <..> us but yet wee are Sorry that the French got the advantage: for if hee got Cicily our Turky Merchants may bid adieu to the Turky Trade. The French are soe powerfull at Sea having more men of War, Burden for Burden than wee have. In this Disaster De Ruitters Ship wherin his dead Corps was felt the fury of the Fire ships & 5 Dutch men of War were consumed. Those that could escape by Swimming saved their Lives. The Admiral the vice Admiral and Reare Admirall & 5 more of the Spanyards were likewise destroyed by the Fire ships and Galleyes our Englishmen that were in the Service of the French were the men that did this Action who having the wind surprized the Dutch and Spanyard in the Harbour.

      There is a Jew upon the Exchange whose name is Leby who did yesterday and the other day produce a Letter signifying that presently after the Duke of Lorrain retreated after the great defeat given to Hamiltons Brigade of English Scotch and Irish; Luxemburgh advanced after him apprehending (as the <..uth> was) that Lorrain was goeing to attack Phillipsburgh but saith the Jewes letter Lorrain returned back again over the Rhine and fought the French before they could make a retrenchmt and have utterly Rowted Luxemburgh’s Army. The Jew is soe confident of this newes as he also hath layd Wagers to vast sumes of mony that it is true but no letters are come to any other Merchants nor to Whitehall so suspend beleife for a while

      The Comission is passing the Great Seale to make the Lord Chancellor Lord High Steward in order to the tryall of the Lord Cornwallis about the killing of the Foot boy. The Peers who are to be his Tryers are not yet named but we heare that the Lord Lauderdaile is to be one of the number being a Peer of England as well as Scotlan. The Lord Gerrards sonn who was in the Action is fled beyond Sea.

      The King and Councell lay to heart the barbarous usage of some English-men tradeing to Bristol by the French pirates by burning their fingrs with matches. Orders are given to take those 4 pirates whoe were at Newcastle some of wh did this injury as is reported



[in a different hand:]

Sr

	I had yours this last post & thank you for your advertisemt of my sonn C Bla.--- being there; engage not for noe lend mony unless 20s to carry him to Hull wch I will repay. Hee is not only a drunkard but a brandy drunkard & his being att Newcastle is a Scandall to my family, whoe though poore in wealth yet rich in Reputacon. Jo R



[on cover:] to the Hon.ble Sr William Blackett Bart at his house in Newcastle

[subscript apparently in code:] S A Suyagdteq ucS Blayu;y abfamal 20 but hee fawt em n