24th. Betimes this morning comes a letter from the Clerk of the
Cheque at Gravesend to me, to tell me that the Dutch fleet did
come all into the Hope yesterday noon, and held a fight with our
ships from thence till seven at night; that they had burned
twelve fire-ships, and we took one of theirs, and burned five of
our fire-ships. But then rising and going to Sir W. Batten, he
tells me that we have burned one of their men-of-war, and another
of theirs is blown up: but how true this is, I know not. But
these fellows are mighty bold, and have had the fortune of the
wind easterly this time to bring them up, and prevent our
troubling them with our fire-ships; and, indeed, have had the
winds at their command from the beginning, and now do take the
beginning of the spring, as if they had some great design to do.
About five o'clock down to Gravesend; and as we come nearer
Gravesend, we hear the Dutch fleet and ours a-firing their guns
most distinctly and loud. So I landed and discoursed with the
landlord of the Ship, who undeceives me in what I heard this
morning about the Dutch having lost two men-of-war, for it is not
so, but several of their fire-ships.
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