June 27, 1654.

[SN:  At sea.]

The last night, the wind, having chopped about, had much hindered Whitelocke’s course, and made him uncertain where they were, yet he went on labouring in the main; but the seamen guessed, by the ship’s making way and holding it (though sometimes forward and sometimes backward), that this morning by eight o’clock they had gained thirty leagues from Heligoland, from which to Orfordness they reckon eighty leagues, and the “Fly” to be midway.  The ship, which they saw last night, coming near them this morning, they found to be of Amsterdam, coming from the Sound homewards:  she struck her sails to Whitelocke, and so passed on her course.

About noon Whitelocke came over-against the Fly, and saw the tower there, about five or six leagues from him.  The wind lessened, and the sea did not go so high as before; he went on his course about four or five leagues in a watch.  About seven or eight Holland ships made their course by them, as was supposed, towards the Sound, which now they did without fear or danger, the peace between the two Commonwealths being confirmed.

Whitelocke’s fresh provisions beginning to fail, and his biscuit lessened by affording part of it to the ‘Elizabeth,’ which wanted, he was enforced to order that there should be but one meal a day, to make his provisions hold out.

The most part of the afternoon they were taken with a calm, till about seven o’clock in the evening, when the wind came fresh again to the east and towards the north, and then would again change; and sometimes they kept their course, and sometimes they were driven back again.  The wind was high and variable, and they toiled to and again, uncertain where they were.  Divers took the opportunity to recreate themselves by fishing, and the mackerel and other fish they took gave a little supply to their want of victual.  About nine o’clock in the evening they lost the ‘Elizabeth,’ leaving her behind about three leagues; she used to keep a distance from Whitelocke’s ship, and under the wind of her, since they began their voyage; and, as a stranger, would not keep company with Whitelocke, being discontented because he went not in that frigate.

June 28, 1654.

[SN:  Whitelocke’s great deliverance.]

This Wednesday was the day of Whitelocke’s greatest deliverance.  After midnight, till three o’clock in the afternoon, was a great calm, and though the ‘President’ were taken with it, yet the ‘Elizabeth’ had a good wind; and notwithstanding that the day before she was left behind a great distance, yet this morning she came up near to him, and got before him; so great is the difference sometimes, and at so small a distance, at sea, that here one ship shall have no wind at all, and another ship a few yards from her shall have her sails filled.  Notwithstanding the calm, yet the wind being by flashes large, they went the last night and the day before twenty leagues