The news brought by the _Diamond_ made the officers and crews of the
squadron eager to return to England to avenge the insult put upon the
English flag by Van Tromp. The crew of the _Good Hope_, Royalists as
many of them had been, shared equally in the feeling. So would Lancelot
and I, had we not had a more sacred duty to perform; but when we
mentioned our plan to the commodore, he positively forbade our making
the attempt.
"It would be the height of madness to venture in your small ship on the
Barbary coast," he repeated. "Before you could explain your object, she
would be captured, and you and your crew would be carried into slavery."
For a long time we entreated him in vain to allow us to prosecute our
undertaking. At last he said--
"I will allow you to go, provided your people are ready to accompany you
after you have clearly explained to them the dangers of the enterprise;
but I again warn you of your certain fate. My advice is that you should
return to England, make known the sad condition of your own friends, and
numberless other Christian captives in Barbary, and I have little doubt
that as soon as we have thrashed the Dutch, Admiral Blake will be sent
out to compel the corsairs to give up their prisoners."
The only course open to us was to follow the commodore's advice. Bitter
was our disappointment when our crew declined further to prosecute the
undertaking.
In vain Martin and Dick urged them to fulfil their engagement, supported
by Mr Aylett.
They were ready to fight with a prospect of success, but they had no
desire to be made slaves, or to lose their lives in a hopeless cause,
they answered.
I cannot describe our feelings; we did not possess even the means of
communicating with the captives, and letting them know that we were
making efforts for their liberation. At last the signal was made to
weigh anchor, and the _Good Hope_, with several ships ordered home, set
sail for England.
Having met a Dutch fleet which we beat off, though they left us sorely
battered, and encountered a fearful storm which well-nigh sent the _Good
Hope_ to the bottom, we at length reached Plymouth in a sinking state.
There the shipwrights pronounced the _Good Hope_ unfit again to go to
sea.
This was the climax of our disappointments, for we had not the means of
obtaining another vessel.
"Cheer up, shipmates!" exclaimed Dick Harvey. "I'll try and induce my
father to help us. He will rejoice to see me back safe, and you too,
for he has a sincere regard for you, and is grateful for the service you
rendered him."
Finding that Mr Harvey had gone to London, we repaired thither, taking
Martin and Mr Aylett with us.
Mr Harvey was glad to see his son, and treated Lancelot and me with
great kindness; his means, however, would not allow him, he said, to
purchase a ship, but he advised us to repair to Queensborough, in the
island of Sheppey, where Admiral Blake was busily employed in fitting
out a fleet to attack the Dutch.
That we might not miss the opportunity of joining the fleet, we
immediately went on board a hoy which was going down the river. We
found the roads crowded with men-of-war, sixty sail at least, beside
frigates, all busily engaged in taking stores, and powder and shot on
board. The admiral's flag was flying at the mast-head of the _Triumph_.
As we reached her deck, we found him surrounded by officers, to whom he
was issuing orders. It was some time before we could approach to pay
our respects. He recognised us at once, and holding out his hand, shook
ours warmly, listening with much interest to the account we gave him of
our adventures.
"You have come in the nick of time," he said. "We sail to-morrow in
search of the Dutch. You shall all serve on board. There's work to be
done, and I have not too many officers or men to do it. After we have
thrashed the Dutch, I promise you, should my life be spared, to inflict
due chastisement on the Barbary corsairs, and to endeavour to recover
your friends."
More than this we could not expect, and we at once zealously set about
performing the duties assigned to us. Lancelot and Aylett were
appointed to act as lieutenants, and the admiral directed Dick and me to
remain by him ready to signal his orders to the rest of the fleet, to
carry messages, or to perform any other duties he might require.
On inquiring for his nephew, young Robert Blake, we found that he had
been appointed to command the _Hampshire_, a thirty-four gun ship; but
as no boat could be spared, we were unable to pay him a visit.
Near us lay the _Speaker_, Vice-Admiral Penn, and the _Fairfax_,
Rear-Admiral Lawson, while the other ships were commanded by the best
captains in the navy.
At daybreak next morning we sailed. Soon after we got round the South
Foreland, a fleet was descried from the mast-head of the _Triumph_,
standing out from the land. The hearts of all on board beat high, for
we believed that the enemy were in sight. But the strangers tacking
soon showed English colours, and we found that it was the Plymouth
squadron, which had been sent out to join us.
Thus, with eighty ships, we stood down Channel, with a north-westerly
wind, until we had passed the Isle of Wight. When nearly up to the Bill
of Portland, the _Triumph_ leading, just as day broke the look-out aloft
shouted--
"A fleet ahead, a fleet ahead! away to the south-west."
There was no doubt now that the Dutch were in sight. The officer of the
watch ordered me to call the admiral.
With a cheerful countenance he rose, and quickly dressing himself, came
on deck, going to the fore-top, where I accompanied him, that he might
take a perfect survey of the enemy with whom he was about to engage.
On one side of us was the _Speaker_, on the other the _Fairfax_, both
within hail, and about a score of other ships forming our vanguard; but
Admiral Monk, with the main body of the fleet, was still some four or
five miles astern. Though we could see them, they were not visible to
the Dutch admiral, Van Tromp, who, having under him many other
celebrated captains, was known to command the Dutch fleet.
The sun, which was just rising above the horizon, clearing away the
wintry mist, showed us the whole shining ocean covered with sails, a
large proportion nearest to us being men-of-war, but fully three hundred
others could be counted beyond them, which were supposed to be merchant
vessels.
Undaunted by the overwhelming numbers opposed to him, without waiting
for the rest of the fleet to come up, Admiral Blake pressed on with all
sail to attack the enemy.
The leading ship of the Hollanders was recognised as the _Brederode_,
carrying the flag of Van Tromp. Close astern of us came the _Speaker_
and the _Fairfax_, the rest of the vanguard not being far behind.
"He hasn't got the broom aloft," whispered Dick to me, as he stood close
to the admiral on the after-castle watching the enemy. "If he had we
should soon knock it away."
"We shall, I hope, before long knock away his masts," I answered. "But
see, he is getting closer; before another minute is over the fight will
begin."
We were now so steering, that we should speedily pass along the Dutch
line, which only waited for the _Triumph_ to get within range to open
fire.
Presently a puff of smoke issued from the bows of the _Brederode_, and
almost before the shot aimed at us could strike, the _Triumph_ opened
fire from the whole of her broadside. The _Speaker_ and the _Fairfax_
followed our example, as did the other ships, receiving in return the
broadside of the entire Dutch fleet.
The Dutch admiral, with the wind free, shot by us, delivering his fire
from one broadside, then tacking under our lee, discharged the other
with tremendous effect, wounding our masts and spars, riddling our
canvas and rigging, and strewing our decks with killed and wounded.
Other Dutch ships imitated the example of their admiral and steered down
upon us, when we should have fared ill from odds so overwhelming, had
not Admiral Penn, followed by two other vessels, come to the rescue and
drawn off the attention of the enemy to themselves.
As we got out from the circle of fire we could better see what was going
on, though all the time we were hotly engaged with one or more of the
enemy.
Dick and I immediately reported every circumstance to the admiral. Now
the _Assistance_ was boarded by the Dutch. Now two ships ran alongside
the _Prosperous_, and in spite of the valour of her crew, she was
captured by the enemy. The _Oak_ shared the same fate, though her
people fought long and bravely.
On my reporting what I had seen to the admiral, "We must go to their
help," he exclaimed, and ordering the master to steer for them, we
furiously attacked the ships to which they had struck.
We had, however, to contend with the rest of the Dutch fleet, and it
appeared to be going hard with us. In spite, however, of almost
overwhelming odds against us, we and the other ships of the vanguard
fought on. Often I turned my eyes to the eastward, but could discover
no signs of the advance of the fleet, the thick wreaths of smoke often
preventing me from seeing to any distance. At length, however. I saw
the rays of the sun falling on their white canvas, and ship after ship
appeared. It was the white division, led by General Monk; as they
arrived they gallantly opened their broadsides on the Dutchmen,
increasing the fearful uproar. On every side the sea appeared covered
with shattered spars and planks. Now a noble ship was wrapt in flames,
now I caught sight of the tall masts of another sinking beneath the
surface as she and her crew went down to the depths below.
The ship we had rescued was the _Prosperous_, of forty guns, commanded
by Captain Baker; but he and many of his crew lay dead on the deck.
Admiral De Ruiter, who had attacked her, was himself almost surrounded,
and would have been captured had not several of the enemy under Admiral
Evertz come to his rescue. The _Speaker_, not far off, was meantime
fiercely assaulted, and reduced almost to a wreck. First her foremast
fell, then her mizen-mast was shot away, and she would have been
captured had not several ships been sent to her assistance.
A Dutch ship within sight, the _Ostrich_, commanded by Captain Krink,
with her rigging cut to pieces and her sails in tatters, fought on until
her masts were shot away by the board, when two of our ships ran
alongside and carried her. It appearing impossible that she could swim,
her captain with the survivors of his officers and crew were hastily
dragged on board their captors, and the _Ostrich_ was deserted.
On the other side of us another Dutch ship, commanded by Captain De
Port, was attacked by two of ours, and from the way they handled their
guns, in a short time it was very evident that they had reduced her to a
sinking state.
Another brave Hollander, Captain Swers, seeing her condition, hastened
to her relief; but he came too late, and our ship turning on him, ere
long reduced him to the same condition as his countryman.
As I stood on our lofty after-castle I could look down on the fight, and
saw the brave De Port, though lying on the deck desperately wounded,
flourishing his hanger and shouting to his crew to resist. Before the
English could get on board, down went his ship, carrying him and his men
with her. Scarcely had she disappeared than Swers' ship was seen to be
sinking, but more fortunate than his brother captain, he and several of
his officers were rescued by their victors.
In other directions we could see that several of the Dutch ships had
struck their flags. Four of ours had been boarded by the enemy, but
afterwards recaptured. Among them was the _Sampson_, commanded by
Captain Bullon. So fearfully had she suffered, he and the greater
portion of his crew having been slain, that the admiral ordered the
remainder to be taken out, and allowed her to drift away.
We ourselves, having endured the brunt of the battle well-nigh from
sunrise to sunset, had also suffered fearfully. I was standing near the
admiral, when a shot struck down Mr Sparrow, his secretary, by his
side, and our commander, Captain Ball, also fell shortly afterwards. As
I looked along the decks I could see them covered with dead and wounded,
there being scarcely men left sufficient to carry the latter below, the
survivors having to work on at the guns.
Still the battle raged, and round shot continued tearing along our
decks. One came whizzing close to me. Turning at the same moment, I
saw that the admiral was struck. I sprang forward to save him ere he
fell to the deck.
"It's a mere flesh wound," he replied to my inquiries. "Let not the men
suppose that I am hurt," and taking a handkerchief, he, with my
assistance, bound it round the wound and resumed his upright position,
cheering on the men as was his wont.
The same shot had torn away part of the buff coat of General Deane, who
had remained on board to aid his old comrade in arms.
I often, as may be supposed, looked out to see how it was faring with my
old friends. Though many were laid low by their sides, still they
remained unhurt.
The evening of that short winter's day was approaching, when our
admiral, perceiving the shattered condition of a large number of the
enemy's ships, and that no less than eight had been sunk, blown up, or
captured, directed the fastest frigates nearest to us to make all sail
and cut off the fleet of traders, which had been hove to in the distance
during the day.
This done he kept his eagle eye on Tromp, who shortly afterwards was
seen to throw out signals to steer to the south-east, followed by a
considerable portion of his fleet, evidently with the intention of
protecting the traders.
Seeing their admiral apparently retreating, the rest of the fleet took
to hasty flight, on which from every English ship arose a loud shout of
triumph, the crews for the moment forgetting the heavy price at which
the day's victory had been gained.
As we passed in view of the captured ships, the scene which their decks
presented was sufficient to sicken our hearts. None of the brave
Dutchmen had yielded until the last hope was gone. Fore and aft lay the
mangled corpses of the slain, while the shattered bulwarks and even the
stumps of the masts were bespattered with blood and gore.
Though a battle was no new event to me, I turned away appalled and
sickened at the sight. Not only were our crews exhausted, but few of
our ships were in a condition to pursue the enemy, and great was our
fear that they would escape during the night; but as the sun disappeared
beneath the western horizon the wind dropped, and both squadrons lay
becalmed on the smooth ocean. All the boats which could float were
immediately lowered, and the wounded being placed in them, they were
rowed to shore, where hospitals had been prepared for their reception.
General Deane and others entreated the admiral to land and obtain that
attention to his wound which he was so anxious to afford to others.
"No, no, my friends," he answered, pointing to the lights from the Dutch
ships, which streamed across the wintry sea. "With the enemy out there,
it is no time for me to seek for rest," and before retiring to his cabin
he issued orders that every effort should be made to prepare the fleet
for another battle on the morrow.
Not a man or boy able to work turned in that night, for all were
employed in stopping shot holes, knotting and splicing rigging, bending
new sails, and repairing the tackles of the guns.
The survivors of the crew of the _Sampson_ came on board the _Triumph_
to assist, but even the united crews scarcely made up the ship's
complement.
As daylight broke, a light breeze enabled us to make sail, and followed
by the whole fleet, the _Triumph_ stood for the enemy, who were steering
under all sail to the eastward. Soon afterwards we saw ahead a ship
floating which we made out to be Dutch, and as we came up to her, we
perceived that she was the _Ostrich_, the ship of the brave Krink, and
terrible was the spectacle she exhibited. The masts, shot away by the
board, hung trailing over the side, not a human being stood alive on her
blood-stained decks, which were covered with corpses, lying were they
had fallen when she had been abandoned on the previous day.
There was no time to take her in tow, and we left her afloat on the
ocean, the coffin of her hapless crew; then onward we pressed under
every sail we could carry. It was not until noon that we were near
enough to open fire, and it was two o'clock, Dungeness being in sight,
before the whole fleet got into action.
To give an account of the battle would be to describe the scenes of the
previous day. The gallant De Ruiter was well-nigh captured, and would
have been so had not another brave Dutch captain come to his rescue.
Well and courageously did our captains do their duty, imitating the
example of the admiral, and carrying their ships as best they could
alongside the Hollanders. Five or six of their men-of-war were that
evening taken, besides which many others were fearfully mauled.
Another night came down upon the world of waters, bitterly cold, yet
calm and clear, enabling us to distinguish the lights of the Dutch
ships, now retreating towards Boulogne.
The second night was spent like the first, and a third day found us
still in sight of our unconquered foe. The wind had shifted to the
southward, preventing their escape, and our frigates being again
despatched with all canvas set, bore down on the richly-laden
merchantmen, while we once more assailed the men-of-war.
In vain Van Tromp fought with courage and desperation, endeavouring
while retreating to protect the merchantmen. Already in the distance we
could see the frigates playing havoc among the traders, which were
thrown into the wildest confusion, numbers running against each other,
some hauling down their flags, others contriving to escape.
As we pressed on, we could see the other English war ships at length got
among them, and several ran up to us with the intention, it was seen, of
yielding, and thereby delaying us in our pursuit of Van Tromp.
"We are not to be delayed by such a device," exclaimed the admiral.
"Make the signal, Bracewell, to all the ships of war to press on
regardless of the traders. The frigates will look after them; they can
with ease be picked up when we have finally defeated Van Tromp and his
captains."
Thus we continued the pursuit until again night was approaching, when
Van Tromp with the remnant of his fleet was seen to run in under the
French coast, where he dropped anchor and furled his sails. Before we
could reach him night came down upon us.
It was a night very different to the last. The wind was blowing strong
from the southward, threatening every instant to increase into a hard
gale. Clouds obscured the sky, and darkness and mist shrouded the enemy
from view.
Our fleet dropped anchor to the southward of Cape Grisnez, when every
man who could keep his eyes open was employed in repairing damages.
The pilots asserted that with the wind as it was then blowing from the
north-east, and with the tide as it would be running during the morning,
the Dutch would find it impossible to weather Cape Blanchnez, and we
looked forward eagerly to the next day, in the anticipation of
inflicting a final and crushing blow on our enemy.
Alas! and such is war, though I thought but little at the time of its
sinfulness, its horrors, and the sufferings it entails, not only on the
combatants but on those at home, their wives and families. That lesson
I was to learn in subsequent years from the son of one of our admirals,
who pointed out to me its iniquity, and how contrary it is to all the
teaching of the Gospel. Even on lower principles I had already seen the
folly of that war between two Protestant nations, who ought to have
continued to advance each other's commercial prosperity, and more than
all, to resist the machinations of the sworn enemies of the faith.