Transcriber’s Note: inconsistencies in spelling, etc are left unaltered.
THE CAMDEN MISCELLANY,
VOLUME THE EIGHTH:
containing
FOUR LETTERS OF LORD WENTWORTH, AFTERWARDS EARL OF
STRAFFORD, WITH A POEM ON HIS ILLNESS.
MEMOIR BY MADAME DE MOTTEVILLE ON THE LIFE OF HENRIETTA
MARIA.
PAPERS RELATING TO THE DELINQUENCY OF LORD SAVILE,
1642-1646.
A SECRET NEGOCIATION WITH CHARLES THE FIRST, 1643-1644.
A LETTER FROM THE EARL OF MANCHESTER ON THE CONDUCT
OF CROMWELL.
LETTERS ADDRESSED TO THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE.
ORIGINAL LETTERS OF THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE FAMILY OF HADDOCK 1657-1719.
LETTERS OF RICHARD THOMPSON TO HENRY THOMPSON, OF
ESCRICK, CO. YORK.
[Illustration]
PRINTED FOR THE CAMDEN SOCIETY.
M.DCCC.LXXXIII.
WESTMINSTER:
PRINTED BY NICHOLS AND SONS,
25, PARLIAMENT STREET.
[NEW SERIES XXXI.]
COUNCIL OF THE CAMDEN SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR 1882-3.
_President_,
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF VERULAM, F.R.G.S.
J. J. CARTWRIGHT, ESQ., M.A., _Treasurer_.
WILLIAM CHAPPELL, ESQ., F.S.A.
F. W. COSENS, ESQ., F.S.A.
JAMES E. DOYLE, ESQ.
REV. J. WOODFALL EBSWORTH, M.A., F.S.A.
JAMES GAIRDNER, ESQ.
SAMUEL RAWSON GARDINER, ESQ., _Director_.
J. W. HALES, ESQ., M.A.
ALFRED KINGSTON, ESQ., _Secretary_.
CHARLES A. J. MASON, ESQ.
THE EARL OF POWIS, LL.D.
EVELYN PHILIP SHIRLEY, ESQ., M.A. (_the late_)
REV. W. SPARROW SIMPSON, D.D., F.S.A.
WILLIAM JOHN THOMS, ESQ., F.S.A.
J. R. DANIELL-TYSSEN, ESQ., F.S.A. (_the late_).
The COUNCIL of the CAMDEN SOCIETY desire it to be understood that they
are not answerable for any opinions or observations that may appear
in the Society’s publications; the Editors of the several Works being
alone responsible for the same.
CORRESPONDENCE
OF
THE FAMILY OF HADDOCK
1657-1719
EDITED BY
EDWARD MAUNDE THOMPSON
PRINTED FOR THE CAMDEN SOCIETY
M.DCCC.LXXXI.
PREFACE.
Settled from remote times in the little town of Leigh, in Essex, at the
mouth of the Thames, the family of Haddock, we may be sure, took early
to the sea, as was befitting their name. There are traces of Haddocks
of Leigh to be found as far back as Edward the Third’s days; but we
need not search for earlier generations than those which sprang from
Richard Haddock, a captain in the Parliamentary Navy. That the family
had followed the sea from father to son in bygone times, and had so
established a tradition to be observed by their descendants, might be
argued from the regularity with which the Haddocks of the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries served in the Navy for upwards of a hundred
years. This regularity is only to be equalled by that with which they
named their children Richard, to the perpetual confusion of their
biographers.
Captain Richard Haddock, to whom reference has been made above, served
under the Commonwealth. In 1642 we find him in command of the ship
Victory, and in 1652 he received a reward of £40 for good service.
He died in 1660 at the age of 79. His eldest son William, also a
Parliamentary captain, commanded the ship America in 1650, and the
Hannibal in 1653. He survived his father only seven years, dying in
1667, aged 60. Captain Richard Haddock had another son, Richard, who
was probably a good deal younger than his brother. He served with
distinction in the Dutch war in 1673;[1] and was in all probability the
father of William Haddock whom the family papers show to have been a
lieutenant in the Cornwall in 1696-1697, and who commanded a ship in
the action off Cape Passaro in 1718 (p. 54) and died in 1726.
William Haddock, the Parliamentary captain, had at least four
sons: Richard, Andrew, Joseph, and William. Richard will be
noticed presently. Andrew is mentioned in the first letter of this
Correspondence. William was at sea with his brother Richard in 1657
and 1658. Joseph was a lieutenant in the Lion in 1672, and in the
Royal Charles in 1673, and served in the Dutch war in those years;
and afterwards held a command in the East Indies, whence he wrote an
interesting letter here printed (p. 37). Richard Haddock was born about
the year 1629, and must have entered the service at an early age;
for in 1657, when the present Correspondence begins, he was already
a captain in command of the Dragon frigate, which formed part of the
squadron cruising off Dunkirk. In 1666 he was captain of the Portland;
but from 1667 to 1671 he appears to have temporarily left the Navy
and engaged in trading to the Mediterranean. On the breaking out of
the Dutch war, however, he was made captain of the Royal James, the
ship on which the ill-starred Earl of Sandwich hoisted his flag in
the battle of Southwold Bay. He was one of the few officers of that
vessel who survived the day, though he did not escape unwounded. He
next commanded the Lion; but early in 1673 he was appointed to the
Royal Charles, Prince Rupert’s ship, and within a few weeks followed
the Prince into the Royal Sovereign, when the bad qualities of the
former ship in action became evident. In July of the same year he was
made Commissioner of the Navy; and on the 3rd of July, 1675, he was
knighted. In 1682 he was appointed to the command of the Duke and to
the chief command of ships of war in the Thames and narrow seas; and
in the next year became First Commissioner of the Victualling Office.
After the Revolution he was named Comptroller of the Navy, which office
he continued to hold till his death, and received a pension of £500 a
year. He was one of the joint commanders-in-chief of the fleet in the
expedition to Ireland in 1690. He died on the 26th of January, 1715, in
his eighty-sixth year, and was buried in his native town of Leigh.
Sir Richard represented the borough of Shoreham in the parliament of
1685-1687. He was twice married, his first wife being named Lydia,
probably a member of the family of Stevens, which was settled at Leigh.
The maiden name of his second wife Elizabeth is unknown. He probably
married her not earlier than 1670, when she was about twenty years of
age, the inscription on her tomb recording her death in 1709, at the
age of 59.
Sir Richard appears to have had at the least six children, three sons
and three daughters. The sons were Richard, William, and Nicholas.
Of the daughters the name of only one, Elizabeth, has survived, who
married John Clarke, of Blake Hall in Bobbingworth, co. Essex. Another
daughter married a Lydell. The third daughter died unmarried. William,
apparently the second son, died young. Richard and Nicholas both
entered the Navy.
Richard, the eldest son, was, in 1692, fifth lieutenant of the Duchess,
and was present at the battle of La Hogue. He afterwards served in the
London, and in 1695 was in command of the Rye. At the beginning of
1702 he received his commission as captain of the Reserve, and in the
following year succeeded to the Swallow. In the latter ship he served
with Sir George Rooke in the Mediterranean. But in 1707 he had the
misfortune to be surprised by the French when convoying the Archangel
merchant fleet and to lose fifteen ships; and, although appointed to
the Resolution early in the following year, he seems to have soon
retired from active service. In 1734, however, he re-appears as
Comptroller of the Navy, and held the post for fifteen years, dying at
an advanced age in 1751. From the entries in Leigh parish registers it
seems that he was married thrice and had issue, none of whom, however,
survived him many years.
Of Nicholas, the youngest son of Sir Richard Haddock, we first catch
sight in the following pages (p. 43) as distinguishing himself at Vigo
in 1702, and serving in Spain in 1706. In the following year, on the
7th April, he received the command of the new ship Ludlow Castle, being
not yet twenty years old. At the battle of Cape Passaro he fought his
ship, the Grafton, with great gallantry; and indeed at all times proved
himself a very skilful and dashing officer. He rose eventually to the
rank of Admiral of the Blue, and commanded the squadron sent into the
Mediterranean to overawe the Spaniards in 1738-1741. He returned to
England invalided and did not long survive, dying in 1746, aged 60.
About the year 1723 he purchased Wrotham Place, in Kent, where he
occasionally lived. He left three sons: Nicholas, Richard, and Charles.
The first died in 1781; Richard served in the Navy; Charles was still
living at Wrotham in 1792.
Here the male line of the Haddocks fails; and it is not necessary to
follow the family history further. A pedigree, which may be found
useful, is appended.[2]
* * * * *
It will be seen that the letters and papers here printed belonged, for
the most part, to Sir Richard Haddock. His long life enabled him to
embrace four adult generations in his correspondence. The collection
of documents from which they have been selected was purchased by the
Trustees of the British Museum in 1879, and now forms the Egerton MSS.
2520-2532.
It is to be regretted that the Correspondence is so comparatively
scanty, for no doubt at one time the collection was a good deal larger.
From Nichols’s _Literary Anecdotes_ (vol. v. p. 376) we know that the
Haddock papers were placed in the hands of Captain William Locker,
the Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich Hospital, who contemplated a
publication of naval biography which was carried out by Charnock in his
_Biographia Navalis_ from the same materials. There is also evidence
among the papers themselves, in the form of a letter written by Charles
Haddock in 1792, to show that they were placed in Locker’s hands. The
fate of borrowed books and papers is a mournful one.
But, few as they are, a selection from the Haddock Papers has been
thought worthy to appear in print. As specimens of the letter-writing
of a seafaring family of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries,
the letters have a value of their own, even apart from the personal
interest which they inspire as the record of long and honourable
service.
E. M. T.
_24 March, 1881._
Richard Haddock,
Captain in the Parliamentary Navy, = ...
d. 22 May, 1660, æt. 79. |
|
+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| |
Anna ..., = William Haddock, Richard Haddock, = ...
d. 6 Jan. | Captain in the R.N. |
1688, | Parliamentary Navy, |
æt. 78. | d. 22 Sept. 1667, æt. 60. |
| [William Haddock,
| Captain R.N.,
| d. 1726.]
|
+---+----------------------+---------------+--------+
| | | |
1. Lydia = Sir Richard Joseph Haddock, William Andrew
[Stevens]. | Haddock, R.N., and East Haddock, Haddock.
2. Elizabeth | Admiral, R.N., Indian Service. R.N.
..., d. 26 | d. 26 Jan.
Feb. 1709, | 1715, æt. 85.
æt. 59. |
+---+--------------+--------+------+-----+----+
| | | | | |
| William Haddock, | A dau. | A daughter,
| d. 1697. | m. ... | unmarried,
| | Lydell. | d. 24 Mar.
1. Martha ... d. = Richard | | | 1732.
1722. | Haddock, R.N., | A son. |
2. Elizabeth ... | Comptroller | |
d. 1730. | of the Navy, | |
3. Mary, daughter | d. 1751 | Elizabeth = John Clarke,
of Charles | | Haddock. | of Blake
Compton, 4th | | | Hall, in
son of George | | | Bobbingworth
4th Earl of | | +---------+-------+
Northampton. | | | | |
| | Richard Elizabeth Fanny
| | Clarke. Clarke. Clarke.
| |
+-----------------+ Nicholas Haddock, = Frances ...
| Admiral, R.N., d. | d. 22 Nov.
| 26 Sept. 1746, æt. 60. | 1735.
| |
| +---------+----------+--------+-----+---+
| | | | | |
| Richard Fleetwood Nicholas Richard Charles
| Haddock, Haddock, Haddock, Haddock, Haddock,
| d. 1717. d. 1722. d. 1781. R.N. living in 1792.
|
+----+----------+------------+------------------+
| | | |
Martha Richard Elizabeth = ... Mary, = George Calvert,
Haddock, Haddock, Haddock, Harman. d. Lieutenant in
d. 1722. d. 1756. d. 1754. 1818. the Guards,
d. 1781.
[1] See p. 19 in the Correspondence. Charnock in his _Biographia
Navalis_, i. 334, has made him out to be the son of Andrew Haddock, his
own nephew.
[2] The best account of the Haddock family is to be found in a paper
written by Mr. H. W. King and printed in _The Archæological Mine_, a
work relating to Kentish history by A. J. Dunkin, vol. ii., pp. 41-51.
Charnock’s _Biographia Navalis_ of course gives particulars of the
services of the family; and a number of original naval commissions of
its different members are still extant in Egerton MS. 2520. See also
_The History of Rochford Hundred_ by Philip Benton, 1872, pp. 35 _sqq._
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE FAMILY OF HADDOCK.
CAPTAIN RICHARD HADDOCK[a] TO HIS FATHER.
Dragon frigᵗ in the Downes, this 30ᵗʰ May, aᵒ 1657.
HONᵈ FATHER,
Sir, these I hope will congratulate yoʳ safe arrivall at Leghorne, wᶜʰ
God graunt may be with yoʳ health and well fare, for the continuation
whereof I shall ever pray.
I cannot yet forgett my unhapynes yᵗ soe short a tyme and small
distance hindred me the inioymᵗ of seeing yoᵘ before you gote out yᵉ
Channell, seeing I made it my aime and bussines to performe it, but
pleased God to frustrate me of my intended hapynes. I hope yᵗ our next
interview may be with the greater ioy and comfort. Indeed, when I
returned to Dover, which was the Sonday following yoʳ departure, I was
not a little greived when Major Genˡˡ Kelsey[b] tould me yᵉ unwellcome
news of yoʳ being past by; and himselfe was very sory when I gave him
an accᵗ yᵗ I mett yoᵘ not, and tould me, if I had in yᵉ least desired
not to have gone for Zeinhead, he would have ordered an other ship in
oʳ roome. I was very thankfull for his respect he exprest towards yoᵘ,
but I knew not before yᵗ I might be soe bould wᵗʰ him as to desire such
a favor. Yoᵘ saild hence yᵉ Fryday evening; and Satuarday, by 10 in yᵉ
forenoone, we were soe neare yᵉ head of Beachy yᵗ noe shipp could or
did passe by us, but we spake wᵗʰ in hopes of meeting yoᵘ. Surely the
wind blew the harder to deny me yᵗ hapynes. God in mercy goe alongst
with yoᵘ and preserve yoᵘ from the rage of unreasonable men. I shall
not be wanting, as I am bound in duty, to make it my earnest request to
God for yoʳ preservation. My wife, in good health, presents her humble
duty to yoᵘ, and hath ever since bine very sorrowfull she stayed not
behind to present her duty and respects to yoᵘ at yoʳ departure.
Sir, litle of novelty ofers at present, only of great preparations for
yᵉ fitting out seavrall great shipps, as yᵉ Resolution, Naiesby, and
Andrew, from Portsmᵒ; yᵉ Tryomph, Victory, Vantguard, and Entrance,
from Chatham. I cannot give you an accᵗ, yᵉ occasion or upon wᵗ designe
yᵉ shipps are prepared; only suppose it may be to be in a readynes
to defend our selves if any treachorus act should be ofered by the
Hollander, who will have 70 saile men of warr out very sodainely, as
is certainely reported. I hope noe act of hostillity against us is
intended. We have iust cause to feare yᵉ worst; and I think, as farr as
I am able to aprehend, yoᵘ will have little occasion to trust or put
any confidence in them abroad. God send us peace at home and abroad;
but, if these faile us, peace wᵗʰ God will beare up our spirits in the
greatest dificulties yᵗ doe atend our earthly pilgrimage.
Sir, my wife desires yoᵘ please, at yoʳ arrivall at Venᵃ, to buy for
her a foiled stone of the measure I conseave was given by her sisters
to Brother Andrew at Leigh; as alsoe a pott ketle and 2 stue panns, one
lesser than the other; as alsoe a jarr from Leghorne, with wᵗ other
things nessesary for a howse, to yᵉ value of £3 in fower pound in all,
which shall be thankfully repayed. I intend to wright yoᵘ to Venᵃ,
when [I] conseave you may ataine thither, and what ofers shall not be
wanting of advizeing yoᵘ.
My Lord Protector hath denyed yᵉ governmᵗ of the Comonwealth under yᵉ
title of King,[c] and since, its established to him in the title he now
beares.[d]
I have not heard from home since yoʳ departure. My intire love with
my wives remembred to our 3 brothers wᵗʰ all oʳ freinds on bord yoᵘ.
Brother Wm., in health, presᵗˢ his humble duty to yoᵘ, wᵗʰ his love
to his Broʳ. My saluts to Mr. Holder; and, with my most humble duty
presented to yoʳ self, I remayne,
Sir, yoʳ ever lo. and obedient sonne till death,
RICHARD HADDOCK.
My wife being present desires, wᵗʰ yᵉ presenting her humble duty to
yoᵘ, to subscribe herselfe yoʳ lo. daughter till death,
LYDIA HADDOCKE.[e]
Since yᵉ wrighting yᵉ above lynes I have recᵈ order to goe over and
ryde before Dunkerk, and to take yᵉ comand of yᵗ squadron now riding
there. This day is arrived hapy news, Genˡˡ Blake’s burneing and
sinking 16 saile of the K. of Spaine’s gallions and shipps at Sᵗᵃ
Cruse, most welcome and true.[f]
R. H.
To his honᵈ. father, Capt. Wm. Haddock, Comander of the shipp
Hanniball, these present, Livorno.
* * * * *
[a] Afterwards Admiral Sir R. Haddock.
[b] Major-General Thomas Kelsey, commanding in Kent and Surrey.
[c] On the 8th May.
[d] On the 25th May.
[e] Richard Haddock’s first wife. Perhaps her maiden name was Stevens.
(See letter of 1 May 1658, in which Haddock sends his duty to “Father
and Mother Steevens.”)
[f] Blake’s last victory at Santa Cruz, in the Canaries, 20th April. He
died on his voyage home, in sight of land, on the 17th August.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
Dragon frigᵗ in Dunkirk Road, this 15ᵗʰ June, aᵒ 1657.
HONᵈ FATHER,
Sʳ, my most humble duty wᵗʰ Bro. Wms. presented unto you wᵗʰ oʳ intire
loves to oʳ loveing brothers and freinds wᵗʰ you. These only serve to
advize yoᵘ of our wellfare, hopeing and earnestly praying to the Lord
that yᵉ like good health atends you yᵗ, blessed be God, we injoy.
These I hope will find yoᵘ safe arrived at Leghorne. My last from the
Downes gave yoᵘ an accᵗ yᵗ we were ordered over hither to take the
command of this squadron that now lyes wᵗʰ us before this place.[a]
Since oʳ arrivall heere, wᶜʰ is 14 dayes since, not anything of action
hath ofered worth yoʳ advice; the good we doe heere is only to keepe
there men of warr in yᵗ are in, and prevent those comeing in wᵗʰ there
prisses yᵗ are abroad. But they want not harbours in Holland to secure
them and wᵗ they ketch from us. I conseave yoᵘ want not letters of
caution from yoʳ owners to be carefull of trusting the Hollanders.
I feare they will prove treacherous to there ingagemᵗˢ wᵗʰ us in
the peace agreed betwixt us. They are almost ready to saile wᵗʰ 50
or upward men of warr, besides 16 saile now in or Channell. My Lord
Protector is not wanting to prevent there treacherous actions, if any
intended against us. I conseave in 14 dayes we may have upwards of 40
saile, considerable men of warr, in the Downes, to answer any atempt
may be ofered by them; and doe beleive both we and the squadron before
Ostend may be called of, as soone as we have any intelligence of there
redynes to saile.
All oʳ freinds in England, I heare, are in health. My wife still at
Deall, and stayes to accompᵃ Aunt Morgan to London; my unkle now
being in the Downes, and conseave may saile very sodainely, the wind
presenting faire at present. Sir, please at yoʳ arrival at Venᵃ to
present my service and respects to my Mr. and Mrs. Hobson, with Mr.
Jno. Hobson, junʳ, my saluts; as also to Mr. Jones and his wife.
Sir, I have not else at present worth yoʳ advice. With my earnest
prayers to Almighty God to preserve you out of the hands of yoʳ
mercyles enemyes, and send yoᵘ a safe returne to the injoymᵗ of yoʳ
relations, for the happy accomplishmᵗ whereof itt shall be the earnest
request of,
Sir, yoʳ most affetionate and obedient sonne till death,
RICHARD HADDOCK.
To his honᵈ freind Capt. Wm. Haddock, Comander of the ship
Hanniball, these present, at Livorno.
* * * * *
[a] By the treaty (23 Mar. 1657) with France against Spain, Cromwell
agreed to find 6000 men, with a sufficient fleet, to operate against
Gravelines, Mardike, and Dunkirk; the two latter towns, when reduced,
to be delivered to the English. Mardike was captured in September of
this year, and Dunkirk in June 1658; and both towns were duly handed
over to the English forces.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
Dragon frigᵗ in Dunkirke Road, this 26 Aprill, 1658; Monday.
HONᵈ FATHER,
Sʳ, my most humble duty presented unto yoᵘ wᵗʰ my deare Mother,
Grandfather, and Grandmᵒ, wᵗʰ my loveing saluts to my wife, broˢ,
sisters, and freinds. My last, of 18 instant, I sent by my Broʳ Wm.,
whome I gave leave to goe to London; wᶜʰ hope is safely arrived with
you. Since wᶜʰ, litle of acction here in these parts. The 21 instant,
about midnight, heere escaped out a small pickeron of 4 or 6 guns
out this haboʳ, notwᵗʰstanding our vigilancy and indeavors for his
surprizall, haveing oʳ boates in wᵗʰ the shore and a small frigᵗ, who
gave him chase and fired seavrall guns at him; but the darknes of the
night prevented there long keepeing sight of him, and, notwᵗʰstanding
they made after him to the best of there understanding, yet he got
away and noe sight of him at day light. Last Saturday heere went from
Mardike Marshall d’Aumon, Duke of Bouligne,[a] wᵗʰ 13 hundred French
souldiers, imbarqued in seaverall vessells, and gone to Oastend, before
wᶜʰ place they arrived that night wᵗʰ the Vice Admirall.[b]
If the intelligence given me be true, we shall see a sodaine alteration
in Flaunders. Its said yᵗ, for a considerable summe of mony, the towne
of Ostend is to be delivered up to yᵉ King of Fraunce by the Governor
and inhabitants of sᵈ place, they being in such a sad condition by
reasone of the extreame burden yᵗ lyes upon them.
For security of performance there is a considerable man, who hath
confirmed the accord wᵗʰ the K. of Fraunce, now wᵗʰ Marshall d’Aumon,
that belongs to Ostend, who hath ingaged his life for performance. I
pray God they faile not in there undertakeings; and, although treachery
be hateful and odious throughout the world, yet doubtles ’twill prove
hapye for our poore traders when such a considerable place as yᵗ is, a
neast of roages, shall be routed. If it proves efectuall, farwell most
pᵗˢ of Flaunders this sumer.
Sʳ, please to keepe this intelligence to yoʳ selfe, least it should
come from me, being privately advized me. I hope, when our victualling
is out, we shall come over to tallow; wᶜʰ God graunt, that I may not
fayle of my earnest desire of seeing you before you goe forth. I
intend sodaynly to send to the Vice Admirall to know where we shall be
disposed by him or otherwise from the Comissʳˢ of Admiralty. Sʳ, I have
not other at present. Wᵗʰ my humble request to yᵉ Allmighty for yoʳ
preservation, I remayne
Yoʳ most loveing and obedient son till death,
RICHARD HADDOCK.
To his honᵈ freind Capt. Wm. Haddock, at his howse nere the
Newstaires in Wapping, these present, in London.
* * * * *
[a] Antoine, Marshal d’Aumont, Governor of Boulogne. Negotiations
had been opened with traitors within Ostend; but the matter was kept
no secret, and the garrison was prepared. When therefore D’Aumont
attempted a surprise, the tables were turned; he was caught in a trap
and had to surrender.--Sismondi, _Hist. des Français_, vol. xxiv.
(1840), p. 564.
[b] Edward Montague, afterwards Earl of Sandwich, who had command of
the English fleet.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
Dragon frigᵗ in Dunkirke Road, this primᵒ May, 1658; Satuarday.
HONᵈ FATHER,
Sʳ, my last from this place was of 26th past, since wᶜʰ not anything
hath ofered. The great Monsʳ with the soldiers I gave yoᵘ accᵗ of are
yet before Oastend with the Vice Admirall have efected nothing, not
haveing had opertunity, these out winds preventing there landing. God
sending us shore winds, we shall quicklie see the result of the action
in hand.
I sent to the Vice Admirall to desire he would order us into the river
to tallow and revictuall; but he wrights me, in regard he hath noe
ship with him to place in our roome, he will not wᵗʰout order from
the Admᵗʸ. Soe this day I have wrote to them, advizeing the neere
expiration of our victualling, also makeing it my humble request that
we may come to Chatham to tallow and revictuall; wᶜʰ I hope they will
graunt, but am dubious of my desired hapynesse of seeing yoᵘ before yoᵘ
goe forth. My humble duty presented to my deare Mother, Grandfather,
and Grandmᵒ, Father and Mother Steevens, wᵗʰ my loveing saluts to my
wife, brothers, sisters, and freinds in genˡˡ; and, wᵗʰ my most humble
duty to yᵒr selfe, wᵗʰ prayers to the Allmighty for yoʳ continued
preservation, I remaine,
Sʳ, your most loveing and dutyfull sonne till death,
RICHARD HADDOCK.
Being hast, yᵉ frigᵗ under saile with a lee tyde, my wife must excuse
my not wrighting her at present.
THE SAME TO SIR WILLIAM COVENTRY.[a]
Portland frigᵗᵗ in Oasely Bay,[b] 11ᵗʰ Sept. 1666; Tuesday, 8 at night.
RIGHT HONᵇˡᵉ,
Yours of 8th instant, wᵗʰ his R. Highnesse order inclosed, I received
this afternoone; wᶜʰ shall put in execution to morrow morning, wind and
weather permiting. Sonday last, in compᵃ wᵗʰ the Adventure and a fire
ship, we sayled out of Oasely bay through the Slade Way,[c] intending
for the North Forland, and soe unto the Downes, in search of our
fleet. About noone we gote sight of the Forland, and within one hower
after we espied a fleet of shipps on the back of the Goodwin sand, wᶜʰ
we deemed to be our fleet; but, standing wᵗʰ them, we found them to be
the Dutch fleet, consisting of 70 in 75 sayle. Two ships of the fleet
makeing us bore downe wᵗʰ us, and presantly after two more followed
them. We stood away from them to the eastwards, towards a ship then to
leewards, wᶜʰ we suposed to be a Hollander, but proved a Sweed bound
for Burdaix Light; and, finding two of the men of warr spring there
luffs againe and only 2 bore downe wᵗʰ us, we clapt upon a wind and
stood towards them, haveing gote them about 5 or 6 miles to leewards
of yᵉ body of there fleet. But, when they came wᵗʰin neere shote of
us, they keept there wind, would not come neere to fight us, but kept
fireing guns to windwards and makeing a waft wᵗʰ there ensignes for
more assistance; whereupon 7 or 8 sayle more bore away wᵗʰ us. Night
comeing on, we thought it not convenient to lye by for them, but stood
away for our owne coast, not being able to keep our lower tire of
guns out to windwards, and but 32 brˡˡˢ powder on bord. Yesterday we
got into Alborough bay, when I gave accᵗ to the Comissʳ at Harwᶜʰ by
an expresse from Alborough of our proceedings, desireing him to send
the said letter to yoʳ Honʳ, if he thought it convenient. I have now
recᵈ from Harwᶜʰ an aditionall suply of sixty barills of powder. The
Adventure intends alongst wᵗʰ us. The Litle Mary, I understand, will
not be ready in 3 or 4 dayes. To conclud, Sonday night proved such a
hard galle of wind yᵗ I iudge the Dutch fleet either drove or bore
away towards there owne coast, for we saw them all under sayle before
twas dark. I shall not be wanting to give yoʳ Honʳ an accᵗ of our
proceedings, wᶜʰ is wᵗ ofers at present from,
Rᵗ Honᵇˡᵉ, yʳ humble servᵗ att Comᵈ,
RICHARD HADDOCK.
_Endorsed_: “Copie of lettʳ to Sʳ Wm. Coventry, from Sʳ Rᵈ
Haddock.”
* * * * *
[a] Sir William Coventry was at this time one of the Commissioners of
the Navy.
[b] Hollesley Bay, or Haven, on the Suffolk coast, between Orford Ness
and the River Deben.
[c] The channel leading south from Hollesley Bay.
DECLARATION OF CAPTAIN RICHARD HADDOCK.
Aᵒ 1657, Novembʳ.
Dragon frigᵗ, Novembʳ, 1657.
18. The 18th November I recᵈ orders from Sʳ Richard Stainer[a] to sayle
out yᵉ Downes, and in company wᵗʰ the Colchester frigᵗᵗ to plye of of
Ostend.
26. The 26 day, Thursday, we sailed out yᵉ Downes, yᵉ wind at west. We
went out at yᵉ North Sand Head, twixt yᵉ Brake and Goodwin. This noone
we spake wᵗʰ the Pembrooke frigᵗᵗ, come from Harwich cleane tallowed;
N.E. from yᵉ north Forland, in 15 fadoms watter, we clapt by under a
maine course, intending to drive all night; but, upon sight of 6 sayle
of Holland men of warr, 3 wᵗʰ there flaggs abroad, to say Admˡˡ Vice
and Rear Admirall, we stood with them. Yᵉ Pembrooke haveing espied
them before us, though bound into yᵉ Downes, bore away on the back
of the Goodwin towards them; comeing up with them, first fired at yᵉ
Admˡˢ flagg, but was not struck. Upon wᶜʰ yᵉ Comandʳ of the Pembrooke
sent his boats on bord to know yᵉ reason of itt. Whilst they were in
dispute, we, comeing in shote, fired at yᵉ Admˡˡˢ flagg alsoe, and
presantly after they sent up a man to topmasthead and struck the flagg,
wᶜʰ his Vice and Reare Admˡˡ did the like. Then we bore under his lee
ahead of him, and hayld him and stood asterne, and, after, tackt and
came and lay on his weather quarters. There flaggs hang as a waft for
about ½ an hower, and afterwards furld them; the Admˡˡ fired a gun
to lewards, filld, and stood away to yᵉ eᵗwards. We answerd him with
another; lay by and drove all night. These men of warr came there from
yᵉ coast of Portugall, yᵉ Lᵈ Updam Admˡˡ, as I was informed by Sʳ
Richard Stayner at my returne into yᵉ Downes. This I can testifie upon
oath, if calld thereunto.
Given under my hand this primo January, 1671/2.
RICHARD HADDOCK.
* * * * *
[a] Admiral Sir Richard Stayner was knighted for his gallantry in
Blake’s attack on Santa Cruz. (See above, p. 3.)
CAPTAIN RICHARD HADDOCK TO HIS WIFE.[a]
On bord yᵉ R. James, at anchor 4 miles wᵗʰout St. Hellens,
this 5ᵗʰ May, 1672; Sonday night.
MY DEARE BETTY,
This afternoone we arrived this place wᵗʰ our noble fleet. Wᵗʰin, at
Spitthead, we see yᵉ French fleet gote heere before us wilbe good
company. Tomorrow I doubt not but we shall joyne wᵗʰ them. A few daies
will prepare us to goe to seeke yᵉ Hollanders, who are out. We saw some
of there scouts that day we sailed out yᵉ river. I have no other news
to write thee at present.
I hope these will find yᵉ at London, where I advize thee to stay that
I may the more certainely direct my letters to thee. I shall not be
wanting to give the advice by all opertunities how itt fares with us.
God Almighty preserve and keepe the and us in good health, and in His
good tyme send us a ioyfull meeteing. My deere love to all myne and thy
loveing relations. Wᵗʰ intire saluts to thy selfe and my daughter,
I remayne thyne, whilst I am
RICHARD HADDOCK.
My love to my deare Coz Goodlad at Wapping. Pray venture a letter or
two to Portsmᵒ to me.
R. H.
* * * * *
[a] His second wife, Elizabeth; maiden name unknown.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
On bord the Royall James, this 14ᵗʰ May, 1672; Tuesday
evening, at anchor neere Dungenesse.
MY DEAREST LOVE,
These are to give the an accᵗ of my wellfare and good health, wᶜʰ I
blesse God I doe injoy. We are now at anchor neere Dungenesse wᵗʰ our
whole fleet, consisting of 80 men of warr, English and French, about 20
or 22 fireships, and many small vessells besides. We have bine tydeing
it up from the Isle of Wind (_sic_). Ever since Wedensday last the
winds have hung easterly. The Dutch fleet, we heard yesterday, were
at yᵉ North Forland. We doe our utmost endeavor to get to them, if
they have a mind to fight us. To yᵉ westwards of yᵉ Downes they may
easely be wᵗʰ us; but we judge there designe is to ingage us amongst
the sands, wᶜʰ posibly they may be deceaved in there expectation. God
Almighty goe along wᵗʰ us and give us victory over our enemyes. I
know I shall not want thy prayers and the well wishes of all my deare
relations for my preservation. We have a brave fleet and, in the maine,
well mand. For our parts we doe not complayn, haveing neere 900 men on
bord us; yᵉ Duke 1000, I beleive, and upwards. It is probable, before
we ingage, we may have yᵉ ships in the river ioyne wᵗʰ us, wᶜʰ are 10
or 11 men of warr and 4 fire ships. I desire we may put our strength in
God Almighty; but soe noble a brave fleet have not bine seene together
in our dayes.
My deare, speake to my broʳ Joseph for the ballence of the mony I
desired him to recᵉ for me of Mr. Forth and Mr. Beare, and to pay out
of it severall debts wᶜʰ at present I doe not remember the perticulars.
I know not how to direct the to answer these, nor where you may send to
meet us. If this arrive yoᵘ on Thursday, you may venture a lyne or two
to Dover Road, where posibly we may stop 24 houres to watter, and next
I supose for Sowle Bay or the coast of Holland. Desire my Coz Goodlad,
the draper, to recᵉ three pounds for the of Cozen Boys, wᶜʰ is due
April last; and pray, when the bond is due of Mr. Welsted and Temple,
goe to them and recᵉ the interest £9, and desire them to lett me have
£100 or more, if posible, to suply my occasions. Thou knowest the
imploymᵗ I am in is very expencive, and therfore let me not faile of
haveing £100 at least of them. Twas Mr. Welsted’s promise in a month,
but I have stayd neere 10 weeks. Pray let me know wᵗ is done wᵗʰ the
mony in broʳ Hurleston’s hands and brother Thornburgh. I know they will
be very kind. I have heere inclosed sent the my will, wᶜʰ have made for
all good respects. I desire the to keepe it by the, sealed as it is.
If God Almighty in His providence should take me out this life, you
will find I have not failed of my promise to thee, though I have some
reason to lament the kindnes done me by thy freinds; but that shall
not trouble me at this tyme. God Almighty, I doubt not, will preserve
me, that I may live to see the againe wᵗʰ ioy and comfort. Pray lett
me know by some meanes or other of the receipt of these. My deare love
to my sister Jessen, broʳ and sister Thornburgh, broʳ Hurlestone. My
respects to my Unckle Moyer; all of them. My kind saluts to my dear Coz
Goodlad at Wapping. To all my loveing freinds comend me. My deare, I
have only to add my prayers to God for thy wellfare. Wᵗʰ my intire love
and saluts to thee and my daughter, I remaine
Thyne, till death us pᵗ,
RICHARD HADDOCK.
These I send to Dover by our kitch, who is goeing to watter for us, but
doe beleive we may get thither ourselves as soone.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
R. James, neare Sowle Bay, this 21 May, 1672;
Tuesday evening.
MY DEARE BETTY,
The 18th instant, wᶜʰ was Satuarday last, I wrote the by one of the
yachts, and as thou advised. Yᵉ next day we saw the Dutch fleet. We
drew ours into a lyne of bataile, the French leading, we in the reare,
all prepared to fight, haveing stav’d and heft over bord all ours, and
I think all the cabins of the whole fleet. The Hollanders stood over
for yᵉ Flaunders Banks and yᵉ Weelings. About 7 at night we were up
wᵗʰ them in a lyne, as they lay in the same posture very orderly to
recᵉ us; but, finding it would have bine darke before we could have
well began with them, being about 4 or 5 miles to leewards of us, yᵉ
wind at W.S.W., we thought it not convenient to ingage them. Yᵉ night
following, upon there tacking of, we tackt in yᵉ reare, yᵉ whole fleet
following to keep them to leewards of us, as we did yᵗ night by our
twice tacking againe. Yesterday morning it proved a very thick fogge.
We wᵗʰ our division anchored, standing in wᵗʰ the Banks of Flaunders of
Oostend. About 10 in yᵉ morning, upon cleareing up, we wayed anchor, yᵉ
Dutch fleet 3 miles to leewards of us. We stood of and mett our fleet
standing in. Yᵉ Dutch stood of wᵗʰ us. This day it proved much wind,
that we could not fight them; whereupon we stood in to our shore N.W.,
and about ½ seas over we anchored all night. This morneing we saw yᵉ
fleet again. We stood of towards them, expecting they would have stood
wᵗʰ us; but they stood of intending to draw us over amongst those
shoulds, to fight them there. We keeping our wind, and they bearing
away, as we suposed, from yᵉ wind, we lost sight of them. It blowing
hard we tackt, and now come neare to Sowle Bay, where I supose we may
stay a day or two to watter our fleet.
This day came into us the Katherine, Princes, and Advice, wᵗʰ 2 fire
ships more; soe yᵗ I supose we are neerer 90 then fowerscore men of
warr, upwards 25 fireships, amongst wᶜʰ my unckle R. H. is come. The
Dutch fleet not soe many men of warr as we, I beleive, by 8 or 10
saile, many small vessells and fire ships. Had it pleased God yesterday
to have given us faire weather, God assisting, we had given a good accᵗ
of oʳ actions; our men briske and brave and very ready and willing to
fight. The Earle of Bristow[a] on bord wᵗʰ us. I thinke a fourth part
the nobles of England in the fleett. This I send on shore to Sowle, to
take its fortune towards thee. Being in hast, have not tyme to wright
any body else. If my broʳ Bradenham be in towne, shew him this letter.
I two dayes since recᵈ a letter from Mr. Clarke, yᵉ apothecary, wᵗʰ
a case of spiritts, come very opertunely (as he wrights me) to raise
my courage, but I have not yet tasted them. Pray returne him my kind
thanks. I hope shall survive this warr to make him amends. My deare, I
should be glad to heare from the, but I know not how. I shall not be
wanting to give the a constant advice, as opertunity presents, of my
wellfare and our actions. Youl excuse me to my loveing relations yᵗ I
wright none of them. At present it is fowle weather. Am glad we gote
hither, for stormy weather may shatter us and disable us more then a
bataile. God Almighty be our guard and defence, and give us victory
over our enemyes. His providence hath hitherto prevented our ingageing
twice. My deare and loveing saluts to all my loveing relations at
Rederif,[b] and to my lo: Coz. Goodlad at Wapping and London, &c. Wᵗʰ
intire love and saluts to thyselfe wᵗʰ my daughter, I remaine
Thy loveing husband till death us part,
RICHARD HADDOCK.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Yorke is very zeolus to ingage yᵉ Dutch,
God sending a good opertunity and watter enough under our keels.
I had almost forgot to desire the to returne my thanks to Capt.
Grantham for yᵉ barill of Muscadine he brought me from Mr. Wilkinson,
of Messina, and for a chest of Florence he sent me from himselfe, wᵗʰ
seavrall other things, all wᶜʰ I recᵉᵈ, wᵗʰ a chest of Florence for my
Lord Sandwᶜʰ. Pray pay him three pound for itt. I shall recᵉ it heere
of Mr. Lowe, my Lord’s servᵗ. Thyne,
R. HADDOCK.
* * * * *
[a] George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol.
[b] Rotherhithe.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
R. James, in Southold Bay, this 25th May, 1672; Saturday evening.
MY DEAREST LOVE,
These I send by Capt. Poole,[a] who, wᵗʰ the Garland frigᵗᵗ in compᵃ,
hath leave to goe his former intended voaidge for Barbados. Pray advize
my broʳ Bradenham of itt. They will be good convoy for Mr. Naufan’s
ship wᵗʰ masts, &c., wᶜʰ lyes at Gravesend, to goe thorough the
Channell wᵗʰ them.
This day I gote two protections from the Duke, one for Mr. Naufan’s
ship at Lancaster for 50 men, yᵉ other for yᵉ ship wᵗʰ stores for 20
men, wᶜʰ is speciall protections, yᵗ the men will not be molested. Tell
my Broʳ Bradenham I have given them to Mr. Sam. Hawkes, who is comeing
wᵗʰ them.
I am sory to heare poore Sam Lane was prest into yᵉ French Victory, and
since caryed into Holland. I pitty the losse of the men in her, but yᵉ
Capt. will have his reward for looseing her soe basely. The Dutch fleet
lye now neare the Gallaper in expectation of us; we are very neere,
ready to waite on them. 2 or 3 days must not breake square wᵗʰ us; but
they are deceaved to think we intend to fight them amongst the sands.
I supose our martch wilbe over for yᵉ coast of Holland into sea roome
and deepe watter. We are, notwithstanding Capt. Poole and his consarts
leaveing us, 90 men of warr, 26 fire ships, many small vessells. I
supose the Dutch daylie add to ther strength as well as wee. God
Allmighty be our defence.
My deare, I am sory that my first letter from Southold, wᶜʰ went by
land, advized the of our 2 days stay, whereas we have bine heere 4
days, and shall stay 3 or 4 longer. Then we shall have wattered our
whole fleet for one month, and victualld compleat for 2 months, and
mand I beleive thoroughout yᵉ fleet, not 500 wanting. I rather think,
in a day or two longer, we may have 1000 supernumeraryes. A very worthy
brave fleet, I think, as ever were together. God give us couragious
hearts, and then I beleive they may be ventured.
I hope all my loveing relations at Rederif and Wapping are in health,
to whome present my love and saluts. I expect to heare from the by the
yacht wᶜʰ I sent my last letter by, Captain Burstow, Comander.[b] I
blesse God I am now in good health, though 5 or 6 days since, and when
we were going to fight the Dutch, I had such a paine in my right arme
that could not use it but very litle; but now, thanke God, am very
well. My deare Betty, I have only to add my saluts to thyselfe wᵗʰ my
daughter; doe remaine thyne till death us part,
RICHARD HADDOCK.
This I intended thee by Capt. Poole, but was gone ere I could put it
on bord him; therfore doe send it by the post. I recᵈ last night broʳ
Thornbrugh’s letter, 23 instant, by yᵉ Dreadnought’s Leivetenᵗ. He
wrights me of thy health, and yᵗ I shall recᵉ a letter from the by yᵉ
Hatton ketch.
I am thyne,
R. HADDOCK.
26 May, ’72.
* * * * *
[a] Sir William Poole, distinguished by his share in the reduction of
Tobago, this year.
[b] William Bustow or Burstow, commanding the Mary yacht.
COPY OF CAPTAIN RICHARD HADDOCK’S[a] ACCOUNT, GIVEN HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
THE DUKE OF YORK, OF THEIR ENGAGEMENT, MAY 28TH, 1672, IN THE ROYAL
JAMES.
In obedience to your Royal Highness’s commands, I here humbly present
to your view a brief narrative of our actions on board the Royal James,
the 28th May last past, as followeth:
Upon signal from our scouts of the Dutch fleet’s approach (betwixt 3
and 4, the wind E. by S.), we put our ships immediately into a fighting
posture, brought our cable to the capston, and heaft a peak of our
anchor, which, upon firing a gun and loosing foretop-sail of your Royal
Highness’s ship, we presently weighed, and afterwards lay kedging with
our headsails at the mast till our anchor was up; which done (steered
N.E. by N.), we made sail and stood off, with our signal abroad for
the squadron[b] to draw into their line of battle, which was done as
well as the short time we had would permit. But, finding myself one of
the weathermost ships, I bore to leeward till I had brought ourselves
in a line; the Vice Admiral and part of his division right a head, the
Rear Admˡ and his right astern; only two or three frigates to leeward,
and so near, one of them within call. The Dutch squadron, Van Ghent,
attacked us in the body and rear very smartly, and let the van go ahead
sometime without engaging them, so far as I could perceive. We engaged
about an hour and an half very smartly. When the Dutch found that they
could do no good on us with their men of war, they attacked us with
two fire ships, the first of which we fired with our shott, the second
disabled by shooting down his yards. Before which time I had sent our
barge, by my Lord’s[c] command, ahead to Sir Joseph Jordaine,[d] to
tack, and with his division to weather the Dutch that were upon us
and beat them down to leeward of us, and come to our assistance. Our
pinnace I sent likewise astern (both coxswains living) to command our
ships to come to our assistance; which never returned, but were on
board several who endeavoured it but could not effect it.
About two hours after we engaged we were boarded athwart hawse by one
of their men of war, notwithstanding our endeavours to prevent him
by wearing our ship two or three points from the wind to have taken
him alongside. When he had been athwart our hawse some short time,
my Lord would have had me boarded him with our men and taken him,
which I refused to do by giving him my reason that it would be very
disadvantageous to us: first, that I must have commanded our men from
our guns, having then I believe 300 men killed and wounded, and could
not expect but to lose 100 in taking him; secondly, had we so done,
we could not have cut him loose from us, by reason the tide of flood
bound him fast; and, thirdly, had we plyed our guns slowly by taking
away our men, we had given cause to the enemy to believe we had been
disabled, and consequently more of them would have boarded us, which
might possibly have overpressed us, and would have been more dishonour
to have lost her by that means than being at last burnt;--so that my
Lord was satisfied with my reasons, and resolved we should cuff it out
to the last man, still in expectation of assistance.
About 10 o’clock Van Ghent himself, finding those his other flags could
do no good upon us, nor the party with them, came up with us himself,
we having lost the conduct of our ship. He ranged along our side, gave
us a smart volley of small shot and his broadside, which we returned to
him with our middle and lower tier, our upper guns almost all disabled,
the men killed at them. He passed ahead of us and brought his ship too
to leeward, and there lay till I was gone off the deck.
Some short time after, Sir Joseph Jordaine (our barge having been with
him and given him my Lord’s commands) passed by us very unkindly to
windward, with how many followers of his division I remember not, and
took no notice at all of us; which made me call to mind his saying to
your Royal Highness, when he received his commission, that he would
stand betwixt you and danger; which I gave my Lord account of, and did
beleive by his acting yourself might be, in his view, in greater danger
than we, which made my Lord answer me: “We must do our best to defend
ourselves alone.”
About 12 o’clock I was shot in the foot with a small shot, I supposed
out of Van Ghent’s main top, which pressed me after a small time to go
down to be dressed. I gave my Lord account of it, and resolved to go
up again as soon as was dressed. In the mean time, when I went off the
deck, sent up both Sir Charles[e] and Lieutenant Mayo[f] to stand by
my Lord; and, as soon as I came down, remembring the flood was done,
sent up to my Lord to desire him to command the ship to anchor by the
stern, which was immediately done; and, after we had brought up, the
ship athwart our hawse fell away, and being entangled with our rigging
our men boarded and took her, cut her loose from us, and, at my Lord’s
command, returned all aboard again. Upon which I, hearing the ship was
loose, sent up to my Lord that the cable might be cut and the ship
brought to sail before the wind, and loose our mainsail; which was
presently done. Then my Lord sent me his thanks for my advice, and
withall doubted not but to save the ship. At that time the surgeon was
cutting off the shattered flesh and tendons of my toe; and immediately
after we were boarded by the fatal fire ship that burnt us.
* * * * *
[a] The MS., which is a modern transcript, has “Sir Richard Haddock;”
but he was not knighted until 1675, and therefore, for uniformity, the
title is suppressed.
[b] The blue squadron.
[c] Earl of Sandwich.
[d] Sir Joseph Jordan, Vice-Admiral of the Blue. See a defence of
his conduct, as described in this letter, in Charnock’s _Biographia
Navalis_.
[e] Sir Charles Harbord, who served as a volunteer and perished.
[f] Thomas Mayo. He was one of the few who escaped from the Royal James.
CAPTAIN RICHARD HADDOCK TO HIS WIFE.
On bord the R. Charles, this 29th May, 1673;
7 leagues of Oostend.
MY DEAREST LOVE,
These are to give the an accᵗ of God’s goodnes to me. I am very well
and in health, praised be His name therfore. Yesterday, the 28th
instant (yᵉ same day twelve month they atacqued us in Sowle bay), we
atacqued the Dutch fleet, consisting of 74 or 76 men of warr and 20
fire ships, as the Dutch prisoners informe us. We set upon them in
the Schoon Velt, the wind at W.N.Wᵗ., but changed to yᵉ N.N.E. in the
bataile towards evening. We buoyed the outward banks wᵗʰ our smacks
and ketches, and had a smart brush with them from 12 at noone as long
as daylight lasted. The damage we have done them we certainly know
not. Severall of ther ships we disabled, wᶜʰ we forced into leewards.
Trump, whose squadron we ingaged wᵗʰ ours, shifted his ship once, if
not twice. What number of men we have lost in the fleet not yet know;
I believe not 500. In our ship not above 20, as I can learne; some
mortality wounded, others dismembred. Amongst our dead men is poore
Capt. Wasey, who first lost his arme close to his shoulder, and about
6 howers after dyed of his wounds. My brother Joseph very well; was
wᵗʰ me last night after yᵉ bataile. My unckle Richard very well: he
hath burnt his ship; was faire to burne De Rutter within his length,
when they shote his masts about his eares; for wᶜʰ indeavoured service
yᵉ Prince[a] hath given him one hundred pounds, and gratified also
his oficers, &c. I supose we shall not atacque them in that place
againe. Our greatest care was to keepe cleere of the sands in that
narrow hole. Our ship, so tender with a saile that we fought wᵗʰ the
watter some tymes comeing into our lower tire of ports, wᶜʰ was very
disadvantagious, could not do that service intended by us.
There is severall Capᵗˢ killed that we have already an account of;
I hope no more. Capt. Finch in the Yorke, Capt. Tempest in the
Sweepestakes, Capt. Fowles in the Lyon; and Capt. Werden, in the
Heneretta, mortality wounded.[b] We have severall of our ships
shattered, not above two disabled, and none, as I heare of, lost, but 2
or 2 fire ships burnt.