we atacqued them in, and we in our former birth, only about 2 leagues
further of the shore. How soone we shall fight them againe cannot
resolve, but in yᵉ place they now ride I iudge we shall not atacque
them a second tyme. I beleive the Prince may shift his ship and goe
into some other; but of yᵗ in my next.
I desire that thanks and prayes may be returned to Almighty God for his
preservation of me. My humble duty to my deare mother; loving saluts
to my brothers and sisters, and all my deare relations. God in mercy
blesse and preserve them all, and send us a joyfull meeteing. Wᵗʰ my
intire love and saluts to thee wᵗʰ my daughter and litle Dickee, I
remaine
Thine, till death us part,
RICHARD HADDOCK.
We have a rumor that Capt. Trevanion[c] is killed, comdᵍ the
Dreadnought; but I hope it is not true.
* * * * *
[a] Rupert.
[b] William Finch, third son of Thomas, first Earl of Winchilsea; John
Tempest, Thomas Foules, and Robert Werden. The last was not killed in
this action, according to Charnock, _Biogr. Navalis_.
[c] Richard Trevanion. He was not killed. He followed James II. into
exile.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
Yet on bord yᵉ R. Charles, this 31 May, 1673.
MY DEARE BETTY,
I wrote the two dayes since of God’s goodnes to mee in oʳ late bataile.
I gave the accᵗ of Capt. Trevanions suposed to be killed, but he is
well; and allso Capt. Courtney,[a] wᶜʰ was reported to be killed, is
alive and well. Capt. Worden is since dead of his wounds.[b] We are
now shifting ships, goeing on bord the London; the reason I gave in my
last. Sʳ Jnᵒ Harman[c] goes from the London into the Sovraigne, and
Capt. Hayward[d] out ye Sovraigne into this ship. It is no smal trouble
to me to part from this brave ship; her only fault is she is tender
sided, in all respects otherwayes the best ship in the world.
My deare, I am very well; My broʳ Joseph and unckle Richard likewise.
The Prince in good health, and our fleet prepareing for another
incounter, if the Dutch comes out. My deare, I am thyne till death,
RICHARD HADDOCK.
Pray, if Comʳ Deane[e] be not in towne, send forward the inclosed to
Portsmᵒ.
* * * * *
[a] Francis Courtney. He fell in the action with the Dutch on the 11th
August of this year.
[b] This is denied. (See above, p. 20, note b.)
[c] Became Vice-Admiral of the Red, on the death of Sir Edward Spragge,
this year.
[d] John Hayward. He fell in the action of 11th August, this year.
[e] Anthony Deane, Commissioner of the Navy at Portsmouth.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
R. Charles, rideing Nᵒ, 7 leagues from Oostend,
this 1st June, 1673; Sonday.
MY DEARE BETTY,
Wee ride in sight of our neighbours the Dutch, not above 3 in 4 leagues
distant. This morning they were under saile; we thought they would
have come of to us. We put ourselves in a posture to recᵉ them. They
have now the wind of us, being easterly; and may come out if they
please. This morning we have accᵗ from a good hand from Oostend yᵗ
they sent in 6 or 7 disabled ships to Flushing, two whereof sunck in
going in. They likewise sent on shore 400 or 500 wounded men, and, as
they advize from Oostend, comᵈ was given not to speake of the fight at
Flushing. So doe beleive, till they recrute ther strength, we shall not
heare of them; however, we are not wanting to prepare ourselves agᵗ
they come. The Swiftsure is this day come to us; had like to have bine
snapt Tuesday last by the Amsterdam squadron yᵗ came into the Schoon
Velt tyme enough to fight.
I have but little else to write to thee. Sʳ Roger Strickland sends his
hoy to Deptford for watter; and these goe by Sʳ Ed. Spragg’s yacht, who
caryes up one Coll. Hambliton into the River, who lost his legg on bord
us. Pray lett me heare from thee by one or both of them. My humble duty
to my deare mother; love and saluts to all freinds in genˡˡ. Wᵗʰ my
deare love to thy selfe, my daughter, and little Richard, I remayne
Thyne, till death us part,
RICHARD HADDOCK.
JOURNAL [OF CAPTAIN RICHARD HADDOCK] IN HIS MAJᵗʸˢ SHIP R. CHARLES,
MAY, 1673.
_Aᵒ. 1673._
May 11. This Sonday morneing, about 7 aclock, we anchored in the
Prince’s fleet, to the westwards of them, about 2 leagues to the
westwards of Dongenesse, in 1 fadom watter, yᵉ lighthouse beareing N.E.
by E. This day I went on bord the St. Michell to waite on yᵉ Prince,
who comanded me to weigh and plye up to his ship; but, bloweing so
hard, could not.
12. This Monday morneing wind at N.E. and N.E. by N.; blew very hard,
and raine some part of the forenoone; could not weigh.
13. This Tuesday morneing, yᵉ wind at north, we wayed and gote up to
the Prince’s ship, the St. Michel; anchored alongst her side without
her. This forenoone his Highnes Prince Rupert came on bord us, but went
of at noone; dyned on bord the R. Prince; after diner returned on bord
us. This day we tooke on bord all the Prince’s retenue and goods, &c.;
struck downe some of our gunns into hold, to recᵉ new ones in ther
roomes. All this afternoone yᵉ wind at north; constant rain.
14. This Wedensday we tooke on bord seaverall of the new gunns and
mounted them. The wind this day came round from the N.W. to S.Wᵗ., S.E.
and E. by Nᵒ. This day the French fleet apeared in sight about noone;
being litle wind, they anchored short of us about 3 leagues.
15. This Thursday we mounted all the rest of the new gunns; the wind at
N.Eᵗ. to E.N.E. Yᵉ French fleet wayed and plyed towards us; anchored
about 4 miles short of us.
16. This Fryday morneing the French fleet weighed and plyed up to us.
About 9 a clock this morneing Monsʳ Conte d’Estrees,[a] ther Admˡˡ,
who wore his flagg at yᵉ foretopmast head, being V. Admˡˡ of Fraunce,
past by us about musket shote or somewᵗ more asterne of us; struck his
flagg, lored his topsailes and saluted us, I meane yᵉ Prince, wᵗʰ 13
peece of ordnance; we returned him eleven in answer. Presantly after
Monsʳ Conte d’Estrees came on bord us, to waite on his Highnes yᵉ
Prince. This evening came of from Rye his Majᵗʸ and R. Highnes in there
yachts; came on bord us; stayed about one hower and a halfe, and then
returned to the yachts againe after 8 at night.
17. This Satuarday morneing, the wind at N. by E., blowing very fresh,
the Prince went on bord the Cleeveland yacht to waite upon his Majᵗʸ;
and about ½ an hower after the King, Duke, and Prince came on bord this
ship. This forenoone we spread a standard in the mizen shrowds, fired a
gunn to call on bord us the flagg oficers. This day the King and Duke
dyned on bord us. The wind hath blowne very hard at N.N.E. and N.E. by
N. all day.
18. This Sonday the wind vered to the east and by north, and back to
yᵉ N.N.Eᵗ. at night; blew very fresh all day. This day the King dyned
on bord Conte d’Estrees; the standard at maine topmast head; his flagg
struck wᶜʰ he wore at the foretopmast head. This evening the King and
Duke supt on bord us, and at 9 aclock tooke ther leaves of us and went
on shore to Rye. This day the noble Lord Ossory[b] hoysted the Reare
Admˡˡ blew flagg on bord the St. Michael.
19. This Monday morning, about 3 aclock, being at anchor still, the
wind at E.N.Eᵗ., we designed to weigh, but, bloweing fresh, we rode
fast all this day.
20. This Tuesday, at 3 in the morneing, being alaramed by seavrall
gunns from the eastwards, we fired a gunn and put out a light in the
mainetopmast shrowds, our signall of weighing, but did not weigh by
reason of the ebb tyde, the wind being at S.Eᵗ. We had intelligence,
by a sloop, of 70 saile of Hollanders seene on the back of yᵉ Goodwin,
and wᵗʰout the Sᵒ Sands Head; but proved to be, by our 2d intelligence
by the litle Greyhound, a fleet of Hamburghers of 26 saile only. This
forenoone we weighed with all the fleet; stood to the southwards; at
noone tackt; litle wind. We anchored about 2 aclock, yᵉ Nesse light
howse N. by E., in 21 fadoms, 7 miles distance. This day his Highnes
the Prince dyned on bord the Conte d’Estrees, who struck his flagg
as soone as the Prince was on bord him, and the Prince’s Jack flagg
hoysted up at mainetopmast head; and, whilst the Prince remaind on bord
him, his flagg (I meane yᵉ Conte d’Estrees) was kept furld. Towards
evening the Hamburgʳˢ fleet plyed by us to the wᵗwards; gave us many
gunns in saluts. Yᵉ wind, since 4 in the afternoone, at W.S.W. and Wᵗ.
This night we rode fast.
21. This 21 day, Wedensday morneing, at 4 aclock, we wayed wᵗʰ the
whole fleet; wind at W. by Nᵒ., a fine fresh gale. By 10 aclock the
wind came to yᵉ S.Wᵗ. We steered away on the back of the Goodwin. About
4, afternoone, we anchored in 10 fadom watter, on the flatts of the
Nᵒ Forland, the lighthouse beareing W. by S. southerly, about 6 miles
distant.
22. This Thursday morneing we wayed by 5 aclock; steered away E. by
Nᵒ. and E.N.Eᵗ. to goe cleare of the showld of the Falls;[c] the wind
at S.W., a fine gale. After we had gote without ye Falls, we hauled up
E. b. S. and E.S.E.; a fresh gale at S.W. About 4 in the afternoone we
made the coast of Flaunders. At 6, evening, we anchored in 15 fadoms
watter, Oostend spire steeples beareing S.E. by Sᵒ, 5 leagues distant.
This evening we saw the Dutch fleet, part of them; they rode in
Schonvelt. Our scout gave us accᵗ they were but 86 saile, the outside,
small and great. They wayed and turned up amongst yᵉ bancks towards the
Weelings.
23. This Fryday morneing, by 6 aclock, yᵉ flood being done, we wayed;
wind at S.S.W., litle wind. We stood in; drew our ships into a lyne of
batayle. Our squadron ledd the van, the French in the midle, and yᵉ
blew squadron in the reare. We sayled and drove soe farr to the N.E.
wards that we brought Oostend steeples south easterly, about 5 leagues
or six leagues of. Anchored in 11 fadom watter, within the oyster
bancks. Yᵉ Dutch fleet, yᵉ nᵒmost, bore E.N.E.; and yᵉ southmost Eᵗ,
southerly from us, about 3 leagues. This night have had but litle wind
at S.S.W. and S.Wᵗ.
24. This Satuarday morneing we intended, if the should watter hindred
not, to goe in wᵗʰ our fleet and set upon the Dutch; sending a party
of 35 men of warr, 13 fire ships, and 24 tendors ahead of us, to make
the onsett, and we wᵗʰ the whole fleet to have seconded them. But this
our intention was this day prevented by God Almighty’s providence, the
wind bloweing very hard at S.W. and Wᵗ.S.Wᵗ. This morneing came in to
the fleet the Soveraigne, Victory, and Dyamond, out of the river of
Thames. Yesterday our scouts gave us accᵗ that yᵉ Dutch fleet, of all
sorts that could be told, did not exceed 84. All this day the wind hath
blowne very hard at S.W. and W.S.W.; forct us strick our yard, and some
ships both topmast and yard.
25. This Sonday the wind hath blowne very hard at W.S.Wᵗ.; forct us in
yᵉ afternoone to strick our topmasts and get our sprit-saile yard under
the boltsprit. This day severall of the French ships broke from ther
ground tackle, but brought up againe wᵗʰ other anchors and rode fast.
26. This Monday, in the forenoon, the wind continued bloweing hard at
W.S.W., as did also the night past, but not so violently as the day
formerly. In the afternoone the wind dullered. We sett our topmasts and
got up oʳ yards; our neighbours the Dutch did the like also. Toward
evening indiferent faire weather.
27. This Tuesday the wind hath bine from the S.Wᵗ. back to yᵉ S.Eᵗ.,
wᵗʰ very thick weather, and then veered to the N.Wᵗ., wᵗʰ some tymes
very thick [weather] and raine and wind; all this day very unconstant
weather. This afternoone we spread our red flagg for the severall
divissions drawne out of the fleet to get themselves into a body for
the first onsett upon the enemy; but did not weigh ourselves. Our
party out of our squadron anchored to leewards of us, and neere half
way betweene yᵉ Dutch fleet and ours. This day yᵉ standard was spread
for the flagg oficers. When come on bord, twas resolved that tomorrow,
about 10 in the morning, the flood being done and faire weather, that
we weigh and atacque the Dutch fleet now rideing in the Schoonvelt,
steereing with an easey saile upon them; and, in case they go in to
Flushing, then to anchor in their places; and, that they stand of into
sea, to stand out with them.
28. This Wedensday morneing, being indiferent faire weather, we
prepared our ship; gote upp our sheat anchor, slung our yards, &c. The
wind at west, a fresh gale. By 10 aclock we gote up our anchor, and
made sayle. Brave weather; wind at W. b. N. and W.N.Wᵗ. We wᵗʰ our
squadron steered N.E. b. E. wᵗʰ the north end of the Dutch fleet, yᵉ
French wᵗʰ the body, and yᵉ blew squadron wᵗʰ the south part of them.
To 11 aclock thay rode most of them fast at anchor, not so much as ther
fore topsailes loose. About 12 at noone we bore downe upon the Dutch
and ingaged ther van, and the French in the body, our blew squadron in
the reare. We fought till twas darke, tacking to and againe in the
Schoon Velt. What certaine damage we did the enemy we cannot tell. This
night we sailed and drove out againe; came into 6 fadom watter on yᵉ
oyster banck. By day light we were gote 3 leagues without the Schoon
Velt.
29. This Thursday morneing we anchored in 13 fadom watter by our
judgement, S. b. Eᵗ. from Oostend, 6 or 7 leagues of. This day yᵉ
Prince called a councill of flagg oficers. Ordered, that yᵉ respective
flaggs call ther divissions on bord and take accᵗ of what damages recᵈ
yesterday in the bataile. This day the wind blew very hard at S.Wᵗ.;
forct us to strick our topmasts and yards and veere out our shot of
cable 2½ without bord. This afternoone, about 3 aclock, the Prince sent
away a packet for Whitehall, by whome I wrote for London.
30. This Fryday the wind blew very hard, most part of the day, at S.Wᵗ.
and W.S.Wᵗ. Towards evening lesse wind. We got up our topmasts.
31. This Satuarday forenoone, foggy weather; afternoone, very faire
weather; the wind at N.Eᵗ. This day the Prince tooke resolution to
shift shipps, ours being so tender that we could not beare out our
lower tire of gunns in the late bataile.
June 1. This Sonday, yᵉ first day of June, the Dutch fleet many of
them were under saile, but came not out to us. We gote up our anchor
and came to saile wᵗʰ all the fleet, but anchored againe and birth’t
our selves in our anchoring posture agreed on, to say: the flaggs to
ride N. and south of each other, 4 cables length distant; and the ships
of the severall divissions to ride N.W. and S.E. from there flaggs,
2 cable length distant of one side and the other; the flagg ships as
they are ranged in ther line of bataile. This day we struck some broken
gunns down into hold, and some whole, to the number of tenn, to stiffen
our ship if posible.
2. This Monday the wind blowes very fresh at N.E., and did so all the
last night and the day before. This day the Prince resolved to shift
his ship and goe on bord the R. Soveraigne.
3. This Tuesday evening his Highnes the Prince went on bord the
Soveraigne. I and Capt. Young[d] followed him, and this night lay on
bord her.
4. This Wedensday morneing, very early, I went on bord the R. Charles
to shift the men. Chose out 250 men to come on bord the Soveraigne.
* * * * *
[a] Jean, Comte d’Estrées.
[b] Thomas Butler, Earl of Ossory.
[c] A long narrow shoal off the North Foreland.
[d] Henry Young.
JOURNALL IN THE R. SOVERAIGNE, JUNE, 1673.
This 4th day of June, Wedensday, before noone, the Dutch fleet, then
rideing in Schoonvelt, all wayed and came to saile and came out to us.
We wayed with our fleet; put ourselves in the best posture we could;
but, makeing saile, we gote ahead next the blew squadron, leaveing most
of the French in the reare, with our Vice Admirall. Betwixt 4 and 5
aclock the Dutch fleet--Trump in the van, De Rutter in the body--bore
downe towards us (the wind at N.Eᵗ., a very fresh gale). We ingaged
till twas darke, more then ½ range of our shot distant. We kept our
lufe; they did likewise the same; would not come close to us. What
damage we did them we know not. On our parts we lost 2 fire ships;
shatterd our ships, many of them, in hull, masts, yards, and rigging.
Comdʳˢ killed were: Capt. White of the Warspight, and Capt. Sadleton of
the Crowne.[a] What number of men slaine in the fleet, know not. This
night we stood to the northwards with our foresaile and mainetopsailes
only. Most of the Dutch fleet, at 12 aclock at night, tackt away from
us; the remainder tackt after them at 2 aclock.
5. Betwixt 4 and 5 we tackt of after them; stood of wᵗʰ 2 topsailes;
put out our Jack flagg. Called a council of warr to know the condition
of our fleet; found our ships to be shatred in our masts and rigging,
not to be repaired in the sea; our powder and shot the greatest part
spent in two batailes. Haveing no shot in the fleet for recrute, twas
resolved by the Prince, for the more expedition (_sic_) fitting the
fleet out againe, to saile for the buoy of the Nore. We tackt; stood in
for the shore, seeing Laistoforland.[b] Stood away alongst the shore,
wᵗʰout the sands called Alborough knapes. The wind at N.E., we steered
away S.W. by S., haveing an ebb tyde to goe without the Shipwash.[c]
The flood comeing upon us sett us in so neare yᵉ Sheepewash, that we
were within a mile and a halfe of itt. We hauld of south, and, after we
were about that sand, we steered up the Swine.[d] After 8 at night we
anchored in 13 fadom watter, above the Gunflit at least 2 miles. All
the fleet likewise anchored.
6. This Fryday morneing the wind came to the S.W.; litle wind. We wayed
to plye up, and plyed the tyde to an end. Anchored about 2 miles belowe
the Midle Ground buoy,[e] in 8 fadom watter.
7. This Satuarday, 8 in the morning, we wayed; wind at Wᵗ. and W. b. N.
We turned up as high as the Oase Edge buoy;[f] there anchored and rode
all night.
8. This Sonday, wind at east, we wayed and ran up to the buoy of the
Nore. There anchored, about a mile below the buoy.
9. This Monday the wind blew very hard at Eᵗ and E.S.Eᵗ, with raine;
forct us to strick our topmasts and yards. The wind hath blowne very
hard all this day, and vered back to the E.N.Eᵗ.
10. This Tuesday, wind came to the north. Slaby weather and cold;
bloweing a fresh gale.
11. This Wedensday wind at N.Wᵗ. and north. This day the King and Duke
came on bord us. At night, after they had supt, went on bord ther
yachts.
12. This Thursday the wind at Eᵗ to S.Eᵗ. The King came out Sheerenes
about noone and dyned on bord us. This evening his Majᵗʸ and Duke of
Yorke tooke there leave of us and went in ther yachts to London.
13. This Fryday the wind blew hard at E.N.Eᵗ. This day we were falcely
allarum’d by the Holmes frigᵗᵗ comeing up from the Gunflet wᵗʰ
topgalant sails flying and fired gunns, uppon a certaine, or rather
uncertaine, intelligence that 19 or 20 saile of Dutch men of warr were
seene wᵗʰout the Gallaper. All this day it hath blowne very hard, wᵗʰ
some raine.
14. This Satuarday morneing, about 5 aclock, his Highnes Prince Rupert
went up the river in our barge for Black Heath. The wind at S.Eᵗ. This
day Sʳ John Harman, upon the receipt of a packet from Whitehall, called
a councill of warr. There ordered to send downe 7 or 8 frigᵗᵗˢ and as
many fireships, to ride twixt the Oase Edge and Redd Sand,[g] and the
rest to birth themselves N.N.E. and S.S.W. one of each other, at yᵉ
Nore.
15. This Sonday the wind hath bine from north to W.S.W.; little
wind till evening. It then blew hard, westerly. This day we had
intelligence, by a Hellicar land[h] dogger, that 17 saile of Dutch men
of warr were rideing without the Gonflitt. Yesterday he was on bord
them.
16. This Monday the wind hath bine at Wᵗ. bloweing fresh. Towards
evening the wind came to the S.S.Wᵗ. This day I sent up the Barbabella
wᵗʰ our empty caske to London. Tookeing (_sic_) aship of beere about 60
ts.
17. This Tuesday wind at S.E.; faire weather; I sent Bassets hoy up to
Chatham againe for stores.
18. This Wedensday morning wind at south and S.Eᵗ. I went into yᵉ
Swale, to setle our muster booke of the R. Charles.
19. This Thursday wind at north and N.Wᵗ.; some tyme badd weather.
20. This Fryday we tooke on bord 16 ts. of watter. The wind hath bine
at north and back to W.S.Wᵗ.; sometymes badd weather.
21. This Satuarday the wind at S.W. In the afternoone the Prince
returned on bord againe.
22. This Sonday wind southerly. The Prince went into Sheerenes.
23. This Monday wind at S.S.W. to W.N.Wᵗ.; sometymes bad weather. This
day yᵉ Prince went on shore on Essex side; came on bord againe at
noone. This day severall of our fleet came out Sheerenes.
29. To this Sonday we have had the winds southerly to the west; some 3
days badd weather. Have bine dispatching our ships out Sheerenes, and
takeing in our provissions. The Dutch fleet rideing in the Slade Way
and at the Gonflitt since Wedensday. This night his Highnes yᵉ Prince
lay on bord the Monmouth yacht.
* * * * *
[a] Richard White and Richard Sadlington.
[b] Lowestoft Ness.
[c] The Shipwash sand-bank off the mouth of the Deben.
[d] The King’s Channel or East Swin, running down east of the Gunfleet
sands, off the Essex shore.
[e] The Middle Ground shoal lies at the mouth of the Thames, some miles
below the Nore, on the Kentish side of the river.
[f] The Oaze Edge shoal near the Middle Ground, but on the Essex side.
[g] The Red Sand lies between the Ooze Edge and the Middle Ground.
[h] Heligoland.
NAVAL OPERATIONS, 1652-1673; WITH OBSERVATIONS BY CAPTAIN RICHARD
HADDOCK.