Year.| Mo. | D. | | Observations.
-----+-------+-----+------------------------+---------------------------
| | | |
1652 |June[a]| 19 |Fight in Downes between |Genˡ Blake comanded. Fight
| | |English and Dutch. |to the wᵗward off Dover.
| | | |
| Sept. | 5 |French fleet beat by |Genˡ Blake comanded.
| | |English |
| | | |
| Nov. |15[b]|Blake worsted by Dutch. |True; and retired to the
| | | |Buoy of the Nore over the
| | | |Flats.
| | | |
| Feb. | 18, |Fight near Portland. |True. Blake, Deane, and
| | 19, |Dutch beaten. |Monck. Genˡ Blake and
| | 20 | |Deane in the Tryumph;
| | | |Monk in the Vanguard.
| | | |Blake wounded.
| | | |
| | |English worsted in |True. Capᵗ Rᵈ Balilo
| | |Levant by Dutch. |commanded.
| | | |
| June |--[c]|Dutch beaten. |Deane and Monk Genˡˢ.
| | | |Deane killed.
| | | |
’53 | July | 29, |Fight between English |True. Dutch beaten. Genˡ
| | 30 |and Dutch.[d] |Monk only comanded. Trump
| | | |killed, and his flag shot
| | | |down.
| | | |
’64 | Dec. | 30 |Fleet off Portsmouth |True. Brought into Portsmᵒ
| | [e] |took 112 Dutch prizes. |and afterwards made prizes.
| | | |
’65 | Aprˡ | 20 |De Ruyter attempted |True.
| | |Berbadoes; and beaten. |
| | | |
| May | 30 |Hamburgh fleet taken by |True. Were taken with their
| | |Dutch. |convoy.
| | | |
| June | 3 |Dutch beaten by yᵉ |True. Opdam then blown up;
| | |Duke, and 30 capitˡ |the rest taken and burnt.
| | |ships taken and |
| | |destroyed. |
| | | |
| Aug. | 16 |Dutch Smerna Streights |True; and was forced away by
| | |East India ships |the Danes and Dutch, who
| | |attacqu’d by Rʳ Admˡ |landed ther guns contrary
| | |Tiddiman[f] in Bergen. |to, the concert between the
| | | |two Crowns of England
| | | |and Denmark.[g]
| | | |
| Sept. | 4 |2 East India and sevˡ |True; and two men-of-war
| | |merchᵗ ships taken by |then taken by Sprag in the
| | |E. of Sandwich. |Rˡ James, formerly called
| | | |the Richard.
| | | |
| ” | 9 |18 sˡ of Dutch beaten, |True.
| | |and greatest part taken.|
| | | |
| Feb. | 8 |Dutch chas’d into |True.
| | |Weilings by Myngs[h]. |
| | | |
’66 | June | 1 |Duke Albemᵃ engaged 90 |Fought 3 days. Then came
| | |sˡ of Dutch on coast |Prince Rupert in the Rˡ
| | |of Flanders. |James, wᵗʰ the squadron
| | | |wᶜʰ had been to the
| | | |westwᵈ to look out for
| | | |Beaufort from Toulon. Were
| | | |sent for back. Yᵉ 3ᵈ day,
| | | |Sonday, on our retreat, the
| | | |Rˡ Prince was lost on the
| | | |Galliper; set on
” | June | 4, |Dutch beaten. |fire. The Swiftsure taken
| | 5, | |by the Dutch. The 4ᵗʰ day
| | 6 | |both fleets retird: Prince
| | | |Rupert and Duke of Albemarle
| | | |to the Nore, the Dutch
| | | |to their own coast.
| | | |
” | July | 25, |Dutch beaten by Prince |The Dutch run home to their
| | 26 |Rupert and Dᵏ |harbours.
| | |Albemarle. |
| | | |
” | Augᵗ | 7 |Sʳ Rᵗ Holmes burnt |True. Sʳ Rᵗ Holmes went in
| | |150 Dutch in yᵉ Fly. |the Tyger wᵗʰ the Dragon
| | | |and some fireships and
| | | |ketches. Burnt 3 men of
| | | |war that were in the Fly
| | | |amongst the number.
| | | |Afterwards burnt the town of
| | | |Brandros[i] before he went
| | | |out.
| | | |
” | Dec. | 25 |Robinson[j] took and |True. It was in his return
| | |destroyed 3 Dutch men |from Gottenburgh, whither
| | |of warr near yᵉ |he was sent to convoy
| | |Texell. |home a great fleet laden
| | | |with naval stores.
| | | |
1667 | April | 30 |Dutch attempted Burnt |True, I beleive.
| | |Isleand in Scotland |
| | |and beaten of. |
| | | |
” | June | 11 |12 Dutch taken and 2 |True.
| | [k] |sunck near Norway. |
| | | |
” | June | 20 |Rich Dutch East India |True. Taken by Sʳ Jeremy
| | |ship, 74 guns, taken. |Smyth in his sayling about
| | | |Scotland to Ireland.
| | | |
” | June | 25 |Sʳ Jno. Harman wᵗʰ |True.
| | |16 Engl. men of warr |
| | |engaged 30 French near |
| | |Martinego; burnt and |
| | |destroyed most of them. |
| | | |
” | | 26 |8 Dutch prizes with |True, I beleive.
| | |masts and deals taken. |
| | | |
” | July | 19 |Dutch attemptᵈ Torbay, |True.
| | |but beaten off. |
| | | |
” | | 23 |23 Dutch make up yᵉ |
| | |Thames. |
| | | |
” | July | 24 |Fought by Spragg near |True. He forc’t ’em out of
| | |yᵉ Hope and retire. |the River, after having
| | | |burnt and taken 12 sayle
| | | |of their fireships; and we
| | | |lost but one of our 12. So
| | | |forct them down the King’s
| | | |channel below the Middle,[l]
| | | |having but 6 men of war
| | | |and 12 fireships. Sʳ Joseph
| | | |Jordain came from Harwich
| | | |in a smal man of war with
| | | |sevˡ colliers made
| | | |fireships. We rode then at
| | | |Lee Road.[m] Dutch at the
| | | |Nore. Wind blew hard
| | | |easterly. Did no execution
| | | |on the Dutch.
| | | |
” | Augᵗ | 3 |De Ruyter attempts yᵉ |True, but did no execution
| | |Virginia fleet. |on yᵐ.
| | | |
” | | 24 |Six Engl., cruiseing |I beleive it true, but know
| | |northwᵈ, fought a |not of it.
| | |squadron of Dutch |
| | |and took 3. |
| | | |
’71 | May | 10 |10 Algerines burnt at |True. The boom was first cut
| | |Bugia by Sʳ Ed. |by Capt. Harman,[n] that
| | |Spragg. |comanded the boats.
| | | |
” | July | 5 |Sʳ Christophʳ |
| | |restor’d by the French. |
| | | |
’72 | Mar. | 14 |Sʳ Rᵗ Holmes fought |True; but ’twas not for
| | |yᵉ Dutch refusing to |refusing to strike.
| | |strike. |
| | | |
” | May | 28 |Fight wᵗʰ yᵉ whole |True. In that fight the Rˡ
| | |Dutch Fleet off |James was burnt, after she
| | |Southwold bay. |had quitted herself of
| | | |Brackel,[o] a Dutch 70 gun
| | | |ship, that lay athwort her
| | | |hawse, which she took; and
| | | |being disabled gave
| | | |opportunity of a fireship
| | | |clapping her aboard.
| | | |
” | Dec. | 20 |Tobago Island taken |True.
| | |from yᵉ Dutch. |
| | | |
’72 | Dec. | 31 |Sᵗ Hellena taken by |True.
| | |yᵉ Dutch. |
| | | |
’73 | May | 6 |Sᵗ Hellena retaken by |True.
| | |Capt. Monday. |
| | | |
” | May | 28 |Engl. Fleet engage yᵉ |True. Fought in yᵉ
| | |Dutch and force them |Schonvelt.
| | |to retreat. |
| | | |
” | June | 4 |2ᵈ engagemᵗ wᵗʰ |True. Fought yᵉ Dutch on
| | |yᵉ Dutch on yᵉ coast. |yʳ coast, but stood over to
| | | |our own all that battle. The
| | | |next morn we tackt on the
| | | |Dutch: but they stood away
| | | |for their own coast; and we
| | | |stood back and came to the
| | | |Nore after 2 battles in
| | | |eight days.
| | | |
” | Aug. | 11 |3ᵈ victory against yᵉ |Fought the Dutch; but no
| | |Dutch by Pʳ Rupert. |great victory. The French
| | | |declined fighting, and fleet
| | | |retired to the Nore some
| | | |time after. Sʳ Edwᵈ Sprag
| | | |then drownd. Rˡ Prince’s
| | | |mainmᵗ shot down; had like
| | | |to have been burnt.
-----+-------+-----+------------------------+----------------------------
[a] A mistake for May.
[b] On the 29th November. It was after this action that Van Tromp
hoisted the broom at his mast-head.
[c] On the 2nd and 3rd June, off the North Foreland.
[d] Off the Dutch coast.
[e] Before declaration of war, in retaliation for attacks by the Dutch
on the colonies.
[f] Sir Thomas Tiddiman, or Teddiman.
[g] The Governor of Bergen not having yet received the instructions
from his Government and refusing to admit the English fleet.
[h] Sir Christopher Mings; died of wounds received in the action of 1st
June.
[i] Bandaris in the island of Schelling.
[j] Sir Robert Robinson.
[k] The day that the Dutch were in the Medway.
[l] The Middle, a shoal off Foulness, between the West Swin and the
East Swin or King’s Channel.
[m] Near the mouth of the Thames, off the village of Lee on the Essex
side.
[n] Thomas Harman.
[o] Adrian Brackell, the captain of the Dutch man-of-war.
WILLIAM BRANDON TO SIR RICHARD HADDOCK.
Portsmᵒ Victuallᵍ Office,
July 24ᵗʰ, 1688.
HONᵇˡᵉ Sʳ,
The last post brought a news letter to this place, wherein are these
words: It is reported that Sʳ Richᵈ Haddock, Capt. Pennyman, and
severall other seamen, are gone for Holland; wᶜʰ are lookt upon heere
as a verry greate reflection upon your Honʳ, that cannott without
ingratitude and breach of duty omit acquainting you with itt and the
author’s name, wᶜʰ is Edmond Sawkell, att the Generall Post Office. I
have and shall vindicate your Honʳ to my outmost power; and begg leave
to subscribe myself
Yoʳ Honʳˢ
Most humble and obedient servᵗ,
Wᵐ BRANDON.
To the Honᵇˡᵉ Sʳ Richᵈ Haddock, Knᵗ, one of the Commʳˢ for
Victualling his Majᵗʸˢ Navy, att the office on Tower Hill,
London, These.
SIR RICHARD HADDOCK TO PHILIP FROWD.[a]
Tower Hill, London, this 29th July, 1688.
Sʳ,
The last weeke, in a news lettr wrote by a servᵗ of yours, one Mr. Edmᵈ
Sawkell, there is a scandallous reflection on my honʳ and reputation,
by his writeing that Sʳ Rᵈ Haddock wᵗʰ seuerall other seamen were gone
into Holland, wᶜʰ I have recᵈ aᶜᶜᵗ of sᵈ letter from 3 or 4 countys,
and must beleive it hath flowne all the kingdome over.
Sʳ, I was this day to waite on you at yʳ post ofice; but, haveing accᵗ
given me that you were in the country, thought fitt, before I spake
wᵗʰ Mr. Sawkill, to give you notice hereof, and yᵗ you will readylie
conclude I shall expect satisfaction from him for this scandall, at
least yᵗ he finds out his author or else must conclud him to be the
inventor himselfe. I do presume you know me so well as to beleive,
however the King may please to deale wᵗʰ me (wᶜʰ hetherto hath bine
extra kind), I shall never forsake my loyalty and duty to him, even to
my last breath. Praying a lyne or two in answer, with great respect, I
remaine
Your very afectᵉ servant,
Rᵈ H.
TO JN. (_sic_) FROWD, ESQ.
* * * * *
[a] Postmaster-General.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH HADDOCK TO HIS BROTHER, SIR RICHARD HADDOCK.
Abord the Ship Princess of Denmark,
17th Xber, 1688. Balasore Roade.
Sʳ RICHᵈ HADDOCK.
MY EVER HONᵈ BROTHER,
My last, of the 7ᵗʰ Augᵗ from Visagapatam, gave yoʳ Honʳ accᵗ of our
arrivall Madras and of our affaires to that tyme. The 10ᵗʰ Augᵗ we
saild thence for Balasore, wher we arriv’d the 15ᵗʰ; in wᶜʰ bay we
have contᵈ and rid out the monsoone, wᶜʰ has prov’d favourabler then
expected (beinge leape yeare).
The 15ᵗʰ 7ber Capᵗ Heath arriv’d this place, who, by virtue of the
President and Counsell of Madras order requir’d my goeinge up wᵗʰ hime
to Chuttynutte[a] in the river of Hugly (the place where our Agent
and factorie resided), myselfe wᵗʰ the rest of the comandʳˢ of the
Europe Shipps then in the river to assist hime in the Rᵗ Honᵇˡᵉ Compˢ
affairs.[b] In fews days after our getting up to Chuttynutte, a letter
was writ to the Nabob of Dacca (the cheife govenʳ of that citty), who
had formerly requested our Agent that if we would assist hime wᵗʰ
ships to transport soulders and horss from Chottagam to Arraccan (they
beinge in warrs wᵗʰ that Kinge), he would give us his Pharwanna[c] of
a settlemᵗ of trade, wᵗʰ prevaledges as formerly accordinge to the 12
articles formerly sent hime from our agent &c. Capt. Heath, in the
letter sent, condesended to the Nabob’s request, in suplyinge hime wᵗʰ
10 ships and vessells for the Mogull’s occations, to transport ther
soulders and horss, provided they would allow of the buildinge of a
fortyfiction wᵗʰin the river of Hugly, for the better security of the
Rᵗ Honᵇˡᵉ Compˢ estate and serᵗˢ; wᵗʰout wᶜʰ grant of a fortyfied place
the Compˢ ordʳˢ possitive are, to wᵗʰdraw off all our factory from this
place.
We continued heere 5 weeks for the Nabob’s answer to the proposall:
but not comeing, we, haveinge taken off all the Honᵇˡᵉ Compˢ concernes
from the shoare, saild from Chuttynᵗʸ the 8ᵗʰ 9ber, and passed by ther
fortts peaceably. At our arrival Balasore found that the govenʳ of the
towne had (some tyme before our comeinge) detaind the Rᵗ Honᵇˡᵉ Compˢ
goods, beinge this yeares investmᵗˢ, alsoe partic. mens goods; and
would not permit none of the factors, nor our people that were ashoure
buying provit[ions], to come off. Capᵗ Heath sent 2 of our factors wᵗʰ
a letter to the govenʳ (who was come downe to the bancksall, or point
of sand goeinge into the river, wher he was makeinge a fortyfication),
to demand the Rᵗ Honbᵉ Compˢ goods wᵗʰ all our men. His answer was,
what he did was by order from the Nabob; and, if he did dilliver our
goods and men, should loose his head. 3 days after, 2 of the factors
were againe sent to aquaint the govenʳ that our intention was to depart
out these parts peaceable, we haveinge come away out Hugly river wᵗʰout
doeinge any act of hostillity to any of the Mogull’s subjects; therfore
requird hime to send off our goods and people by faire meanes; if not,
we would have them by force of armes. Wᶜʰ hee not permitting them too
goe off, the next day all our soulders, about 320, and upwards 240
seamen were put into the small vessels and all our boates; and early
next morninge they landed a mile to the W.ward of the fort (wᶜʰ the
govnʳ had rais’d); against wᶜʰ landinge place they had planted 5 small
guns on a sandhill, wᶜʰ they discharg’d at our men, and killd 2 and
wounded 2 more; soe fled from the guns. And soone after, the cheife
capᵗ of our soulders had drawne all the soulders and seamen in order of
battalia, marcht up to the fort, wᶜʰ, at ther aproach, fired all ther
guns they had planted to the land; but, soone after, the govenʳ and
all his men fleed out the fort wᵗʰout doeing much harme to our men; the
wᶜʰ we possest wᵗʰout any farther opposition. In and about this fort
they had upwards 40 guns mounted and a good wall made wᵗʰ timber and
clay; might have bine sufficient (if manag’d by Europeans) to [have]
wᵗʰstood a great armie of men, or at least done much more mischief then
they did.
The govenʳ, after deserted his fort, made all hast possable up to
Balasore towne, and orderd the factory house (in wᶜʰ were confind all
our people, thirteene in number) to be sett on fire. Our people in
the house defended themselves bravely, killinge sevˡ of the Moors;
but by the firsness of the fire were forct to surrender themselves on
tearmes to have ther lives and good useage. The next day Capt. Heath
(who went ashoare wᵗʰ the soulders--Capᵗ Sharpe comanded the small
vessells and boates that were to goe over the barr, leaveinge mee in
comand of the ships in the roade) went up with all the soulders and
seamen to Balasore towne by watter and landed short of old Balasore
fort, the wᶜʰ they soone tooke; soe marcht into the towne, few or noe
people beinge left to oppose them; the govenʳ disertinge it at ther
comeinge, caryinge wᵗʰ hime all our English, amongst wᶜʰ are 3 of our
ships compᵃ, vizᵗ. Mr. Davenant (beinge ashoare buyinge provit[ions]),
Charles Scarlet, midshipman, and Sam Harbin, gunʳ, serᵗ of Capⁿ
Heath’s, his pursur, and 3 more, Mr. Stanly, cheife of the factory,
the rest free men that trades in the country. As yet we cannot gett
the govenʳ to give ther releasemᵗ. We have sent sevˡ messingers to
hime, that we have not burnt ther towne nor ships, expectinge he would
dilliver up our men; but, if not, we will returne and doe both. Our
soulders (but seamen more espetially) have comitted many inhuemane
actions in the towne, plundringe not only Moors but sevˡ Portugeese
houses, and killed sevˡ innocent people. We have had the greatest loss
in this axtion, vizᵗ. 4 men killd and 3 wounded. Ther names are: Mr.
Starland, 3d mate, Henry Grove, cheife trumpetter, Christopher Hogg,
and Jnᵒ Hinton, who very indiscreetly went out wᵗʰ sevˡ more seamen to
a garden house, expectinge great plunder, were cut off, sevˡ of them,
by a party of horss. The 3 wounded are Henʳʸ Roxby, Franˢ Johnson, and
Jnᵒ Smart.
I have, by the Williamson (by whom this is alsoe intended you), sent
Sʳ Henʳʸ Johnson and Sʳ Tho. Rawlinson, and alsoe to my wife, a list
of our dead &cᵃ men, in all 44. Our supernumery men wᶜʰ I brought out
of England, beinge 27, at my arivall Madras, I aquaintd the President
therwᵗʰ, who offred them to Cap. Bromwell, the Rotchester haveinge lost
most of ther men. But he refuseinge to pay the charge the Honᵇˡᵉ Compᵃ
were at sendinge them out, they were not taken out ther; and what of
them that are alive doe still remaine in our ship, not beinge demanded
here by the agent. I supose our owners will be alowed for them at 50ˢ
per mᵒ, noe longer then our departure Madras, to wᶜʰ tyme we had lost
30 men. I doe not repent ther continueinge abord, haveinge had soe
great mortolaty and most of them the best of our seamen.
I supose our next enterprize will be towards Chottagam, a place neere
the coast of Arraccan. The Rᵗ Honᵇˡᵉ Compᵃ possative orders are for
endeavouringe the takinge it; but I feare we shall not have strength
sufficient to effect it, the Nabob haveinge sent many thousand of [men]
this yeare ther to over run and take the kingdome of Arracan. The king
of that country beinge some tyme since dead, part of the people are in
rebelion against the present govermᵗ; by whᶜʰ its supos’d the Mogullers
will goe farr in takeing that country this yeare, and we frustrated of
our designe.
Honᵇˡᵉ Sir, I have not writt to any of owners (except the 2 in charty
party), beleivinge we shall returne to Madras before the Williamson
sailes for England. Our ship is in a very good condition and very
thite. I beleive our stay in India will be the extreme of our tyme, for
at present noe prospect of a freight for Europe; and I feare the brave
trade of Bengall will be lost, at whᶜʰ the Dutch and French rejoyce,
that this trade may wholy fall to them.
I have not elce to add; only please to present my duty, respects, and
love to all our deere relations and freinds. Thus, wᵗʰ my due respects
to yoʳ selfe and my good lady sister, doe remaine,
Honᵇˡᵉ Sʳ, yoʳ affectionate bro. and Serᵗ, whilst
JOˢ HADDOCK.
Sʳ I recᵈ yoʳ letter, alsoe one from my wife sent per the Defence; and
returne my humble thancks for it.
For the Honᵇˡᵉ Sʳ Richᵈ Haddock, at his house on Tower Hill.
Present. London.
Pʳ the Williamson, Capt. Ashby, Comandʳ, D.G.
* * * * *
[a] Chuttanuttee, now Calcutta.
[b] Early in 1686 the Company fitted out an expedition to retaliate
on the Nawab of Bengal for past injuries, and to attempt to seize
Chittagong. But before the arrival of the forces a premature quarrel
with the natives forced the English to abandon Hoogly and retire to
Chuttanuttee. In Sept. 1687, a truce was patched up, but the Company
was not satisfied. An armament was despatched under command of Heath.
The result was the attack on Balasore, as told in this letter, an
abortive attempt on Chittagong, and the abandonment of the Company’s
factories in Bengal.--See Mill’s _Hist. of British India_, book i.
chap. v.
[c] Farwana, the licence granted by a viceroy; as distinguished from a
firman, granted by a sovereign.
RICHARD HADDOCK[a] TO HIS FATHER, SIR RICHARD HADDOCK.
Aprill[b] yᵉ 23ᵈ [1692]; Munday, in yᵉ Hooke.[c]
HONOURD Sʳ,
This is to acquaint of our ingaging wᵗʰ yᵉ French and of our haveing
gott yᵉ victory. Wee mett yᵐ of sea, May 19. There was about 60 saile.
Wee fought yᵐ from 11 to 9 att night; since wᶜʰ, have been in pursuit
of yᵐ. There is run ashoare, in Sherbrook bay, Torveil[d] wᵗʰ 3 more
capitall ships, wᶜʰ are now burned. Cozen Tom Heath[e] burnt Torveil;
and have chased 14 saile more in yᵉ Hooke, where wee now are. Sʳ
Cloudsly Shovel is goeing in wᵗʰ yᵉ 3ᵈ rates and fire-ships to destroy
yᵐ. Wee have been soe unfortunate as [to] lose Rear Admˡˡ Carter[f]
in yᵉ fight. I am very well and have received no wound; only a small
splinter hitt mee on yᵉ thigh, but did no damage, only made itt black
and blew. I would write more particularly, but yᵉ vessell I heare is
goeing away presently; soe, haveing no more att present, butt duty to
your self and my mother,
I remain your dutyfull Son,
RICHᵈ HADDOCK.
Cozen Ruffin is alive and very well. I will write yᵉ particulars of our
fight as soon as wee come into any port.
Rᵈ H.
For Sʳ Richᵈ Haddock, att yᵉ Navy Office, in Crutched Fryers,
London.
* * * * *
[a] Afterwards Comptroller of the Navy. See Preface.
[b] A slip of the pen for _May_.
[c] “The Hooke” and “Sherbrook,” nautical English for La Hogue and
Cherbourg.
[d] Tourville fought in the great three-decker “Royal Sun,” the largest
vessel afloat.
[e] Afterwards captain of the Chester. Died in the West Indies in 1693.
[f] “Carter was the first who broke the French line. He was struck
by a splinter of one of his own yard-arms, and fell dying on the
deck. He would not let go his sword. ‘Fight the ship,’ were his last
words; ‘fight the ship as long as she can swim.’”--Macaulay, _Hist. of
England_, chap. xviii.
ISABELLA CHICHELEY[a] TO SIR RICHARD HADDOCK.
Wedensday night, the 4 July, [16]94.
Your good nature, Sʳ, hath drawne upon you the gossupin of a company
of women. My sisters desire we may drinke our punch with you to-morrow
in the evening, about six aclocke, if it is not inconvenient to you.
I should have sent to you to day, but was prevented. However, Sʳ, it
may yett be ajorned for longer time, if you are othere wise disposed.
The docters are sending me to Tunbridge ere long, soe that a warm
foundation before drinking those cold waters will not [be] amisse for,
Sʳ,
Your oblidged, humble servant,
ISABELLA CHICHELEY.
For Sʳ Rich. Haddocke, These.
* * * * *
[a] Probably related to Admiral Sir John Chicheley.
SIR RICHARD HADDOCK TO HIS SON RICHARD.
Navy Office, this 27th Novʳ, 1702.
DEARE SON,
I have yoʳˢ of yesterday’s date, from the Downes, wᶜʰ brings us the
joyfull tydeings of yoʳ safe arrivall there. Yoʳ long passage from
Newfoundland put us in great feare of your wellfare, and perticularly
your moʳ hath bine for a month or 5 weekes crying for you and yoʳ
brother Nicˢ safety; but blessed be God you are both come well home.
Your broʳ now with us came up from the Downes by leave from his Captⁿ,
and hath behaved himself with so much bravery and couradge that he hath
gained the good report of the Duke of Ormond, his Captⁿ, &c., both in
the action at Rotta and St. Mary Port,[a] and Vigo, and was the first
man that borded one of the gallions at Vigo,[b] wᶜʰ is come home. I do
not find by yoʳ letter that you were wᵗʰ your Comodore at the takeing
and destroying the French shipps to the southwards of Trepassa,[c] and
consequently you will not come in for your share of that capture. The
news papers tells us yoʳ prize is got into Plymᵒ, and for your boate
wᵗʰ 5 men you say you left behind at Plymᵒ we never heard anything of
it, wᶜʰ gives you trouble; and because you write not of my Coz Wᵐ’ˢ[d]
wellfare, I am conscernd for feare he might be in that boate. To morrow
morning I intend to go to yᵉ Admᵗʸ and endeavor you may come into the
River, if his R. Highness orders your cleaneing.
God Allmighty hath blest yᵉ forces of her Majᵗʸ and her Allies, both
by land and sea, in a wonderfull manner; for wᶜʰ we lately had a
publick day of thanksgiveing in this citty. The Queene, House of Lords
and Comons, wᵗʰ the Bishops, Judges, &c. came to Sᵗ Paul’s Church,
where, after sermon, Te Deum was sung.
Since your leaveing England, two of our bord are dead, vizᵗ. Mr.
Sotherne and my good freind Comʳ Willshaw,[e] who dyed yᵉ 23ᵈ Sepʳ
last. My Coz Anna Babb, that was in one of our almes houses at Stepny,
is likewise dead, and my poore Cozⁿ Lockwood’s son in law, Cozⁿ
Hodges, dyed lately at Gosport, since his arrivall from Cadix and
Vigo, who waited a tender on yᵉ Duke of Ormond’s shipp. We are all in
good health, praised be God, and do kindly salut you. I am your most
afectionᵗ father,
Rᵈ HADDOCK.
Pray let me know how yoʳ shipp proves. I have concernd my selfe to get
one of yᵉ 4ᵗʰ rates building at Deptford for you, and this day spake
to Sʳ Geo. Rooke about it, and formerly to yᵉ other 3 Councill of yᵉ
Lord High Admˡˡ. I know she is tender by your reifeing your courses;
and twas well hinted in yours to yᵉ Admᵗʸ. I am glad you past by Plymᵒ.
Orders went thither some tyme since to cleane you and severall of yoʳ
consarts.
Rᵈ H.
On Her Majesty’s Service. To Captⁿ Richard Haddock, Comandʳ of
her Majᵗʸ Shipp the Reserve, these present, In yᵉ Downes.
* * * * *
[a] In the expedition against Cadiz, the Duke of Ormond effected a
landing at Rota at the north end of the Bay of Cadiz, on the 15th
August, and occupied Puerto de Santa Maria, on the east of the Bay, six
days afterwards.
[b] The attack on the shipping in Vigo took place on the 12th October.
[c] Trepassey, in Newfoundland.
[d] This is probably the William Haddock noticed by Charnock,
_Biographia Navalis_, iv. 44, who died in 1726. He may have been the
son of Richard Haddock, Sir Richard’s uncle.
[e] Thomas Willshaw, Commissioner of the Navy and Master of the Trinity
House.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
Navy Office, this 10ᵗʰ Decembʳ, 1703.
MY DEARE SON,
Your letter of the 17ᵗʰ Novʳ past, giveing me accᵗ of the unhapy
disaster of your ship being run ashore by a Dutch pilot and of your
happy getting off againe, I recᵈ 3 or 4 ds. after its date; but,
hopeing you might have gote away before an answer could arrive you,
I forbore answering it to you to Helvoet Sluce. I have just now recᵈ
yours of the 7ᵗʰ instant, Tuesday, and, to our great joy, the accᵗ
of God Almighty’s wonderfull preservation of you in the late most
dreadfull storm,[a] wᶜʰ no man liveing can remember the like. I
perseave you have had an accᵗ of the most sad and lamentable efects of
it heere in England, not only in the losse of our shipp[ing], but about
1500 men in the Queen’s shipps. I shall not eneumerate yᵉ perticulars
of the losse, only that Capt. Emes,[b] wᵗʰ his wife and son and all yᵉ
men in yᵉ Restauration, lost on yᵉ Goodwin, and poore Tom Blake drowned
at Bristoll in yᵉ Canterbury store ship cast away. The Dorcetshire we
have accᵗ of her being on yᵉ back of Yarmᵒ Sands, cruseing, I supose
for want of anchors and cables, and hope yᵉ Association is cruseing
in the sea on the like occasion. My deare son Nicᵒ hapend to be sick
on bord her, as Sʳ S. Fairebone[c] wrote me from the Downes. I sent
Tom Apleby imediatly to Deale to bring him up; but the ship sailed yᵉ
morning before he gote downe. I hope he will come well home to us. Pray
God the Russell may be got of yᵉ sands and into Helvoet Sluce.
Wee haue 7 or 8 vessells wᵗʰ anchors and cables in Harwᶜʰ or Oasely
bay, ready to put to sea when we heare where Sʳ Stafford is. Sʳ Cloud.
Shovell I hope now safe at the Nore; his mainemast cut downe after he
had drove 3 leagˢ from yᵉ Longsᵈ, very neare the Galloper. Yᵉ Sᵗ Geo.
and R. Oake, now at Blackstakes, rode out yᵉ storme wᵗʰout damage; and
the Cambridge I beleive the same. The 4 ships that broke from their
ground takle was the Association, Russell, Revenge, and Dorcetshire.
The Revenge was in Solebay some tyme since, and furnish wᵗʰ anchors and
cables from yᵉ Nottingham and another man of warr yᵗ went out Yarmᵒ
roads to looke for our shipps. Capt. Kerr[d] in yᵉ Revenge gave accᵗ
that he saw yᵉ Association, Monday last was sevenight; so that we are
in hope she is very well. I shall not inlarge, only to give you our
kind saluts. Pray God send you wᵗʰ yᵉ King of Spaine well out that
place and over to us. My harty and humble service to Sʳ Geo: Rooke.
I am your most afecᵗ father,
R. H.
* * * * *
[a] On the 26th November.
[b] Fleetwood Emms.
[c] Sir Stafford Fairborne, Vice-Admiral of the Red.
[d] William Kerr. Dismissed the service, in 1708, for joining in a
contraband trade with the enemy.
CAPTAIN EDWARD WHITAKER[a] TO SIR RICHARD HADDOCK.
Dated on board her Majᵗⁱᵉˢ ship Dorsetshire,
in Gibralter Bay, July yᵉ 29ᵗʰ [1704].
Sʳ,