During the whole of the month of May the English fleet remained cruising
betwixt Gravelines and Dover, till Albemarle began to revile the Dutch
for their cowardice in fearing to leave their harbours, while of de
Beaufort we had neither signs nor tidings.
At length, on the last day of May, news was brought that the French
fleet was actually in the Channel once more, and that de Ruyter and Van
Tromp, with eighty sail, were already on the way to effect a union with
de Beaufort.
A hurried council of war was held on board the flagship, and here
Albemarle made the first great mistake of his life; for it is reported
he held the Dutch so cheaply that he ordered Prince Rupert to take
twenty vessels of our fleet and make to the westward to find and engage
the French, while he relied on his remaining fifty-four ships to meet
the formidable array of Dutchmen.
This counsel our captain, Sir George Ascue, ventured to oppose, but
honest George in his wrath bade him hold his tongue, and Prince Rupert
hastened on board his ship to detach the squadron of twenty ships in
order to seek de Beaufort. Before nightfall we saw them hull down, and
we set sail so as to arrive off the coast of Holland and destroy de
Ruyter's craven fleet.
Craven we dubbed them; but when, on the morning of the 1st of June, we
found the Dutch fleet lying at anchor, to our surprise they immediately
slipped their cables and stood out to meet us, with a courage and
determination that made Albemarle bitterly regret his lack of caution.
On board the _Prince Royal_ all was bustle and excitement, yet our
preparations were made without untoward confusion. Sir George made a
stirring speech, the drums beat to quarters, and then came that irksome
interval before opening fire that tells so acutely on the nerves of even
the most hardened veteran.
The action began in a strong wind that, blowing athwart the tide, raised
such a steep sea that most of our ships were unable to open their
lee'ard lower-deck ports, a misfortune that more than outbalanced our
advantage in having the weather gauge.
When within a mile of the enemy a signal was made to shorten sail, but
the hot-headed vice-admiral, Sir William Berkeley, kept on till, half a
mile ahead of the rest of us, he encountered the fire of over twenty of
the Dutchmen.
We watched the gallant though unequal conflict. Unflinchingly his ship
received the tremendous broadsides of the enemy, and, undaunted, Sir
William returned the fire, till at length the combatants were lost in a
heavy pall of smoke. Gradually the noise of the struggle ceased and the
smoke cleared away. Then, to our dismay, we saw the gallant vessel a
helpless, dismasted wreck in the possession of the Dutch.
Now came our turn, and before we were within a comfortable distance our
spars and rigging began to fall on the deck in a manner that none of us
had previously experienced. The solution of the mystery was afforded
shortly afterwards by three seamen being cut in two apparently by one
shot, which finished up its career of death by splintering the base of
the mainmast.
The bos'n, who was standing close to me, hastened to where the missile
lay, and lifting it up he exclaimed: "That's where they have us! 'Tis a
chain shot--a new invention of that stubborn fiend de Wit!"
We were soon hotly engaged. Dead and wounded encumbered our decks,
while the new and stately appearance of the _Prince Royal_ altered till
our ship resembled a butcher's shambles. Nevertheless, against
tremendous odds, we kept up a hot fire, and had the satisfaction of
seeing more than one of the towering sides of the Dutchmen crumbled into
a shapeless mass of charred and splintered timbers.
With the approach of night both fleets withdrew; but for us there was
little rest, as all hands were employed reeving fresh rigging, splicing
spars, and plugging shot holes, while our dead were committed to the
deep, and the wounded transhipped to one of the smaller vessels.
As the sun rose we descried the enemy lying a mile from us. Without
hesitation both sides made ready to renew the sanguinary combat. The
wind was now much lighter, and in consequence our ships triced up our
lower-deck ports and ran out their formidable array of guns--a sight
that gave us additional courage,--and the result was not lost upon the
Dutch.
In spite of their number we stuck closely to them, the flagship of Van
Tromp, who fought in a manner worthy of our former foeman, his
redoubtable sire, being singled out as a prize worth taking. Three
vessels engaged his ship, and were within an ace of making him haul down
his flag, when de Ruyter threw seven of his largest vessels between Van
Tromp and our shattered ships. Then through the smoke we perceived that
sixteen ships had reinforced the already superior number of the
Dutchmen, and, to save ourselves from total destruction, Albemarle
hoisted a signal for the English to retreat slowly towards the mouth of
the Thames.
Smarting under the disgrace, we obeyed, firing as we went. Scarce
thirty English ships remained out of the fifty-four that commenced the
fight. Keeping close together, and yawing from time to time in order to
deliver a broadside at our pursuers, we held doggedly on our course,
till at length a flat calm set in, and both fleets lay inactive at a
mile apart, in which situation darkness again overtook us.
Through sheer exhaustion our men were unable to execute even the
smallest, necessary repairs, and throughout the short summer's night
they slept heavily at their posts.
As daylight dawned upon the third day of the fight we continued our
retreat, and as a faint southerly wind sprang up the enemy drew near
with the intention of renewing the fight, concentrating their efforts on
Albemarle's ship, which, covering the retreat, presented an undaunted
spectacle to our relentless foes.
The _Prince Royal_ was next in line ahead, and so close were we that one
of Albemarle's officers hailed us to the effect that the admiral had
expressed his intention of firing the magazines should things come to
the worst.
Shortly after midday a loud shout rose from the Dutch ships, and their
rigging was alive with men gazing southward and frantically waving their
arms.
"Send a man aloft there," ordered Sir George Ascue, his face crimson
with excitement, "and see what those beggars are clamouring over."
The command was obeyed with alacrity, and several of our vessels also
sent a seaman to the masthead on a similar errand.
"Sail, ho!" sang out the lookout. "There's a fleet hull down to the
south'ard."
"Heaven grant 'tis Rupert's squadron!" ejaculated our captain; "though
methinks by their noise those scurvy Dutchmen are sure 'tis de
Beaufort."
A few hours would decide whether the English ships would be hopelessly
trapped betwixt the two fleets, or whether Prince Rupert's vessels would
arrive to turn a retreat into a decisive victory.
The suspense was far more trying than the heat of the engagement had
been, but about six o'clock Albemarle hoisted a signal that decided the
matter. It was: "Fleet turn four points to the south'ard to effect
junction with Prince Rupert."
Eagerly was the manoeuvre executed, and our shattered fleet bore up to
meet our welcome reinforcements; but at this juncture an accident
occurred that, as far as we were concerned, threw us into the direst
misfortune.
The _Prince Royal_, on the new course, was the leemost vessel, and to
bring her more into line the master sailed her more off the wind than
the rest.
Suddenly a heavy thud shook us from stem to stern, and our damaged
mizzen mast went by the board. Shouts and execrations arose, and all
was confusion; we were hard and fast aground on the Galloper Sands,
while we had the mortification of seeing the rest of the fleet stand off
and leave us to our fate.
With the falling tide the _Prince Royal_ listed heavily to starboard, so
that her guns were for the most part unworkable, and her great sides
were exposed an easy target for the enemy.
Above the din we heard Sir George's voice ordering the men to fall into
their stations quietly and orderly. "We're safe enough for the present,
my lads," he exclaimed, "for the rascally Dutchmen cannot approach us
save in their pinnaces. These we can easily drive off. At this range,
too, their fire will be ineffective. They themselves will be too busy
with our ships, and with the next tide we'll float easily enough."
His example animated the men, who immediately began to load their
muskets and serve out boarding pikes and broadswords, while the master
took steps to lay out a couple of anchors in readiness to warp the ship
into deep water directly the floodtide should release her.
Meanwhile our consorts were miles away, though probably the desired
junction had been made, and we expected to see their topsails fill as
they turned to renew the combat. But our attention was drawn by the
near approach of the Hollanders. Four large vessels hove to at a
quarter of a mile to windward of us and opened a furious fire. Their
shots punished us terribly, though, as if hoping to take possession of
us, they spared us betwixt wind and water, and directed their fire on
our upper works and spars. An hour we lay thus, receiving their combined
storm of shot, yet unable to reply. Splinters flew, ropes, blocks, and
spars came tumbling down from aloft, men fell dead or wounded, and
shrieks and groans rent the air, while all we could do was to shake our
fists in useless rage at our unapproachable foes.
Presently we saw boatloads of armed men leaving the Dutch ships, and we
realized that an attempt was to be made to carry us by boarding. This
spurred us to action, and directly the boats came within musket range a
hot fire was opened on them, though in this act many of our men,
exposing themselves recklessly, were shot down by the fire from the guns
of the ships.
Several of the boats were sunk by a well-directed fire from our swivel
guns, but eight or nine gained the side of the _Prince Royal_, and,
passing under the comparative shelter afforded by our lofty stern,
boarded us on the starboard side, where, owing to the list, our bulwarks
were much lower than on the other side.
They clambered up our sides with the greatest intrepidity, but were met
with equal resolution and courage. More boats were sunk alongside by
dropping heavy shot into them, those of their crew who wore breastplates
perishing miserably in the sea. Evidently the Dutchmen thought our
losses under fire had been greater than they actually were; but they
soon realized their mistake, and with thrust of pike, swordthrusts,
musket and pistol shots, they were swept aside as fast as their heads
appeared above the bulwarks.
[Illustration: "THEY CLAMBERED UP OUR SIDES WITH THE GREATEST
INTREPIDITY"]
Only one of the enemy reached our deck, and he was dragged on board by
the clever cast of a running bowline thrown by a seaman, who, seizing
his captive in his powerful grasp, demanded and obtained his surrender
at the point of a gleaming knife, while his comrades roared with
laughter at the hapless Dutchman's discomfiture.
The attempt to board us failed dismally, only four boats, filled with
more or less wounded men, getting clear from our sides, their retreat
being hailed with shouts of derision from our exultant seamen.
But our joy was turned to feelings of dismay when we perceived that two
small ships had joined the Dutch men-of-war, and that they were brought
to with reduced canvas immediately to windward of us, and were held by
stern moorings only, so that their bows were pointed straight at our
luckless vessel. Most of us knew too much of the art of war to need to
have these new tactics explained: we were to be attacked by fire ships!
In our helpless position we were doomed. Not a boat did we carry that
was in a condition to float, otherwise volunteers would not have been
lacking who would have risked their lives in an attempt to tow these
furnaces clear of us. The officers held a consultation--Sir George
Ascue was not one of them; whether he was killed or wounded I did not at
that time know--and the opinion of the council was that if we were
grappled by the fire ships our fate would no doubt be a glorious one,
but of little use to His Majesty the King. On the other hand, if we
surrendered, there was a possibility of being recaptured by our
consorts, and thus our services would be still at His Majesty's command.
The latter alternative was accepted, and, amidst the furious and
indignant shouts of the seamen, the Cross of St. George was struck, and
a white flag fluttered from our mainmast truck.
The Dutchmen immediately sent boats to take possession of the
unfortunate _Prince Royal_, but ere the first boat came alongside, most
of the crew had secured their personal belongings. I, for my part, went
below and placed all the money I had in a leather pouch, which I
strapped to my waist with a belt underneath my clothing--though it is
reported the Hollanders always respect personal property. Then I came
on deck and joined my comrades, who stood in a disconsolate group
awaiting the arrival of our captors.
We were curtly ordered over the side, and hurriedly the whole of the
crew were transferred to the various Dutch ships. The officers were
taken on board the admiral's, where de Ruyter himself accepted our
surrender, complimenting us on our gallant defence, and permitting the
senior officers to retain their swords.
This done, we were sent on board a frigate and placed in a dark, stuffy
hole below the waterline. Faintly we could hear the dull booming of the
guns, which told us that the fleets were re-engaged, but gradually the
sound died away.
Greville Drake had a pocket compass, which showed us that the vessel was
heading eastward. Our captors had taken good care that we should not
fall into the hands of our friends: we were on our way to Holland and
captivity.
How the engagement would end we knew not, but our spirits were greatly
depressed with our misfortunes, and one and all, having seen that the
courage and fortitude of our enemies had been unduly depreciated by our
leaders, were far from sanguine as to the prospects of a victory of our
hitherto redoubtable fleet.
Our reveries were cut short by the appearance of a stolid Dutchman, who
brought us a liberal supply of food that, compared with our hard fare of
the last month, was a bounteous feast. We plied him with eager
questions, but his only reply was an expressionless shake of his massive
head, and for the time being vague surmises had to suffice.
At length, worn out with bodily fatigue, we threw ourselves down on our
rough and hard pallets, and slept soundly till we were awakened by the
unmistakable sounds that accompany the action of a ship taking in sail.
We had arrived in the land of our captivity.