Part 2

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.”

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[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.

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[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.”