Part 3

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.

We ride now wᵗʰin 3 leagues of the Dutch fleete; they ride in the place 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.