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{{Short description|Military Battle}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict =Battle of Dover
| conflict =Battle of Dover
| partof = [[First Anglo-Dutch War]]
| partof = [[First Anglo-Dutch War]]
| image = Battle of Goodwin Sands.jpg
| image = Tromp v Blake at Dover.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| image_size = 300px
| caption =An illustration of the battle
| caption =Tromp v Blake off Dover
| date =19 May 1652
| date =19 May 1652
| place = Off [[Straits of Dover]]
| place = Off [[Straits of Dover]]
| result =Inconclusive
| result =Inconclusive
| combatant1 = {{flag|Dutch Republic}}
| combatant1 = {{flag|Dutch Republic}}
| combatant2 = {{flag|Commonwealth of England}}
| combatant2 = {{flag|Commonwealth of England}}
Line 20: Line 21:
}}
}}


The naval '''Battle of Dover''' (also known as the '''Battle of Goodwin Sands'''{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}), fought on 19 May 1652 (29 May 1652 [[Gregorian calendar]]),{{efn|name=date|During this period in English history dates of events are usually recorded in the [[Julian calendar]], while those the Netherlands are recorded in the [[Gregorian calendar]]. In this article dates are in the Julian calendar with the start of the year adjusted to 1&nbsp;January (see [[Old Style and New Style dates]]).<!--NB. this is per [[WP:OSNS]]-->}} was the first engagement of the [[First Anglo-Dutch War]] between the navies of the [[Commonwealth of England]] and the [[Dutch Republic|United Provinces]] of the Netherlands.
The naval '''Battle of Dover''' <!-- (also known as the '''Battle of Goodwin Sands'''{{citation needed|date=January 2021}})-->, fought on 19 May 1652 (29 May 1652 [[Gregorian calendar]]),{{efn|name=date|During this period in English history dates of events are usually recorded in the [[Julian calendar]], while those the Netherlands are recorded in the [[Gregorian calendar]]. In this article dates are in the Julian calendar with the start of the year adjusted to 1&nbsp;January (see [[Old Style and New Style dates]]).<!--NB. this is per [[WP:OSNS]]-->}} was the first engagement of the [[First Anglo-Dutch War]] between the navies of the [[Commonwealth of England]] and the [[Dutch Republic|United Provinces]] of the Netherlands. It proved to be an indecisive battle involving the flagships of Admirals [[Maarten Tromp]] and [[Robert Blake (admiral)|Robert Blake]]. Opinions about the outcome of that battle vary among historians of that period.


== Background ==
== Background ==
Line 26: Line 27:


== Battle ==
== Battle ==

An ordinance of [[Oliver Cromwell|Cromwell]] required all foreign fleets in the [[North Sea]] or the Channel to [[Striking the colors|lower their flag]] in salute, but when Tromp did not comply, Blake fired three warning shots. When the third hit his ship, wounding some sailors, Tromp replied with a warning broadside from his flagship [[Dutch ship Brederode|''Brederode'']]. Blake then fired a broadside and a five-hour battle ensued.
An ordinance of [[Oliver Cromwell|Cromwell]] required all foreign fleets in the [[North Sea]] or the Channel to [[Striking the colors|lower their flag]] in salute. English ships were attacking Dutch merchant ships, seizing cargoes and taking ships as prizes. Tromp subsequently was given general orders to protect Holland's commerce, while keeping watch over the English fleet. On 19 May 1652, Tromp was cruising in the English Channel with a fleet of forty ships between [[Nieuwpoort, Belgium|Nieuport]] and the mouth of the [[Meuse|Meuse River]]. British Admiral [[Robert Blake (admiral)|Robert Blake]] was lying in [[Dover]] Roads with fifteen ships, with eight others were anchored in Bourne in the Downs.<ref>[[#hannay1886|Hannay, 1886]], pp. 77-78</ref> While on patrol Tromp received orders from a dispatch [[ketch]] to engage Blake's fleet, and had not struck his flag in salute. Blake, aboard his flagship the ''James'', assumed Tromp had received orders to commence battle and fired two warning shots. A defiant Tromp hoisted a red battle flag,<ref>[[#lambert2008|Lambert, 2008]], p. 52</ref> which prompted Blake to fire a third gun, hitting Tromp's ship and wounding some crew members. This was followed with Tromp returning fire with a warning broadside from his flagship [[Dutch ship Brederode (1644)|''Brederode'']]. Blake in turn fired a broadside and a battle that would last five hours ensued.<ref>[[#dixon1852|Dixon, 1852]], pp. 191-192</ref> Tromp immediately engaged Blake's flag ship where the two ships exchanged broadsides as they passed one another. While [[tacking (sailing)|tacking]] to turn and fire another broadside the ''Brederode'' came into violent contact with British Admiral Rosekrantz's ship, the [[HMS Bonaventure (1650)|''Bonaventure'']], which grappled with the ''Brederode'' where its crew began boarding. During the fierce melee that followed Tromp's crew held the attackers back. At this time another British ship, the [[English ship Garland (1620)|''Garland'']], came along to the other side of Tromp's ship, placing Tromp's ship between the two British ships. Vice-admiral, John Evertsen, now aware of Tromp's plight quickly came to assist, placing his ship directly alongside of the [[HMS Bonaventure (1650)|''Bonaventure'']] and fired a broadside severing all her masts, after which Evertsen's crew boarded and engaged the English in hand-to-hand fighting and overcoming the English crews. <ref>[[#mets1902|Mets, 1902]], pp. 162</ref> The fighting continued until nightfall, where both sides withdrew, the battle having no distinct victor.<ref name=low36/> The crews of Tromp and Evertsen divided the prisoners between the ships and sailed back toward Texel, with Blake, with his flagship in tow making his way to Dover.<ref name=low36>[[#low1872|Low, 1872]], p. 36</ref><ref>[[#dixon1852|Dixon, 1852]], pp. 191-192</ref><ref>[[#hannay1886|Hannay, 1886]], p. 100</ref>


== Aftermath ==
== Aftermath ==
Both fleets were damaged, but as darkness fell the Dutch fleet withdrew in a defensive line to protect the convoy, and the English captured two Dutch stragglers: ''Sint Laurens'', which was taken back by them but not used, and ''Sint Maria'', which was abandoned in a sinking condition and later made its way to the Netherlands. Tromp then offered his excuses to Blake and asked for the return of the prize, but this was refused by Blake.
Both fleets were damaged, but as darkness fell the Dutch fleet withdrew in a defensive line to protect the convoy, and the English captured two Dutch stragglers: ''Sint Laurens'', which was taken back by them but not used, and ''Sint Maria'', which was abandoned in a sinking condition and later made its way to the Netherlands. Tromp then offered his excuses to Blake and asked for the return of the prize, but this was refused by Blake.


War was declared by the Commonwealth on 10 July 1652.
War was declared by the Commonwealth of England on 8 July 1652.
<ref name=low36>[[#low1872|Low, 1872]], p. 36</ref><ref>[[#britannica1652|Britannica, 2023]]</ref>


== Ships involved ==
== Ships involved ==


===England (Robert Blake)===
===England (Robert Blake)===
Totals:
Totals:
Ships: 24
Ships: 24
Cannon: 908
Cannon: 908
Line 42: Line 45:
;Anthony Young's squadron:
;Anthony Young's squadron:
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*[[HMS Bonaventure (1650)|''President'']] 36 (Anthony Young)
* [[HMS Bonaventure (1650)|''President'']] 36 (Anthony Young)
*''Nightingale'' 24 (Jacob Reynolds)
* ''Nightingale'' 24 (Jacob Reynolds)
*''Recovery'' 24 (Edmund Chapman)
* ''Recovery'' 24 (Edmund Chapman)
}}
}}


;Robert Blake's squadron in Rye Bay:
;Robert Blake's squadron in Rye Bay:
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*[[HMS James (1634)|''James'']] 60 (flag, Robert Blake, captain John Gilson)
* [[HMS James (1634)|''James'']] 60 (flag, Robert Blake, captain John Gilson)
*[[HMS Victory (1620)|''Victory'']] 52 (Lionel Lane)
* [[HMS Victory (1620)|''Victory'']] 52 (Lionel Lane)
*[[English ship Garland (1620)|''Garland'']] 44 (John Gibbs)
* [[English ship Garland (1620)|''Garland'']] 44 (John Gibbs)
*[[English ship Mary (1650)|''Speaker'']] 52 (John Coppin)
* [[English ship Mary (1650)|''Speaker'']] 52 (John Coppin)
*[[HMS Ruby (1652)|''Ruby'']] 42 (Anthony Houlding)
* [[HMS Ruby (1652)|''Ruby'']] 42 (Anthony Houlding)
*[[HMS Sapphire (1651)|''Sapphire'']] 38 (Robert Moulton, Jr)
* [[HMS Sapphire (1651)|''Sapphire'']] 38 (Robert Moulton, Jr)
*[[HMS Dunkirk (1651)|''Worcester'']] 42 (Charles Thorowgood)
* [[HMS Dunkirk (1651)|''Worcester'']] 42 (Charles Thorowgood)
*''Star'' 24 (Robert Saunders)
* ''Star'' 24 (Robert Saunders)
*[[HMS Portsmouth (1650)|''Portsmouth'']] 36 (William Brandley)
* [[HMS Portsmouth (1650)|''Portsmouth'']] 36 (William Brandley)
*''Martin'' 12
* ''Martin'' 12
*''Mermaid'' 24 (Richard Stayner)
* ''Mermaid'' 24 (Richard Stayner)
*''Ruben'' 26 (merchantman)
* ''Ruben'' 26 (merchantman)
*3 small
* 3 small
}}
}}


;Nehemiah Bourne's squadron in the Downs:
;Nehemiah Bourne's squadron in the Downs:
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*[[English ship St Andrew (1622)|''Andrew'']] 56 (Nehemiah Bourne)
* [[English ship St Andrew (1622)|''Andrew'']] 56 (Nehemiah Bourne)
*[[HMS Triumph (1623)|''Triumph'']] 62 (William Penn) – Ashore during the battle
* [[HMS Triumph (1623)|''Triumph'']] 62 (William Penn) – Ashore during the battle
*[[English ship Fairfax (1650)|''Fairfax'']] 52 (John Lawson)
* [[English ship Fairfax (1650)|''Fairfax'']] 52 (John Lawson)
*[[English ship Happy Entrance (1619)|''Entrance'']] 44
* [[English ship Happy Entrance (1619)|''Entrance'']] 44
*[[HMS Centurion (1650)|''Centurion'']] 36
* [[HMS Centurion (1650)|''Centurion'']] 36
*[[HMS Adventure (1646)|''Adventure'']] 36 (Andrew Ball)
* [[HMS Adventure (1646)|''Adventure'']] 36 (Andrew Ball)
*[[HMS Assurance (1646)|''Assurance'']] 40 (Benjamin Blake)
* [[HMS Assurance (1646)|''Assurance'']] 40 (Benjamin Blake)
*''Greyhound'' 20 (Henry Southwood)
* ''Greyhound'' 20 (Henry Southwood)
*''Seven Brothers'' 26 (hired merchantman, Robert Land)
* ''Seven Brothers'' 26 (hired merchantman, Robert Land)
}}
}}


===The Netherlands (Maarten Tromp)===
===The Netherlands (Maarten Tromp)===
Totals:
Totals:
Ships: 44
Ships: 44
Cannon: 1274
Cannon: 1274
Line 84: Line 87:
;Convoyers:
;Convoyers:
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*''Groningen'' 38 (Joris van der Zaan)
* ''Groningen'' 38 (Joris van der Zaan)
*''Zeelandia'' 34 (Jacob Huyrluyt)
* ''Zeelandia'' 34 (Jacob Huyrluyt)
}}
}}


Line 91: Line 94:
;Van:
;Van:
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*''[[Dutch ship Brederode|Brederode]]'' 54 (Maarten Tromp, Admiral, {{harvnb|RD}})
* ''[[Dutch ship Brederode|Brederode]]'' 54 (Maarten Tromp, Admiral, {{harvnb|RD}})
*''Alexander'' 28 (Jan Maijkers, {{harvnb|AD}})
* ''Alexander'' 28 (Jan Maijkers, {{harvnb|AD}})
*''Blauwen Arend'' 28 (Dirck Pater, AD)
* ''Blauwen Arend'' 28 (Dirck Pater, AD)
*''Sint Salvador'' 34 (Matheeus Corneliszoon, AD)
* ''Sint Salvador'' 34 (Matheeus Corneliszoon, AD)
*''Vliegende Faam'' 28 (Jacob Corneliszoon Swart, AD)
* ''Vliegende Faam'' 28 (Jacob Corneliszoon Swart, AD)
*''Arche Troijane'' 28 (Abraham van Kampen, AD)
* ''Arche Troijane'' 28 (Abraham van Kampen, AD)
*''Kroon Imperiaal'' 34 (Cornelis Janszoon Poort, AD)
* ''Kroon Imperiaal'' 34 (Cornelis Janszoon Poort, AD)
*''Valck'' 28 (Cornelis Janszoon Brouwer, AD)
* ''Valck'' 28 (Cornelis Janszoon Brouwer, AD)
*''Prinses Roijaal'' 28 (Maarten de Graeff, AD)
* ''Prinses Roijaal'' 28 (Maarten de Graeff, AD)
*''Neptunis'' 34 (Gerrit van Lummen, AD)
* ''Neptunis'' 34 (Gerrit van Lummen, AD)
*''Sint Matheeus'' 34 (Cornelis Naeuoogh, AD)
* ''Sint Matheeus'' 34 (Cornelis Naeuoogh, AD)
*''Prins Maurits'' 34 (Nicolaes de With, AD)
* ''Prins Maurits'' 34 (Nicolaes de With, AD)
*''[[Rosebush (ship)|Rozeboom]]'' 28 (Gerrit Schuyt, AD)
* ''[[Rosebush (ship)|Rozeboom]]'' 28 (Gerrit Schuyt, AD)
*''Engel Gabriel'' 28 (Bastiaan Bardoel, AD)
* ''Engel Gabriel'' 28 (Bastiaan Bardoel, AD)
*''Witte Lam'' 28 (Cornelis van Houten, AD)
* ''Witte Lam'' 28 (Cornelis van Houten, AD)
*''Gideon van Sardam'' 34 (Hector Bardesius, AD)
* ''Gideon van Sardam'' 34 (Hector Bardesius, AD)
*''Sint Francisco'' 28 (Stoffel Juriaenszoon, AD)
* ''Sint Francisco'' 28 (Stoffel Juriaenszoon, AD)
*''David en Goliad'' 34 (Claes Bastiaenszoon Jaarsveld, AD)
* ''David en Goliad'' 34 (Claes Bastiaenszoon Jaarsveld, AD)
*''Elias'' 34 (Jacob Sijvertsen Spanheijm, AD)
* ''Elias'' 34 (Jacob Sijvertsen Spanheijm, AD)
*''Zwarte Leeuw'' 28 (Hendrik de Raedt, AD)
* ''Zwarte Leeuw'' 28 (Hendrik de Raedt, AD)
*''Sint Maria'' 28 (Sipke Fockes, AD) – Captured but abandoned and recaptured
* ''Sint Maria'' 28 (Sipke Fockes, AD) – Captured but abandoned and recaptured
*''Groote Liefde'' 38 (Bruyn van Seelst, AD)
* ''Groote Liefde'' 38 (Bruyn van Seelst, AD)
*''Nassouw van den Burgh'' 34 (Lambert Pieterszoon, AD)
* ''Nassouw van den Burgh'' 34 (Lambert Pieterszoon, AD)
*''Groote Vergulde Fortuijn'' 35 (Frederick de Coninck, AD)
* ''Groote Vergulde Fortuijn'' 35 (Frederick de Coninck, AD)
*''Engel Michiel'' 28 (Fredrick Bogaart, AD)
* ''Engel Michiel'' 28 (Fredrick Bogaart, AD)
*''Vergulde Haan'' 30 (Jan le Sage, {{harvnb|MD}})
* ''Vergulde Haan'' 30 (Jan le Sage, {{harvnb|MD}})
*''Goude Leeuw'' 30 (Jacob Penssen, MD)
* ''Goude Leeuw'' 30 (Jacob Penssen, MD)
*''Leeuwinne'' 30 (Joannes van Regermorter, MD)
* ''Leeuwinne'' 30 (Joannes van Regermorter, MD)
*''Sint Laurens'' 30 (Bastiaan Tuynemans, MD) – Captured
* ''Sint Laurens'' 30 (Bastiaan Tuynemans, MD) – Captured
*''Witte Lam'' 32 (Jan Tijssen Matheeus, {{harvnb|VD}})
* ''Witte Lam'' 32 (Jan Tijssen Matheeus, {{harvnb|VD}})
}}
}}
;Rear:
;Rear:
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*''Monnikendam'' 32 (Pieter Florissen, Rear Admiral, {{harvnb|NKA}})
* ''Monnikendam'' 32 (Pieter Florissen, Rear Admiral, {{harvnb|NKA}})
*''Wapen van Hoorn'' 24 (Pieter Aldertszoon, NKA)
* ''Wapen van Hoorn'' 24 (Pieter Aldertszoon, NKA)
*''Prins Maurits'' 28 (Cornelis Pieterszoon Taenman, NKA)
* ''Prins Maurits'' 28 (Cornelis Pieterszoon Taenman, NKA)
*''Monnikendam'' 24 (Arent Dirckszoon, NKA)
* ''Monnikendam'' 24 (Arent Dirckszoon, NKA)
*''Wapen van Enkhuizen'' 30 (Gerrit Femssen, NKA)
* ''Wapen van Enkhuizen'' 30 (Gerrit Femssen, NKA)
*''Wapen van Alkmaar'' 28 (Gerrit Nobel, NKA)
* ''Wapen van Alkmaar'' 28 (Gerrit Nobel, NKA)
*''Roode Leeuw'' 24 (Reynst Corneliszoon Sevenhuysen, NKA)
* ''Roode Leeuw'' 24 (Reynst Corneliszoon Sevenhuysen, NKA)
*''Peereboom'' 24 (Tijs Sijmonszoon Peereboom, NKA)
* ''Peereboom'' 24 (Tijs Sijmonszoon Peereboom, NKA)
*''Huis van Nassau'' 28 (Gerrit Munth, NKA)
* ''Huis van Nassau'' 28 (Gerrit Munth, NKA)
*''Alkmaar'' 28 (Jan Warnaertszoon Capelman, NKA)
* ''Alkmaar'' 28 (Jan Warnaertszoon Capelman, NKA)
*''Sampson'' 26 (Willem Ham, NKA)
* ''Sampson'' 26 (Willem Ham, NKA)
*''Stad van Medemblik'' 26 (Pieter Schellinger, NKA)
* ''Stad van Medemblik'' 26 (Pieter Schellinger, NKA)
}}
}}


Line 150: Line 153:
{{notelist}}
{{notelist}}


==Citations==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Coord|51.274|1.508|display=title|region:GB_scale:200000}}
{{Coord|51.274|1.508|display=title|region:GB_scale:200000}}


==References==
==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Britannica curators |title=Anglo-Dutch Wars: European history |volume= |author-link= |publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica |year=2023 |isbn= |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Anglo-Dutch-Wars |ref=britannica1652}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2007}}
<!-- -->
* {{cite book |last=Dixon |first=William Hepworth |title=Robert Blake, admiral and general at sea |volume= |author-link= |publisher= Chapman and Hall |location=London |year=1852 |url=https://archive.org/details/robertblakeadmir00dixoiala/page/n5/mode/2up |ref=dixon1852}}
<!-- -->
* {{cite book |last=Hannay |first=David |title=Admiral Blake |volume= |author-link= |publisher=D. Appleton and Company |location=New York |year=1886 |url=https://archive.org/details/admiralblake00hann/page/n7/mode/2up |ref=hannay1886}}
<!-- -->
* {{cite book |last=Lambert |first=Andrew D. |title=Admirals : the naval commanders who made Britain great |volume= |author-link=Andrew Lambert |publisher=Faber |location=London |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-57123-1560 |url=https://archive.org/details/admiralsnavalcom0000lamb/mode/2up |ref=lambert2008}}
<!-- -->
* {{cite book |last=Low |first=Charles Rathbone |title=Great battles of the British navy |volume= |author-link= |publisher=George Routledge and Sons |location=London |year=1872 |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.02394/page/39/mode/2up |ref=low1872}}
<!-- -->
* {{cite book |last=Mets |first=James Andrew |title=Naval heroes of Holland |volume= |author-link= |publisher= The Abbey Press |location=New York; London |year=1902 |url=https://archive.org/details/navalofheroes0000unse/mode/2up?q=tromp |ref=mets1902}}
<!-- -->
* R Hainsworth, C Churches (1998) ''The Anglo-Dutch Wars 1652-1674'', Sutton Publishing {{ISBN|0-7509-1787-3}}
* R Hainsworth, C Churches (1998) ''The Anglo-Dutch Wars 1652-1674'', Sutton Publishing {{ISBN|0-7509-1787-3}}
* NAM Roger (2004) ''The Command of the Ocean'', Penguin Books {{ISBN|0-140-28896-1}}
* NAM Roger (2004) ''The Command of the Ocean'', Penguin Books {{ISBN|0-140-28896-1}}

Revision as of 05:45, 18 February 2024

Battle of Dover
Part of First Anglo-Dutch War

Tromp v Blake off Dover
Date19 May 1652
Standort
Off Straits of Dover
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
 Dutch Republic  Commonwealth of England
Commanders and leaders
Dutch Republic Maarten Tromp Commonwealth of England Robert Blake
Strength
47 ships 25 ships
Casualties and losses
1 ship captured Unknown

The naval Battle of Dover , fought on 19 May 1652 (29 May 1652 Gregorian calendar),[a] was the first engagement of the First Anglo-Dutch War between the navies of the Commonwealth of England and the United Provinces of the Netherlands. It proved to be an indecisive battle involving the flagships of Admirals Maarten Tromp and Robert Blake. Opinions about the outcome of that battle vary among historians of that period.

Background

The English Parliament had passed the first of the Navigation Acts in October 1651, aimed at hampering the shipping of the highly trade-dependent Dutch. Agitation among the Dutch merchants had been further increased by George Ayscue's capture in early 1652 of 27 Dutch ships trading with the royalist colony of Barbados in contravention of an embargo. Both sides had begun to prepare for war, but conflict might have been delayed if not for an unfortunate encounter on 29 May 1652 (19 May in the Julian calendar then in use in England) near the Straits of Dover between a Dutch convoy escorted by 40 ships under Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp and an English fleet of 25 ships under General-at-Sea Robert Blake.

Battle

An ordinance of Cromwell required all foreign fleets in the North Sea or the Channel to lower their flag in salute. English ships were attacking Dutch merchant ships, seizing cargoes and taking ships as prizes. Tromp subsequently was given general orders to protect Holland's commerce, while keeping watch over the English fleet. On 19 May 1652, Tromp was cruising in the English Channel with a fleet of forty ships between Nieuport and the mouth of the Meuse River. British Admiral Robert Blake was lying in Dover Roads with fifteen ships, with eight others were anchored in Bourne in the Downs.[1] While on patrol Tromp received orders from a dispatch ketch to engage Blake's fleet, and had not struck his flag in salute. Blake, aboard his flagship the James, assumed Tromp had received orders to commence battle and fired two warning shots. A defiant Tromp hoisted a red battle flag,[2] which prompted Blake to fire a third gun, hitting Tromp's ship and wounding some crew members. This was followed with Tromp returning fire with a warning broadside from his flagship Brederode. Blake in turn fired a broadside and a battle that would last five hours ensued.[3] Tromp immediately engaged Blake's flag ship where the two ships exchanged broadsides as they passed one another. While tacking to turn and fire another broadside the Brederode came into violent contact with British Admiral Rosekrantz's ship, the Bonaventure, which grappled with the Brederode where its crew began boarding. During the fierce melee that followed Tromp's crew held the attackers back. At this time another British ship, the Garland, came along to the other side of Tromp's ship, placing Tromp's ship between the two British ships. Vice-admiral, John Evertsen, now aware of Tromp's plight quickly came to assist, placing his ship directly alongside of the Bonaventure and fired a broadside severing all her masts, after which Evertsen's crew boarded and engaged the English in hand-to-hand fighting and overcoming the English crews. [4] The fighting continued until nightfall, where both sides withdrew, the battle having no distinct victor.[5] The crews of Tromp and Evertsen divided the prisoners between the ships and sailed back toward Texel, with Blake, with his flagship in tow making his way to Dover.[5][6][7]

Aftermath

Both fleets were damaged, but as darkness fell the Dutch fleet withdrew in a defensive line to protect the convoy, and the English captured two Dutch stragglers: Sint Laurens, which was taken back by them but not used, and Sint Maria, which was abandoned in a sinking condition and later made its way to the Netherlands. Tromp then offered his excuses to Blake and asked for the return of the prize, but this was refused by Blake.

War was declared by the Commonwealth of England on 8 July 1652. [5][8]

Ships involved

England (Robert Blake)

Totals: Ships: 24 Cannon: 908

Anthony Young's squadron
  • President 36 (Anthony Young)
  • Nightingale 24 (Jacob Reynolds)
  • Recovery 24 (Edmund Chapman)
Robert Blake's squadron in Rye Bay
  • James 60 (flag, Robert Blake, captain John Gilson)
  • Victory 52 (Lionel Lane)
  • Garland 44 (John Gibbs)
  • Speaker 52 (John Coppin)
  • Ruby 42 (Anthony Houlding)
  • Sapphire 38 (Robert Moulton, Jr)
  • Worcester 42 (Charles Thorowgood)
  • Star 24 (Robert Saunders)
  • Portsmouth 36 (William Brandley)
  • Martin 12
  • Mermaid 24 (Richard Stayner)
  • Ruben 26 (merchantman)
  • 3 small
Nehemiah Bourne's squadron in the Downs

The Netherlands (Maarten Tromp)

Totals: Ships: 44 Cannon: 1274

Convoyers
  • Groningen 38 (Joris van der Zaan)
  • Zeelandia 34 (Jacob Huyrluyt)
The fleet in The Downs
Van
  • Brederode 54 (Maarten Tromp, Admiral, RD)
  • Alexander 28 (Jan Maijkers, AD)
  • Blauwen Arend 28 (Dirck Pater, AD)
  • Sint Salvador 34 (Matheeus Corneliszoon, AD)
  • Vliegende Faam 28 (Jacob Corneliszoon Swart, AD)
  • Arche Troijane 28 (Abraham van Kampen, AD)
  • Kroon Imperiaal 34 (Cornelis Janszoon Poort, AD)
  • Valck 28 (Cornelis Janszoon Brouwer, AD)
  • Prinses Roijaal 28 (Maarten de Graeff, AD)
  • Neptunis 34 (Gerrit van Lummen, AD)
  • Sint Matheeus 34 (Cornelis Naeuoogh, AD)
  • Prins Maurits 34 (Nicolaes de With, AD)
  • Rozeboom 28 (Gerrit Schuyt, AD)
  • Engel Gabriel 28 (Bastiaan Bardoel, AD)
  • Witte Lam 28 (Cornelis van Houten, AD)
  • Gideon van Sardam 34 (Hector Bardesius, AD)
  • Sint Francisco 28 (Stoffel Juriaenszoon, AD)
  • David en Goliad 34 (Claes Bastiaenszoon Jaarsveld, AD)
  • Elias 34 (Jacob Sijvertsen Spanheijm, AD)
  • Zwarte Leeuw 28 (Hendrik de Raedt, AD)
  • Sint Maria 28 (Sipke Fockes, AD) – Captured but abandoned and recaptured
  • Groote Liefde 38 (Bruyn van Seelst, AD)
  • Nassouw van den Burgh 34 (Lambert Pieterszoon, AD)
  • Groote Vergulde Fortuijn 35 (Frederick de Coninck, AD)
  • Engel Michiel 28 (Fredrick Bogaart, AD)
  • Vergulde Haan 30 (Jan le Sage, MD)
  • Goude Leeuw 30 (Jacob Penssen, MD)
  • Leeuwinne 30 (Joannes van Regermorter, MD)
  • Sint Laurens 30 (Bastiaan Tuynemans, MD) – Captured
  • Witte Lam 32 (Jan Tijssen Matheeus, VD)
Rear
  • Monnikendam 32 (Pieter Florissen, Rear Admiral, NKA)
  • Wapen van Hoorn 24 (Pieter Aldertszoon, NKA)
  • Prins Maurits 28 (Cornelis Pieterszoon Taenman, NKA)
  • Monnikendam 24 (Arent Dirckszoon, NKA)
  • Wapen van Enkhuizen 30 (Gerrit Femssen, NKA)
  • Wapen van Alkmaar 28 (Gerrit Nobel, NKA)
  • Roode Leeuw 24 (Reynst Corneliszoon Sevenhuysen, NKA)
  • Peereboom 24 (Tijs Sijmonszoon Peereboom, NKA)
  • Huis van Nassau 28 (Gerrit Munth, NKA)
  • Alkmaar 28 (Jan Warnaertszoon Capelman, NKA)
  • Sampson 26 (Willem Ham, NKA)
  • Stad van Medemblik 26 (Pieter Schellinger, NKA)
  • AD – Amsterdam Admiralty and Directors' ships
  • MD – Middelburg Admiralty and Directors
  • NKA – Noorder-Kwartier Admiralty
  • RD – Rotterdam Admiralty
  • VD – Vlissingen Directors

Notes

  1. ^ During this period in English history dates of events are usually recorded in the Julian calendar, while those the Netherlands are recorded in the Gregorian calendar. In this article dates are in the Julian calendar with the start of the year adjusted to 1 January (see Old Style and New Style dates).

Citations

  1. ^ Hannay, 1886, pp. 77-78
  2. ^ Lambert, 2008, p. 52
  3. ^ Dixon, 1852, pp. 191-192
  4. ^ Mets, 1902, pp. 162
  5. ^ a b c Low, 1872, p. 36
  6. ^ Dixon, 1852, pp. 191-192
  7. ^ Hannay, 1886, p. 100
  8. ^ Britannica, 2023

51°16′26″N 1°30′29″E / 51.274°N 1.508°E / 51.274; 1.508

Bibliography

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