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Second Reading

About Capt. Thomas Teddeman

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In the month of May, 1666, he was, on prince Rupert's quitting the fleet with the white squadron, appointed to serve as a temporary rear-admiral of the white; and so much did he distinguish himself in the unfortunate action between the duke of Albemarle and the Dutch, that it was, for some time, currently reported, Van Trump's ship was sunk by the fire of the Royal Catherine. On the return of the fleet to refit, he was, on the 12th of June, promoted to be vice-admiral of the white: the squadron which, in the second engagement with the Dutch, in 1666, so much contributed to the complete victory obtained over them, by the very furious manner in which it attacked the van of De Ruyter's fleet. The Royal Catherine was so roughly treated, as to be obliged to quit the line to refit. No greater encomium can be passed on the behaviour of our admirals and commanders in this action, than to say they had the honour of totally defeating three such men as De Ruyter, Evertzen, and Van Tromp. No mention is made of sir Thomas, as having been concerned in any of the naval operations of the ensuing year; nor have we been able to obtain any further information concerning him, except that he commanded the Cambridge in 1668.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Thomas Teddeman

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It was determined, in a council of war, to take, by force, that, which till then, it had only been hoped to obtain possession of, through connivance. Tiddiman began the attack with his usual gallantry; but that conduct which had so lately procured him, and his brave associates, such signal success, when engaged in fair contest with the enemies of his country, was insufficient to ensure a continuance of it, now the service, in which he was engaged, ceased to be perfectly void of political trick and chicane. The Danish governor not having, as yet, received orders to the contrary, held himself bound in honour, as well as compliance with what are called the laws of nations, to defend those who had placed themselves under his protection. The spirit with which the Dutch defended their ships, aided by the fire made from the castle, and a line, on which were mounted one-and-forty pieces of heavy cannon, became an enemy too formidable for the English squadron to cope with; so that, after a tremendous cannonade of several hours continuance, by which half the ships in the squadron were totally disabled: sir Thomas, blameless in every other respect, except that of having, unluckily, been the agent appointed to carry into execution an enterprise from which, even if successful, nothing could result but disgrace and dishonour, was glad to retreat, in the best manner the shattered condition of his ships would permit him. On the following day the long expected orders arrived; but, in consequence of the late event, the governor still refused to admit the English squadron, till he had received fresh instructions from his court; and sir Thomas smarting under his late disaster, returned to England sullen, and in disgust.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Thomas Teddeman

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TIDDIMAN, Sir Thomas,—was made commander of the Resolution in 1660; in 1661 of the Fairfax; in 1663 of the Kent; and in the following year of the Revenge; and afterwards of the Swiftsure. On his removal into this last ship, he was appointed rear-admiral of the squadron, sent into the Channel, under the command of the earl of Sandwich, on the probability and prospect of the Dutch war. These several appointments having taken place in the time of profound peace, nothing memorable occurs in the life of this very brave and deserving officer till the year 1665, when he hoisted his flag, as rear-admiral of the blue, on board the Royal Catherine. Having already given him, in concise terms, that character for gallantry he so truly merited, it becomes a species of tautology, useless, except for the purpose of connecting the Narrative, to say he eminently distinguished himself in the engagement with the Dutch fleet under Opdam. At the return of the fleet into port, as a proof that the gallantry of commanders ought never to pass unnoticed by the sovereign, Charles the Second made an excursion for the special purpose of honouring, and rewarding such, as had rendered themselves most conspicuous. Among the first of those selected on this occasion, was admiral Tiddiman, who, as a mark of his royal master's gratitude, received the honour of knighthood. On the duke of York's quitting the command of the fleet, and the appointment of the earl of Sandwich in his room, sir Thomas was promoted to be rear-admiral of the red. He was soon afterwards detached, by his commander-in-chief, with fourteen men of war and three fire-ships, to attack the Turkey and India fleet belonging to the Dutch, which, in consequence of Opdam's disaster, had taken refuge in Berghen. A kind of negociation, not very honourable, it must be candidly confessed, to either party, had been opened between the English and Danes; the result of which was, that in consequence of a proper douceur, the Danes, to whom the distressed Hollanders had flown for succour, should remain perfectly passive during the intended attack. Owing to some of those fatalities, or mistakes, to which a business of so complex and unfair a nature must be ever liable, the Danish governor had not received the necessary orders from his court, when the English squadron made its appearance. It was in vain he requested a delay, for three or four days, of the purposed mischiefs. Those who have behaved with duplicity, or treachery, on one occasion, can rarely act otherwise than to render themselves suspected in all. The admiral either doubted the sincerity of the Danish court, or wished to punish it for its want of punctuality, by attacking the Dutch before the promised orders arrived: as by that means the treaty became void; in consequence of which the king of Denmark was to be rewarded for his breach of hospitality, with half the plunder that should be acquired.

About Capt. Valentine Tatnell

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TATNEL, Valentine,—commanded the Adventure, by commission from the duke of York, soon after the restoration.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Charles Talbot

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TALBOT, Charles,—was descended from sir Gilbert Talbot, second son of John, the second earl of Shrewsbury; and notwithstanding his high rank, which, at that time of day might, by some persons, have been expected to have accelerated his promotion, served several years as a lieutenant before he attained the rank of a commander. In 1661 he was appointed lieutenant of the Royal Charles; of the Royal James, and Reserve in the following year; of the Jersey in 1663; and the Golden Lion in 1664. Soon as a rupture with Holland appeared unavoidable, Mr. Talbot was raised to the rank of commander, a promotion his experience, and length of service, appeared well to entitle him to. Having been appointed captain of the Guardland in the latter end of the year 1664, he was very active at the beginning of the war, and was fortunate enough to capture several of their merchant vessels. In 1666 he was promoted to the Elizabeth, a small fourth rate, and sent, with a small convoy, to Lisbon, whence he returned in the month of May. His care, and diligence were particularly conspicuous in the execution of this service; for though he was attended for several days, during his passage, by two privateers, who made frequent efforts to attack his charge, and was also unfortunate enough to fall in with a French squadron of twenty sail off the rock, he, nevertheless, was so circumspect and skilful, that he carried all his ships in, with safety, though the enemy were, at one time, actually within gun shot. His ship not returning early enough to England, he was not present at the long and unfortunate action between the duke of Albemarle and the Dutch, but was so much disabled during the first day of the second engagement, as to be obliged to quit the fleet, and put into Harwich. Whether what might have been imputed to him as a misfortune than a crime, was construed into an impropriety of conduct, we know not, but he appears, after this, to have had no command for some years: at length, on the 12th of April 1678, he was appointed, by king Charles the Second, commander of the Mary Rose, and sent to Newfoundland. On the 28th of March he was made captain of the Falcon, which is the latest information we have been able to procure concerning him.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. John Swanley

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SWANLEY, John,—is to be remembered as having been commander of the York in the year 1664.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. John Stoakes

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STOAKES, John,—was also captain of a ship of war during the protectorate. Joining in the restoration of Charles the second, he was soon afterwards appointed, by the duke of York, to the command of the Royal James. The following year he was removed into the Assurance, and presently afterwards into the Amity. In 1664 he was removed into the Triumph. This was the last ship he ever commanded.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Francis Steward

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STEWARD, Francis,—was made commander of the Happy Entrance, and afterwards of the Sancta Maria, both in the year 1665. He had the charge of a very valuable fleet from Hull in the month of February, and with the greatest diligence and success convoyed it safely, notwithstanding the sea was at that time almost covered with Dutch cruisers. In the following year he was removed into the Golden Phœnix.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. John Stanesby

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STAINSBY, John,—was made commander of the Eagle in 1664. From this time, to the year 1672, his name does not again occur. He was then made commander of the Happy Return, which is all we have been able to learn of this gentleman.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Jeremy Smith

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In 1668 he hoisted his flag as vice-admiral of the Channel fleet under sir Thomas Allen, at the time the war was expected to take with France. During the time the fleet lay in the Downs, the admirals had the honour of a visit from king Charles and the duke of York. In the month of August following he shewed himself remarkably attentive to the honour of the flag, by compelling a French ship, which appeared to hesitate at paying the necessary and expected compliment, to come to an anchor, till her commander had made a proper and sufficient apology for his neglect. From this period he quitted the line of active service; but was, on the 17th of June 1669, appointed commissioner of the navy, with a salary of 5001. a year, besides an extra allowance for clerks and other incidental charges. We have not been able to obtain any further particulars relative to him, except that he sat as president of a court-martial, held on board the Bezan yacht, in the Thames, on the 16th of September 1670, for the trial of captain Pearce, of the Saphire, and his lieutenant. The time and place of his death is not known.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Jeremy Smith

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SMITH, Sir Jeremiah, — was appointed commander of the Mary in 1664. In 1665 he was promoted to the Sovereign, and sent commander-in-chief of a squadron bound to the Streights, with permission to wear the union flag at his main-top-mast head, as soon as he was clear of the channel. He returned from thence, with a convoy, in the month of April 1666, and was appointed admiral of the blue. He hoisted his flag on board the Loyal London, a new ship, of eighty guns, and bore a very conspicuous share in the great victory gained over the Dutch on the 24th of July following. The blue squadron was the weakest of the three which composed the English fleet, while that of Van Tromp, to which it was opposed, was the strongest in that of the Dutch. Notwithstanding these fearful odds of real strength, rendered still more formidable in appearance by the well-known gallantry and ability of the commander, our English admiral bravely parried every attempt made by Tromp to throw him into confusion. Having, by feigning an inferiority and retreat, insensibly and subtilely drawn Tromp to such a distance from the other divisions of his fleet, then very hard pressed by the red and white squadrons under prince Rupert, the duke of Albemarle, and admiral Allen, that he was incapable of rendering them any succour; admiral Smith, as soon as he perceived, he had accomplished this end, immediately proceeded to make head against his antagonist, and compelled him also, in his turn, to retire. This signal advantage, with its consequences, concluded the most memorable naval transactions of this year. In the following spring he was appointed commander-in-chief of a squadron sent to the northward. By his diligence and activity he acquired this country very sufficient amends for the injury it sustained in the attack, made by the Dutch, on their ships in the Medway, by capturing a very considerable number of their merchant vessels, bound from Norway and the Baltic, as well as to and from France, Spain, Portugal, and the Streights. So uneasy did the Dutch feel under these reprisals, that when they quitted the Thames, they sent a strong detachment northward for the purpose of attacking him. The two squadrons met not; and the peace, concluded at Bredah, soon afterwards closed the hostile scene. In the month of October following he brought home a convoy from Kinsale.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Hugh Seymour

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SEYMOUR, Hugh,—was appointed lieutenant of the Antelope, and afterwards of the Bristol, in the year 1663. In 1664 he was successively appointed commander of the Hector and Pearle. In 1660 he was removed into the Foresight, a fourth rate, and was one of those gallant persons who fell (the price of that victory they had so strenuously laboured to share in, and obtain) on the 25th of July 1666.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. William Seely

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SEALE, or SAYLE, William,—is said, in the navy list, to have commanded the Spread Eagle, and Samuel, fireships, in 1665, and the Malaga Merchant in 1666, He is certainly the same person whose life has been already given under the name of Ceeley.

CEELEY, SEALE, or SEELEY, William,—is another of the very few persons, whose choice of a naval life is to be regretted by those who consider the conduct of an officer as the standard of honour. He was, in the year 1665, appointed commander of the Spread Eagle fireship; in the following year he was removed into the Samuel, a fireship also; and very soon afterwards into the Malaga Merchant. Fain would we draw a curtain over the remainder of his life, but that historical justice forbids us. On the 5th of February 1666-7, being in company with the Saint Patrick frigate, they fell in with two Dutch men of war off the North Foreland. The Saint Patrick, deserted by the Malaga Merchant, was captured, notwithstanding every possible exertion was made to preserve her, by captain Sanders, who was killed in defending her. An offence of such a complexion could not be expected to be passed over unnoticed, or unpunished. By a courtmartial, held on board the Warspight on the 27th of the same month, he was condemned to be shot: this sentence was carried into execution on the 5th of March, and, at his own particular request, on board the ship he had commanded. His firm behaviour at the last moment of his life, ill-agreed with what it had been at the fatal hour which brought him to to ignominious an end. It proved, that courage is almost undefineable; that the man whose spirit was unequal to the task of supporting him against the honourable risk only, in the service of his country, could, at another time, bear himself with decency and propriety, when the justice of that country consigned him to a certain and disgraceful death, for having either basely betrayed or deserted her. Such men would do well, ever to bear in mind the lines so characteristically put into the mouth of Cæsar, by the immortal Shakespear:

"Cowards die many times before their deaths;
"The valiant never taste of death but once."

---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Thomas Seale

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SEALE, Thomas,— having served as lieutenant of the Resolution in 1663, was, in the following year, appointed commander of the Milford. In 1665, having been promoted to the Breda, a fourth rate, he was prematurely slain in the unfortunate attack on Berghem.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Joseph Saunders

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SANDERS, Joseph ,— was, in the year 1665, made commander of the John and Abigail, an hired ship of war. At the very commencement of the action between the duke of York and Opdam, not being able to weather the Dutch fleet which was then engaged with the English on the contrary tack, he formed the gallant though desperate resolution of passing on to leeward, and running the gantlope through the fire of as many of their ships as could bring their guns to bear on him. His daring attempt met with its merited success. After having received broadsides from a number of the enemy's ships, and in particular from Opdam himself, and his vice-admiral, he rejoined his own fleet, though not without considerable loss of men and much damage to his ship. This very conspicuous act of gallantry procured him, immediately afterwards, the command of the Guinea, a small fourth rate; and, early in the ensuing spring, that of the Breda of forty-eight guns. He commanded this ship during the long engagement between the duke of Albemarle (to whose succour prince Rupert came up after the fight had continued two days) and de Ruyter: and, in the signal victory obtained by the same commanders over the same antagonist, on the 25th of July following, he was wounded in the leg by a musket shot; of which wound, though it was thought only of trivial consequence, he unhappily died a very few days afterwards.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Francis Saunders

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SANDERS, Francis,— was appointed commander of the Constant Catherine in 1665, and of the Sweepstakes in the same year.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Richard Rooth

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ROOTH, Sir Richard,—was appointed, by the duke of York, captain of the Dartmouth, in the year 1660: in 1663 he commanded the Harp: in 1664 he was recommissioned for the Dartmouth: in 1667 he commanded the St. David ; and, in the following year, the Garland. During the time he commanded this ship, which was one of sir Thomas Allen's squadron, in the Mediterranean, he was left, by that admiral, to block up the port of Sallee. While he was employed on this service he had the good fortune to meet with four of their corsairs which were escorting home three prizes which they had taken. On captain Rooth's attacking them, in conjunction with captain Bustow of the Francis, they all ran ashore and perished, together with their crews, to avoid falling into the hands of the English. The circumstance we observed to have taken place on a former occasion, of an officer's serving as a lieutenant, after having, for years, acted as a commander, occurs in the life of this gentleman. In 1672 he was made first lieutenant of the Victory, and in the following year resumed his former station of a commander, first, of the Lion, having again returned to the Mediterranean, and, secondly, of the Swiftsure. On the 9th of March, 1675, he was appointed, by king Charles the Second, to command the Adventure, on which occasion he received the honour of knighthood, and was sent to carry over to Tangier the earl of Inchiquin, lately appointed governor. Lastly, on the 12th of April, 1678, he was removed into the Monmouth: the command of this ship concluded his naval life.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Robert Robinson

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In 1674 he was appointed to the Royal Oak; but still we continue in the dark as to the particular service in which he was engaged. On the 17th of April, 1676, he was appointed by Charles the Second, who, since the retirement of the duke of York, in 1673, had assumed to himself the management of the navy, to command the Assurance frigate, and sent on the Mediterranean service. Hostilities being commenced against the Algerines, he had the good fortune to fall in with, and capture one of their principal corsairs, mounting twenty-two guns, in the month of August, 1677. Returning from the Mediterranean at the end of the year, he was, on the 7th of January, 1677-8, removed into the Harwich; and, on the prospect of a rupture with France, was, in the summer following, sent commodore of a squadron, consisting of ten sail, to cruize at the entrance of the Channel, and watch the motions of the French fleet at Brest, as well as to restrain the probable depredations of the Algerines, who, at this time, rose into such insolence, as to send their corsairs even into the English Channel. On the 3d of January, 1679, he was appointed to the Foresight; and on the 15th of May, 1680, to the Assistance. He sailed on the 24th of June as commodore of a squadron bound to Newfoundland. This is the last service we find him engaged in.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Robert Robinson

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ROBINSON, Sir Robert,—was appointed commander of the Ruby in 1661 ; and in 1665 of the Elizabeth of forty guns. In the following year, 1666, having very much distinguished himself in the action between the duke of York and Opdam, he was promoted to the Warspight, a third rate of sixty-four guns, in which he also had an opportunity, which he did not neglect, of signalizing himself during the two actions, fought in that year, between the English and Dutch fleets. In December 1666, captain Robinson was sent commodore of a squadron of six sail, to convoy the fleet home from Gottenburgh. On the 25th they fell in with a squadron of five Dutch men of war, of which three, including the admiral, were, after a short action, taken. In 1668 he was removed into the Ruby; and, on the 21st of August, 1670, was appointed to the Greenwich, as commodore of a convoy bound to the Streights. Through his very extraordinary care a numerous fleet was conducted, in safety, through the most tempestuous weather and repeated storms. On his return from the Streights he was, in 1672, again appointed to the Warspight; early in the ensuing year to the Monmouth; and, on the 9th of February, 1673-4, to the Diamond. A little before this time he received the honour of knighthood, in consideration, as it is expressly said in the notification of it, of the many good services done by him. It is most probable, that from the time of his quitting the Warspight, he was employed in the Mediterranean service, where the peaceable disposition of the piratical states, at that time, has prevented any occurrence, worthy of notice, from being transmitted to us. This conjecture is founded on the circumstance, of no notice being taken, in such documents as we have been able to procure, either of himself, or the several ships it is known he commanded during the second Dutch war, and for some years afterwards.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.

About Capt. Jacob Reynolds

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REYNOLDS, Jacob,—was appointed captain of the Great Gift in 1664, and of the Hope prize in 1666.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.