J72 



BLAKE. 



Blake. year 1561, he reduced the islands of Scilly, Jersey, 

 and Guernsey, which had been held for the king, 

 and which were extremely injurious to the country, 

 on account of the great number of privateers that 

 they harboured. 



In the year 1562, war broke out with Holland, 

 and Blake was constituted sole admiral. On the 

 18th of May he fell in with the Dutch fleet, com- 

 manded by Van Tromp. Though he had no more 

 than 15 vessels to contend against 42, he not only 

 did not decline an engagement, but actually gained 

 a victory, capturing two of the enemy's squadron, 

 and disabling a third ; and, in consequence of a re- 

 inforcement of eight ships under Major Bourne, obli- 

 ged them to consult their safety in flight. 



In the beginning of July he sailed to the north, 

 for the purpose of destroying the Dutch herring 

 fishery, which he imagined would convince the 

 States, more than many defeats, of the absurdity 

 and danger of disputing with England, the sove- 

 reignty of the seas. He found the fishing vessels 

 under the protection of 12 men of war. A stout 

 battle took place with the convoy, which ended in 

 the capture of the whole. The fishery of course 

 was left entirely to Blake's mercy. He treated 

 those who were engaged in it with great humanity, 

 but at the same time in such a manner as to impress 

 upon their minds a strong sense of the maritime 

 power and greatness of England. In his way home 

 he took five or six frigates belonging to the Dutch 

 fleet under Tromp, which had sailed to intercept 

 him, but had been dispersed in a storm. After his 

 return, he did great mischief to the enemy in the 

 channel. And, in consequence of some hostilities 

 which the French had committed at Newfoundland, 

 he attacked a strong squadron, which they were 

 sending to the relief of Dunkirk ; and, having taken 

 or destroyed them all, that place fell easily into the 

 hands of the Spaniards. On the 28th of September 

 Tie engaged the Dutch admirals De Wilte and De 

 Ruyter. A well-contested battle ensued. It ended 

 in the defeat and flight of the Dutch. For this 

 Blake received the thanks of the parliament. In his 

 next encounter with them, however, which happen- 

 ed on the 29th of November, he was not so success- 

 fid. Thinking that the season of action was over, 

 he had detached above 40 of his ships to different 

 stations ; and the Dutch admiral hearing of this, 

 seized the opportunity of attacking him near Dover 

 Road with his whole force. Blake fought with his 

 usual valour and obstinacy ; but superiority of num- 

 bers at length prevailed, and, after suffering consi- 

 derable loss, he was under the necessity of profiting 

 by the darkness of the night, and retiring into the 

 Thames. The parliament, hearing the real cause of 

 the disaster, caressed the admiral as formerly; again 

 appointed him to the command ; and, in six weeks, 

 provided him with a fleet of 60 ships of war. On 

 the 18th of February 1653, he fell in with Tromp, 

 who had a fleet of about the same numerical strength, 

 and between 200 and 300 merchantmen under con- 

 voy. Tromp was surprised to find the English ad- 

 miral so soon in a condition to meet him, and would 

 probably have been glad to avoid fighting ; but 

 Blake was so stationed across the channel, that it 



was impossible to escape a battle. The battle lasted 

 for two days, and was even renewed in the m 

 of the third, when Tromp, finding that nothing was 

 to be expected from farther resistance, but the de- 

 struction of his fleet, thought proper to sheer off to 

 Calais, from whence he cautiously coasted it home, 

 our fleet pursuing slowly, and picking up the strag- 

 gling ships. Blake was wounded in the first day of 

 the action. On the whole, the Dutch lost, on this 

 occasion, 11 ships of war, 30 merchantmen, and 

 about 3000 killed and wounded. The English suf- 

 fered about as much in men, but lost only one 

 ship. 



On the 20th of April, Oliver Cromwell dissolved 

 the parliament by force, and assumed the supreme 

 power. Blake's feelings and prepossessions were in 

 favour of a commonwealth. He had lent his aid in 

 giving vigour and respectability to that which had 

 been lately established in England, and would, no 

 doubt, feel a lively indignation at the violent and 

 unexpected change which had taken place. But 

 Blake loved his country better than any thing else. 

 At this moment he saw her exposed to the attacks 

 of powerful enemies. He was sensible, that any at- 

 tempts to rekindle a civil war^ or to set the naval 

 and military forces at variance, would have endan- 

 gered her independence. And, therefore, to pre- 

 serve her strength unbroken, and her councils undi- 

 vided, so far as his personal influence extended, he 

 continued his efforts against the common foe, saying, 

 to those under his command, " It is not for us to 

 mind state affairs ; but to keep foreigners from fool- 

 ing us." Such conduct made him a favourite with 

 all parties, because it shewed that he was a true and 

 steady patriot. The town of Bridgewater returned 

 him as their representative to the new parliament ; 

 and even Cromwell himself, to whom his republican 

 sentiments, and unbending spirit, were perfectly 

 well known, regarded him with affection, and treat- 

 ed him with confidence. He acted thus, because he 

 was convinced, that Blake was influenced by views 

 which looked farther than the advancement of any 

 political faction, and would make greater exertions, 

 from a pore regard to the welfare and glory of Eng- 

 land, than others would do from all the motives of 

 interest and ambition. 



On the 2d of June, the English fleet, under Monk 

 and Dean, attacked that of the Dutch under Van 

 Tromp. Each consisted of about 100 ships of war., 

 The action commenced at eleven in the forenoon, 

 and continued with great warmth through the re- 

 maining part of the day. It had not lasted, how- 

 ever, many hours, when the enemy began to give 

 way and fall into confusion. The arrival of Blake 

 during the night, with 18 sail, decided their fate. 

 For, next day, after Tromp had attempted, in vain, 

 to avoid a renewal of the contest, a second engage- 

 ment took place, in which, after a long and furious 

 struggle, the Dutch were completely defeated, with 

 immense loss both in ships and men. This, together 

 with some other serious disasters which befel their 

 trade and their navy, hastened on the negociations 

 between Cromwell and the States, and led to the 

 peace which was concluded on the 4th of April 

 1654. 



Clakr. 



