BROOM AND WHIPLASH 309 



fight became famous because of the great number of 

 distinguished men who perished in it. Opdam's ship 

 took fire and was lost with her 500 people, amongst 

 whom were volunteers from the best families of Holland. 

 On board the Royal Charles, which was the Duke of 

 York's ship, the Earl of Falmouth and Lord Muskerry 

 were killed, as well as Mr. Boyle, son of the Earl of 

 Cork. They were all slain by one cannon-shot. Their 

 blood and brains, Pepys recorded, flew in the Duke's 

 face, and it was said that the Duke was struck down by 

 the severed head of Boyle. The Earl of Marlborough, 

 Rear- Admiral Sansum, and Captains Kirby and Ableson 

 were numbered with the lost, as well as the valiant Sir 

 John Lawson, who was mortally wounded by some of 

 the flying debris of the shattered Dutch flagship. 



"A greater victory never known in the world," said 

 Pepys exultantly, on learning the first news of the fight ; 

 but later, when he had had one of the victorious captains 

 to dine with him, he modified his views, and wrote : 

 " He assures me we were beaten home the last June 

 fight, and that the whole fleet was ashamed to hear of 

 our bonfires. He says the Dutch do fight in very good 

 order, and we in none at all. He says that in the July 

 fight both Prince Rupert and Holmes had their belly 

 fulls, and were fain to go aside, though, if the wind had 

 continued, we had utterly beaten them. He do confess 

 we be governed by a company of fools, and fears our 



ruin." 



Opdam perished with his ship. Lawson was struck 

 on the knee by a flying shot from the flagship when she 

 was blown up. It was at first thought that he would 

 recover ; but the injury proved fatal. The praises of 



