THE NAVY AND THE STUARTS 



on the side of the Puritans, undoubtedly contributed very greatly 

 towards the result by preventing help reaching the King from abroad. 

 At the same time there was so little real activity that the men got bored 

 with their constant patrol against an invisible enemy. Once again 

 history repeated itself, and before the war on land was half decided 

 Parliament was in no condition to trust its own fleet. This was evident 

 when Colonel Rainborow was appointed to succeed Sir William Batten 

 in 1647 and was promptly turned out of his own flagship. By this time, 

 although it had greatly assisted the Parliamentary cause, the Navy had 

 rendered doubtful service to England in undermining her prestige 

 abroad by showing how easily her King was frustrated. After Rain- 

 borow was refused by the Fleet Batten was restored and celebrated his 

 return to favour by taking eleven men-of-war across to Holland to join 

 the Royalist Navy. 



Prince Rupert the Rover. 



Prince Rupert of the Palatinate had proved himself to be one of the 

 most dashing cavalry commanders on the Royalist side although, as a 

 matter of fact, he always just managed to fail to complete his victories 

 by his lack of self-restraint. Latterly he had become somewhat 

 estranged from Charles on account of the treatment that his advice had 

 received and had taken advantage of the Parliament's permission to 

 retire to Holland. When Charles was really defeated he realised what 

 a devoted follower he had in his nephew, and although the Prince never 

 forgave the King's advisers he consented to take over the command of 

 the Royalist Fleet. With Batten's ships this amounted to seventeen 

 sail and there followed an extraordinary cruise under the Royal rover, 

 a cruise that was not far removed from piracy although the fleet pro- 

 fessed to prey only on rebel tonnage. One ship after another was 

 captured or abandoned worn-out, and the fleet was pursued from point 

 to point by the relentless Blake. This was the first great service that 

 Blake rendered to the Commonwealth and in this he possessed just the 

 qualities lacking in the Prince. Never brilliant, he had a wonderful 

 perseverance that gave him victory in the long run. Prince Rupert's 

 heart being finally broken by the disappearance at sea of the ship which 

 carried his beloved younger brother Maurice, his companion in many a 

 dashing cavalry charge. The operations of Prince Rupert as a 

 sea rover form a most fascinating incident in British sea history but 

 they are of detail rather than of broad outline. 



The Commonwealth Navy. 



Under the Commonwealth organisation the Navy was very diflferent 

 to what it had been under the King. Like most new republics they 

 were enthusiastic for committees and there were any number set up 

 for various purposes. At the same time it was a splendid period for 

 the Navy because the rulers of the country realised two things — firstly, 

 the importance of Sea Power, and secondly the necessity of keeping the 

 Navy employed. This not only meant a powerful fleet but also 



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