Part 32 (1/2)
Camden Society.
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CHAPTER XVIII
RUPERT AND THE FLEET. PROPOSED VOYAGE TO GUINEA. ILLNESS OF RUPERT.
THE FIRST DUTCH WAR. THE NAVAL COMMISSIONERS AND THE PRINCE. SECOND DUTCH WAR. ANTI-FRENCH POLITICS
Rupert received a warm welcome on his return to England, and was at once sworn a member of the Privy Council. It was but natural that he should turn his attention to naval affairs. The growth of the sea power of England had received an impetus during the years of the Commonwealth, due indirectly to Rupert himself; for had not the Commonwealth been forced to protect itself against the pirate Princes, it would probably have cared less for its navy.[1] Charles II, like a true Stuart, cared for his fleet also, and took a keen interest in s.h.i.+p-building and other matters connected with the navy. In October 1662, he appointed Rupert to the Committee for the Government of Tangiers, together with the Duke of York, Albemarle, Sandwich, Coventry, and Pepys of famous memory. If Pepys may be credited, the Prince did not take the business at all seriously: ”The Duke of York and Mr. Coventry, for aught I see, being the only two that do anything like men. Prince Rupert do nothing but laugh a little, with an oath now and then.”[2]
But if Rupert was indifferent about Tangiers he was keenly interested in the African question. The quarrels of the English and Dutch traders on the African coast had produced much ill-feeling between the two nations, and, in August {303} 1664, Rupert offered to lead a fleet to Guinea, to oppose the aggressions of the Dutch Admiral, De Ruyter. A fleet of twelve s.h.i.+ps was accordingly fitted out. On September 3, wrote Pepys: ”Prince Rupert, I hear this day, is going to command this fleet going to Guinea against the Dutch. I doubt few will be pleased with his going, he being accounted an unhappy man;”[3]--a view which contrasts strangely with the terror which Rupert's mere name had roused in earlier days. Two days later Pepys had encountered Rupert himself: ”And, among other things, says he: 'D-- me! I can answer but for one s.h.i.+p, and in that I will do my part, for it is not as in an army where a man can command everything.'”[4]
A royal company had been formed for the promotion of the enterprise, and a capital was raised of 30,000, in which the Duke of York held many shares.[5] Eighty pounds was laid out on ”two trumpets, a kettle-drum, and a drummer to attend Prince Rupert to sea;”[6] and, after a farewell supper at Kirke House, Rupert went down the river at three o'clock on an October morning, accompanied by the King, Duke of York, and many Courtiers. With the next tide he embarked, but the weather was very rough, and for some days he was wind-bound at Portsmouth. His crews numbered two hundred and fifty in all, besides fifty-four supernumaries in his train.[7] As was invariably the case at this period, the fleet was badly and insufficiently provisioned; but the delay at Portsmouth enabled Rupert to have this rectified, and thus, for the first time, he came into collision with Pepys, the victualler of the navy.
For some weeks the Prince hovered about the Channel, waiting for an expected Dutch fleet; but the Dutch {304} out-witted him. By promising to keep within harbour, they persuaded the King to recall Rupert, and, in the meantime, privately ordered their Mediterranean fleet to sail for New Guinea. Thus nothing was done by the English, and the only warfare waged by Rupert was with his chaplain, of whom he wrote bitter complaints to Lord Arlington, the then Secretary of State.
”Sir,
”I beseech you, at the delivery of this inclosed leter, to acquaint the King and the Duke of York that, after I had closed their leters, the spirit of mutiny entered our parson againe, so that there was no rest for him, until I commanded him to his cabin, and withal to make readdy for prayers this next morning, which he had neglected yesterday. Att this instant I receave this inclosed, by whiche you may see his humor.
After this stile he talked, till ten last night, abusing the captain most horribly. In consideration of my Lord of Canterburie, whoe recommended him, I strained my patience very much; but if this felow shoulde continue longer on bord, you may easily imagine the troble he woulde put us to. If I had any time I would writt to my Lord Archbishop, giving him the whoele relation of what pa.s.sed. I am now sending all our captains present to indevor the hastening down to the Downes. If nothing hinder, I hope, G.o.d willing, to sayle to-morrow.
Minne is not yet abord, but I expect him the next tide. I will be sure give you notice what our motions will be from time to time, and rest
”Your affectionat frend to serve you, ”Rupert.
”Oct. 8, Lee Rd.
”Pray to doe me the favor as to acquaint my Lord Archbishop of Canterburie with this, and my respects to him.”[8]
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His next letter, of October 11, shows that the Prince had been relieved of his militant chaplain. ”Our s.h.i.+p, by wanting Levit, is very quiet.
G.o.d send us another (chaplain) of a better temper. Hitherto we have not trobled Him much with prayers.”[9] But the matter did not end there, and October 30, Rupert wrote again: ”Our late parson, I heere, plaies the devil in alle companies he comes; raising most d.a.m.ned reports of us alle, and more particularly of me.” This letter is devoid of all complimentary phrases, and ends simply, ”Yours, Rupert.”
An apologetic postscript explains these omissions. ”His Majesty has given me direction to write to him thus, without ceremony, and it will be easier for us all to follow. I have therefore begonne, and desire you to do the like.”[10]
The fleet never reached its destination. A war was imminent nearer home, and Charles was probably unwilling to send so many s.h.i.+ps out of the Channel; but the reasons for their abrupt recall were a subject of much discussion. ”This morning I am told that the goods on board Prince Rupert's s.h.i.+p, for Guinea, are unlading at Portsmouth, which makes me believe that he is resolved to stay and pull the crow with them at home,” says a letter among the Hatton papers. ”But the matter be so secretly carried that this morning there was not the least intimation given what to depend on, even to them that are commonly knowing enough in affairs of that kind.”[11]
An additional reason for the collapse of the expedition was the severe illness of Rupert. The old wound in the head, which he had received through Ga.s.sion's treachery, had never properly healed, and now an accidental injury to it had very serious results. The Duke of York, much concerned by the accident, immediately sent a surgeon to {306} the fleet, and wrote with friendly solicitude to his cousin: ”As soon as Will Legge showed me your letter of the accident in your head, I immediately sent Choqueux to you, in so much haste as I had not time to write by him. But now, I conjure you, if you have any kindness for me, have a care of your health, and do not neglect yourself. I am very glad to hear your s.h.i.+p sails so well. I was yesterday to see the new s.h.i.+p at Woolwich launched, and I think, when you see her, (which I hope you will do very quickly, under Sir John Lawson,) you will say she is the finest s.h.i.+p that has yet been built.”[12]
The surgeon operated upon the Prince, who wrote November 6, to the King: ”I could not go from s.h.i.+pp to s.h.i.+pp to hasten the work, since Choqueux will not let me stir, to which I consented the rather, since he promises to have me quite well and whoele in a few days.”[13] But the promise was not made good, and a very dangerous illness ensued.
”Prince Rupert, by a chance, has bruised his head, and cannot get cured,” says one of the Hatton correspondents in December. ”He is gone up to London to endeavour it there... He is mightily worn away, and in their opinion that are about him is not long-lived. He would fain go to Guinea, and is endeavouring to be despatched there; he believes the warmth of that clime would do him good.”[14] Life, apparently, still held attractions for Rupert. According to Pepys, he was ”much chagrined” at the idea of dying, but recovered his spirits wonderfully when a.s.sured of convalescence. ”Since we told him that we believe he would overcome his disease, he is as merry, and swears, and laughs, and curses, and do all the things of a man in health as ever he did in his life.”[15]
The illness lasted a long time; but though he was {307} exceedingly weak, Rupert did not fail to take his part in the first Dutch war. The formal declaration of war was made in February 1665, to the great joy of the English nation, whose commercial heart had been stirred by colonial jealousies. ”What matters this or that reason?” cried the honest Duke of Albemarle (General Monk). ”What we want is more of the trade which the Dutch now have!”[16] France, for equally selfish reasons, threw in her lot with the Dutch, but delayed coming to their a.s.sistance; and the first engagement did not take place till June 13, 1665.
The English fleet was divided into three squadrons, Red, White and Blue. In the Red commanded the Duke of York, as Lord High Admiral; Rupert was Admiral of the White, and his rival, Lord Sandwich, led the Blue. On the twenty-first of April they sailed to the Texel, hoping to blockade the Zuyder Zee, meet De Ruyter on his return from Africa, and cut off the home-coming vessels. The English commanders, Rupert excepted, believed that the Dutch would at once come out and fight.
But Rupert proved right, the Dutch made no sign, and within a fortnight, want of provisions drove the English back to Harwich.
In the meantime the Dutch sent forth a fleet of 103 men-of-war, 7 yachts, 11 fire-s.h.i.+ps, and 12 galiots. This was divided into seven squadrons, and placed under the joint command of Evertsen and Opdam.
By May 13th they were at sea, and immediately captured some English merchantmen coming from Hamburg. There was an outcry of indignation in England, and the fleet hurried to sea. On June 3rd the rival fleets met in Southwold Bay. The English, who had 109 men-of-war and 28 fire-s.h.i.+ps and ketches, were numerically superior to their enemy.
Opdam was, besides, hopelessly hampered by imperative commands from the States to fight at once, and by a want {308} of military pride and esprit de corps throughout his fleet. The action began with Rupert in the van, York in the centre, and Sandwich in the rear. Rupert ”received the charge” of the Dutch fleet, not firing until close to it, and then shooting through and through it.[17] Having thus met, the two fleets pa.s.sed each other, and then turned to renew the encounter.