On 28 December 1669,[1] as the Mary Rose, a third-rate, carrying forty-eight guns, with a crew of 230 men, commanded by Captain John Kempthorn, was convoying a fleet of merchant ships through the Straits of Gibraltar, seven large Algerine corsairs, full of men, stood towards her.[2] Captain Kempthorn ordered the convoy to make sail, while he, single-handed, advanced to engage the foe.[2] The fighting continued into the following day,[1] as the Algerines attacked the Mary Rose with much fury, and boarded her; but were beaten off with considerable loss.[2][a] The convoy reached Cádiz in safety.[1][4][5]
Notes
- ↑ The above is as recorded by Campbell;[3] but there is an original picture representing this engagement—or perhaps a later engagement involving the Kingfisher—in the Painted Hall at Greenwich, underneath which are the following lines:Two we burnt, and two we sunk, and two did run away;
And one we carried to Leghorn Roads, to show we'd won the day.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "The "Mary Rose" Action, 28 December 1669 (RCIN 405223)". Royal Collection Trust.
- 1 2 3 Allen, Joseph (1852). Battles of the British Navy. Vol. 1. London: Henry G. Bohn. p. 65.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ Campbell, John (1812). Yorke, Henry Redhead (ed.). Lives of the British Admirals. Vol. 2 (New ed.). London: C. J. Barrington. p. 383.
- ↑ Ogilby, John (1670). Africa: Being a Description of the Regions of Ægypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billendulgerid, the Land of Negroes, Guinee, Æthiopia, and the Abyssines; with All the Adjacent Islands, &c. London: Tho. Johnson. pp. 218–219.
- ↑ "The 'Mary Rose' Action and the Barbary Pirates (1669)". Society for Nautical Research.
England
Kempthorne's engagement, engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar (John Ogilby, Description of Africa, 1670)_-_The_%22Mary_Rose%22_Action%252C_28_December_1669_-_RCIN_405223_-_Royal_Collection.jpg)
Painting of the action by Willem van de Velde the Younger, signed and dated 1676 (Royal Collection)