[1342] State Papers, Dom., cxliv, 66, 68, and Add. MSS., 9305, f. 155. The Triumph medal was ‘For eminent service in saving ye Triumph fired in fight w ye Dutch in July 1653.’
[1343] S. P. D., cxvii, 64; 11th Dec. 1655.
[1344] Ibid., cxxxiv, 64.
[1345] Ibid., cxlv, 47; Sep. 1656.
[1346] This list is based on that of Dering (Archæologia, xlviii), but corrected where collation with the State Papers and other authorities points in some cases to the certainty, in others to the probability, of Dering’s being in error, completed by the insertion of omitted dates, and enlarged by the addition of all such vessels as were wrecked, captured, destroyed, or sold out of the service, between 1649 and 1660 and which the Archæologia list, being only one of ships effective in 1660, does not profess to supply. Prizes, originally privateers and taken into the service, are indicated by an asterisk. Being the first attempt at a complete Commonwealth Navy list, it must almost necessarily contain some errors, but it is certain that every ship here mentioned was carried on the Navy list of the state. A few others omitted as doubtful or more than doubtful may really be entitled to a place in it; some of the prizes assigned to 1653 may belong to 1652, and, in some instances, continuity or similarity of name renders the exact date of purchase or capture a little problematical. It has not been thought necessary to overload this list with the innumerable references that could be given, especially as the details seldom exactly agree in the various papers, but no name has been inserted except on what appears to be sufficient authority. Dering’s Dolphin, Minion and Pearl Brigantine, I have been unable to place; the Pearl is only once mentioned, in 1658, as being ‘for use as occasion requires.’ The Diver which is also given by him, was not a man-of-war at all, but a hoy temporarily hired for use in recovering the guns of wrecked ships, and the Princess, of his list, was not launched till August 1660. Some of the Dutch prizes were converted into fire ships before being sold. The use of fire ships was not new in either the English or foreign services, but they now appear to have been systematically attached to fleets and, on one or two occasions, to have been used with effect.
It may be well to remark that the document of April 1660 (State Papers, ccxx, 33), which purports to be a list of ships then existing, is altogether untrustworthy.
[1347] The Guinea, Amity, Concord, Discovery, Gilliflower, Mayflower, Hopewell, Accada, Nonsuch Ketch, and Marmaduke, were bought into the service in the respective years under which they are placed, and are marked (B).
[1348] Or Great President.
[1349] The Gilliflower, then called the Archangel, and the Marmaduke, were two prizes taken by Rupert, recaptured at sea by their own crews, brought back to England, and taken into the service.
[1350] Usually said to have been lost in action of July 1653, but can be traced as the Dunkirk after 1660.