Books

Published in this volume are various Spanish documents concerning the Armada; a journal of one of Blake’s officers in the mid seventeenth century; Boscawen’s letters to his wife; the account of a Swedish officer who served in the French Navy during the Seven Years War; selections from the Hood papers regarding Prince William’s service in… Read Abstract »

Charles Sergison (1654-1732) had a long and honourable career with the Navy Board in which organisation he rose to become Clerk of the Acts, the Principal Officer and Commissioner responsible for the Board’s secretariat. He occupied this position for nearly thirty years from early 1689/90 to his retirement in 1719. On leaving office he retained… Read Abstract »

The Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-1674) at sea formed part of the greater conflict between France and England against the Dutch, in which the naval campaign was fought in conjunction with a major land offensive, leading to an invasion of the Netherlands by France. The war at sea saw English and French fleets both trying hard… Read Abstract »

Thomas Allin was a Lowestoft ship owner who subsequently spent both Civil Wars and the Commonwealth period as a successful Royalist privateer and commander, leading a charmed life through to the Restoration. After 1660, he commanded or flew his flag in twelve different ships and was extensively employed in peace and war, although his only… Read Abstract »

Thomas Allin was a Lowestoft ship owner who subsequently spent both Civil Wars and the Commonwealth period as a successful Royalist privateer and commander, leading a charmed life through to the Restoration. After 1660, he commanded or flew his flag in twelve different ships and was extensively employed in peace and war, although his only… Read Abstract »

This volume covers the period of Blake’s land and sea commands from 1644 to 1657. From his letters is can be seen Blake was a man of action taking Taunton then Duster Castle. He was a strong and determined man who withstood three sieges at Taunton. On taking Dunster Castle he revealed a dislike for… Read Abstract »

In 1683 Samuel Pepys accompanied George Legge, Lord Dartmouth, to Tangier as his secretary. During the voyage Pepys kept another brief diary and miscellaneous notes which contain valuable information about the navy. He recorded his concerns, as well as the views of the sea officers and others with him. Richard Leake, master gunner, was criticised… Read Abstract »

The full title of these three volumes is misleading. The project to publish the papers of Sir George Byng (1663-1733) and his fourth son John (1704-1757) was never completed. Brian Tunstall completed three volumes, but the latest document to appear in the third volume was only dated 1717. An intended fourth volume of the papers,… Read Abstract »

The full title of these three volumes is misleading. The project to publish the papers of Sir George Byng (1663-1733) and his fourth son John (1704-1757) was never completed. Brian Tunstall completed three volumes, but the latest document to appear in the third volume was only dated 1717. An intended fourth volume of the papers,… Read Abstract »

The full title of these three volumes is misleading. The project to publish the papers of Sir George Byng (1663-1733) and his fourth son John (1704-1757) was never completed. Brian Tunstall completed three volumes, but the latest document to appear in the third volume was only dated 1717. An intended fourth volume of the papers,… Read Abstract »

This remarkable compilation includes both official and private correspondence and papers from a wide variety of sources both English and Dutch (the latter translated), giving an extremely detailed and complete view of all aspects of the war. The first volume extends to August 1652. The translations of many of the Dutch documents are unsatisfactory, and… Read Abstract »

Born in 1577 and with early experience as a privateer, Nathaniel Boteler (Butler) served as a sea captain and a colonial administrator in the early Stuart period. Connected by patronage to the Earl of Warwick, he was appointed to the Somers Isles (Bermuda) Company in 1622 and was responsible for building up the colony and… Read Abstract »

Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich (1625-1672) was a highly successful New Model Army senior officer and, from 1656, General at Sea under the Commonwealth. He brought Charles II back from exile in 1660 and, rapidly becoming a royal favourite, was created Earl of Sandwich, Admiral of the Narrow Seas and Lieutenant Admiral to the… Read Abstract »

This Miscellany contains several documents that were in private ownership and range from 1656 to 1815 and are mainly related to naval operations. There are documents relating to the raid on the Dutch coast in 1666 and letters from Blake to Montague on operational matters in 1756; a discussion on whether to prosecute the likely… Read Abstract »

Over the years the NRS has published various volumes relating to Samuel Pepys including the catalogues of his letters. His Naval Minutes mainly cover the period from 1680-1696. As the Naval Minutes are a series of random notes made by Pepys in connection with his proposed History of the Royal Navy, as well as notes… Read Abstract »

Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) made a significant contribution to British history by his work as a naval administrator, and he bequeathed to Magdalen College, Cambridge its greatest treasure – his library, a unique collection of 3,000 books and manuscripts, still preserved as he left it. There are 250 volumes of manuscripts and these NRS volumes published… Read Abstract »

After an early career in piracy, Mainwaring became one of the most prominent senior officers under James I and Charles I. He took part in most of the naval operations of the period, and during and after the Civil War served with the Royalist Navy. In this volume are printed Mainwaring’s essay ‘Of the Beginnings,… Read Abstract »

After an early career in piracy, Mainwaring became one of the most prominent senior officers under James I and Charles I. He took part in most of the naval operations of the period, and during and after the Civil War served with the Royalist Navy. This volume is not so much a collection of documents… Read Abstract »

Leake (1656-1720) was one of the most prominent flag officers of King William and Queen Anne’ s wars. He played a leading part in the relief of Londonderry in 1689, fought at Bantry Bay, Beachy Head, La Hogue and Malaga, twice relieved Gibraltar, captured Cartagena, Alicante, Ibiza, Majorca, Minorca, and Sardinia, was five times Admiral… Read Abstract »

Leake (1656-1720) was one of the most prominent flag officers of King William and Queen Anne’ s wars. He played a leading part in the relief of Londonderry in 1689, fought at Bantry Bay, Beachy Head, La Hogue and Malaga, twice relieved Gibraltar, captured Cartagena, Alicante, Ibiza, Majorca, Minorca, and Sardinia, was five times Admiral… Read Abstract »

Pett was the most famous of a famous family of shipbuilders, the constructor of the Sovereign of the Seas and the Prince Royal, and a leading figure in the early Stuart Navy. His autobiography covering his life from his birth in 1570 up to 1638 is here printed from the manuscript in his own hand,… Read Abstract »

A collection of legal cases and precedents dealing with aspects of maritime and naval law such as piracy, prizes and prize goods, letters of marque and reprisal, contraband, ransom, convoy, and impressment. The volumes cover 1205-1648 and 1649-1767 respectively. This volume covers the years 1649-1767.

A collection of legal cases and precedents dealing with aspects of maritime and naval law such as piracy, prizes and prize goods, letters of marque and reprisal, contraband, ransom, convoy, and impressment. The volumes cover 1205-1648 and 1649-1767 respectively. This volume covers the years 1205-1648.

Monson was a late-Elizabethan seaman and naval commander, retired under a cloud in 1616, who occupied his retirement in composing a number of works on naval affairs. A number of ‘projects’ or plans for campaigns against possible enemies, with papers on trade, fisheries, exploration and other matters.