BLA K E A Ta time when a nation is engaged in a war with an enemy, whofe infults, ravages, and barbarities, have long called for vengeance, an account of such English commanders as have merited the acknowledgements of pofterity, by extending the power, and raifing the honour of their country, feem to be no improper entertainment for our readers. We fhall therefore attempt a fuccinct narration of the life and actions of admiral Blake, in which we have nothing farther in view than to do juftice to his bravery and conduct, without intending any parallel between his atchievements and those of our present admirals, ROBERT BLAKE was born at Bridgwater, in Somerfetfhire, in Auguft 1598, his father being a merchant of that place, who had acquired a confiderable fortune by the Spanish trade. Of his carlieft years we have no account, and therefore can amufe the reader with none of thofe prognofticks of his future actions, fo often met with in memoirs. In 1615 he entered into the univerfity of Oxford, where he continued till 1623, though without being • This Life was fill piinted in the Gentleman's Magazine for the year 1740. much much countenanced or careffed by his fuperiors, for he was more than once difappointed in his endeavours. after academical preferments. It is obfervable that Mr. Wood (in his Athenæ Oxonienfes) afcribes the repulfe he met with at Wadham College, where he was competitor for a fellowship, either to want of learning, or of ftature. With regard to the firft objection, the fame writer had before imformed us, that he was an early rifer, and ftudious, though he fometimes relieved his attention by the amufements of fowling and fishing. As it is highly probable that he did not want capacity, we may therefore conclude, upon this confeffion of his diligence, that he could not fail of being learned, at least in the degree requifite to the enjoyment of a fellowship; and may fafely afcribe his dif appointment to his want of ftature, it being the cuftom of Sir Henry Savil, then warden of that college, to pay much regard to the outward appearance of thofe who folicited preferment in that fociety. So much do the greatest events owe fometimes to accident or folly! He afterwards retired to his native place, where " he "lived," fays Clarendon, " without any appearance of "ambition to be a greater man than he was, but in"veighed with great freedom against the licence of "the times, and power of the court." In 1640 he was chofen burgefs for Bridgwater by the Puritan party, to whom he had recommended himself by his difapprobation of bifhop Laud's violence and feverity, and his non-compliance with thofe new ceremonies which he was then endeavouring to introduce. When the civil war broke out, Blake, in conformity with his avowed principles, declared for the parliament; and, thinking a bare declaration for right not all the duty of a good man, raifed a troop of dragoons for his party, and appeared in the field with fo much bravery, that he was in a fhort time advanced, without meeting any of thofe obftructions which he had encountered in the university. In 1645 he was governor of Taunton, when the Lord Goring came before it with an army of 10,000 men. The town was ill fortified, and unfupplied with almost every thing neceffary for fupporting a fiege. The ftate of this garrifon encouraged Colonel Windham, who was acquainted with Blake, to propose a capitulation; which was rejected by Blake with indig nation and contempt: nor were either menaces or perfuafions of any effect, for he maintained the place under all its difadvantages, till the fiege was raifed by the parliament's army. He continued, on many other occafions, to givê proofs of an infuperable courage, and a steadiness of refolution not to be fhaken; and, as a proof of his firm adherence to the parliament, joined with the borough of Taunton in returning thanks for their refolution to make no more addreffes to the king. Yet was he fo far from approving the death of Charles I. that he made no fcruple of declaring, that he would venture his life to fave him, as willingly as he had done to ferve the parliament. In February 1648-9, he was made a commiffioner of the navy, and appointed to ferve on that element, for which he feems by nature to have been defigned. He was foon afterwards fent in purfuit of prince Rupert, whom he fhut up in the harbour of Kingfale in Ireland for feveral months, till want of provifions, and defpair of relief, excited the prince to make a daring effort for his efcape, by forcing through the parliament's fleet : this design he executed with his ufual intrepidity, and fucceeded in it, though with the lofs of three fhips. He was pursued by Blake to the coaft of Portugal, where he was received into the Tagus, and treated with great diftinction by the Portuguese. Blake, coming to the mouth of that river, fent to the king a meffenger, to inform him, that, the fleet in his port belonging to the publick enemies of the commonwealth of England, he demanded leave to fall upon it. This being refused, though the refufal was in very foft terms, and accompanied with declarations of esteem, and a prefent of provifions, fo exafperated the admiral, that, without any hesitation, he fell upon the Portuguese fleet, then returning from Brafil, of which he took feventeen fhips, and burnt three. It was to no purpose that the king of Portugal, alarmed at so unexpected a destruction, ordered prince Rupert to attack him, and retake the Brafil fhips. Blake carried home his prizes without moleftation, the prince not having force enough to pursue him, and well pleased with the opportunity of quitting a port where he could no longer be protected. Blake foon fupplied his fleet with provifion, and received orders to make reprifals upon the French, who had fuffered their privateers to moleft the English trade; an injury which, in thofe days, was always immediately refented, and, if not repaired, certainly punished. Sailing with this commiffion, he took in his way a French man of war valued at a million. How this fhip happened to be fo rich, we are not informed; but as it was a cruifer, it is probable the rich lading was the accumulated plunder of many prizes. Then following the unfortunate Rupert, whofe fleet by ftorms and and battles was now reduced to five fhips, into Carthagena, he demanded leave of the Spanish governor to attack him in the harbour, but received the fame anfwer which had been returned before by the Portuguefe: "That they had a right to protect all ships that Bo came into their dominions; that if the admiral were forced in thither, he fhould find the fame fecurity; and "that he required him not to violate the peace of a "neutral port." Blake withdrew upon this answer into the Mediterranean; and Rupert then leaving Carthagena entered the port of Malaga, where he burnt and funk feveral English merchant fhips. Blake, judging this to be an infringement of the neutrality profeffed by the Spaniards, now made no fcruple to fall upon Rupert's fleet in the harbour of Malaga, and, having destroyed three of his fhips, obliged him to quit the fea, and take fanctuary at the Spanish court. In February, 1650-1, Blake, ftill continuing ta cruife in the Mediterranean, met a French fhip of confiderable force, and commanded the captain to come on board, there being no war deciared between the two nations. The captain, when he came, was asked by him, whether he was willing to lay down his fword, "and vield;" which he gallantly refufed, though in his enemy's power. Blake, fcorning to take advantage of an artifice, and detefting the appearance of treachery, told him, " that he was at liberty to go back "to his fhip, and defend it as long as he could." The captain willingly accepted his offer, and after a fight of two hours confeffed himfeif conquered, kiffed his fword, and furrendered it. In 1652 broke out the memorable war between the two commonwealths of England and Holland; a war, |