拍品专文
History:
After the conclusion of the English Civil War, Royalist hopes on the mainland were finally extinguished by the execution of King Charles I in January 1649. There was however, a pocket of resistance remaining in the Scilly Isles, Royalist forces still held the Channel Islands and Ireland, Whilst hardly a stronghold for the crown, nevertheless remained unsubdued and thus a threat to the new Commonwealth. In addition to these potential bases, the open seas also provided their own glimmer of hope by ensuring the freedom of a familiar figurehead for the Royalist cause, the late King's nephew, Prince Rupert of the Rhine. He had been Charles I's most loyal commander during the Civil War, but following the King's surrender in 1646, Rupert had eventually made his way to Holland where he joined the Royalist fleet sheltering in Helvoetsluys.
In 1649 Robert Blake, a competent soldier who had come to Cromwell's notice during the war, was appointed one of the three "Generals at Sea" of the Commonwealth's Navy and, as his first priority, was sent to recover as many ships as possible from the absconded fleet. He did this by persuasion rather than force, with the result that when he finally weighed anchor from the roads outside Helvoetsluys, only seven vessels remained there to support Prince Rupert's efforts to keep the Royalist cause alive.
With Blake back in England, Rupert left Helvoetsluys with his seven ships-of-war and an armed prize in January 1649, and made his way to the Irish port of Kinsale where he heard the news of his uncle's execution. Based at Kinsale, Rupert spent the first half of that year harrying English trade with such success that another Commonwealth force, this time under Sir George Ayscue, was sent to stop him. Ayscue was soon recalled for other duties, but was replaced by Blake who tightened the blockade around Kinsale so effectively that none of Rupert's ship could venture out and his men grew discontented and began to desert. Cromwell's armies were marching on Kinsale and the prospect of capture seemed a very real possibility when the weather unexpectedly came to Rupert's aid. In October a serve storm scattered Blake's fleet and allowed the seven Royalist ships to escape before Blake could prevent it.
Rupert sailed south, taking prizes to the value of 40,000 pounds on the way, and made for Portugal where King John IV granted him entry to the Tagus and sanctuary for the winter. The Commonwealth authorities meanwhile determined to catch him and Blake was given twelve ships to finish the job. Early in march 1650, his squadron appeared off the mouth of the Tagus to demand Rupert's surrender and when Rupert refused, sent envoys to John IV requesting that he took measures to assist them. While the King vacillated, the two fleets remained at anchor not far from one another and began a prolonged period of skirmishing. The Royalists even made an unsuccessful attempt to sink Blake's flagship with a primitive torpedo, but despite the numercial superiority of the combined Royalist and Portuguese fleets, Blake repulsed at least two attemps to bring him to action and thus break the blockade. On 14 September 1650, Blake broke the stalemate by capturing seven valuable prizes from the inbound Brazilian treasure fleet which strayed into him unaware of the fragile alliance of their own King with Prince Rupert.
The humiliated John IV hesitated no longer, with Blake temporarily absent escorting his prizes, Rupert's ship were hurriedly made ready for sea at Portuguese expence and he fled into the Mediterranean. Blake continued to harry him for a further year, but Rupert successfully eluded him until his pursuer was orederd away by the more urgent demands of the First Dutch War.
After the conclusion of the English Civil War, Royalist hopes on the mainland were finally extinguished by the execution of King Charles I in January 1649. There was however, a pocket of resistance remaining in the Scilly Isles, Royalist forces still held the Channel Islands and Ireland, Whilst hardly a stronghold for the crown, nevertheless remained unsubdued and thus a threat to the new Commonwealth. In addition to these potential bases, the open seas also provided their own glimmer of hope by ensuring the freedom of a familiar figurehead for the Royalist cause, the late King's nephew, Prince Rupert of the Rhine. He had been Charles I's most loyal commander during the Civil War, but following the King's surrender in 1646, Rupert had eventually made his way to Holland where he joined the Royalist fleet sheltering in Helvoetsluys.
In 1649 Robert Blake, a competent soldier who had come to Cromwell's notice during the war, was appointed one of the three "Generals at Sea" of the Commonwealth's Navy and, as his first priority, was sent to recover as many ships as possible from the absconded fleet. He did this by persuasion rather than force, with the result that when he finally weighed anchor from the roads outside Helvoetsluys, only seven vessels remained there to support Prince Rupert's efforts to keep the Royalist cause alive.
With Blake back in England, Rupert left Helvoetsluys with his seven ships-of-war and an armed prize in January 1649, and made his way to the Irish port of Kinsale where he heard the news of his uncle's execution. Based at Kinsale, Rupert spent the first half of that year harrying English trade with such success that another Commonwealth force, this time under Sir George Ayscue, was sent to stop him. Ayscue was soon recalled for other duties, but was replaced by Blake who tightened the blockade around Kinsale so effectively that none of Rupert's ship could venture out and his men grew discontented and began to desert. Cromwell's armies were marching on Kinsale and the prospect of capture seemed a very real possibility when the weather unexpectedly came to Rupert's aid. In October a serve storm scattered Blake's fleet and allowed the seven Royalist ships to escape before Blake could prevent it.
Rupert sailed south, taking prizes to the value of 40,000 pounds on the way, and made for Portugal where King John IV granted him entry to the Tagus and sanctuary for the winter. The Commonwealth authorities meanwhile determined to catch him and Blake was given twelve ships to finish the job. Early in march 1650, his squadron appeared off the mouth of the Tagus to demand Rupert's surrender and when Rupert refused, sent envoys to John IV requesting that he took measures to assist them. While the King vacillated, the two fleets remained at anchor not far from one another and began a prolonged period of skirmishing. The Royalists even made an unsuccessful attempt to sink Blake's flagship with a primitive torpedo, but despite the numercial superiority of the combined Royalist and Portuguese fleets, Blake repulsed at least two attemps to bring him to action and thus break the blockade. On 14 September 1650, Blake broke the stalemate by capturing seven valuable prizes from the inbound Brazilian treasure fleet which strayed into him unaware of the fragile alliance of their own King with Prince Rupert.
The humiliated John IV hesitated no longer, with Blake temporarily absent escorting his prizes, Rupert's ship were hurriedly made ready for sea at Portuguese expence and he fled into the Mediterranean. Blake continued to harry him for a further year, but Rupert successfully eluded him until his pursuer was orederd away by the more urgent demands of the First Dutch War.