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]
^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]
^
abcAllen, 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.
England
Kempthorne's engagement, engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar ( John Ogilby, Description of Africa, 1670)
Painting of the action by Willem van de Velde the Younger, signed and dated 1676 (Royal Collection)
_-_The_%22Mary_Rose%22_Action,_28_December_1669_-_RCIN_405223_-_Royal_Collection.jpg)
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
public domain.