were by that time masters of the frigate. Finding that his
ship was captured, he leaped out of the cabin window, and swam safely to
a Dutch ship astern. The _Phoenix_ was carried off in triumph, and
reached Naples in safety. Of course, the Grand Duke of Tuscany
remonstrated, and ordered Commodore Flatten either to restore the
_Phoenix_ or to quit Leghorn; he was determined not to do the former,
and sending to Commodore Bodley, who was lying at Elba with his small
squadron, it was arranged he should come off the port, and draw the
Dutch away. This he did. Commodore Van Galen's squadron, at the time
lying off the port to intercept him, consisted of sixteen sail; while,
besides the _Alfred_, of 52 guns, he had only the _Bonaventure_, of 44
guns, the _Sampson_, of 36, the _Levant Merchant_, of 28, the _Pilgrim_
and _Mary_, of 30 guns. He contrived, however, to let Commodore Bodley
know his position, who attempted to draw the Dutch off, and clear the
way for his squadron. Van Galen, after chasing for some time,
perceiving Platten's squadron, returned to attack it. During the action
which ensued, the _Bonaventure_ blew up, while Van Galen lost a leg from
a shot, of which wound he died. Commodore Bodley's squadron having now
joined, the action became general. Captain Cornelius Van Tromp, who
attacked the _Sampson_, was beaten off, but she was directly afterwards
destroyed by a fire-ship. The _Alfred_, the _Levant Merchant_, and
_Pilgrim_ were all overpowered and taken, and the _Mary_ alone effected
her escaped, and joined the squadron of Commodore Bodley.

Another desperate action soon afterwards took place between the Dutch
and the English in the channel, the English having 105 ships, and the
Dutch 104. The action had lasted about an hour when Admiral Dean, the
second in command, was cut in two by a cannon-shot. Monk, the
commander-in-chief, seeing him fall, threw a cloak over his body to
conceal it from the seamen. The ship of Van Kelson, the Dutch
rear-admiral, was blown up after this. From eleven in the morning till
six in the evening the battle raged, when the Dutch endeavoured to
escape. Blake joined the English fleet during the night, and pursued
them. About noon the battle was renewed, and for four hours continued
to rage. Van Tromp grappled Admiral Penn's ship, the _James_, and
attempted to board, but was repulsed, and was boarded in return. The
English having driven the Dutchmen below, Van Tromp ord