Wreck of Post-medieval Dutch fireship, off Lower Hope, Tilbury (EHER 80714)

1667 wreck of fireship, probably Dutch, which was expended and burnt off Lower Hope during the attack on the Hope, also known as the attack on Tilbury, in the penultimate action of the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-1667) on 23 July 1667. This action was notable for being entirely fought with fireships on both sides, led on the English side by Sir Edward Spragge and on the Dutch by Aert Jansz. van Nes. This ship was the first seen to be expended, but witnesses at the time were unsure from the smoke to which side she belonged, although the same account seems otherwise reasonably secure in its description of the actions of the English fireships. This suggests that the unknown fireship was Dutch. This unknown fireship would have been constructed of wood and powered by sail. For the other ships expended in the action, please see the ALBEMARLE, CAMEL, STAR, and an unknown English fireship, as well as 10 other Dutch vessels. Accounts vary, but 11 Dutch vessels appear to be accounted for in the most comprehensive primary source. Constructed of wood, this expended fireship was a sailing vessel.

Information from NRHE: 1667 wreck of English fireship which was expended and burnt off Lower Hope during the attack on the Hope, also known as the attack on Tilbury. 'Whitehall, July 24: On Saturday and Sunday last several ships came in to the Dutch fleet riding before Harwich, supposed to be Victuallers. The 22. they all weighed from the Sledway, and stood into the Gunfleet, sailing for the Buoy in the Nore; and between 3 and 4 that afternoon were discovered plying with all the sail they were able for the Thames. Only 17 of them (of the lesser sort) were observed standing from the Fleet towards the Downs, who were afterwards followed by three larger ships. The 23, between 6 and 7 in the Morning, the SUCCESS and CYGNET discovering the Enemy off the Mouth of the River, retired; and by their frequent discharges, gave notice of their approach. About 9 of the clock about 24 or 25 sail of them began to appear in Tilbury-Hope, eight of them advancing as far as Hull-Haven. 'About 11 or 12 the SUCCESS, being then with 18 other of his Majestie's Men of War and Fireships in the Hope, exchanged several guns with the headmost of the Enemy; when their first squadron of 8 ships coming to an anchor within shot, a sharp fight began between them, and one Fireship was seen flaming, but it was hard to distinguish to what side she belonged, by reason of the smoke.' <1> Elsewhere in this same report, this English account appears reasonably secure in its narrative of the actions of the English fireships. The first fireship explicitly to be named as English is said to have 'wrought up to one of theirs' suggesting that there was some distance between the two fleets at this point, early in the action. In turn this suggests that had an English ship been fired at this point, it is likely that the English would have noted any ships of theirs ahead of the others in engaging with the Dutch. This suggests that on the balance of probability this first ship fired in the action was Dutch. That said, there was some confusion, since, for example, it took a day or two before Pepys received what he perceived to be the most credible account of the action: 'Betimes this morning comes a letter from the Clerke of the Cheque at Gravesend to me, to tell me that the Dutch fleet did come all into the Hope yesterday noon, and held a fight with our ships from thence till seven at night; that they had burned twelve fire ships, and we took one of theirs's, and burned five of our fire-ships. But then rising and going to Sir W. Batten, he tells me that we have burned one of their men-of-war, and another of theirs is blown up, but how true this is, I know not . . . Before we got to Gravesend they [the guns] ceased, and it grew darkish, and so I landed only (and the flood being come) and went up to the Ship and discoursed with the landlord of the house, who undeceives me in what I heard this morning about the Dutch having lost two men-of-war, for it is not so, but several of their fire-ships.' <2> Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss Admiralty Chart references: 1186a 21-12-73, 2484c 03-11-78.