 Blake and Deane spent their first weeks in office issuing orders to make the Navy a reliable fighting unit again. Then, they were off to deal with Prince Rupert's royalist squadron, which they shut up in Kinsale, in southern Ireland. Only one of the three Generals-at-Sea could be spared to continue the blockade - two were needed for other duties. Blake, chosen by lot, stayed out into his first rough winter at sea. He took to his new life and turned down the offer of a very senior military command in Ireland. Twice bad weather drove Blake's squadron from Kinsale. On the second occasion, in October 1649, Rupert escaped and headed for Portugal.
In March 1650 Blake sailed with a fresh fleet to deal with Rupert. The latter had sought safety in Lisbon, where King John of Portugal was sympathetic to the royalist cause. On arriving, Blake attempted to force his way up the River Tagus, only to be fired at by the forts defending Lisbon. He retired to blockade the entrance to the river. To mount a full-scale attack on Rupert in harbour would precipitate war with Portugal so Blake had to content himself with prolonged diplomatic negotiations to persuade King John to force Rupert out to sea.
Rupert made a bid for freedom only to be forced back by Blake. In September, Rupert made a second attempt to break out and there was a direct confrontation between the ships of the opposing admirals. Again, Rupert retreated behind the safety of the Portuguese forts. A week later, Blake's ships were able to attack and capture a number of the incoming Portuguese Brazil fleet. In this action Robert's brother Captain Benjamin Blake, commanding the Assurance, distinguished himself.
Shortage of supplies and water forced Blake to abandon the blockade of the Tagus and sail south to Cadiz. Here he encountered a potentially hostile French squadron. Stories of his capture of one of them (the Jules, a more powerful ship than Blake's) are part of Blake folklore.
Rupert took the opportunity to slip out of the Tagus and into the Mediterranean, thinking Blake had gone home. When Blake heard the news he gave chase. In early November part of Rupert's fleet was forced into Cartagena. Blake was not to be frustrated, as he had been at Lisbon, and wrote directly to the King of Spain. Believing they would be handed over by the Spanish authorities, the royalist ships made a dash for freedom. The attempt was botched and the royalist ships were wrecked. Rupert sought safety in a French port. Though Blake never caught him the royalist admiral was no longer a serious threat.
A few royalist strongholds remained. In 1651 Blake led an expedition to the Scilly Isles, where royalist privateers were preying on both English and Dutch vessels. The English government decided that Blake should take the Scilly Isles before the Dutch did.
Blake ordered an attack on the island of Tresco, the key to the capture of the main island. Winds and currents made the first attempt at landing a failure. Despite having narrowly escaped death from an exploding cannon, Blake directed the second successful landing himself. A month later the Royalist commander, Sir John Grenville, surrendered on generous terms.
The Channel Islands also harboured royalist privateers. Blake was sent with an expedition against Jerseym the most strongly held of the islands. Winds and currents again proved difficult. In worsening weather and fading light Blake sent the boats ashore in a combined landing led by seamen, including his own cousin, Captain William Blake. The royalist positions crumbled and it was only a matter of time before Sir George Carteret surrendered, though not before William Blake's ship was driven onto shore, and wrecked with the loss of all hands. |
