English Captain: Nicholas Lucas

Nicholas Lucas served in the Commonwealth navy. From 1652 to 1654, he commanded the hired merchantman Society (44 guns and a crew of 140 men). Immediately after the defeat at Leghorn in early March 1653, the navy planned to send the Society and other ships to the Mediterranean Sea, but in the end, ceded the Mediterranean to the Dutch. He fought in the Battle of the Gabbard, where he was assigned to the General's division. Later in June, after the Gabbard, Robert Blake bought powder, shot, and matches from Nicholas Lucas for the navy, according to a letter from Blake. Nicholas very likely fought in the Battle of Scheveningen, as well. By late 1653, he was engaged in protecting the collier trade. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, "English Fleet-Lists in the First Dutch War," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.XXIV No.4, October 1938.

2. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.

3. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910

4. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.