English Captain: Sir John Narborough

I thought it was notable that Sir John Narborough had been Christopher Myngs' lieutenant on the Victory at the Four Days Battle. On the fourth day of the battle, Christopher Myngs tried to get the wind by passing to the south of the whole Dutch fleet. He was beating into the wind when the Dutch recognized what he was doing. The Dutch rear moved to dispute the passage, and Jan De Liefde, in the new Ridderschap attacked the Victory. The two ships passed, almost touching yardarms. Christoper Myngs was shot in the cheeks by a Dutch marksman in the rigging. He stayed in command until he was shot again. He was forcibly taken below and John Narborough was left in command. Christopher Myngs lived for a week after the battle. He was a great loss, as he was an experienced seaman who had served under the Commonwealth. John Narborough steered the disabled Victory to the north so he could repair her rigging. Several van division ships stayed in support, so that the Victory was not disturbed by the Dutch. Source:

1. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.