English Captain: Ralph Lassells (or Lascelles)

Ralph Lassells (Lascelles) served in the Restoration navy. In 1665, he commanded the hired merchantman Society (36 guns). At Lowestoft, he was assigned to Thomas Teddiman's division. He commanded the Society from 21 February 1665 until 3 June 1666. He commanded the Society in the Battle of Lowestoft, the action at Bergen, and the actions against returning Dutch ships from Norway on 3 and 9 September 1665. At Bergen, the Society had two men killed. In 1666, he commanded first the hired ship George (from 4 June 1666 until 22 September 1666). At the time of the Four Days Battle, the George was fitting out. He fought in the St. James's Day Battle on 25 July 1666. He was assigned to John Kempthorne's division. Later in 1666, Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle appointed him captain of the Reserve. In 1672, Prince Rupert appointed him to command the 4th Rate Assurance. In August 1672, he was assigned to Richard Beach's division. In 1673, Prince Rupert appointed him to command the Yarmouth. Finally on 9 March 1674, the King appointed him to command the Garland. Ralph Lassells died in May 1677. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, Journals and Narratives of the Third Dutch War, 1946.

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

3. Frank Fox, "Hired Men-of-War, 1664-7", Part II, The Mariner's Mirror Vol.84 No.2 (May 1998).

4. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.