VICE-ADMIRAL LAWSON SUPPLICATING FOR A FELLOW NAVAL OFFICER LAWSON (Sir John, 1615-1665, Vice-Admiral)

Fine Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent asking him “to help the Bearer hereof what posible you can in the getting his petition presented to the Right Honorable Commissioners for the Admiralty and Navy which will bee in supplicating for some Release in consideration of his great losse sustained in his vessell being suncke by the Bryer friggatt one of the States vessells... I have knowne him for some yeares, most of these late troublesome times and that hee has always manifested Affection to the Parliament. Hee haith suffered much losse of late... what you can doe in the helping the poore man to some comfort and refreshment I am sure will bee a very Just and Acceptable service to God and will further Ingaige hee that is...”, 1 side folio, Fairfax in the Downs, 28th June

Lawson was in command of ships in the parliament's service during and after the English Civil War, 1642–6, 1651–3, 1654–6. He was dismissed from the public service, apparently on political grounds in 1656. An anabaptist and republican, he was implicated in the conspiracy of the Fifth Monarchists and arrested in 1657. However, soon released, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the fleet by rump-parliament in 1659 to counter General at sea Edward Montagu. But later on both co-operated with General George Monck in the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. A grateful King Charles II of England knighted him in 1660. He was commissioned as the vice-admiral of the red squadron for the Second Anglo-Dutch War in 1665 and he died of a wound received at the Battle of Lowestoft.
The Bryar Frigate was Fifth Rate ship of the Commonwealth Navy.

Item Date:  1654

Stock No:  42222      £750

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