Ships of Royal Navy in 1685
HMS Adventure, a 4th Rate built in 1646. In 1685 during the Whig Rebellions that broke out after the ascension of James II in 1685, Argyll and Monmouth between them hired several ships to carry them to the Highlands and to the West Country, respectively. Argyll had three ships, each armed with several guns, and they were able to capture a few small merchant vessels along the way. But when it came to a confrontation with a Royal Navy squadron in Loch Ruel, their Dutch crews refused to fight. Likewise, Monmouth had three ships, but only one of them was armed, the small frigate Helderenberg. This vessel hung around Lyme for a few days in June before shoving off for Portugal. Ultimately there was no real naval action during either Argyll's Rising or Monmouth's Rebellion. But what if there had been? Barry Hilton has imagined a small naval campaign for Argyll's ships, Ne Obliviscaris! Stephen Carter also includes information on the naval aspects of these rebellions in his book...