English Captain: William Brandley

William Brandley served in both the Parliamentarian and Commonwealth navies. From 1646 to 1647, he commanded the Mary galliot. He first appeared as part of the Winter Guard in 1646. From 1647 to 1648, he commanded the Tenth Whelp. He was assigned to the Winter Guard in 1647 and the Summer and Winter Guard in 1648. In 1649, he commanded the Dutch prize Satisfaction. In May, he was ordered to sail to the Sussex coast, to provide protection to fishing in that area. In 1650, he commanded the 4th Rate Phoenix. From 1651 to 1652, he commanded the 4th Rate Portsmouth (36 guns). He fought at Dover on May 29, 1652 (New Style). He was with Robert Blake's squadron in Rye Bay, before the battle. On September 28, 1652, he fought at the Battle of the Kentish Knock. The Portsmouth carried 38 guns, by then. In 1653, he commanded the 3rd Rate Essex (46 guns and a crew of 250 men) at the Battle of the Gabbard and at Scheveningen. At the Gabbard, William Brandley was Robert Blake's flag captain in the Essex, where she carried 48 guns. The Essex was Blake's flagship for his squadron which joined late in the battle. Sources:

1. R.C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
2. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
3. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.VI, 1930.
4. J.R. Powell, ed., The Letters of Robert Blake, 1937.
5. J.R. Powell, The Navy in the English Civil War, 1962.