English Naval Officer: Sir Henry Mervyn

Gary Danvers, on the web has a mention of Sir Henry Mervyn:

Frequent references are made in the ‘Calendar of State Papers (Domestic)’ to Danby, especially in connection with the defence of the Channel Islands. In a letter to Secretary Coke, in August 1627, Danby ‘thinks it not for the king’s honour, nor suitable to his own reputation, that he, who was appointed general against anticipated foreign invaders in Ireland, should go to Guernsey to be shut up in a castle; but, if it be the king’s pleasure, he will be at Portsmouth before Sir Henry Mervyn can bring round a ship for his transport’ (ib. 1627-28, pp. 321-22).

Another source (The Story of Shoreham) says of him:

In November, 1629, Sir Henry Mervyn, Admiral of the Narrow ,Seas, from his ship the " Lion," then in the Downs, reported that he had " stayed the Peter." She was laden with barley, and her master, Richard Graseden, " had no papers and gave contradictory accounts of himself." Sir Henry prayed for immediate instructions, as the corn " began to heat." These were given and the vessel was ordered to London, from which port, ten days later, he informed the Admiralty that " the master of the bark has brought certain papers from Shoreham " which he (Sir Henry) encloses, and he thinks they are not counterfeit, "' whatever was the cause of the master's double tales."

Later, he was involved with rescuing captives from the Barbary Pirates:

Many alliances and their origins can be established looking at Giles Penn. In February 1635/6 Earl Algernon makes a request that the captains pay be raised and that they each be assigned a lieutenant. Among those serving under Algernon Earl of Northumberland as Admiral, are Sir John Pennington as Vice Admiral, Sir Henry Mervyn as Rear Admiral, George Carteret, captain of the Mary Rose, and Captain Rainborow. These men become irreversibly linked with Giles Penn. Giles grandson is the founder of Pennsylvania William Penn. William Penn marries the stepchild of Pennington’s. George Carteret’s widow transfers property to Founder Penn. The family of Rainsborough has established kinships with the New England families of Ball, Coytemore, Gray, and Wynn. There are certainly relationships between these families and the family of George Penn, brother of Giles Penn to be defined in the future.

My published source about Sir Henry is N.A.M. Rodger's The Safeguard of the Sea. In the 1620's, there was great difficulty in both manning ships and paying the men. There were mutinies and desertions, because of this. Sir John Pennington said their condition was so poor, that he sympathized with them, and felt bad that he was not able to help. (p.401) Upon the return of the fleet from the operation in France (at the Îsle of Ré), Sir Henry Mervyn lost 40 men from his ship, the Vanguard. The men were treated abominably. They had no hammocks and had to sleep on the bare deck. They were exposed to the weather, without adequate clothing, and lost appendages from frostbite and being cold and wet. In 1629, conditions were still poor. Sir Henry Mervyn was commander of the Narrow Seas, and had six ships in the Downs. They lacked food and pay. The overall problem was the lack of funding for the navy. Sir Henry also complained about the quality of captains, and he asked for John Mennes, as he was educated, unlike most of his peers.