The East India Merchant (in 1666)

One of the hired merchantmen that was with the fleet at the Four Days Battle in 1666 was the East India Merchant. Her captain was William Porter. The dimensions were LK 96ft-10in and B 29ft-8in. She had been built in 1652. She was hired in August 1664 and fought at the Battle of Lowestoft. Frank Fox says that she was attached to the main fleet during the Norway operations and then was present for the actions on 3 and 9 September 1665. She was released in December but was rehired in April 1666. She apparently left Sheerness on 4 June 1666, too late for the Four Days Battle. 50 of her men were transferred to the Warspite, so she missed the St. James's Day Battle. Frank writes: "She rejoined the fleet before 22 August and was present for the minor action of 31 August. Her hire was extended for service in the West Indies". She sailed for the West Indies in March 1667, but arrived too late for the Battle of Nevis. Her armament was 44 guns, of which we only know that she had 20-demi-culverins (9pdr) and 6-sakers (5-1/4pdr). Sources:

1. H.A. van Foreest and R.E.J. Weber, De Vierdaagse Zeeslag 11-14 Juni 1666, 1984.
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).