At a time when the nation is engaged in a war with an enemy, whose insults, ravages, and barbarities, have long called for vengeance, an account of such English commanders as have merited the acknowledgments of posterity, by extending the power, and raising the honour of their country, seems to be no improper entertainment for our readers. We shall, therefore, attempt a succinct narration of the life and actions of Admiral Blake; in which we have nothing farther in view, than to do justice to his bravery and conduct, without intending any parallel between his achievements and those of our present admirals.

Robert Blake was born at Bridgwater, in Somersetshire, in August, 1598, his father being a merchant of that place, who had acquired a considerable fortune by the Spanish trade. Of his earliest years we have no accounts and therefore can amuse the reader with none of those prognostics of his future actions, so often met with in memoirs.

In 1615 he entered into the University of Oxford, where he continued till 1623, though without being much countenanced or caressed by his superiors, for he was more than once disappointed in his endeavours after academical preferments.