THE lapse of a century and more since the reigns of Charles the Second, James the Second, William and Ann, has so reduced the prominency of the transactions of their respective reigns, that, as matters of interest to the reader of the present day, some doubt may be reasonably entertained of their eligibility. Yet, as necessary links in the concatenation of our Naval History (which, though not historically digested, the Biography of the Naval Chronicle is intended to supply materials for), they will be found consistent with our plan, although we shall always give a preference to communications of more recent date.

The period of Sir Cloudesley Shovel's birth is not precisely ascertained, Campbell says about the year 1650; that his parents were but in middling circumstances, and that the name of Cloudesley was given him with a view to conciliate the notice of a relation, who had the ability to befriend him: it does not appear, however, that he derived from it any more than a nominal advantage; he was destined to be the fabricator of his own fortune, and to be enriched by means more honourable to himself.