2-637-084 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

'Sir Edward Spragge and Cornelius Tromp', late 17th century. The naval Battle of Texel took place on 21 August 1673 between the Dutch and the combined English and French fleets. It was the last major battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War. During the battle Edward Spragge (1620-1673) and Cornelis Tromp (1629-1691), commanders of the two fleets' respective rear divisions, attacked each other repeatedly. Spragge had publicly sworn an oath in front of King Charles II that he would either kill or capture Tromp. Spragge drowned after the boat transferring him and his flag to another ship was hit by Dutch fire and sank. From Old Naval Prints, by Charles N. Robinson & Geoffrey Holme. [The Studio Limited, London, 1924]