Manuscript Copy of Arthur Herbert, Earl Torrington’s speech to the House of Commons on 12 November 1690.

Administrative / biographical background
After a distinguished naval career and a leading role in the Glorious Revolution Arthur Herbert, Earl Torrington (1648-1716) was appointed Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet on 11 March 1689 by King William III and on 28 April 1690 assumed the same role for the combined Anglo-Dutch Fleet. In this role he was held responsible for the disastrous Battle of Beachy Head on 30 June 1690 in which the Dutch received heavy losses in men and ships (13 of their 23 were lost) and Torrington was forced to withdraw having burnt three of his own damaged ships to prevent their capture. “Reporting the events to the king in Ireland, Secretary of State Lord Nottingham wrote from London on 3 July that this defeat ‘was occasioned by the base treachery or cowardice of my Lord Torrington, as there is great reason to believe’ (Finch MSS, 2.333–5). The government feared that Torrington's conduct might have been motivated by Jacobite sympathies and judged it more dangerous to leave him in command than to face the practical problems associated with removing a fleet commander at that critical moment. On 8 July Torrington left the fleet for London, where on 10 July he was imprisoned in the Tower. “Meanwhile the press attacked Torrington in print and the Dutch ambassador demanded his trial and execution. The queen commissioned the earl of Pembroke, the earl of Macclesfield, Sir Robert Howard, Sir Henry Goodricke, and Sir Thomas Lee to investigate and to make a report on the battle. Their investigation failed to indict Torrington, and on 4 October he petitioned the House of Lords that his imprisonment was an unjustified breach of privilege. After much debate the Lords eventually agreed in a resolution on 20 October, but decided that he could be tried by court martial under the articles of war. “On 12 November Torrington addressed the House of Commons and explained the events in the battle, criticizing the conduct of the Dutch in the process. Granted permission to write a detailed account of the battle Torrington completed it several days later and included in it a much quoted phrase that two centuries later became an important concept for the theory of naval deterrence: ‘I always said that whilst we had a fleet in being, they would not dare make an attempt’ (The Earl of Torrington's Speech to the House of Commons in November 1690, 1710, p. 29).” - ODNB. The court martial was held on 10 December but Torrington was acquitted. It was said that William III had ordered his immediate execution if found guilty. Two days later his commission as Vice-Admiral of England was revoked and he did not serve again. Torrington’s lengthy speech includes transcripts of letters to and from the Earl of Nottingham and orders from Queen Mary and a detailed account of the battle. Torrington set out his case under eight headings: “That Our preparations was too late. That Our Fleete was too weake. That Our Fleete was ill-mann’d. That the French were not prevented making a Descent at Corke. That Wee wanted Intelligence or did not believe itt when given. That Wee were forced to fight Contrary to the Opinion of the Councill of Warr. That the Fight was managed to the best Advantage for the Kingdomes safety.” Torrington concluded with the much-quoted passage: “If after Twenty seaven Yeares service at sea and being in more Battles and loosing more Blood then any Gentleman in England I can be suspected of Cowardize, and if after having lost soe considerable Preferments (when I had nothing else to trust too) rather than Consent to the taking off the Penall Lawes and test, the Bulwark of our Religion & Liberties. And if after the share I have had in the late happy Revolution and the Honour and Establishment their Maj.ts have been graciously pleased to Conferr upon Mee, my Integrity to my Country can be suspected, What is it can secure any Mans Reputation or good Name?”