Memorial: M4916

Statue in St James’s Church, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, commemorating Admiral Robert Holmes d. 1692

Location

St James's Church, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, England

Transcript

'H.S.I. / ROBERTUS HOLMES Miles / HENRICI HOLMES de Mallow comitatus Corkensis in Hibernia Armigeri Filius natu Tertius, ab ineunt Adolescentia / ad acquirendam armis gloriam intentus Militiae Nomen dedit, et sub serenissimi Regis Caroli vexillis Tyrocinia ponens contra / perduelles fortiter feliciterq' pugnavit Pari deinde amimo, Pari Laude Navalibus se immiscuit praeliis, et sub Auspiciis Celsillimi / principis Ruperti egregie meruit. Cum vero videret Causam Regiamarmis ultra defendi non posse, ad exteros sese principes / Contulit, et in Gallia, Germania, Flandria rebus Belli pulchre gestis inclaruit. Rege Carolo 2do fauste Tandem prospereque / restaurato, ab eo Castelli de Sandon in vectis insula praefecturam (tanquam veteris Meriti praemium) accepit, et subinde / Militis Titulo ornatus est Anno 1666. Copiarum Navalium, quae Rubris vexillis insigniuntur, legatus alter Constitutus / Portum Batavum de Ulii exigua classe intravit Cumq' illic Naves centum et octoginta Concremasset in Scellingam descendit/et Branderium istius Insulae primarium oppidum incendio delevit. Ob haec et alia multa praeclare acta eum Serenissimus Rex / haud indebitis illius et virtuiti, et Fidei pramiis honorabit, Insulaeq vectis ducem, et Gubernatorem durante vita naturali praefecit quinetiam / Faecialium principi Mandavit ut Ipsius gentilitiis insignibus Leo Angelicus adscriberetur, nec non Crista nempe Brachium / Armatum e navali corona porrectum, et Tridentem gerens. Hos Honores qua arte acquisivit eadem etiam tuebatur Vir / Fortissimus, nimirum bene merendo, fideli semper in Reges et in Patriam Studio. Obiit An:Dom 1692 Nov: 18. / Honoratissimo Patruo infra Sepulto hoc Monumentum posuit HENRICUS HOLMES / Armiger vectis Insulae praefecti Authoritate Regia locum tenens.' [Translation] 'ROBERT HOLMES KNIGHT. The third son of Henry Holmes , Gentleman, of Mallow in the County of Cork in Ireland being from his early youth determined on winning fame by arms enlisted for military service, and under the standards of his most serene Charles he fought bravely and successfully against his enemies. Then with equal spirit and equal success he involved himself with naval encounters and served with distinction under the auspices of the most noble Prince Rupert. But when he saw that the Royal cause could not be defended further with arms, he offered his services to foreign princes, and after successfully campaigning in France, Germany and Flanders he became famous. When at length King Charles II had been happily and properly restored he received from him the office of Governor of the castle of Sandown on the Isle of Wight (as a reward for his former service) and thereupon in the year 1666 he was honoured with the title of knight. Having been appointed to one of two commanders of naval forces which were identified by red banners [the red squadron] he entered the Dutch port of Vlie with a small squadron, and when he had burned a hundred and eighty ships there he made an attack on Terschelling and destroyed with fire [Branderium?] the principal town of that island. Because of these and many other splendid feats of arms his most Serene Majesty honoured him with not undeserved rewards for his courage and loyalty, and appointed him as captain and governor of the Isle of Wight for the rest of his natural life. Indeed [?] instructed that he should add the lion of England to his armourial bearings, and that his coat of arms should have the crest of a naval crown and bear a trident. This very gallant man guarded these honours with the same zeal as he had obtained them, indeed very well deserved and with always faithful devotion to his monarchs and his country. He died on November 18th in the year of our Lord 1692. This memorial tablet to his most distinguished uncle, buried below, was set up by Henry Holmes, gentleman, holding the position of Governor of the Isle of Wight by royal authority'

Details

Description: Holmes shown full-length in armour the left hand resting on a gun.
Type: Statue
Position: Mortuary chapel
Materials: Marble

Event Category

1666-1667 Second Anglo-Dutch War

People

Holmes, Robert
Age:
Date of Death: 18/11/1692
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Admiral
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: DOSSIER Supposed to be captured statue of Louis XIV with head finished to resemble Holmes. Holmes left £300 in his will to erect the monument. Not original inscription?
Bibliography: 'Dictionary of National Biography'.

JSON

{
  "post_id": "2298",
  "id": "M4916",
  "location": "St James's Church, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, England",
  "transcript": "'H.S.I. / ROBERTUS HOLMES Miles / HENRICI HOLMES de Mallow comitatus Corkensis in Hibernia Armigeri Filius natu Tertius, ab ineunt Adolescentia / ad acquirendam armis gloriam intentus Militiae Nomen dedit, et sub serenissimi Regis Caroli vexillis Tyrocinia ponens contra / perduelles fortiter feliciterq' pugnavit Pari deinde amimo, Pari Laude Navalibus se immiscuit praeliis, et sub Auspiciis Celsillimi / principis Ruperti egregie meruit. Cum vero videret Causam Regiamarmis ultra defendi non posse, ad exteros sese principes / Contulit, et in Gallia, Germania, Flandria rebus Belli pulchre gestis inclaruit. Rege Carolo 2do fauste Tandem prospereque / restaurato, ab eo Castelli de Sandon in vectis insula praefecturam (tanquam veteris Meriti praemium) accepit, et subinde / Militis Titulo ornatus est Anno 1666. Copiarum Navalium, quae Rubris vexillis insigniuntur, legatus alter Constitutus / Portum Batavum de Ulii exigua classe intravit Cumq' illic Naves centum et octoginta Concremasset in Scellingam descendit/et Branderium istius Insulae primarium oppidum incendio delevit. Ob haec et alia multa praeclare acta eum Serenissimus Rex / haud indebitis illius et virtuiti, et Fidei pramiis honorabit, Insulaeq vectis ducem, et Gubernatorem durante vita naturali praefecit quinetiam / Faecialium principi Mandavit ut Ipsius gentilitiis insignibus Leo Angelicus adscriberetur, nec non Crista nempe Brachium / Armatum e navali corona porrectum, et Tridentem gerens. Hos Honores qua arte acquisivit eadem etiam tuebatur Vir / Fortissimus, nimirum bene merendo, fideli semper in Reges et in Patriam Studio. Obiit An:Dom 1692 Nov: 18. / Honoratissimo Patruo infra Sepulto hoc Monumentum posuit HENRICUS HOLMES / Armiger vectis Insulae praefecti Authoritate Regia locum tenens.' [Translation] 'ROBERT HOLMES KNIGHT. The third son of Henry Holmes , Gentleman, of Mallow in the County of Cork in Ireland being from his early youth determined on winning fame by arms enlisted for military service, and under the standards of his most serene Charles he fought bravely and successfully against his enemies. Then with equal spirit and equal success he involved himself with naval encounters and served with distinction under the auspices of the most noble Prince Rupert. But when he saw that the Royal cause could not be defended further with arms, he offered his services to foreign princes, and after successfully campaigning in France, Germany and Flanders he became famous. When at length King Charles II had been happily and properly restored he received from him the office of Governor of the castle of Sandown on the Isle of Wight (as a reward for his former service) and thereupon in the year 1666 he was honoured with the title of knight. Having been appointed to one of two commanders of naval forces which were identified by red banners [the red squadron] he entered the Dutch port of Vlie with a small squadron, and when he had burned a hundred and eighty ships there he made an attack on Terschelling and destroyed with fire [Branderium?] the principal town of that island. Because of these and many other splendid feats of arms his most Serene Majesty honoured him with not undeserved rewards for his courage and loyalty, and appointed him as captain and governor of the Isle of Wight for the rest of his natural life. Indeed [?] instructed that he should add the lion of England to his armourial bearings, and that his coat of arms should have the crest of a naval crown and bear a trident. This very gallant man guarded these honours with the same zeal as he had obtained them, indeed very well deserved and with always faithful devotion to his monarchs and his country. He died on November 18th in the year of our Lord 1692. This memorial tablet to his most distinguished uncle, buried below, was set up by Henry Holmes, gentleman, holding the position of Governor of the Isle of Wight by royal authority'",
  "content": "<p>Statue in St James’s Church, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, commemorating Admiral Robert Holmes d. 1692</p>",
  "images": [],
  "categories": ["Uncategorised"],
  "details": {
    "description": "Holmes shown full-length in armour the left hand resting on a gun.",
    "type": "Statue",
    "position": "Mortuary chapel",
    "materials": "Marble",
    "dateErected": "",
    "artists": "",
    "vessel": ""  },
  "event": {
    "event":"",
    "date": "",
    "category": "1666-1667 Second Anglo-Dutch War"  },
  "people": [{"name":"Holmes, Robert","age":"","dateofdeath":"18/11/1692","causeofdeath":"Unknown/None","rankOccupation":"Admiral","organisation":""}],
  "extra": {
    "notes": "DOSSIER Supposed to be captured statue of Louis XIV with head finished to resemble Holmes. Holmes left £300 in his will to erect the monument. Not original inscription?",
    "bibliography": "'Dictionary of National Biography'.",
    "recorder": "",
    "photographer": ""  }
}

Maritime Memorials