NAVY OFFICE, 1669. Sir John Cox, Sir John Mennes, Thomas Middleton.

Manuscript Receipt, addressed to the Clerk of the Cheque of His Majesty’s Yard at Deptford, for naval supplies, signed by Sir John Cox, Sir John Mennes, and Thomas Middleton. 4 x 8 inches, upper edge torn away, in good condition. 24 February 1669.

Signed by two colleagues of Samuel Pepys;Admiral Sir John Mennes (1599–1671), comptroller of the Navy. Thomas Middleton (d. 1672), surveyor of the Navy. The Navy Office was the government office charged with responsibility for day-to-day civil administration of the Royal Navy from 1576 to 1832. The bolder signature is that of Sir John Cox (d. 1672), naval officer and administrator. Sir John Cox commanded the Mary in 1665. In 1666, he commanded the Sovereign. At the time of the Four Days Battle, the Sovereign was laid up, needing more men for the crew. He fought in the St. James's Day Battle in the Sovereign (102 guns), where he was assigned to the Generals' division. In 1668, he commanded the Charles (96 guns). In 1669 he returned to Chatham as resident commissioner. He served as the Duke of York's flag captain during the Battle of Solebay against the Dutch. The Prince was involved in some of the heaviest fighting, and Cox was killed by an enemy shot while standing close to the Duke.