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Mansell the puritans. In 1651 he again returned to Oxford and took up his residence with a baker in Holywell Street; but during the next year was invited by the fellows, in return for his good offices, to take rooms in Jesus College, where he remained for eight years. His successors in the principalship were first Michael Roberts and then Francis Howell, but after the Restoration Mansell was reinstated on 1 Aug. 1660. 'The decayes of age and especially dimness of sight' induced him to resign in 1661, and, gradually becoming more infirm, he died on 1 May 1666. There is an inscription to his memory in Jesus College Chapel.

 MANSELL, ROBERT (1573–1656), admiral, born in 1573, the fourth son of Sir Edward Mansell of Margam, Glamorganshire (d. 1595), and of his wife, the Lady Jane Somerset, youngest daughter of Henry, earl of Worcester (d. 1548). Through the Gamages of Coity he was related to Lord Howard, the lord admiral [see ], with whom, it is said, he first went to sea. This would seem to imply that he served against the 'Invincible Armada in 1588: but nothing is distinctly mentioned till 1596, when he served in the expedition to Cadiz under Howard and the Earl of Essex, and was knighted. In 1597 he was captain of the Mer-Honour, carrying Essex's nag in 'the Islands' Voyage.' In January 1598-9 he went out in command of a small squadron on the coast of Ireland, and in August 1600 was commanding in the Narrow Seas. As his force was weak, Sir Richard Leveson [q. v.], coming home from the coast of Spain, was ordered to support him. It was only for a short time, and on 9 Oct. he fought a savage duel in Norfolk with Sir John Heydon (see under ; Gent. Mag. new ser. xxxix. 481; Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 27961, and Eg. MS. 2714, ff. 96, 100, 112-22, containing several letters about the business, some in Mansell's handwriting). A formal inquiry followed, but Mansell was held guiltless, and in the following February 1600-1 was active in arresting the accomplices or companions of Essex. In October, in company with Sir Amyas Preston, he captured six Easterlings, or Hansa ships, and brought them in as being laden with Portuguese merchandise (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 31 Oct. 1601; Addit. MS. 5664, f. 225).

In September 1602 he was sent out in command of a small squadron to intercept six galleys, which were reported on their way from Lisbon to the Low Countries. He posted himself with three ships off Dungeness, with two fly-boats to the westward. In the Downs and off Dunkirk were some Dutch ships. On the 23rd the galleys appeared and were at once attacked. After being very roughly handled by the English they dispersed and fled, but only to fall into the hands of the Dutch, by whom and by a gale which came on afterwards they were completely destroyed (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 27 Sept. 1602;, A true Report of the Service done upon certaine Gallies, 1602). In the following spring, with the recognised title of 'vice-admiral of the Narrow Seas,' he was stationed with a squadron of six English and four Dutch shins to guard the Channel, and appears to have made some rich prizes, among others a carrack laden with pepper. At the same time he had to escort the French and Spanish ambassadors from Calais and Gravelines. He himself attended on the Spaniard at Gravelines, while the Frenchman, embarking at Calais, hoisted the French flag. Halfway across Mansell met him, and compelled him to strike the flag. The French complained to James, and the matter was smoothed over; but Mansell had clearly acted according to his instructions. On 15 Nov. he escorted Sir Walter Ralegh from London to Winchester for his trial. On 20 April 1604 he had a grant of the office of treasurer of the navy for life, on the surrender of Sir Fulke Greville, afterwards Lord Brooke [q.v.] It was, however, ten years before he reaped the full benefit of it. In 1605 he accompanied the Earl of Nottingham on his embassy to Spain. The story is told that at an entertainment given by the king of Spain some of the plate was stolen, and suspicion seemed to be thrown on the English, till at another entertainment Mansell saw a Spaniard in the very act of secreting a cup, and proved his guilt in presence of the whole assembly. During the following years he continued to command the ships in the Narrow Seas, and to perform some of the duties of treasurer. The accounts of the Prince Royal, launched at Deptford on 25 Sept. 1610, show him acting in this capacity. In the fete and mock fight given on the Thames on 11 Feb. 1612-13, in honour of the marriage of the 