Bristol was a 44-gun fourth rate vessel of the Commonwealth of England built under the 1651 Programme.

[2] She was ordered by Parliament on 27 February 1652 to be built at Portsmouth Dockyard under the guidance of Master Shipwright John Tippetts.

[6][Note 3] She actually carried 48 guns consisting of twenty-four culverins, twenty-two demi-culverines and two sakers.

[1][3] Bristol was commissioned in 1653 under the command of Rodger Martin for service in the Western Approaches during the winter of 1653/54.

On 16 December 1663 she was under command of Captain Sir William Berkeley (until 14 August 1664) with Lawson's Squadron in the Mediterranean.

She participated in the Battle of Lowestoft as a member of Red Squadron, Van Division on 3 June 1665.

She was, as a member of Red Squadron, Rear Division at the Four Days' Battle from 1 to 4 June 1666.

She partook in the St James Day Battle as a member of Red Squadron on 25 July 1666.

[10] On 24 March 1668 she was under Captain Daniel Healing (until 31 December 1669) with Sir Thomas Allin's Squadron in the Mediterranean.

In March 1678 it was Captain Anthony Langston who had command for service in the English Channel followed by a stint in the Mediterranean.

On 16 January 1679 Captain Sir John Strickland took command and sailed to the Mediterranean as a Rear-Admiral.

During March or April while under command of Captain John Wyborn, she destroyed the Algerine 32-gun Citron Tree.

Captain Strickland resumed command on 27 April 1685 for a convoy to Turkey, followed by service in the English Channel during 1686/87 culminating with providing an escort for the Queen of Portugal in 1687.

In early 1696 Captain Edmund D'Oyley (alt spelling Doyley) took command at Barbados.

[13] On 24 April 1709 she was captured by the French 66-gun L'Acille and the 40-gun La Gloire of Duguay-Trouin's Squadron off Plymouth.