By 1654 he commanded a squadron of three frigates sailing out of Brest, and bent on his capture were the Parliamentary admirals Robert Blake and William Penn.

In this station, through the assistance rendered by him to the Dutch, under Van Ghendt, six AIgerine corsairs, mounting from forty-four to thirty-eight guns each, were taken and destroyed at one time.

[4] Soon afterwards he fell in (singly) with two Algerine frigates, whom he brought to action, which ended so much to their disadvantage, though he was unable to capture either, in consequence of the assistance they derived in flight from their oars; that the largest, in particular, with the greatest difficulty reached Algiers, having received seventeen shot between wind and water, and twenty-five men killed, besides fifty wounded.

[4] In 1672, having hoisted his flag on board the Monmouth, he served as rear-admiral of the blue with Sir Edward Spragge, on his expedition against the Algerines, and had the good fortune to meet with one of their best ships, mounting forty guns, and carrying three hundred and fifty men.

[5] John Charnock writes, "yet so far was he from espousing measures he did not approve, and such the opinion entertained of his real integrity, at a time when it was considered as a very sufficient ground for distrust, to have received the smallest favour, or remained merely passage, as Sir Richard, from his appointment being merely of a civil nature, was, in a, great measure, compelled to be, that he was not only continued in office after the revolution, but … promoted".