614

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James II, Naval Expeditions] &c. of the English, Book Is

Sir Roger Strickland having theseInstructions, the following Ships wereordered to be got in a Readinels to join

him, viz.

Rates .

Number.

3

1 )

4

16 /

5

3 ? 2 6

<5

2 s

Fire-ships

4 '

Ordered to be fitted out, to join him.

3

46

Fire-ships

In all 6i

Besides six Tenders that were to beemployed as Scouts.

Sir Roger found that those Ships hehad with him were very ill manned, andsince there was but little Prospect of aspeedy Supply of Seamen, he desiredthat some Soldiers might be sent onBoard to make up that Deficiency, whichwas done, but not with that Speed theNature of the Service required. He

advised with those Officers in the Squa-dron whom he judged the most expe-rienced, and communicating to themthe Contents of his Instruction, both heand they were of Opinion, that theyought, when victuall’d, to fail to theBuoy of the Gunfeet , on this Side Har-wich, since they might sooner get In-telligence there of the Motion of theDutch , than by staying in the Downs;For that with Westerly Wind it wouldbe five or six Days before the Scouts offof Orfordness could ply it up ; Whereasthe Squadron might sooner put to Seafrom the Gunfleet, upon Notite that theDutch were come out. But, if whenthis should be considered by His Maje-sty, it met not with his Approbation,he proposed, that one or two of theScouts might fail directly to the Coast ofHolland , to make Discoveries, whilsthe, at the fame Time, sent two of hiscleanest Ships off of Orfordness , forthat Purpose.

Soon after King James received thisProposition, He signified His Pleasurethereupon, and that in such a Manner,as made it apparent the Opinion of theFlag-Officers and Captains under him

were

16$8*

“ made, to repair with Advice thereof, to your-“ self, to the Downs, or where else you shall ap-" point for their Meeting you.

2- “ That so soon as the Wind shall come“ Easterly, and while it so continues, the like be“ done by Ships, to be by you employed, be-“ tween the Goodwin Sands and Calais , for pre-“ venting the States Ships pasting by undiscover-" ed to the Westward.

“ And here you are to take Notice, that for“ the more effectual securing of timely Advice to" you, of the Proceedings of the Ships of the“ States , - and easing you of the Ships to be fpa-" red for this Use, We have determined to cause" some Barking- Smacks, or other small Craft," proper for that Work, to be without Delay ta-" ken up, and sent forth to that Purpose, with" like Instructions, to repair, from Time to“ Time, to you, with Advice, as before, of the“ Readiness of which Vessels, to proceed on this" Service, you shall be farther informed from« the Secretary of Our Admiralty.

3. " That upon your being advertised of the“ Dutch Ships being come to Sea, and of their“ Motion there, it may be advifeable, (whichCi Way soever they bend, whether to the North-" ward, down the Channel, into the River, or

towards the Downs) that you, with Our Squa-re dron, do get under Sail, and (quitting the" Downs, either by the North or South Fore-" land, accord'ng to your Discretion) endeavour“ to sol low them, so as always, if possible, to" keep between them and their Home. And in“ Cafe of their. Attempting to make any Descent,“ by landing of Men upon any of Our Coasts,k you are to proceed hostilely upon them, for" the preventing, or interrupting them, as much" as may be, in their said Attempt.

4. -- That Care be timely taken, - by Orders" to be given in that Behalf, that effectual Pro-“ visions be always made for Our Ships resorting“ to some known Places of Rendezvous, in Cafes“ of Separation ; And that as frequent Accounts“ of the Proceedings of the Dutch be by you dis-“ patched, as conveniently may be, to the Secre-" cretary of Our Admiralty, for Our Informa-" tion. And whereas, for the better inforcing" the present Squadron of Our Ships, under your“ Command, We have determined upon convert-“ ing those of the Fifth Rate into Fireships, and“ fitting out others of the Third and Fourth" Rates, in their Room, in the doing whereof“ all Endeavours of Dispatch will be made, Our" Will and Pleasure is, that you do forthwith“ issue out your Orders to the Lord Berkley, to“ take the first Opportunity of Wind and Wea-" ther, for bringing the Charles Gaily to Sbeer-" ness , that her Company may be removed into" such other Ship, as We shall, by Our Commis-" sion, appoint. But We are pleased to direct,“ that in Case the Reserve be still with you, and" that you conceive her to be in any Condition“ of being kept aboard a little while longer, for“ answering the present Exigence, 'till these Re-“ crusts, or Part of them, can come to you, you" do respite the sending her into Portsmouth , 'till“ farther Orders. For which this shall be your" Warrant.” Given at Our Court at Windsor,the twenty-second Day of Angus, 1688.

By His Majesty's Command,

s. PEprs.