'Hap. IX. from the Revolution, to the Death of¥L. William.
16
92.
sieT,
*iv
de Fr.
Louis
the eighteenth of May, towards theCoast of France , and the Day after,(whilst France and England were at aGaze in dubious Expectation of this im-portant Event) about three in theMorn-ing. Cape Barjleur, bearing S.W. by S.distant about seven Leagues, the ScoutsWestward of the Fleet (which were theChefter and Charles Gaily) fired severalGuns. These Ships coming, soon after,within Sight, made the Signal of disco-vering the Enemy, and lay with theirHeads Northward. TheFleet was, here-upon, drawn into\a Line of Battle, andNotice given for the Rear to tack, thatso, if the French stood Northward,we might the sooner come Up and en-
(n) De Larrey says, when the Fog dissipated,Monsieur de 'Tourville was surprized to find itwas the whole Englijh and Dutch united Fleet hewas going to engage, whereas before he imaginedit had been but Part of it: But, however, consi-dering a hasty Retreat would bring his Fleet intosuch a Confusion, as might prove more hazar-dous than a Battle itself, he continued his Ordersfor the Engagement. He himself commanded theWhite Squadron, consisting of sixteen Ships in theCenter ; The Marquis d’Amfreville commandedthe Blue and White Squadron, of fourteen Vessels,in the Van; And the Rear, or Blue Squadron,likewise, of fourteen Ships, was under the Com-mand of Monsieur Gabaret ; All the Fleet, con-sisting of Ships of the first and second Magnitude,according to their Way of reckoning in France.
(0) A List of the English and Dutch Fleet.
The Red Squadron.
Rates.
Ships.
The Royal William.London,
Britannia,
St. Andrew,
Royal Sovereign,St. Michael,Sandwich,
Royal Catherine ,Cambridge ,Plymouth,
Breda,
Kent,
Swiftfure,Hampton-Court ,Grafton,
, 3 Restoration,
1 - Ragle,
Rupert,
Elizabeth,Burfird ,
Captain,Devonshire,
Tork,
Lenox,
Ruby,
Oxford,
St. Albans,Greenwich,
Chester,
Centurion,
Bonadventm,
gage; But the Sun having dispersed theFog, soon after four, they were seenstanding Southward, forming their Linewith the same Tack which our Shipshad on Board, (n)
Admiral Ruffes seing their Disposi-tion, caused the Signal for the Rear-Tack to be taken in, and bore awaywith his own Ship so far to the Leeward,as that every, one in the Fleet mightfetch his Wake, or Grain, and thenbringing to, he lay by, with his Fore-Top-sail to the Mast, that so othersmight have the betted Opportunity ofplacing themselves, according as theyhad been before directed. ( 0 )
8 E
Thi
The Right Honourable Edward Rujfel, EfqjAdmiral.
Sir Ralph Delaval, Vice-Admiral.
Sir Cloudesty Shovel, Rear-Admiral.
The Blue Squadron.
Rates. Ships.
Men-
GunSi
I
The ViElory,
780
too
2
Albeniarl,
666
po
(2
Windsor-Castle,
660
po
2
Neptune,
680
9 6
72
Vanguard,
660
9 °
2
Duchess,
660
po
,2
OJfcry,
660
po
2
Duke,
675
po
3
Resolution j
420
70
3
Monk,
340
do
3
Expedition,
4O0
70
3
Royal Oak,
47 °
74
3
Northumberland,
460
70
3
Lion,
340
do
3
Berwick,
460
70
3
Defiance,
400
70
T o
3
Montague ,
3 SS
do
lo
3
Warfpight,
420
70
3
MonmOuth,
466
70
3
Edgar,
44 5
70
3
Sterling-Caftle,
460
70
3
Dreadnought,
Z65
do
3
Suffolk,
460
70
3
Comwal,
80
3
Effex,
460
70
3
Hope,
460
70
4
Chatham,
280
5 °
4
Advice,
230
5 °
(J
4
Wdv ensure, <
200
5 °
4
Crown,
230
5 °
4
Woolwich,
280
54
4
Deptford ,
280
5 0
SlR John Ashby, Admiral.
The Honourable George Rooke, Esq; Vice-Admiral.
The Honourable Richard Carter, Esq; Rear-Admiral,
The Englijh Fleet consisted of fixty-threeShips, carrying seven and twenty Thousand, se-ven Hundred, and five and twenty Seamen : Andfour Thousand five Hundred Guns. Frigats andFire-slfips, three and twenty.
The
6§9
1692.