Chap. IX. from the Revolution, to the Death of K. William,

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ieveraZre nc hShipsl ea r the^Purfu-

DutchJ m iral and

/'[JohnV order-

The Admiral continued chasing ’tillfour the next Morning, and then, theTide of Ebb being done, anchor’d insix and forty Fathom, Cape La Hoguebearing S. by W. and the Ifland ofAlderney S. S. W. But, as he wanteda Topmast, the Dutch Squadron, andthe Admiral of the Blue, with severalof his Ships got considerably to Wind-ward of him.

About seven in the Morning, Partof the French Ships, which had advanc-ed far towards the Race of Alderney,were perceived driving Eastward, withthe Tide of Flood, without Ground-Tackle to ride by; For they had, inthe Engagement, and the Morning after,cut away all their heavy Anchors.When they were driven so far, thatour Admiral judged he could reachthem, he made the Signal for the Shipsnearest him to cut and chafe, whichthey accordingly did and followed him ;But Sir John Ajhby, with his Division ofthe Blue Squadron , and several DutchShips, who were Weathermost, rid fast

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(as Mr. RuJJel had made the Sign forthem to do) to observe the Motion ofthe Rest of the French Ships, whichcontinued at an Anchor in the Race.

Three of their great Ships, being ^under the Shoar, tacked, about eleven morels Heiro’Clock, and stood Westward; But, as- biggest Skipster making two or three short Boards, b A nt ' atthe biggest of them, the Royal Sun, ran erJour S*on Ground, and presently her Mastswere cut away. In the mean while, theother two, to Leeward (which werethe Admirable and the Conquer ant, theFrench Admirals, Seconds) ply’d up toher; Because they could not get toWindward of the Weathermost Ships,nor stretch out a-head, Eastward. TheAdmiral taking Notice, that many Shipsof our Fleet bover’d about them, sentOrders to .Sir Ralph Delaval, Vice-Ad-miral of the Red, who was in the Rear ,to keep Ships enough with him, to de-stroy them, and to order the Rest tofollow the Body of the Fleet, whichwas punctually performed : (jq)

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« If it please Gor> to fend us a little clear Wea-“ ther, I doubt not but we shall destroy their" whole Fleet. I saw, in the Night, three or“ four Ships blow up ; but I know not what“ they were. So soon as I am able to give a“ more particular Relation, I will not be want-“ ing.

(q) Rennet fays, there were burnt at Cher-bourg, the Royal Sun, of one Hundred and fourGuns, commanded by Admiral Tourville ; theAdmirable , of one Hundred and two Guns, andthe Conquerant, that carried eighty Guns, withthree more of lesser Rate ; in which he agreeswith the History of King William.

But to be more particular, I think I cannotgive a better Account of this glorious Action,than in Sir Ralph Delaval’ a own Words.

SiR Ralph Delaval’r Lettr to the Earl of Not-tingham ; On Board the Royal Sovereign,mar Cherbourg, May 22.

«c j believe it my Duty to acquaint yon, that

f « on the one and twentieth Instant, Admi-« ral Ruffel having made the Signal for the Fleet“ to cut their Cables, I observed the French to“ be forced from the Race of Alderney (wheretc they anchored) to the Eastward ; and finding" that some of them endeavoured for the Bay of“ Cherbourg, I stood in for that Place, where“ I found three three-decked Ships, of the Ene-“ nay's, but so close to the Shoar, and within" some Rocks, that it was not safe for me to at-cc tempt them, 'till I had informed myself of the“ Road, they being bawled into shoal Water. I" immediately took my Boats, and sounded with-« in Gun-stiot of them; Which they endeavoured“ to prevent, by Firing at us. And that noTime" might be lost, I went immediately on Board thetfr.“ Albans, where, for the Encouragement of theu Seamen, I hoisted myFlag;And having ordered the

" Ruby, with two Fire-ships, to attend me, I" stood in with them, leaving the great Ships“ without, as drawing too much Water. But“ coming very near, they galled us so extream-“ ly, and finding the Fire-ships could not get“ in, I judged it best to retreat without Shot," and there anchored ; And immediately called" all the Captains: Where it was resolved to at-“ tempt them, in the Morning, with all the" Third-and Fourth-Rates, and Fire-ships. But" after having drawn them into Four Fathom and“ a Half Water, I found we could not do our" Business, the Water being shoal. Upon which“ I ordered three Fire-ships to prepare them-" selves to attempt the Burning them ; Going" myself with all the Barges and Tenders, to“ take them up, if by the Enemy’s Shot they." should miscarry. Indeed, I may say, and I" hope, without Vanity, the Service was warm ;“ Yet, God be praised, so effectually performed,“ that notwithstanding all their Shot, both from" their Ships and Forts, two of our Fire-ships“ had good Success, by Burning two of them ;" The other, by an unfortunate Shot, was set on" Fire, being just going on Board the Enemy.“ Indeed, so brave was the Attempt, that I" think they can hardly be sufficiently rewarded ;" And doubt not butTheir Majesties will do them" Right. The third French Ship being run a-" shoar, and observing the People on Board to" go on Shoar by Boats full, I ordered the St." Albans, the Reserve, and others, to fire upon“ her, judging it might cause them to quit her," and, after having battered her for some“ Time, I observed she made no Resistance. I" took all the Boats armed, and went on Board" her. I found Abundance of Men on Board," and several wounded, but no Officers. Ad-“ having caused all the People, as well those" that were wounded, as others, to be taken" out, I set her on Fire, and, had I not hadNo-“ tice by my Scouts, that thirty Ships were stand-" ing with us, had sent all the French on Shoar,