Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A38920
|
An exact journal of the engagement between the English fleet and the French from May the 18th to the 25th, 1692.
|
|
1692
(1692)
|
Wing E3645; ESTC R36398
|
2,895
|
2
|
An Exact JOURNAL OF THE ENGAGEMENT Between the English Fleet and the French From May the 18th to the 25th 1692. May 18. ABOUT nine a Clock this Morning the Admiral with the whole Fleet weighed being all at Anchor off Dunnose with the Wind at W. S. W. and S. W. by W. stood over to the French Coast all night c. May 19. This Morning at day-light the Wind W. S. W. and W. by S. we discovered the French Fleet a great way to Windward signal was made for our drawing into the Line of Battel and about nine a Clock the French began to bear down Tourville himself with a great deal of Bravery singled out our Admiral and was received with more than equal Courage At Eleven the French being got pretty near Tourville himself being brought to within less that Musquet Shot of Admiral Russel which was admired in general both by the English and Dutch that the French Admiral being so small a Fleet should so Resolutely attack outs being so much Superior to his in number for the French Line spreading but little farther a Head or a Stern than the Red Squadron we could not well construe the meaning of their vigorously falling upon that Squadron the Dutch and the Blue having little or no share in the Fight but in less than a quarter of an Hours time there was nothing to be seen but a Terrible Smoak and Fire that darkened all the Air so that none could perceive a Cables length from their Ships which was accompanied with a continual Thunder of Guns for four Hours the Firing being smart on both sides from Eleven till Three but the French Admiral finding the English too hot for him and his Main Top Sail Yard being Shot about Five a clock he got his Main Tack on Board and it proving little Wind he towed off and endeavoured to get out of the way and reach of our Mischievous English Guns His Example was followed by the rest of the French Fleet but about Six or Seven of the Clock the Wind shifted to the Eastward they fell in amongst the Blue some of which Squadron together with Sir Cloudsley Shovell had a very hot dispute with them till near Eleven a Clock the French fighting their way through and it being but little Wind we stood till night after them and at Ten a Clock at night we saw some Ships Blown up May 20. All last night we continued the Chase and the Wind this Morning having shifted to the Westward the French were again got to the Windward they Plying and we after them at Five in the Afternoon they Anchored and we did the same Cape de Hogue bearing W. S. W. about seven Leagues distant and a prodigious strong Tide running at Eleven this Night we weighed and plied to Windward all night May 21. This Morning part of the French Fleet run in at the Race of Alderney the rest plying to Windward and Anchored to the Westward of it Sir John Ashby and some of the English Windward most Ships Anchored after the French Admiral Russell and the Fleet with him Cut and followed some Ships of the French that drove out of the Race again their Anchors not being able to bring them up against so strong a Tide the Admiral left Sir Ralph Delavall with some Ships to destroy part of the French Fleet that were run into Cherburg whilst he himself followed others into La Hogue May 22. Sir John Ashby and the Ships with him not being able to get up with the Ships he chased only one Fire Ship which was taken yesterday in the Evening the French having this Morning borne away among the Islands of Alderney Jersey and Guernsey and the Rocks Sir John and the rest bore away to the Admiral and Sir Ralph with the Fire-Ships and Boats with him having first sent ashore a Flag of Truce to give the French warning to take their Men both Well and Wounded out of their Ships burnt three of their Capital Ships one of them the Soleil Royal the French refusing to take their Men ashore great part of them were Burnt and Blown up May 23. This Morning Sir John Ashby Sir Ralph Delaval and the Dutch Joyned the General and the Ships with him who Anchored off La Hogue and there all the rest of the French Men of War that were drove out of the Race were close into the Shoar which the Admiral design'd to Burn and Destroy having ordered Vice Admiral Rooke with a Detachment of some of the Third and Fourth Rates to go in with six Fire ships and all the Pinnaces and Long boats of the Fleet. About Six a Clock they were got into the Shore and our Ships Fired at their Ships and Forts that were there but could not get in so the Boats attempted to tow in the Fire-ships but finding the business might be done without burning the fire ships the Boats only went in and about Nine a Clock set on Fire the first Ship which was by it self and set on Fire 〈◊〉 Five more that Night which made the most extraordinary Bonfire that ever was seen five of them being three Deck'd Ships and it being in the Night was seen to all the Advantage imaginable the Smoak and Fire together with the Guns Firing and Ships Blowing up being Prodigious The Earl of Danby signaliz'd himself by going in the Headmost Boat and going on Board three of their biggest Ships and Burning them May 24. All this day the Boats continued to Burn the French Ships in the Shore and Burn'd Eight Men of War more of which there were not above four small Ships of Forty or Fifty Guns all the rest of a Hundred or Eighty Guns besides a great many Merchant Ships and small Craft and their Magazine of Powder Blowing up a Shore There never was so many fine Ships destroyed at one time nor so terrible a Light for People to behold on their own Coast And about Twelve a Clock at Noon the Vice-Admiral with all the Ships and Boats came off again into the Fleet having left all the Enemies Ships on a Flame and a great Army to be Spectators there being drawn down about Thirty thousand Men Commanded by Belfont King James being there to see all the Transactions In all we lost not one Man of War some Fire ships were burn'd without doing Execution some by Accident and we cannot find that any Officers are Kill'd besides Rear-Admiral Carter and Colonel Hastings Captain Graydon is said to be Dead but of that no Certainty The French have lost Gabaret their Admiral of the Blew Ship and all in the Fight Burn'd and one Captain Decombe who was Captain of the Illustrious a Ship of Seventy Guns Burnt Tourville's Nephew is thought to be Killed also what Damage they immediately received in the Fight is not as yet known But upon the whole matter there never was so great a Victory obtained at Sea in so short a time and I hope it is a presage for a future Success May 25. This Morning the Wind at East and by South and E. S. E. the Admiral and the Fleet Sailed and Steered away N. E. by N. and N. by E. for England ADVERTISEMENT TRuth brought to Light Or the History of the First 14 Years of King James I. In Four Parts I. The happy State of England at His Majesty's Entrance The Corruption of it afterwards With the Rise of particular Favourites and the Divisions between this and other States abroad II. The Divorce betwixt the Lady Frances Howard and Robert Earl of Essex before the King's Delegates Authorised under the King 's Broad Seal As also the Arraignment of Sir Jer. Ellis Lieutenant of the Tower c. about the Murther of Sir Tho. Overbury with all Proceedings thereupon and the King 's Gracious Pardon and Favour to the Countess III. A Declaration of His Majesty's Revenue since he came to the Crown of England With the Annual Issues Gifts Pensions and extraordinary Disburstments IV. The Commissions and Warrants for the burning of two Hereticks newly revived with two Pardons one for Theophilus Higgins the other for Sir Eustace Hart. Sold by Richard Baldwin LONDON Printed for Richard Baldwin near the Oxford Arms in Warwick-Lane 1692.