The Thoulon Squadron difcover'd. The Thoulon bout fix Leagues, at which time the Admiral detached the Portland to Gibraltar, with Directions to Captain Skelton to get ready and join him. About one in the Afternoon he got into the Bay, when there came on board him three Spanish Gentlemen from the Governor of the Town, with Advice from the Commander in chief at Ceuta, a Spanish Garrifon on the Barbary Coast, that there had been feen the Night before fourteen Ships at Anchor in the Bay of Tetuan, a Town about feven Miles from Ceuta; and the whole Squadron being now under Sail, confifting of one fecond Rate, three thirds, fix fourths, two fifths, and two Firefhips of the English, and five Ships of the States General, they stood over for Ceuta Point, with a fair Gale at Weft, where they lay by all Night. Early the next Morning Mr. Killegrew fteered away for the Bay of Tetuan, where he found only two Ships, one at Anchor in the Weft Part of the Bay, the other under Sail about two Leagues Eastward of her. The latter efcaping put abroad the Colours of Algier, but the other being imbayed, fhe was taken by Vice-Admiral Almonde, and proved to be a French Ship bound to Antegoa. The Wind fhifting to the E. S. E. a fmall Gale, our Squadron stood over for the Spanish Shore, and having Ceuta Point W. N. W. distant about two Leagues, the Men at the Mast-head faw ten Ships to the North, lying with their Heads Eastward. Notice was given of this to Monfieur Almonde, who could not fo foon difcern them, because he was about two Leagues Southward of our Ships, and in a very little time after the whole Squadron ftretch'd over for Gibraltar Hill, the Mountague being fent ahead to obferve and give Notice of the Enemy's Motions. At eleven a Clock fhe fell aftern, her Captain having discovered that four Ships were under his Lee, fo that all Endeavours were used to get up with them, and about one a Clock they were not above two Miles off, when it being difcerned that they ran, our Ships fet their Top-gallant Sails, and crowded after them as much as poffibly they could; but the French had the berter Heels, for they were juft cleaned, whereas fome of ours had been feventeen Months off of the Ground. The Chafe was continued till ten the next Day, and as then the Enemy were about four Leagues ahead, fo were the Dutch, with feveral of the English Ships, near hull to aftern; nor had the Admiral more than the Duke, Mountague, Eagle, and Portland near him. Notwithstanding this, Monfieur Chateau Renault kept on his Way, who had thirteen Ships, viz. fix Men of War, three Firefhips, a Tartane, and three Merchant Ships; and there being no Profpect of coming up with them, the Chafe was given over; but between nine and ten in the Morning, the Richmond and Tyger forced one of the Merchant Ships on Shore Weftward of Tariffa, oppofite to Tangier, which with great Labour was got off. The Admiral lay by unOur Ships re- till it was three a Clock, and then the reft of his Squadron coming from whence up, he bore away for Cadiz, but, by Reafon of contrary Winds, the Vice-Ad- could not reach that Place until the twenty firft. From thence he miral fends a- dispatched away the feveral Convoys, namely, the Tyger, Newcastle, way the Trade and Oxford, for Smyrna, commanded by Captain Coal; the Port pair to Cadiz, up the Streights. land, Killegrew ar rives at Pi land, Greenwich, and Faulcon, to Scanderoon, under the Conduct of Captain Ley, and the Sapphire and Richmond were appointed for Malaga and Alicant, under the Command of Capt. Bokenbam. This being done, and all things put in order for the Squadron's Return for England, fince the French Ships had paffed the Streights, the Admiral fet Sail, and in thirty five Days arrived at Plimouth, Vice- Admiral with one fecond Rate, and four thirds of ours, together with the Virgin Prize, and Half-Moon, and fix Dutch Men of War. At mouth. Plimouth he received Letters from the Lords of the Admiralty, by which he was informed that the French Fleet, after an Engagement, had obliged ours to retire, and that they hover'd about Rye, Dover, and those Parts; for which Reafon he was advised to take care He is advised for the Security of his Squadron. This occafion'd his calling a to remain Council of War, where it was determined to proceed with the Ships French Fleet into Hamoze within Plimouth, Sound, for it was judged they could being in the not be otherwise fafe fhould the French attempt them; for, being. great Ships, they could not run in at any time of the Tide, nor were they in a Condition to put forth to Sca, until fuch time as they had taken in Water, Stores, and Provifions. At this Confultation there were Vice-Admiral Killegrew, Vice-Admiral Almonde, and Rear-Admiral Evertfon, as alfo Sir Cloudefly Shovell, Rear-Admiral of the Red, who was arrived at Plimouth from the Coast of Ireland. there, the Chanel. CHA P. IV. An Account of the Earl of Torrington's engaging the TH HE Engagement off of Beachy, in Suffex, (which happened the thirtieth of June) between the two Fleets commanded by the Earl of Torrington, and Monfieur Tourville being fome Days before Mr. Killegrew's Arrival at Plimonth, it naturally leads me to the giving the following Account of that Action. 1690. receives Ad The Earl of Torrington being with the Fleet at St. Helen's, was not a little furprized at the Advice he received from Weymouth, that The Earl of the French were entered into our Chanel;, for fo far was he (by all Torrington the Intelligence he had received) from believing they were in that vice of the forwardnels, that there were not at that time any Scouts Weftward French Fleet's being in the to obferve and bring an Account of their Motion: But as this News Chanel. was foon confirmed from many other Places, it was judged high time to mufter up all the Ships within Reach, both English and Dutch, and to put them into the beft Condition that might be of Defence; which being done, his Lord hip failed the twenty fourth, carly in the His Proceedings thereapMorning, with the Wind at E. N. E. and ftood to the S. E. the French having been feen the Day before, by the Scouts lately fent out, on the Back of the Isle of Wight; and the next Day our Fleet on. Receives Or ders to engage the Enemy. An Account of the Engagement off of Beachy. being reinforced by the Lion, a third Rate, and feveral Dutch Ships of War, were with a N. E. Wind in Sight of the Enemy. About four a Clock next Morning the Admiral edged towards the French, who were about three Leagues from him, and tho' when the Wind fhifted to the S. E. and S. E. by S. he tacked and stood Eastward, yet at three in the Afternoon the whole Fleet went about, and stood Weftward again. The French took feveral People from the Shore, and when they had punished them for magnifying our Strength, they were pleased to difmifs them, with a Letter to the Admiral (as I am informed) from Sir William Jennings, (who commanded an English Ship of War at the Revolution, and now ferved in no better a Poft than that of third Captain to the French Admiral) by which he prefumed to promife Pardon to all Captains who would adhere to the Intereft of King James. A farther Reinforcement arrived of feven Dutch Ships; with Admiral Evertson, and another Flag-Officer; but the two Fleets continued looking on each other, without Action, until the thirtieth; for the Admiral was not willing to engage before the Ships he expected from the East had join'd him. But notwithstanding the Enemy were fo much fuperior in Strength, as feventy odd Sail to fifty, and that their Ships were generally larger, pofitive Orders were fent to him from Court to give them Battel: Whereupon the Signal was put abroad, as foon as it was light, for drawing into a Line, which being done, the whole Fleet bore down on them, while they were under Sail, by a Wind, with their Heads Northward. At eight in the Morning the Signal was made for Battel, when the French bracing their Head-Sails to the Maft, lay by; and about an Hour after the Dutch Squadron, which led the Van, began to engage Part of the Van of the French; half an Hour after which our Blue Squadron encounter'd their Rear; but the greatest Part of the Red, which were in the Center, could not engage until it was ncar ten; and as they were then at a confiderable Distance from the Enemy, fo was there a great opening between them and the Dutch. It was observed that as our Ships bore down on the French, they lasked away, tho' probably that might be only to close their Line; and afterwards feveral of their Ships towed round with their Boats until they were out of Shot, infomuch that it was hoped the Advantage would have fallen on our Side; but it was not long e'er it appeared the Dutch had fuffered very much, and chiefly by their being (for Want of a neceffary Precaution) weathered and furrounded by thole French Ships which they left ahead of them when they began to engage. No fooner did the Admiral perceive their Condition, than he sent them Orders to come to an Anchor, and with his own Ship, and feveral others, driving between them and the Enemy, anchored about five in the Afternoon, at which time it was calm; but judging it not fafe to renew the Fight at fo great a Difadvantage, he weighed at nine at Night, and retired Eastward with the Tide of Flood. The The first of July in the Afternoon, he called a Council of War, Our Fleet rewhere it was refolved to endeavour to preferve the Fleet by retreat- ward, and ing, and rather to deftroy the difabled Ships, if they fhould be preft the French by the Enemy, than hazard another Engagement by protecting pursue. them. The French very indifcreetly purfu'd in a formal Line of Battel, whereas had they left every Ship at Liberty to do her utmost, ours would undoubtedly have been more roughly handled, efpecially those which were cripled in Fight; but each one fhifting for her felf, (as 'tis natural to do in fuch Cafes) and Caution being had in anchoring most advantageoufly, with regard to the Tides, which the French took little or no notice of, we thereby got Ground confiderably of them. However they purfued as far as Rye Bay, and one of the English Ships, called the Anne, of feventy Guns, was run on Shore near Winchelsea, having loft all, her Mafts, where two French Ships attempting to burn her, the Captain faved them that Labour, by precipitately fetting fire to her himself. The Body of the French Flect ftood in and out off of Bourne and Pemfey in Suffex, while about fourteen more lay at Anchor near the Shore, fome of which attempted to destroy a Dutch Ship of about fixty four Guns, that lay dry at low Water in Pemfey Bay; but her Commander fo well defended her every high Water, when they made their Attacks, that they at laft thought it convenient to defift, fo that this Ship was got off, and fafely carried to Holland; but it fared not fo well with three others of that Nation, which were on Shore on the faid Coaft, for their Officers and Men not being able to defend them, they fet them on fire; fo that with the three Ships destroyed by the French in the Action, the States General loft fix of the Line of Battel. tires Eaft On the eighth the French Fleet stood towards their own Coaft, The French but were feen the twenty feventh following off of the Berry Head, repair to their own Coast. a little to the Easftward of Dartmouth, and then, the Wind taking them thort, they put into Torbay. There they lay not long, for they were discover'd the twenty ninth near Plimouth, at which Place very good Preparations were made, by Platforms and other Works, to give them a warm Reception. The fifth of August they appeared again off of the Ram Head, in number between fixty and feventy, when standing Weftward, they were no more feen in the Chanel this Year. River. Our Fleet retreated towards the River of Thames, and the Admiral going on Shore, left the chief Command to Sir John Ashby; but Care taken to first gave Orders to Captain Monck of the Phenix, together with preserve our Ships, had the four more fifth Rates, and four Firefhips, to anchor above the Nar- Enemy come row of the Middle Grounds, and to appoint two of the Frigates to towards the ride one at the Buoy of the Spits, the other at the lower End of the Middle, and to take away the Buoys, and immediately retreat, if the Enemy approached: Or if they prefs'd yet farther on him, he was ordered, in like manner, to take away the Buoys near him, and to do what Service he could against them with the Firefhips; but still to retire, and make the proper Signals in fuch Cafe. men and o This Apprehenfion was foon over by the Enemy's drawing off, as is beforementioned, fo that the chief thing to be done, was to put the Ficet into a Condition to go to Sea again: Not but that this unlucky Accident occafioned various Reports and Conjectures, and the Dutch were very unealy upon account of the Damage they Several Noble- had fuftain'd, infomuch that feveral Perfons of Quality were fent to Sheerness to examine thoroughly into the whole Matter upon Oath; thers appointed to examine and after the Earl of Torrington had continued Prifoner in the Tower into the Acti- for feveral Months, he was at laft try'd, and unanimously acquitted The Earl of by a Court-Martial, held at Sheerness the tenth of December, Torrington where Sir Ralph Delavall prefided, who had acted as Vice-Admiral of the Blue in the Engagement: And, if I mistake not very much, this was the first time that ever an English Admiral was called to an Account in fuch a manner. on upon Oath. try'd at a Court-Mar tial, and ac quitted. The Fleet put under the Sir Richard Admiral Killegrew, and Sir John Afh CHAP. V. An Account of the joint Admirals, Sir Richard Haddock, Mr. Killegrew, and Sir John Afhby, their proceeding with the Fleet to Ireland, and Return from thence. TH HE Fleet being in a good Forwardnefs, it was put under the joint Command of Sir Richard Haddock, Mr. Killegrew, Command of and Sir John Abby. Two of thofe Admirals arrived in the Downs the twenty first of August, and failing from thence the twenty fifth, were join'd by Mr. Killegrew off of Dover with the Ships he brought from the Streights, which had been confined at Plimouth by reason the French were in the Chanel, as has been before obferved; and the Fleet arriving at Spithead the twenty eighth, the Admirals received Inftructions in what manner to proceed, and to take the Ships hereafter mentioned under their Command, which were then difperfed at the feveral Places exprefs'd against their Names, viz. by. |