to the fatigue and inconvenience which those who were bred seamen would undergo, in those so otherwise useful swift frigates. These, being to encounter the greatest ships, would be able to protect, set on and bring off, those who should manage the fireships; and the prince who should first store himself with numbers of such fireships would, through the help and countenance of such frigates, be able to ruin the greatest force of such vast ships as could be sent to sea, by the dexterity of working those light swift ships to guard the fireships. He concluded there would shortly be no other method of seafight, and that great ships and men-of-war, however stored with guns and men, must submit to those who should encounter them with far less number. He represented to us the dreadful effect of these fireships; that he continually observed in one late maritime war with the Dutch, that when an enemy's fireship approached, the most valiant commander and common sailors were in such consternation, that though then of all times there was most need of the guns, bombs, etc. to keep the mischief off, they grew pale and astonished, as if of a quite other mean soul; that they slunk about, forsook their guns and worked as if in despair, every one looking about to see which way they might get out of their ship, though sure to be drowned if they did so. This, he said, was likely to prove hereafter the method of sea-fight, likely to be the misfortune of England if they continued to put gentlemen commanders over experienced seamen, on account of their ignorance, effeminacy and insolence.

JOHN EVELYN

THE BATTLE OF LA HOGUE

1692

MONSIEUR TOURVILLE, with the fleet, had orders to make up to the Channel, and to fight the English and Dutch, though he was not yet joined by the Toulon squadron under D'Estree. But when Tourville came there, he met with an entertainment which perhaps he did not dream of; the first intimation whereof we at London had in a letter from Admiral Russell to the Earl of Nottingham, Secretary of State, wherein he said: That upon the 19th of May, by three of the clock in the morning, Cape Barfleur bearing S.W. and by S. seven leagues off, his scouts made the signal for seeing the enemy, the wind westerly. That by eleven the French bore down and engaged him at some distance, and both fleets continued fighting till half an hour past five in the evening, at which time the enemy towed away with all their boats, and the English after them. That about six there was a fresh engagement to the westward of him, which he supposed to be the Blue. That he could give no further account at present, but only that the French were beaten, and that they were steering away for Conquest road, having a fresh gale easterly, but extremely foggy.

But though it happened to be a calm all that night, and foggy the next morning, yet about eleven it beginning to clear up a little, they saw the French fleet about two leagues from them, very much lessened in their number, not seeming to be above thirty-six sail, after whom they made

all the sail they could. But about ten it grew calm again, and about three the two fleets came to an anchor, but weighed about eleven at night, anchored next morning, sailed on the 21st again against the enemy, the Admiral steering towards Barfleur, and the Dutch and Blue Squadron towards the Race of Alderney, through which part of the French fleet escaped, the other thinking it not advisable to hazard the men-of-war in the pursuit of them through that dangerous road. But Sir Ralph Delaval, Vice-Admiral of the Red, had better success, for he on the 21st of May burnt under Cape de Wick, near the shore, the Royal Sun, wherein was Count Tourville, Admiral of the French fleet, carrying 104 guns; the Admirable, 102; the Conquerant, 80, with three more of a lesser rate, while Admiral Russell himself was no less successful in pursuit of another part of the French, who hauled in for La Hogue, in which bay he anchored the 21st, and next day stood in so far as that he saw thirteen ships hauled in close with the shore.

Whereupon on the 22nd he sent in Vice-Admiral Rooke with several men-of-war and fireships, with the boats of the fleet, to endeavour to destroy them. But the French had got their ships so very near land that not any of the men-of-war, except the small frigates, could do any service. However, that night six men-of-war were burnt, and the next day the other seven, besides several transport-ships, whereof six were three-decked ships, and the other carrying from sixty to seventy guns, only one had but fifty-six, and that ship was overset and utterly

lost.

The attempt was very difficult and dangerous, but it was made with such conduct and resolution, and the seamen in their boats behaved themselves so bravely, that they took possession of several of the enemy's ships, and drove the French with their own guns from their