MEMOIRS OF CAPTAIN CARLETON. In the year one thousand six hundred and seventy-two, war being proclaimed with Holland, it was looked upon, among nobility and gentry, as a blemish, not to attend the Duke of York* aboard the fleet, who was then declared admiral. With many others, I, at that time about twenty years of age, entered myself a volunteer on board the London, commanded by Sir Edward Sprage, Vice-Admiral of the Red. *Afterwards James II. By the treaty betwixt England and France, 6000 of the British troops were to assist the French army against the Dutch. The two fleets of France and England joined the 2d May. The English consisting of 100, and the French of 40 sail. The States had 72 large ships and 40 frigates. A The fleet set sail from the buoy of the Nore about the beginning of May, in order to join the French fleet, then at anchor in St Helen's Road, under the command of the Count de Estrée. But in executing this design, we had a very narrow escape: For De Ruyter, the admiral of the Dutch fleet, having notice of our intentions, waited to have intercepted us at the mouth of the River, but by the assistance of a great fog we pass'd Dover before he was aware of it; and thus he miscarried, with the poor advantage of taking only one small tender. A day or two after the joining of the English and French, we sailed directly towards the Dutch coast, where we soon got sight of their fleet; a sand called the Galloper lying between. The Dutch seemed willing there to expect an attack from us; but in regard the Charles man of war had been lost on those sands the war before, and that our ships drawing more water than those of the enemy, an engagement might be rendered very disadvantageous, it was resolved in a council of war, to avoid coming to a battle for the present, and to sail directly for Solebay, which was accordingly put in execution. We had not been in Solebay above four or five days, when De Ruyter, hearing of it, made his signal for sailing, in order to surprize us; and he had certainly had his aim, had there been any breeze of wind to favour him. But though they made use of all their sails, there was so little air stirring, that we could see their fleet making towards us long before they came up; notwithstanding which, our admirals found difficulty enough to form their ships into a line of battle, so as to be ready to receive the enemy. It was about four in the morning of the 28th of May, being Tuesday in Whitson week, when we first made the discovery; and about eight the same morning, the blue squadron, under the command of the Earl of Sandwich, began to engage with Admimiral Van Ghent, who commanded the English and Dutch gaged in Solebay. Amsterdam squadron; and about nine, the whole fleets were under a general engagement. The fight lasted till ten at night, and with equal fury on all sides, the French excepted, who appeared stationed there rather as spectators than parties; and as unwilling to be too much upon the offensive, for fear of offending themselves. During the fight, the English admiral had two ships disabled under him; and was obliged, about four in the afternoon, to remove himself a third time into the London, where he remained. all the rest of the fight, and till next morning. Nevertheless, on his entrance upon the London, which was the ship I was in, and on our hoisting the standard, De Ruyter and his squadron seemed to double their fire upon her, as if they resolved to blow her out of the water. Notwithstanding all which, the Duke of York remained all the time upon quarterdeck; and as the bullets plentifully whizzed around him, would often rub his hands, and cry, "Sprage, Sprage, they follow us still." |