The account given by Sir John Ashby, Vice-Admiral, and Reere-Admiral Rooke to the Lords Commissioners of the engagement at sea between the English, Dutch, and French fleets, June the 30th, 1690 with a journal of the fleet since their departure from St. Hellens to their return to the Buoy-in-the-Nore, and other material passages relating to the said engagement.

The Lords Commissioners Letter, to the Queen's Majesty.

May it please your Majesty,

IN pursuance of your Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal, bearing date the 14th of this Instant Iu∣ly. Commanding and impowering us, to examine and en∣quire into the Actions, Conduct, Courage, and Beha∣viour of the Admirals, Vice-Admirals, and Rear-Admirals, of your Majesty's Fleet; and the Captains, Commanders of any of your Majesty's Ships in the same; in the late Engagement, or Fight against the French Fleet, which happen'd on Monday the 30th day of Iune last past, near the Coast of Sussex.

On the 15th Instant we repaired to your Majesty's Fleet at Anchor at the Buoy of the Nore▪ where having sum∣mon'd on Board the Sandwich the Flag Officers, and all the Captains of your Majesty's Fleet, your Majesty's Commission was open'd, and publickly read; after which, we immediately proceeded to the Examination of the re∣spective Flag Officers upon Oath, and then directed the Commanders in Chief to send to Shearness the Captains

that were present in the Fleet, whom we likewise exami∣ned one by one upon Oath.

We have taken the several Examinations in Writing, which we humbly present to your Majesty, together with an Abstract drawn from the several Evidences, whereby the whole state of the late Engagement may the more ea∣sily appear to your Majesty.

On Sunday the 29th of Iune last, in the Evening, the Earl of Torrington call'd a Council of Flag Officers, where the Resolution was taken to engage the Enemy the next Day; in Order to which the Fleet weigh'd the same Night about Ten, and about Three in the Morning they disco∣vered the Enemy at Anchor between Three and Four Leagues to the Leeward of them.

About four in the morning, the Signal was given to draw into a Line of Battle, and in that Order they bore down towards the Enemy. About Eight, on the 30th, of Iune, the Admiral put out the Signal for Battle, being then about a Leagues distance from the Enemy, who lay by in Order of Battle to receive him.

The Wind blew fresh in the morning, the Admiral bear∣ing down with his whole Line, he brought to between Eight and Nine, being at the distance of twice Cannon Shot from the Enemy; and about that time he bore away to the Southward, Sir Iohn Ashby's Division doing the like; but soon after Sir Iohn Ashby bore again to the Northward, to join the Dutch Squadron, who lay for him; and to make more haste, he set his Top-sails, his whole Division do∣ing the same. The Admiral and his Division stood after with two Top-sails only, whereby there happen'd a consi∣derable Interval between those two Divisions of the Red.

About Nine, The Dutch leading the Van, began the Fight at first at a Distance, and presently after the Blew Engag'd; Sir Iohn Ashby, with his Divisions kept his Line, and bore in equally with the Dutch; and the Dutch not stretching to the Head of the French Line at first, gave opportunity to about Nine of the French Ships to weather them; Sir Iohn Ashby being in Shot of Tourville, the French Admiral fired two Guns, the usual sign of Cha∣lenge, which he took no Notice of, lying with his Top∣sailes aback in order (as was supposed) to fight the Eng∣lish Admiral; Sir Iohn Ashby then fired a Broad-side upon him, and continued Fighting for an hour and a half, till he was disabled, by his Fore-top-mast-head being shot a∣way.

It was Observed, that the French, being press'd by the Dutch and Vice-Admiral's Division, gave way, and clapt on more Sail to help them off.

Sir Ralph Delavall, Vice-Admiral of the Blew, being, a∣bout Nine, in the Line with the Admiral, finding he brought to at the Distance of twice Gun Shot, he with his Divisi∣on edg'd nearer to the Enemy, till he came within Musquet Shot, and then began to Fire; and so continued, the Ene∣my still edging from him, and he pressing forward, till he came at last almost into their Line; those he engag'd with setting up their Top-gallant Sails, Sprit Sails, and Main Sails for their getting away; and when there was but little Wind, they tow'd from them with their Boats a head. During this Action, there was a great space be∣tween the Van of the Blew, and the Rear of the Red.

The Divisions of the Admiral, and the Rear-Admiral of the Red, which were nearer to the middle of the Line, began at Ten to fire, when they were within Cannon Shot

of the Enemy; the Rear-Admiral being somewhat to the Leeward.

About Eleven, the Admiral being acquainted some French Ships had weathered the Dutch, he ordered the Ships should Luff to the Eastward; after which there happen'd a Calm, and then he was tow'd down between the Enemy and the Dutch, who were then at Anchor.

Upon the whole, it seems to be a general Opinion: That if the Admiral, and the Rear-Admiral of the Red, had bore down, and pressed the Enemy, equally with the rest of the Fleet, the French probably would not have had the Success as to be able to keep the Sea; and many of the Officers of these two Divisions wished they might have been nearer to the Enemy.

As to what relates to that Part of the Commission which concerns the Embezlement of Stores; We finding that the Remains have been taken by the Officers of the Ordnance, who say, that little more than one third of the Powder has been spent in this Action, we have made no farther enquiry into that matter.

Sheerness the 18th. of July, 1690.

Sign'd

Pembrooke

Maclesfield

R. Howard

H. Goodricke

Tho. Lee