The history of the government of France, under the administration of the great Armand du Plessis, Cardinall and Duke of Richlieu, and chief minister of state in that kingdome wherein occur many important negotiations relating to most part of Christendome in his time : with politique observations upon the chapters / translated out of French by J.D. Esq.

The English Fleet cometh before Rochell.

THE perpetual instance which they of Rochel made to the King of Great Brittain, at last wrought on him, to send out his Fleet to Sea, upon their first being ready for it, and about the eleventh of May they were discried two leagues off the point of Coreille. The light Vessels which the Cardinal, (in his Majesties ab∣sence, being then at Surgeres) had sent out to discover, the Coast brought intelli∣gence that their Fleet consisted in four Pinnaces, seven men of War, of about one hundred and fifty Tun a peece, twenty smaller of neer one hundred Tuns, twenty Barques of about thirty and forty, and divers Fire-ships. There was such order ta∣ken to repel them, in case they should attempt to passe the Bank, that it would be almost an impossibility for them to effect it: For besides there engines which were at the mouth of the Bark, there was also the Kings Fleet, composed of good store Men of war, and divers other Vessels which lay in the Channels. The Chevalier de Velencay was in the formost Ship of the vant-guard, and commanded as Vice-Admiral, who had order to grapple with the first Ship of the Enemies, and to fight those who were in it; The others were to follow his example, and every one had or∣der to beat the Enemies as neer to the Shore, as possible they could, where they would find it a hard taske to get off in regard of the great shot from the Forts and Batteries thereabouts. If the Enemie should break through all those obstacles, of the greater Vessels & shot from the Batteries, yet they would find themselves en∣tangled amongst fourscore other Vessels, Gallies, Galliots, and Barques, from whence it would be difficult to get off, and at the worst they would be stopped by those vessels which had been sunk, or the first Pallisade of three and forty ships which were next to them. The Cardinal who knew that his Majesties courage would lead him to every thing, presently gave him advice of the arrival of the English, and his Majesty presently took horse and came the same night to the Camp. The strength of his Army, the Batteries which were built on the shores, and the good order which he observed both in his Land and Sea forces, banish'd all causes of fear from him, neither were his resolutions lesse fortified by the confidence which he

had in God, for whose glory he did fight, more then for the Interests of his own Kingdome, to whom he caused publick Prayers to be made for his blessing on this occasion. In short, as he was not ignorant that the presence of an enemy, ob∣ligeth him who commands to be the more vigilant, he sent to discover the enemies Fleet at a nearer distance within Musket shot, then lying in the road of the Chef de Bay; he likewise called a Councel of War, where he resolved upon the following order for his own Fleet: He commanded that upon the first motion of the enemy no Vessel should weigh Anchor untill they were neer at hand, and that then they should board them before they came neer the Bank. That no Vessel should re∣leeve his Companion being ingaged with the enemy, that in case any Vessel were in pursuit of an enemy, and should fall foul upon one of his own party, not yet pro∣vided, then the first vessel should cast Anchor to the end to stay the enemy, that both might fall upon him; that if any vessel were fired the Shallops should present∣ly come to assist, and that in case she were grappled with a Fire-ship, they should remove the Wedges from the Cannons that they might shoot over: That in such case too, they should knock out the ends of their Barrels of Power, and pour in some Buckets of Water: That they should not make ready any greater number of vessels then the enemy should bring in between the two points: That the ships should every day send their Boats to watch before the Fleet, and that their chief care should be to prevent the enemies Fire-ships, by surprising their Shallops in case they had any, or by casting an harping Iron whereby to draw them off from the vessels: That for the more readinesse every vessel should have a grappling hook in the stern, and that when-ever the enemy should hoise sail, they should have their long boats armed, and ready to advance with assistance against any fire, where it should happen. This order was resolved on by the King, assisted with his Gene∣rals and Sea Captains, and so delivered to the Commander of Valencay Vice-Ad∣miral, who distributed it amongst the Officers. Lastly, his Majesty took a review of all his Quarters and Batteries, to see if all were in condition to fight and repel the enemy, when-ever they should appear.