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1692.

with great courage. The battle soon became gc- BOOK I. neral, and lasted from ten in the morning till four in the afternoon, when a thick fog arose, and for a time separated the combatants. The sun at length breaking out afresh, admiral Russel perceived the French towing away in great disorder. The signal for a general chase was then made, which continued during the remainder of the evening, and the whole of the night, to the westward-supposing they would make for the harbour of Brest. The next morning, thirty-four of the enemy's ships were seen crowding all their sail, and steering westerly. The pursuit continued with redoubled vigour, without regarding the order of battle, every ship making the best of her way. On the morning of the 22d, part of the French fleet was descried near the Race of Alderney, some at anchor, and some driving to the eastward with the tide of flood. The Soleil Royal, having lost her masts, ran ashore, together with the Admirable, another first-rate, and the Conquerant of 80 guns, near Cherbourg, where they were followed and burnt by sir Ralph Delaval. Eighteen other ships of the enemy's line stood for La Hogue; and, being unable longer to keep the sea or elude the pursuit, as a last resource, stranded themselves as far as possible on the beach. Vice-admiral Rooke immediately ordered the boats and fireships of his squadron,

1692.

under cover of several frigates, to attack them. Of this extraordinary scene the troops destined for the invasion of Great Britain, and encamped at La Hogue, the late king himself, the maréchal de Bellefonds, the count de Tourville, &c., in common with many thousands of the people inhabiting the surrounding country, were the amazed spectators. The ships were protected on one side by cannon planted on platforms; and on the other by shallops, manned by numerous crews with all the means of annoyance. Regardless of danger, the British sailors rent the air with shouts; they crowded to the boats with an emulation of eagerness; and no sooner had they reached the ships, than they attacked them in swarms. Scarcely was there an interval between their rising from below, and their appearing masters above; which was immediately proclaimed by their turning the guns upon the enemy: and all opposition being thus disarmed, they proceeded to burn the ships amidst acclamations of triumph; and, having accomplished their design, returned unmolested to the fleet. Thirteen capital ships were thus destroyed, from 84 to 60 guns each, besides transports and store-ships. During the conflict James repeatedly exclaimed with involuntary admiration, "See my brave English "-conscious, nevertheless, that he was viewing the extinction of his hopes. Sir John

the abdi

narch.

Ashby, and admiral Allemond the Dutch com- `BOOK II mander, pursued the remainder of the French 1692. fleet, which escaped with great difficulty through the Race of Alderney. The loss of the English and Dutch was altogether trifling. The only flagofficer killed was rear admiral Carter, who fell in the first day's engagement, leaving orders with his captain, almost at his latest breath, to fight the ship as long as she could swim. At the close of the action, James returned in mournful silence to the convent of La Trappe, there to bury in so- Despair of litude and despair the remembrance of his former cated mogreatness. "He now began," as he expresses himself in his Memoirs, "to perceive that Providence meant to lead him through paths of affliction to his grave." From the bosom of his retreat he addressed a letter to the king of France, acknowledging that "this last disaster had entirely overwhelmed him--that he knew too well it was his own unlucky star which had drawn this misfortune upon his forces, always victorious but when they fought for his interests. He therefore entreated his Most Christian Majesty no longer to regard as an object of his concern a monarch so unfortunate as himself-but permit him to retire with his family to some corner of the world, where he might cease to obstruct the usual course of his Most Christian Majesty's prosperity and conquests." Louis endeavoured to alleviate his af

1

BOOK II.

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fliction by a kind answer, in which he generously promised never to forsake him in the worst of his extremities.

Queen Mary was no sooner informed of the glorious victory gained at La Hogue, than she sent 30,000l. to Portsmouth, to be distributed amongst the sailors. She caused medals to be struck in honour of the victory, and as tokens to the officers; and ordered the bodies of admiral Carter and captain Hastings, killed in the battle, to be interred with great funeral pomp. A descent upon the coast of France was also projected, and the troops actually embarked on board the transports; but this scheme was, to the disappointment of the public, ultimately laid aside, and the regiments destined for the service sent to join the army in Flanders.

WILLIAM was received on his return from abroad with very great acclamation, notwithstanding the ill success of the continental campaign: the minds of the people being impressed with the idea of the naval victory, and their consequent deliverance from a French invasion; and their admiration excited by the heroism of the king's character, no less than their indignation at the Session of atrocious conspiracy against his life. On the 4th of November (1692) the parliament met, and were addressed by the king in a very popular speech. "I am sure," said this great monarch

Parliament.

in conclusion," I can have no interest but what is yours we have the same religion to defend, and you cannot be more concerned for the preservation of your liberties and properties, than I am that you should always remain in the full possession and enjoyment of them." At a very early period after the commencement of the session, the earls of Huntingdon, Scarsdale, and Marlborough, who had been committed in May last prisoners to the Tower, where they had lain during some weeks, complained to the house of peers, that, on appearing before the judges of the King's Bench at the Michaelmas term preceding, the court had refused to discharge thei from their bail, or to bring them to trial, conformably to the provisions of the habeas-corpus act. On this great debates ensued; and the house came to a resolution," that no peer shall be remanded to prison by the King's Bench upon his appearing before them by virtue of the habeas-corpus act, after having entered his prayer to be tried as the said act directs, or kept under bail, unless there be against him two witnesses upon oath, or in a capacity to be sworn." A day being appointed to consider in what manner to discharge the lords under bail for their recognizance, the house was informed, that the king had given orders for their releasement.

The earl of Marlborough had been committed

BOOK IL

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