being an Eye-Witness of his Lordship's Actions; and
consequently made him capable of setting them forth in these his
Memoirs._

_It may not be perhaps improper to mention that the Author of these
Memoirs was born at Ewelme in Oxfordshire, descended from an ancient and
an honourable Family. The Lord Dudley Carleton, who died Secretary of
State to King Charles I. was his Great Uncle; and in_ _the same Reign
his Father was Envoy at the Court of Madrid, whilst his Uncle, Sir
Dudley Carleton, was Embassador to the States of Holland, Men in those
Days respected both for their Abilities and Loyalty._

MEMOIRS

OF AN

_English Officer, &c._

In the year one Thousand six Hundred 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, enter'd my self a Voluntier on board the _London_, commanded by
Sir _Edward Sprage_, Vice-Admiral of the _Red_.

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.
_Hellen's Road_, under the Command of the _Count de Estree_. 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_ seem'd
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
render'd very disadvantageous; it was resolv'd in a Council of War to
avoid coming to a Battle for the present, and to sail direftly 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