THOMAS BABINGTON MACAUI.AY 209 



Steered first towards the north-east, came in sight 

 of the coast of Dorsetshire, and then struck across 

 the Channel towards La Hogue, where the army 

 which he was to convoy to England had already 

 begun to embark on board of the transports. He 

 was within a few leagues of Barfleur when, before 

 sunrise on the morning of the nineteenth of May, 

 he saw the great armament of the allies stretching 

 along the eastern horizon. He determined to 

 bear down on them. By eight the two lines of 

 battle were formed ; but it was eleven before the 

 firing began. It soon became plain that the 

 English, from the Admiral downwards, were re- 

 solved to do their duty. Russell had visited all 

 his ships, and exhorted all his crews. "If your 

 commanders play false," he said, " overboard with 

 them, and with myself the first." There was no 

 defection. There was no slackness. Carter was 

 the first who broke the French line. He was 

 struck by a splinter of one of his own yardarms, 

 and fell dying on the deck. He would not be 

 carried below. He would not let go his sword. 

 " Fight the ship," were his last words : " fight the 

 ship as long as she can swim." The battle lasted 

 till four in the afternoon. The roar of the guns 

 was distinctly heard more than twenty miles off by 

 the army which was encamped on the coast of 

 Normandy. During the earlier part of the day 

 the wind was favourable to the French : they were 

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