4 i8 OF EMINENT MEN, 



Queen Elizabeth, 1569, being then the Lord Warden of the Middle 

 Marches (h). 



To thefe military, let me add thofe brave naval commanders, Sir 

 and George Delaval, and Sir Chaloner Ogle. 



Sir Ralph as a branch of the houfe Delaval, claims a place 

 here. He was named after his father, to whofe houfe General 

 Lejley retired by leave from Cromwell, after the fatal battle of 

 Worcejler. He entered very young into the navy, and at the revo- 

 lution was captain of the Tork, a third rate man of war. King 

 William, from the great opinion he had of his merit, conferred 

 upon him the honour of knighthood, and made him rear-admi- 

 ral of the blue, and afterwards vice-admiral of the red, and, as 

 fuch, had a fignal fhare in the glorious victory over the French 

 off Cape Barfleur, May i9th, 1692, fo admirably defcribed by him- 

 felf in the following letter to the Earl of Nottingham, from on 

 board the Royal Sovereign, near Cherbourgh, May asd, which is the 

 beft portrait of him, and mews him to have been both a noble 

 commander, a fine gentleman, and a good Chriftian. 



" I believe it my duty to acquaint you, that on the one and 

 " twentieth inftant r admiral Ruffel having made the fignal for the 

 " fleet to cut their cables, I obferved the French to be forced from 

 " the race of Alderney (where they anchored) to the eaflward ; 

 " and finding, that fome of them endeavoured for the bay of Cher- 

 " bourgh, I Hood in for that place, where I found three three- 

 " decked mips of the enemies, but fo clofe to the fhore, and within 

 " fome rocks, that it was not fafe for me to attempt them, till I 



('}) Hcl. Chron. vol. i. p. 361, 397. 



"had 



