and fell. "And fight they did
confusedly, and with variable fortunes; while, on the one hand, the
English manfully rescued the ships of London, which were hemmed in
by the Spaniards; and, on the other side, the Spaniards as stoutly
delivered Recalde being in danger." "Never was heard such thundering of
ordnance on both sides, which notwithstanding from the Spaniards
flew for the most part over the English without harm. Only Cock, an
Englishman" (whom Prince claims, I hope rightfully, as a worthy of
Devon), "died with honor in the midst of the enemies in a small ship of
his. For the English ships, being far the lesser, charged the enemy with
marvellous agility; and having discharged their broadsides, flew forth
presently into the deep, and levelled their shot directly, without
missing, at those great and unwieldy Spanish ships." "This was the most
furious and bloody skirmish of all" (though ending only, it seems, in
the capture of a great Venetian and some small craft), "in which the
lord admiral fighting amidst his enemies' fleet, and seeing one of his
captains afar off (Fenner by name, he who fought the seven Portugals at
the Azores), cried, 'O George, what doest thou? Wilt thou now frustrate
my hope and opinion conceived of thee? Wilt thou forsake me now?' With
which words he being enflamed, approached, and did the part of a most
valiant captain;" as, indeed, did all the rest.

Night falls upon the floating volcano; and morning finds them far past
Purbeck, with the white peak of Freshwater ahead; and pouring out past
the Needles, ship after ship, to join the gallant chase. For now from
all havens, in vessels fitted out at their own expense, flock the
chivalry of England; the Lords Oxford, Northumberland, and Cumberland,
Pallavicin, Brooke, Carew, Raleigh, and Blunt, and many another
honorable name, "as to a set field, where immortal fame and honor was to
be attained." Spain has staked her chivalry in that mighty cast; not a
noble house of Arragon or Castile but has lent a brother or a son--and
shall mourn the loss of one: and England's gentlemen will measure their
strength once for all against the Cavaliers of Spain. Lord Howard has
sent forward light craft into Portsmouth for ammunition: but they will
scarce return to-night, for the wind falls dead, and all the evening the
two fleets drift helpless with the tide, and shout idle defiance at each
other with trumpet, fife, and drum.

The sun goes down upon a glassy se