out any regard to the
signal of battle. The French seeing the two ships stand to the
southward, and finding that they did not attack, immediately bore down
upon the admiral, and running between their disabled ship and him,
poured in all their shot, by which they brought down his main-topsail
yard, and shattered his rigging very much.

Some time after this, his line of battle signal flying all the while,
Captain Kirby came on board and told him that he had better desist, that
the French were very strong, and that from what was past, he would guess
he would make nothing of it. On this he sent for the rest of the
captains. They obeyed him, but were most of them of Captain Kirby's
opinion. This satisfied the admiral that they were not inclined to
fight; when, had they supported him, the whole French fleet might have
been captured. On this he returned with his squadron to Jamaica. As
soon as he arrived he ordered a court-martial on the captains who had
deserted him. One, Captain Hudson, died a few days before his trial
came on. Captains Kirby and Wade were condemned to death, and being
sent home, were shot immediately on their arrival at Plymouth, in 1703.

The gallant Benbow, in spite of the fearful wound he had received,
lingered till the 4th of November, when he yielded up his brave spirit,
feeling more the disgrace which his captains had brought upon the
English flag than his own sufferings. All the time of his illness he
continued to issue his orders, and showed more anxiety for the interests
of the nation than for his private affairs. He received a proof of what
would have been the result of the action had he been properly supported,
in a letter from the brave French Admiral Du Casse. "Sir,--I had little
hopes on Monday last but to have supped in your cabin, but it pleased
God to order it otherwise. I am thankful for it. As for those cowardly
captains who deserted you, hang them up, for by God they deserve it.--
Yours, Du Casse."

The opinion of the nautical poets of the time is well shown in one of
those sea-songs which have done so much to keep up the spirits of
British tars.

"The Death of Benbow."

Come all ye sailors bold,
Lend an ear, lend an ear,
Come all ye sailors bold, lend an ear;
'Tis of our Admiral's fame,
Brave Benbow called by name,
How he fought on the main,
You shall hear, you shall hear.

Brave Benbow he set sail,
For to fight, for to fight;
Brave Benbow