to do. The Spanish fleet were by this time on his
weather bow, and he was persuaded (we here take his cousin Raleigh's
beautiful narrative, and follow it in Raleigh's words) 'to cut his
mainsail and cast about, and trust to the sailing of the ship:'--

But Sir Richard utterly refused to turn from the enemy, alledging
that he would rather choose to die than to dishonour himself, his
country, and her Majesty's ship, persuading his company that he
would pass through their two squadrons in spite of them, and enforce
those of Seville to give him way: which he performed upon diverse of
the foremost, who, as the mariners term it, sprang their luff, and
fell under the lee of the 'Revenge.' But the other course had been
the better; and might right well have been answered in so great an
impossibility of prevailing: notwithstanding, out of the greatness
of his mind, he could not be persuaded.

The wind was light; the 'San Philip,' 'a huge high-carged ship' of 1,500
tons, came up to windward of him, and, taking the wind out of his sails,
ran aboard him.

After the 'Revenge' was entangled with the 'San Philip,' four others
boarded her, two on her larboard and two on her starboard. The fight
thus beginning at three o'clock in the afternoon continued very
terrible all that evening. But the great 'San Philip,' having
received the lower tier of the 'Revenge,' shifted herself with all
diligence from her sides, utterly misliking her first entertainment.
The Spanish ships were tilled with soldiers, in some 200, besides
the mariners, in some 500, in others 800. In ours there were none at
all, besides the mariners, but the servants of the commander and
some few voluntary gentlemen only. After many enterchanged vollies
of great ordnance and small shot, the Spaniards deliberated to enter
the 'Revenge,' and made divers attempts, hoping to force her by the
multitude of their armed soldiers and musketeers; but were still
repulsed again and again, and at all times beaten back into their
own ship or into the sea. In the beginning of the fight the 'George
Noble,' of London, having received some shot through her by the
Armadas, fell under the lee of the 'Revenge,' and asked Sir Richard
what he would command him; but being one of the victuallers, and of
small force, Sir Richard bade him save himself and leave him to his
fortune.