THE LAST FIGHT OF THE REVENGE 7 a.d. 



i 591. 



Unto ours there remained no comfort at all, no hope, 

 no supply either of ships, men, or weapons ; the Mastes 

 all beaten over boord, all her tackle cut asunder, her 

 upper worke altogether rased, and in effect evened shee 

 was with the water, but the very foundation or bottome 

 of a ship, nothing being left over head either for flight 

 or defence. Sir Richard finding himselfe in this dis- 

 tresse, and unable any longer to make resistance, having 

 endured in this fifteene houres fight, the assault of 

 fifteene severall Armadas, all by turnes aboord him, and 

 by estimation eight hundred shotte of great Artillerie, 

 besides many assaults and entries ; and that himselfe 

 and the shippe must needes be possessed by the enemy, 

 who were now all cast in a ring round about him. 

 (The Revenge not able to moove one way or other, 

 but as she was moved with the waves and billow of 

 the sea) commaunded the Master gunner, whom hee 

 knew to be a most resolute man, to split and sinke 

 the shippe ; that thereby nothing might remaine of glory 

 or victory to the Spaniards : seeing in so many houres 

 fight, and with so great a Navie they were not able 

 to take her, having had fifteene houres time, above 

 ten thousand men, & fiftie and three saile of men of The Spanish 

 warre to performe it withall : and perswaded the com- 53 sa *b- 

 pany, or as many as hee could induce, to yeelde them- 

 selves unto God, and to the mercie of none else ; but 

 as they had, like valiant resolute men, repulsed so many 

 enemies, they should not nowe shorten the honour of 

 their Nation, by prolonging their owne lives for a few 

 houres, or a fewe dayes. The Master gunner readily 

 condescended and divers others ; but the Captaine and 

 the Master were of another opinion, and besought Sir 

 Richard to have care of them : alleaging that the 

 Spaniard would be as ready to entertaine a composition, 

 as they were willing to offer the same: and that there 

 being divers sufficient and valiant men yet living, and 

 whose wounds were not mortal, they might do their 

 Countrey and prince acceptable service hereafter. And 



45 



