332 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



should demean yourself. ... To all this he told me that he 

 had often pressed his Majesty to declare his resolution, but 

 never could get any." Smith privately advised Pennington to 

 make a show of assisting the Spaniards if there was a fight, 

 but not to run himself or the king's ships into danger where 

 there was no hope of victory and "the only expectation was 

 hard blows and hazard." l 



Desperate efforts were hurriedly made to strengthen the 

 English fleet. Ten additional ships were being got ready, and 

 Northumberland intended to take command himself as soon 

 as they reached the Downs, but of the 3000 men which the 

 Admiralty were "labouring" to procure for them, only 300 

 could be obtained ; they did not join Pennington till some days 

 after the battle. Pennington had been ordered to press into 

 his service all English ships he could lay his hands on, and 

 to employ them " in any warlike manner against any that 

 shall presume to affront his Majesty, or derogate from his 

 sovereignty in these parts." 2 Ten vessels were thus pressed ; 

 but it was impossible to find seamen to man them properly, 

 and by command of the king some of them were dispensed 

 with. In presence of the powerful States' fleet, to say nothing 

 of the Spaniards, Pennington's instructions to the masters of 

 the merchantmen must have sounded somewhat ironical. If 

 either of the "great fleets," he said, should presume to attempt 

 anything in the King's Chambers "contrary to the laws and 

 customs of nations and to the dishonour of our king and 

 kingdom, you are to fall upon the assailants, and to do your 

 best to take, sink, or destroy them." Moreover, if any ships 

 of the hostile fleets assembled, " or any others that may come," 

 should put out a flag, they were to cause them to be taken in ; 

 if refused, they were to do their best to sink the offending 

 ship. 3 The " any others " meant the French, who were expected 

 daily in the Downs, and whose arrival there was regarded with 

 apprehension. The general opinion was that they would re- 

 fuse to strike when they came, and, in that event, what would 

 happen ? " That," said Smith, " will set us all in combustion, 



1 Smith to Pennington, 30th Sept. State Papers, Dom. , ccccxxix. 70. 



2 Northumberland to Pennington, 16th September. Ibid., ccccxxviii. 92. 



3 Pennington to the Master of the Luke, of London, 23rd Sept. Ibid., 

 ccccxxix. 15. 



