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men into destruction； but led them only to victory。 Soon a large Spaniard drifts by； deserted and partly burnt。 Some of the men are for leaving their place to board her； but Amyas stoutly refuses。 He has 〃come out to fight； and not to plunder； so let the nearest ship to her have her luck without grudging。〃 They pass on； and the men pull long faces when they see the galleon snapped up by their next neighbor； and towed off to Weymouth； where she proves to be the ship of Miguel d'Oquenda； the vice…admiral； which they saw last night； all but blown up by some desperate Netherland gunner； who； being 〃misused；〃 was minded to pay off old scores on his tyrants。
And so ends the second day； while the Portland rises higher and clearer every hour。 The next morning finds them off the island。 Will they try Portsmouth； though they have spared Plymouth？ The wind has shifted to the north； and blows clear and cool off the white…walled downs of Weymouth Bay。 The Spaniards turn and face the English。 They must mean to stand off and on until the wind shall change； and then to try for the Needles。 At least； they shall have some work to do before they round Purbeck Isle。
The English go to the westward again： but it is only to return on the opposite tack； and now begin a series of manoeuvres； each fleet trying to get the wind of the other； but the struggle does not last long； and ere noon the English fleet have slipped close…hauled between the Armada and the land； and are coming down upon them right before the wind。
And now begins a fight most fierce 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 sonand 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 sea； and rises on a glassy sea again。 But what day is this？ The twenty…fifth； St。 James's…day； sacred to the patron saint of Spain。 Shall nothing be attempted in his honor by those whose forefathers have so often seen him with their bodily eyes； charging in their van upon his snow…white steed； and scattering Paynims with celestial lance？ He might have sent them； certainly； a favoring breeze； perhaps； he only means to try their faith； at least the galleys shall attack； and in their van three of the great galliasses （the fourth lies half…crippled among the fleet） thrash the sea to foam with three hundred oars apiece； and see； not St。 James leading them to victory； but Lord Howard's Triumph； his brother's Lion； Southwell's Elizabeth Jonas； Lord Sheffield's Bear； Barker's Victory； and George Fenner's Leicester； towed stoutly out； to meet them with such salvoes of chain…shot； smashing oars； and cutting rigging； that had not the wind sprung up again toward noon； and the Spanish fleet come up to rescue them； they had shared the fate of Valdez and the Biscayan。 And now the fight becomes general。 Frobisher beats down the Spanish admiral's mainmast； and； attacked himself by Mexia and Recalde； is rescued by Lord Howard； who； himself endangered in his turn； is rescued in his turn； 〃while after that day〃 （so sickened were they of the English gunnery） 〃no galliasse would adventure to fight。〃
And so； with variable fortune； the fight thunders on the livelong afternoon； beneath the virgin cliffs of Freshwater； while myriad sea…fowl rise screaming up from every ledge； and spot with their black wings the snow…white wall of chalk； and the lone shepherd hurries down the slopes above to peer over the dizzy edge； and forgets the wheatear fluttering in his snare； while he gazes trembling upon glimpses of tall masts and gorgeous flags； piercing at times the league…broad veil of sulphur…smoke which welters far below。
So fares St。 James's…day； as Baal's did on Carmel in old time； 〃Either he is talking； or he is pursuing； or he is on a journey； or peradventure he sleepeth； and must be awaked。〃 At least； the only fire by which he has answered his votaries； has been that of English cannon： and the Armada； 〃gathering itself into a roundel；〃 will fight no more； but make the best of its way to Calais； where perhaps the Guises' faction may have a French force ready to assist them； and then to Dunkirk； to join with Parma and the great flotilla of the Netherlands。
So on； before 〃a fair Etesian gale；〃 which follows clear and bright out of the south…southwest； glide forward the two great fleets； past Brighton Cliffs and Beachy Head； Hastings and Dungeness。 Is it a battle or a triumph？ For by sea Lord Howard； instead of fighting is rewarding； and after Lord Thomas Howard； Lord Sheffield； Townsend； and Frobisher have received at his hands that knighthood； which was then more honorable than a peerage； old Admiral Hawkins kneels and rises up Sir John； and shaking his shoulders after the accolade； observes to the representative of majesty； that his 〃old woman will hardly know herself again； when folks call her My Lady。〃
And meanwhile the cliffs are lined with pike…men and musketeers； and by e