"Now, forasmuch as our powder and shot was well wasted, the lord admiral thought it was not good in policy to assail them any more until their coming near unto Dover, where he should find the army[1] which he had left under the conduction of the Lord Henry Seymour, and Sir William Wynter, knight, ready to join with his lordship, whereby our fleet should be much strengthened; and, in the meantime, better store of ammunition might be provided from the shore.
"On Friday, being the 26th of July, 1588, his lordship, as well in reward of their good services in these former fights, as also for the encouragement of the rest, called the Lord Thomas Howard, the Lord Sheffield, Sir Roger Townshend, Sir Martin Frobiser, and Sir John Hawkyns,[2] and gave them all the order of knighthood aboard the Ark. All this day, and Saturday, being the 27th of July, the Spaniards went always before the English army like sheep, during which time the justices of peace near the sea-coast, the Earl of Sussex, Sir George Carey, and the captains of the forts and castles along the coast, sent us men, powder, shot, victuals and ships to aid and assist us."
The Spanish version of the same events, as given in Medina Sidonia's relation,[3] runs: —
"On Thursday [July 25th], the Feast of St. Dominic, the Santa Ana and a Portuguese galleon[4] were somewhat astern, and the enemy attacked them with great fury. The galleasses, the vessel of Don Alonso de Leyva, and other ships went to their assistance; and the galleasses did so well that they succeeded in rescuing them, although surrounded by many of the enemy. While this fight was in progress in the rear, the enemy's admiral, with other large ships, attacked our flagship, approaching nearer than on the first day, and firing their large lower-deck guns.[5] They severed the flagship's mainstay and killed some soldiers. To the help of the flagship came the San Luis (in which was the camp-master Don Augustin Mexia, who checked the enemy), Juan Martinez de Recalde, and the San Juan of Diego Flores's squadron, in which was IDon Diego Enriquez, together with Oquenda. These ranged themselves for the protection of the flagship, though they were prevented by the currents from keeping together; and other ships did the same. Thereupon the enemy retired. His admiral,[6] being much damaged, drove a little to leeward of our fleet. Our flagship cast a boat towards her, as did Juan Martinez de Recalde, the San Juan de Sicilia, the flagship of the galleons of Castille, the Gran Grin, and all the other ships of our Armada; while the enemy's ships recovered the wind, and guarded their flagship, which was so mauled in the action that she struck her standard and fired guns as signals of distress, and was at length towed by eleven of the enemy's long boats. Our flagship, and the second in command, and the rest of the ships gained on her so much that the enemy drew close about her to support her, it appearing certain that we would that day succeed in boarding her, that being the only way to victory.[7] But at that moment the wind freshened in favour of the enemy's admiral, and she began to slip away from us,"[8]
↑Calderon also mentions a second vessel, though the English accounts say nothing about her.
↑It may be that the weather had previously prevented them from using these, the lower-deck ports of those days being but little raised above the water.
↑Clearly not the Ark, flagship of Howard, but the Triumph, flagship of Sir Martin Frobiser, commanding the fourth squadron.
