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 galleasses, and many ships of great burthen. At nine of the clock we gave them fight, which continued until one. In this fight we made some of them to bear room to stop their leaks; notwithstanding we durst not adventure to put in among them, their fleet being so strong. ... The captains in her Majesty's ships have behaved themselves most bravely and like men. ... For the love of God and our country let us have with some speed some great shot sent us of all bigness[es]: for this service will continue long: and some powder with it."

Drake, by Howard's orders, at once wrote to Seymour and Wynter, who were detached to the eastward, to apprise them of what had occurred, and to warn them to be in readiness for the enemy when he should reach their neighbourhood. Writing on the 22nd, apparently to the Earl of Sussex, Howard urgently asked for reinforcements, and added in a postscript: "The ships you send shall find me east-north-east, following the Spanish fleet. Since the making up of my letter there is a galleass of the enemy's taken with 450 men in her; and yesterday I spoiled one of their greatest ships, that they were fain to forsake her."

A SHIP OF THE ARMADA, 1588. (From the House of Lords' Tapestries.)

An account of this first action of July 21st, is thus given in "A Relation of Proceedings," the document already mentioned as having been drawn up under Howard's direction: —

"The next morning, being Sunday, the 21st of July, 1588, all the English ships that were then come out of Plymouth had recovered the wind of the Spaniards two leagues to the westward of Eddystone; and about 9 of the clock in the morning the Lord Admiral sent his pinnace, named the Disdain, to give the Duke of Medina defiance, and afterwards in the Ark bare up with the admiral of the Spaniards wherein the duke was supposed to be, and fought with her until she was rescued by