No doubt he was a stubborn man--he meant to do what he thought right, and also what he thought within his power to accomplish. He did not foresee the accident which rendered his ship helpless, for boldly he sailed right into the crowd of Spanish galleys; the foremost of them "sprang their luff" and fell under his lee. As he sailed in and out, exchanging broadsides and avoiding collisions, "the great _San Felipe_, being in the wind of him and coming towards him, becalmed his sails in such sort that the ship could neither make way nor feel the helm; so huge and high-carged was the Spanish ship, being of 1500 tons." This it was that prevented him from forcing his way through the Armada. Raleigh says, no doubt the other course--sailing away from the foe--had been the better: "Notwithstanding, out of the greatness of his mind, he could not be persuaded." So the _San Felipe_ and some others closed upon the unmoving _Revenge_; she could not stir upon the water, being becalmed. Amongst others that lay close to board her was the admiral of the Biscayans, a very large and strong ship; she carried three tier of guns on a side, and eleven pieces in every tier. She shot eight forth right out of her chase, besides those of her stern ports. While the _Revenge_ was entangled with this ship, four other vessels tried to board her, two on her larboard, and two on her starboard side. The fight began at three in the afternoon and it did not end till dawn next morning, Grenville and his men fighting as Englishmen have seldom fought before or since. The great _San Felipe_ received the lower tier of the _Revenge_, discharged with cross-bar shot into her bowels. She soon shifted herself from the _Revenge_ with all diligence, "utterly misliking her first entertainment." The Spanish ships were filled with soldiers, from two hundred in the smaller to eight hundred in the largest; in the _Revenge_ there were only mariners, a few servants of the officers, and some gentlemen volunteers. Ever and again attempts were made to board the _Revenge_, but always the Spaniards were beaten back in their own ships with yell and blow. At first the _George Noble_ of London stayed close by under the lee of the _Revenge_, having some shot through her. Her captain asked Sir Richard what orders he had for him, being but one of the victuallers and of small force: "Go, save thyself and thy crew, friend; leave me, I pray thee, to my fortune." As the fight went on hour after hour, ever one ship coming on and going away hurt, while two others were ready to take its place, many of the crew of the _Revenge_ were slain or hurt, and towards nightfall one of the great galleons of the Armada and the admiral of the hulks were both sunk, while the decks of other vessels were crowded with groaning wounded.