_July_ 22. This whole Day the _Spanish_ Admiral spent in disposing his Fleet in the best Order he could think of. [65]He commanded _Alphonso de Leva_ to bring the first and the last Squadron together; and assigning every particular Ship its proper Station in Battle, according to the Plan agreed on in _Spain_, enjoined their respective Commanders to keep the same on Pain of Death. He also dispatch’d _Glich_, an Ensign, to the Prince of _Parma_, to advise him of his near Approach, and inform him of the State of the Navy. In the mean time, the forementioned Ship of _Oquendo_ having been much damaged by the Fire, the _Spanish_ Admiral ordered, after the Officers, Men, and Money were removed into another Vessel, [Sidenote: PLATE 5.]that she should be abandoned, and set adrift[66]. Whereupon, the Lord High-Admiral sent the Lord _Thomas Howard_, and Captain _Hawkins_ in a small Skiff on board her, who found her in a very pitiful Condition. Her Decks were fallen in, the Steerage broken, the Stern blown out, and about fifty poor Creatures burnt with Powder in a most miserable manner. The Stench, as well as the horrible Spectacle, soon made them return to the Lord-Admiral; who ordered the Bark _Fleming_ to conduct her into some Port, and accordingly she was brought the next Day into _Weymouth_. The Night following prov’d very calm; during which, the four Galleasses of _Naples_ singling themselves from the rest of the Enemy’s Fleet, gave Reason to suspect that they had a Design to distress some of the small _English_ Vessels, which were short of the Fleet; but their Courage failing them, they attempted nothing. On the 23d the Wind turning to the North-East, the _Spaniards_ took the Advantage of it; and when they came over against _Portland_, tacked about upon the _English_, who presently tacked likewise, and stood in to the North-West, towards the Shore, as did the _Spaniards_ also. But that Course not being good for the _English_ to recover the Wind of the _Spaniards_, the former cast about to the Eastward. And, after several Attempts on both Sides to get the Weather-gage, the _Spaniards_ offering to board the _English_, a smart Engagement began, which was managed with Confusion enough, and with Variety of Success. The Enemy seeing several of the _English_ Ships waited their coming, particularly the _Ark_, the _Nonpareil_, the _Elizabeth-Jonas_, the _Victory_, _&c._ they fell a stern the _Nonpareil_, which was the hindmost Ship; and in the mean time, the _Triumph_, with the _Merchant-Royal_, the _Centurion_, the _Margaret_ and _John_, the _Mary-Rose_, and the _Golden-Lion_, were so far to the Leeward, and at such a Distance from the rest of the Fleet, that the Galleasses took Courage, and bearing down upon them, attacked them very vigorously; but they gave them a warm Reception for an Hour and a half, ’till some of her Majesty’s Ships came to their Relief.