Thus the Fight continued from Morning till Night, being managed with great Bravery; but the _Spaniards_ Shot flew, for the most part, over the Heads of the _English_, without doing Execution[67]; the reason of which was, that the _English_ Ships being far less than the Enemy’s, made the Attack with more Quickness and Agility; and when they had given a Broad-Side, sheer’d off to a convenient Distance; and levell’d their Shot so directly at the larger and more unwieldy Ships of the _Spaniards_, as seldom to miss their Aim. Some advis’d the Lord-Admiral, with more Heat than Discretion, to grapple with and board them; but he thought it neither safe nor convenient; because the Enemy’s Fleet had a considerable Army on board, whereas ours had no such Advantage; besides their Ships far exceeded the _English_ in Number and Bulk, and were much stronger and higher built; insomuch that their Men having the Opportunity to ply the others from such lofty Decks, must inevitably have destroyed those that were obliged, as it were, to fight beneath them. And he foresaw likewise, that the Damage and Disgrace of a total Defeat would much outweigh the Advantage of a Victory, should he happen to obtain it; since, if he was vanquished, it would have much endangered the Safety of the whole Kingdom; but if he got the better, he could obtain no more than the naked Credit of putting a Fleet in Disorder, and baffling an Enemy.——In this Day’s Engagement, a great _Venetian_ Ship, with several other smaller ones were taken by the _English_[68]. On the 24th of _July_, there was but little done[69]; the Fight being only between four great Galleasses and some _English_ Vessels[70]. The _Spaniards_, upon this Occasion had great Advantage, since their Ships had Oars, and ours, by reason of a Calm, had no use of their Sails. However, the _English_ galled the Enemy very much with their Cannon and Chain-Shot; but at last, wanting Powder and other Necessaries to continue the Fight, the Lord Admiral sent some Vessels into the next Port for a Supply. In the mean time, a Council of War was held, wherein it was agreed, That the Fleet should be divided into four Squadrons, to be commanded, the first by the Lord Admiral himself in the _Ark-Royal_; the second by Sir _Francis Drake_ in the _Revenge_; the third by Captain _Hawkins_; and the fourth by Captain _Forbisher_. [71]This Afternoon, his Lordship gave order, that in the Night, six Merchant-Ships out of every Squadron (as being the lightest) should set upon the _Spanish_ Fleet in several Places at once; but it being calm all that Night, nothing could be done.