The narrative of this fight, published by authority, has this passage. "It is certain, that they must every where have suffered a much greater loss of men than we, from the difference in our manner of fighting; for they, shooting high, and at a great distance, damaged us most in our rigging; and we, on the other hand, forbearing to shoot but when we came near, and then levelling most at the hulls, must needs have done more execution upon their men." The Dutch, on the other hand, did great damage to the rigging of the British squadron by the use of chain-shot, then a new invention: Ruyter no less with virtuous fury burns, And prodigies for miracles returns; Yet he observed how still his iron balls Recoiled in vain against our oaken walls; How the hard pellets fell away as dead, By our inchanted timber fillipped. Leave then, said he, the invulnerable keel; We'll find their feeble, like Achilles' heel. He, quickly taught, pours in continual clouds Of charmed dilemmas through our sinewed shrouds; Forests of masts fall with their rude embrace, Our stiff sails mashed and netted into lace, Till our whole navy lay their wanton mark, Nor any ship could sail but as the ark: Shot in the wing, so at the fowler's call, The disappointed bird doth fluttering fall. Yet Monk, disabled, still such valour shews, That none into his mortal gripe dare close; So some old bustard maimed, yet loth to yield, Duels the fowler in Newmarket field. _Instructions to a Painter, p. 2._ It is curious to observe how long this characteristic difference, betwixt the English mode of fighting and that of the seamen of all other nations, appears to have distinguished them. Note XVIII. _Heroes of old, when wounded, shelter sought: But he, who meets all danger with disdain, Even in their face his ship to anchor brought, And steeple-high stood propt upon the main._ St. 62. p. 115. The daring spirit of Monk was not more conspicuous at any period of his adventurous life than in this grand and desperate action. Mulgrave avers he saw him charge a pocket-pistol, with the desperate design of firing it into the powder-room, if he should be reduced to extremity. In the course of the action, a chain-shot took away part of his breeches, without disconcerting the steady countenance of the wearer.[206] Having made a sudden tack to avoid a sand bank, his ship carried away her top-mast, so that he was compelled to lie bye for two or three hours to repair that damage, in the face of the enemy. Note XIX. _Berkley alone, who nearest danger lay, Did a like fate with lost Creusa meet._--St. 67. p. 116.