Gardiner, the captain, “took the liberty of offering the opinion” that, if sail were increased instead of reduced, the ships concerned would take the hint, that they would all be sooner alongside the enemy, and probably receive less damage in going down.  It was a question of example.  The admiral replied, “You see that the signal for the line is out, and I am ahead of those two ships; and you would not have me, as admiral of the fleet, run down as if I was going to engage a single ship.  It was Mr. Mathews’s misfortune to be prejudiced by not carrying his force down together, which I shall endeavor to avoid.”  Gardiner again “took the liberty” of saying he would answer for one of the two captains doing his duty.  The incident, up to the ship gathering way again, occupied less than ten minutes; but with the van going down headlong—­as it ought—­one ceases to wonder at the impression on the public produced by one who preferred lagging for laggards to hastening to support the forward, and that the populace suspected something worse than pedantry in such reasoning at such a moment.  When way was resumed, it was again under the very leisurely canvas of topsails and foresail.

By this had occurred the incident of the Intrepid losing her foretopmast.  It was an ordinary casualty of battle, and one to be expected; but to such a temper as Byng’s, and under the cast-iron regulations of the Instructions, it entailed consequences fatal to success in the action,—­if success were ever attainable under such a method,—­and was ultimately fatal to the admiral himself.  The wreck of the fallen mast was cleared, and the foresail set to maintain speed, but, despite all, the Intrepid dropped astern in the line.  Cornwall in the Revenge was taking his place at the moment, and fearing that the Intrepid would come back upon him, if in her wake, he brought up first a little to windward, on her quarter; then, thinking that she was holding her way, he bore up again.  At this particular instant he looked behind, and saw the admiral and other ships a considerable distance astern and to windward; much Lestock’s position in Mathews’s action.  This was the stoppage already mentioned, to wait for the two other ships.  Had Cornwall been Burrish, he might in this have seen occasion for waiting himself; but he saw rather the need of the crippled ship.  The Revenge took position on the Intrepid’s lee quarter, to support her against the enemy’s fire, concentrated on her when her mast was seen to fall.  As her way slackened, the Revenge approached her, and about fifteen minutes later the ship following, the Princess Louisa,—­one of those for which Byng had waited,—­loomed up close behind Cornwall, who expected her to run him on board, her braces being shot away.  She managed, however, with the helm to back her sails, and dropped clear; but in so doing got in the way of the vessel next after her, the Trident, which immediately preceded Byng.  The captain of the Trident, slanting down with the rest of the division, saw the situation, put his helm up, ran under the stern of the Louisa, passed on her lee side,—­nearest the enemy,—­and ranged up behind the Revenge; but in doing this he not only crossed the stern of the Louisa, but the bow of the admiral’s ship—­the Ramillies.