But so soon as Frobisher, who was the hero of the day, had extricated himself from his difficulty, the Lord-Admiral—­having no intention of risking the existence of his fleet, and with it perhaps of the English crown, upon the hazard of a single battle, and having been himself somewhat damaged in the fight—­gave the signal for retreat, and caused the Ark-Royal to be towed out of action.  Thus the Spaniards were frustrated of their hopes, and the English; having inflicted much. punishment at comparatively small loss to themselves, again stood off to windward; and the Armada continued its indolent course along the cliffs of Freshwater and Blackgang.

On Friday; 5th August, the English, having received men and munitions from shore, pursued their antagonists at a moderate distance; and the Lord-Admiral; profiting by the pause—­for, it was almost a flat calm—­sent for Martin Frobisher, John Hawkins, Roger Townsend, Lord Thomas Howard, son of the Duke of Norfolk, and Lord Edmund Sheffield; and on the deck of the Royal Ark conferred the honour of knighthood on each for his gallantry in the action of the previous day.  Medina Sidonia, on his part, was again despatching messenger after messenger to the Duke of Parma, asking for small shot, pilots, and forty fly-boats, with which to pursue the teasing English clippers.  The Catholic Armada, he said, being so large and heavy, was quite in the power of its adversaries, who could assault, retreat, fight, or leave off fighting, while he had nothing for it but to proceed, as expeditiously as might be; to his rendezvous in Calais roads.

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     Inquisitors enough; but there were no light vessels in The Armada

HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS

From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year’s Truce—­1609

By John Lothrop Motley

History United Netherlands, Volume 58, 1588

Both Fleets off Calais—­A Night of Anxiety—­Project of Howard and Winter—­Impatience of the Spaniards—­Fire-Ships sent against the Armada—­A great Galeasse disabled—­Attacked and captured by English Boats—­General Engagement of both Fleets—­Loss of several Spanish Ships—­Armada flies, followed by the English—­English insufficiently provided—­Are obliged to relinquish the Chase—­A great Storm disperses the Armada—­Great Energy of Parma Made fruitless by Philip’s Dulness—­England readier at Sea than on Shore—­The Lieutenant—­General’s Complaints—­His Quarrels with Norris and Williams—­Harsh Statements as to the English Troops—­Want of Organization in England—­Royal Parsimony and Delay—­Quarrels of English Admirals—­England’s narrow Escape from great Peril—­Various Rumours as to the Armada’s Fate—­Philip for a long Time in Doubt—­He believes himself victorious—­Is tranquil when undeceived.

CHAPTER XIX.  Part 2.