One gentleman in the English fleet, named Dodington, occupied part of his time in writing a hasty despatch to the Privy Council:—
"Right Ho. Heare is a ffleete at this instant cominge in upon us, semid at north-west, by all likelywode it should be the enymy: hast makes me—I can write no more. I beseech your L. to pardon me, and so I referr all to your Ho. most depyst considerationes.
"Your Ho. most humble to comand
"ED. DODINGTON.
"ffrom the ffleete at Plymouth."
The covering address of this letter is curious; the little gallows expresses haste.
FOR HER MAties SPETIALL SERVISE
+------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| FOR HER MAties SPETIALL SERVISE |
| --------- |
| | | | To THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORDS OF |
| | o | HER MAts MOST HO. PREVY CUNSELL, |
| | | _hast post hast, for lyfe hast! for lyfe!_ |
| |
+------------------------------------------------------------+
When it was about three o'clock in the afternoon of the 20th, the English saw approaching them a huge fleet—ships with lofty turrets like castles, like a half-moon in front, the wings of which were spread out about the length of seven miles. They were coming on very slowly, though with full sails, for their blunt bows churned up the resisting wave.