He says three things must be remedied, or
else we shall be undone by this fleet. 1. That we must fight in
a line, whereas we fight promiscuously, to our utter and
demonstrable ruine: the Dutch fighting otherwise; and we,
whenever we beat them,--2. We must not desert ships of our own in
distress, as we did, for that makes a captain desperate, and he
will fling away his ship, when there are no hopes left him of
succour.--3. That ships when they are a little shattered, must
not take the liberty to come in of themselves, but refit
themselves the best they can, and stay out--many of our ships
coming in with very small disableness. He told me that our very
commanders, nay, our very flag-officers, do stand in need of
exercising among themselves, and discoursing the business of
commanding a fleet: he telling me that even one of our flag-men
in the fleet, did not know which tacke lost the wind, or kept it,
in the last engagement. He says it was pure dismaying and fear
that made them all run upon the Galloper, not having their wits
about them: and that it was a miracle they were not all lost.
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