And further, he told us
that this new way used by Deane (and this Sir W. Coventry
observed several times) of preparing of fire-ships do not do the
work; for the fire not being strong and quick enough to flame up,
so as to take the rigging and sails, lies smothering a great
while, half an hour before it flames, in which time they can get
the fire-ship off safely, though (which is uncertain, and did
fail in one or two this bout) it do serve to burn our own ships.
But what a shame it is to consider how two of our ships'
companies did desert their ships for fear of being taken by their
boats, our little frigates being forced to leave them, being
chased by their greater! And one more company did set their ship
on fire, and leave her; which afterwards a Feversham fisherman
came up to, and put out the fire, and carried safe into
Feversham, where she now is. Which was observed by the Duke of
York, and all the company with him, that it was only want of
courage, and a general dismay and abjectness of spirit upon all
our men; and others did observe our ill management, and God
Almighty's curse upon all that we have in hand, for never such an
opportunity was of destroying so many good ships of theirs as we
now had.
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