Four or five of the largest ships became entangled with each other.

Two others were set on fire by the flaming--vessels, and were consumed.

Medina Sidonia, who had been warned, even, before his departure from Spain, that some such artifice would probably be attempted, and who had even, early that morning, sent out a party of sailors in a pinnace to search for indications of the scheme, was not surprised or dismayed.

He gave orders--as well as might be that every ship, after the danger should be passed, was to return to its post, and, await his further orders.

But it was useless, in that moment of unreasonable panic to issue commands.