Having followed the Spaniards till Friday, 12th of August, as far as the latitude of 56d.

17' the Lord Admiral called a council.

It was then decided, in order to save English lives and ships, to put into the Firth of Forth for water and provisions, leaving two "pinnaces to dog, the fleet until it should be past the Isles of Scotland." But the next day, as the wind shifted to the north-west, another council decided to take advantage of the change, and bear away for the North Foreland, in order to obtain a supply of powder, shot, and provisions.
Up to this period, the weather, though occasionally threatening, had been moderate.

During the week which succeeded the eventful night off.

Calais, neither the 'Armada nor the English ships had been much impeded in their manoeuvres by storms of heavy seas.