The mission was fulfilled not by courage alone, but by courage, forethought, and skill.

The attack at the Texel was, in its general lines, the same as that at Trafalgar, the enemy's van being neglected to fall on the centre and rear, and as at Trafalgar the van, by failing to do its duty, more than justified the conception; but as the odds against De Ruyter were greater than those against Nelson, so was his success less.

The part played by Bankert at Solebay was essentially the same as that of Nelson at St.Vincent, when he threw himself across the path of the Spanish division with his single ship (see Plate III., c, c'); but Nelson took his course without orders from Jervis, while Bankert was carrying out Ruyter's plan.

Once more, still himself in his bearing, but under sadly altered surroundings, will this simple and heroic man come before us; and here, in contrast with his glory, seems a proper place to insert a little description by the Comte de Guiche[58] of his bearing in the Four Days' Fight, which brings out at once the homely and the heroic sides of his character.
"I never saw him [during those last three days] other than even-tempered; and when victory was assured, saying always it was the good God that gives it to us.

Amid the disorders of the fleet and the appearance of loss, he seemed to be moved only by the misfortune to his country, but always submissive to the will of God.