Moreover, at sea, so long as there be no storm, there will be nothing to hinder the using of any of the orders with which we have dealt, and if there be a storm the same terror will strike the one side as the other; for the storm is enough for all to war with, and in fighting it they will have peace with one another.' At first sight it would seem that De Chaves in this argument takes no account of superiority of seamanship--the factor which was destined to turn the scale against Spain upon the sea.

But the following passage with which he concludes shows that he regarded seamanship as the controlling factor in every case.

'And if,' he argues, 'they say that the enemy will take the same thought and care as I, I answer that when both be equal in numbers and arms, then in such case he who shall be more dexterous and have more spirit and fortitude he will conquer, the which he will not do, although he have more and better arms and as much spirit as he will, if he be wanting in good order and counsel.

Just as happens in fencing, that the weaker man if he be more dexterous gives more and better hits than the other who does not understand the beats nor knows them, although he be the stronger.

And the same holds good with any army whatsoever on land, and it has been seen that the smaller by their good order have defeated the stronger.' From the work in question Captain Fernandez Duro gives four sections or chapters in Appendix 12 to the first volume of his history,[2] namely, 1.