fwered his expectation, by the fignal fervices they performed. As
he had not hands enough remaining to quarter a fufficient number
to each great gun, in the cuftomary manner ; he therefore, on his
lower tire, fixed only two men to each gun, who were to be folely
employed in loading it, whilft the reft of his people were divided
into different gangs o f ten or twelve men each, who were continually
moving about the decks, to run out and fire fuch guns as
were loaded. By this management he was enabled to make ufe of
alj his guns ; and inftead of whole broad-fides with intervals between
them, he kept up a confiant fire without intermiffion ;
whence he doubted not to procure very fignal advantages. For it
is common with the Spaniards to fall down upon the decks, when
they fee a broadfide preparing, and to continue in that pofture till
it is given ; after which they rife again, and, prefuming the danger
to be for fome time over, work their guns, and fire with great
brilknefs, till another broadfide is ready : But the firing gun by
gun, in the manner directed by the Commodore, rendered this
praflice o f theirs impoflible.
The Centurion being thus prepared, and nearing the galeon a-
pace, there happened, a little after noon, feveral Iqualls of wind
and rain, which often obfcured the galeon from their fight; but
whenever it cleared up, they obferved her refolutely lying to.
Towards one o’clock, the Centurion hoifted her broad pendant
and colours, ffie being then within gun-fhot o f the enemy and
the Commodore perceiving the Spaniards to have negledted clearing
their fcip till that time, as he faw them throwing over-board
cattle and lumber, he gave orders to fire upon them with the cbace-
guns, to difturb them in their work, and prevent them from com-
pleating it, though his general diredions had been not to engage before
they were within piftol-lhot. The galeon returned the fire with
two of her ftern-chace ; and, the Centurion getting her fprit-fail-
yard fore and aft, that, i f neceflary, (he might be ready for boarding,
the Spaniards in a bravado rigged their fprit-fail-yard fore and
aft likewife. Soon after, the Centurion came abreaft of the enemy
a within
within piftol-lhot, keeping to the leeward of them with a view of
preventing their putting before the wind, and gaining the port of
Jalapay, from which they were about feven leagues diftant. And
now the engagement began in earneft, and,- for the firft half hour,
Mr. Anfon over-reached the galeon, and lay on her bow ; where,
by the great widenefs of his ports, he could traverfe almoft all his
guns upon the enemy, whilft the galeon could only bring a part
of hers to bear. Immediately, on the commencement of the
adtion, the mats, with which the galeon had fluffed her netting,
took fire, and burnt violently, blazing up half as high as the
mizen-top. This accident (fuppofed to be caufed by the Centurion’s.
wads) threw the enemy into the utmoft terror, and alfo alarmed
the Commodore; for he feared left the galeon ffiould be burnt,
and left he himfelf too might fuffer by her driving on board him.
However, the Spaniards at laft freed themfelves from the fire, by
cutting away the netting, and tumbling the whole mafs, which was
in flames, into the fea. All this interval the Centurion kept her firft
advantageous pofition, firing her cannon with great regularity and
brilknefs; whilft at the fame time the galeon’s decks lay open to her
topmen, who, having at their firft volley driven the Spaniards from
their tops, made prodigious havock with their fmall arms, killing
or wounding every officer but one that appeared upon the quarterdeck,
and wounding in particular the General of the galeon himfelf.
Thus the adtion proceeded for at leaft half an hour; but
then the Centurion loft the fuperiority arifing from her original Situation,
and was clofe along fide the galeon, and the enemy continued
to fire brilkly for near an hour longer; yet even in this pofture the
Commodore’s grape-lhot fwept their decks fo effedtually, and the
number of their flain and wounded became fo confiderable, that
they began to fall into great diforder, efpecially as the General,
who was the life of the adtion, was no longer capable of exerting
himfelf. Their confufion was vifible from on board the Commodore.
For the Ihips were fo near, that fome of the Spanijh officers
were feen running about with much affiduity, to prevent the de-
fertion of their men from their quarters: But all their endeavours
C c c 2 . wei e