50 THE STRUGGLE WITH THE PORTUGUESE The galleons, now separated at ebb-tide from our ships by a spit of sand, could only fire across it, doing some damage to rigging, but none to the hulls. Mean- while the flames from the burning vessels caught the mainmast of the Hope. By heroic efforts she at length cast them off, and they drifted on to the shoals, burning AN EARLY ENGLISH WAR - SHIP. After a painting by Holbein. to the water's edge. One hard day's battle, January 20, 1615, taught the Portuguese that, if they were to capture our squadron, it must be by fair fighting with their larger ships, and that their mosquito swarm of " frigates " had better keep out of range. They cost us but five men killed; while a Persian reported that the Portuguese sent 350 men ashore to be buried at Daman, and Downton reckoned their loss at one hun- dred men slain besides those drowned. Next day, the 22d, the Portuguese endeavoured to patch up a truce
