Admiral Richard Grenville, ordering the blowing up of The Revenge, Battle of Flores, 1 September 1591


Illustration from British Battles on Land and Sea published 1915. Info from wiki: "Out-gunned, out-fought, and out-numbered fifty-three to one",[5] when the end looked certain Grenville ordered Revenge to be sunk: "Sink me the ship, Master Gunner—sink her, split her in twain! Fall into the hands of God, not into the hands of Spain! ".[5] His officers could not agree with this order and a surrender was agreed by which the lives of the officers and crew would be spared. After an assurance of proper conduct, and having held off dozens of Spanish ships, Revenge at last surrendered. The injured Grenville died of wounds two days later aboard the Spanish flagship.


Size: 4505px × 3257px
Photo credit: © Historical Images Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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