Mr. Anson in the meantime had prepared all things for an
engagement on board the Centurion, and had taken all possible care both
for the most effectual exertion of his small strength, and for avoiding
the confusion and tumult too frequent in actions of this kind. He picked
out about thirty of his choicest hands and best marksmen, whom he
distributed into his tops, and who fully answered his expectation by the
signal services they performed. As he had not hands enough remaining to
quarter a sufficient number to each great gun in the customary manner, he
therefore, on his lower tier, fixed only two men to each gun, who were to
be solely employed in loading it, whilst the rest of his people were
divided into different gangs of ten or twelve men each, who were
constantly moving about the decks to run out and fire such guns as were
loaded. By this management he was enabled to make use of all his guns,
and, instead of firing broad sides with intervals between them, he kept
up a constant fire without intermission, whence he doubted not to procure
very signal advantages; for it is common with the Spaniards to fall down
upon the decks when they see a broadside preparing and to continue in
that posture till it is given; after which they rise again and, presuming
the danger to be for some time over, work their guns, and fire with great
briskness till another broadside is ready; but the firing gun by gun in
the manner directed by the Commodore rendered this practice of theirs
impossible.
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