Three-fourths of the crews were soldiers, all but useless in naval warfare of the new type.

Blind zeal did little to supply the lack {342} of foresight, though Philip spent hours on his knees before the host in intercession for the success of his venture.
The very names of the ships, though quite in accordance with Spanish practice, seem symbolic of the holy character of the crusade: _Santa Maria de Gracia, Neustra Senora del Rosario, San Juan Baptista, La Concepcion_.
On the English side there was also plenty of fanatical fury, but it was accompanied by practical sense.

The grandfathers of Cromwell's Ironsides had already learned, if they had not yet formulated, the maxim, "Fear God and keep your powder dry." Some of the ships in the English navy had religious names, but many were called by more secular appellations: _The Bull, The Tiger, The Dreadnought, The Revenge_.

To meet the foe a very formidable and self-confident force of about forty-five ships of the best sort had gathered from the well-tried ranks of the buccaneers.

It is true that patronage did some damage to the English service, but it was little compared to that of Spain.