 More disturbing to Lord Howe were the actions of HMS Russell and HMS Caesar . Russell 's captain John Willett Payne was criticised at the time for failing to get to grips with the enemy more closely and allowing her opponent Téméraire to badly damage her rigging in the early stages , although later commentators blamed damage received on 29 May for her poor start to the action . There were no such excuses , however , for Captain Anthony Molloy of Caesar , who totally failed in his duty to engage the enemy . Molloy completely ignored Howe 's signal and continued ahead as if the British battleline was following him rather than engaging the French fleet directly . Caesar did participate in a desultory exchange of fire with the leading French ship Trajan but her fire had little effect , while Trajan inflicted much damage to Caesar 's rigging and was subsequently able to attack Bellerophon as well , roaming unchecked through the melee developing at the head of the line . 
 More disturbing to Lord Howe <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> the actions of HMS Russell and HMS Caesar . Russell <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>captain John Willett Payne was criticised at the time for failing to get to grips with the enemy more closely and allowing her opponent Téméraire to badly damage her rigging in the early stages , although later commentators blamed damage received on 29 May for her poor start to the action . <a href='dey_it' title='3'><mark>There</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> no such excuses , however , for Captain Anthony Molloy of Caesar , <a href='null_relcl' title='5'><mark>who</mark></a>totally failed in his duty to engage the enemy . Molloy completely ignored Howe <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>signal and continued ahead as if the British battleline was following him rather than engaging the French fleet directly . Caesar did participate in a desultory exchange of fire with the leading French ship Trajan but her fire had little effect , while Trajan inflicted much damage to Caesar <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>rigging and was subsequently able to attack Bellerophon as well , roaming unchecked through the melee developing at the head of the line . 
More disturbing to Lord Howe was the actions of HMS Russell and HMS Caesar . Russell  captain John Willett Payne was criticised at the time for failing to get to grips with the enemy more closely and allowing her opponent Téméraire to badly damage her rigging in da early stages , although later commentators blamed damage received on 29 May for her poor start to tdaaction . It was no such excuses , however , fir Captain Anthony Molloy of Caesar , totally failed in his duty to engage the enemy . Molloy completely ignored Howe  signal and continued ahead as if the British battleline was following em rather than engaging the French fleet directly . Caesar did participate in a desultory exchange of fire wid thdaeading French ship Trajan but her fire had little effect , while Trajan inflicted much damage to Caesar  rigging and was subsequently able to attack Bellerophon as well , roaming unchecked thru the melee developing at thedaad of the dae .