 Behind Royal Sovereign was Marlborough , inextricably tangled with Impétueux . Badly damaged and on the verge of surrender , Impétueux was briefly reprieved when Mucius appeared through the smoke and collided with both ships . The three entangled ships continued exchanging fire for some time , all suffering heavy casualties with Marlborough and Impétueux losing all three of their masts . This combat continued for several hours . Captain Berkeley of Marlborough had to retire below with serious wounds , and command fell to Lieutenant John Monkton , who signalled for help from the frigates in reserve . Robert Stopford responded in HMS Aquilon , which had the assignment of repeating signals , and towed Marlborough out of the line as Mucius freed herself and made for the regrouped French fleet to the north . Impétueux was in too damaged a state to move at all , and was soon seized by sailors from HMS Russell . 
 Behind Royal Sovereign was Marlborough , inextricably tangled with Impétueux . Badly damaged and on the verge of surrender , Impétueux was briefly reprieved when Mucius appeared through the smoke and collided with both ships . The three entangled ships continued exchanging fire for some time , all suffering heavy casualties with Marlborough and Impétueux losing all three of their masts . This combat continued for several hours . Captain Berkeley of Marlborough had to retire below with serious wounds , and command fell to Lieutenant John Monkton , <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>signalled</mark></a> for help from the frigates in reserve . Robert Stopford responded in HMS Aquilon , which had the assignment of repeating signals , and towed Marlborough out of the line as Mucius freed herself and made for the regrouped French fleet to the north . Impétueux was in too damaged a state to move at all , and was soon seized by sailors from HMS Russell . 
Behind Royal Sovereign was Marlborough , inextricably tangled w/ Impétueux . Badly damaged and on da verge of surrender , Impétueux was briefly reprieved when Mucius appeared thru the smoke and collided with both ships . The three entangled ships continued exchanging fire for some time , alll suffering heavy casualties with Marlborough and Impétueux losingallll three of their masts . This combat continued for several hrs . Captain Berkeley of Marlborough had to retire below with serious wounds , and command fell to Lieutenant John Monkton , signaled for help from the frigates in reserve . Robert Stopford responded in HMS Aquilon , which had tdaassignment of repeating signals , and towed Marlborough out of thdaine as Mucius freed herself and made for thedagrouped French fleet to the north . Impétueux was in too damaged a state to move at all , and was soon seized by sailors from HMS Russell .