The Spanish called the galleon Our Lady of Covadonga. The men inside it must have recognized that they were being chased. But they did not attempt to flee, perhaps because of courage, or perhaps because they did not expect the Centurion to be in any condition to fight. They were under the command of an experienced officer, Gerónimo Montero, who had served on the Covadonga for fourteen years. He had orders to defend the treasure-filled ship to the death, and if necessary to blow it up before it fell into enemy hands.
