 Behind Royal Sovereign was Marlborough , <unk> tangled with Impétueux . <unk> damaged and on the verge of surrender , Impétueux was briefly <unk> 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 <unk> , who signalled for help from the frigates in reserve . Robert <unk> responded in HMS <unk> , 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 . 
