Why did Monmouth not surrender?

Why did HMS Monmouth not surrender when Nuremberg found her crippled and sinking?

The crew may have been physically unable to lower the ensign, or they may have followed Royal Navy tradition and refused surrender despite the ship's condition.

Monmouth was already listing, badly damaged, and unable to return home when Nuremberg opened fire. The crew may have been unable to reach and lower the ensign, or they may have refused surrender because of Royal Navy tradition. Neither possibility can be established from the absence of a surrender signal. The ethical criticism is that finishing a ship unable to fight offered little military gain, even though she had not formally surrendered. Leaving Monmouth afloat could also have forced Britain to organise relief or recovery on the Chilean coast.