Boy who sailed with Blake

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER SEVEN.

  FURTHER SUCCESSES.

  The hopes of those who expected to return home were destined to bedisappointed. We were still at sea, keeping a look-out for the fleet ofthe royal corsairs, when a shout from the mast-head announced theapproach of several ships from the northward, and as they got nearer thewhite flag with the red-cross flying from their peaks told us that theywere friends.

  The leading ship proved to be the _Fairfax_, of fifty-two guns and twohundred and fifty men, carrying the flag of Vice-Admiral Penn.Following her came the _Centurion_, Captain Lawson, the _Adventure_,Captain Ball, and two others commanded by Captains Howett and Jordan,with the _Assurance_, Captain Benjamin Blake, the younger brother of theadmiral.

  Directly afterwards Vice-Admiral Hall with another squadron of sevenships joined us. The admiral had now under him a fleet capable ofcoping with that of either France or Spain. His first object, however,was to capture the corsairs, who were committing much damage among themerchant vessels. It was still unknown in what direction they had gone,when, the day after Admiral Hall's squadron had reached us, a vessel wasseen coming from the south.

  On approaching she hove to, and her master came on board the flag-ship.His vessel, he said, was the only one which had escaped from Malaga, onthe coast of Andalusia, into which the corsairs had entered and burntsix of his consorts under the very guns of the Spanish batteries.

  "We shall catch them at last!" exclaimed the admiral on receiving thisinformation, a gleam of satisfaction lighting up his countenance.

  Having taken some stores on board which had just arrived from England,we made sail for the Straits of Gibraltar, Admiral Penn with hissquadron being left to watch outside the entrance to catch the corsairs,should they endeavour to escape from the Mediterranean. With a fairwind we stood in for the gut, the lofty rock, on which we could discernonly a few ruins on our left, and the coast of Africa on our right.

  For centuries no English admiral's flag had been seen in theMediterranean, our merchant vessels trading in those seas being thusexposed to the attacks of pirates without hope of redress. On comingoff Malaga, we found to our disappointment that the princes had fled, inwhat direction no one would inform us. While we lay there, a furiousgale threatened the destruction of our ships, but we rode it out insafety.

  Just as we were sailing, information was brought that the pirates werein Cartagena. Pressing on all sail, we made for that port. As we cameoff it, our hearts beat high with satisfaction, for there lay the fleetfor which we were in search.

  The admiral, who was well acquainted with the dilatoriness of Spanishdiplomacy, not waiting for leave, bearing down on the corsairs attackedthe _Roebuck_, the largest of their ships, and quickly mastered her.

  Another was set on fire, while the remainder, cutting their cables, ranon shore utterly disabled. Great, however, was our disappointment notto find either of the princes; and we learned from some of the prisonersthat they had both been separated from the rest of the squadron duringthe gale, but what had become of them we were unable to ascertain.

  In vain we sailed from port to port. At last we heard that they hadtaken shelter in the harbour of Toulon. On receiving this informationwe immediately steered for that port. On arriving we found that thecorsairs had been honourably received by the French admiral, and thatassistance had been given to them to dispose of their plunder.

  On this Admiral Blake sent word that he considered the French had beenguilty of a hostile act, and that unless the corsairs were driven fromthe harbour, and the plunder restored to its lawful owners, he shouldfeel justified in making reprisals on the commerce of France.

  No answer was given to this message, but after a short time it wasdiscovered that the two princes had fled, though in what direction wewere, as before, unable to ascertain.

  Leaving Admiral Penn to search for them, we at length steered forEngland. Just as we were passing through the Straits, a large ship wasseen which approached us without any apparent hesitation, showing Frenchcolours. Getting nearer, she hove to, while a boat being lowered hercaptain came on board. He was received with the usual courtesy by theadmiral in his cabin.

  The Frenchman being seated, the admiral informed him that he mustconsider himself a prisoner, and requested him to deliver up his sword.

  "No, monsieur," answered the Frenchman; "not while I have strength touse it," and he placed his hand on the hilt.

  "I confess, brave sir, that you have been unfairly beguiled on board,and that you were ignorant that I had thrown down the gauntlet to youradmiral at Toulon. If you desire it, you may go on board your ship andtry to escape if you have the power," said the admiral.

  "I accept your generous offer," answered the Frenchman with a bow, andhe made his way on deck. We attended him with due honour down the side,when he returned to his ship.

  As soon as he had gone the drum beat to quarters, but we waited beforefiring, to allow him to prepare his own vessel for the encounter.

  Due time having passed, we fired a shot across his bows, which hereturned, aiming at the _Tiger_.

  The fight now commenced in earnest. The Frenchmen fought bravely,endeavouring to knock away our spars so as to make their escape. Buttheir gunnery was not equal to that of our men. So severely did wepound them, that after holding out two hours they hauled down theirflag.

  The boats were immediately sent to bring the prisoners on board, whenthe captain, making a low bow, bestowed an affectionate kiss on the hiltof his weapon, and handed it to the admiral, who replied--

  "You are a brave man, and deserve to keep your sword: pray receive itand wear it for my sake," and he handed the weapon back to his prisoner.

  The prize was a valuable acquisition, being a fine frigate of fortyguns. Four other large French vessels were taken on our way home, andat length we arrived safely at Plymouth. Lancelot, Dick, and I at oncegot leave to go to Lyme, being anxious to learn whether any tidings hadbeen received of the lost ones.

  Mr Harvey, who was there, received us very kindly. Every means hadbeen taken for discovering them, but not even the slightest clue hadbeen obtained, and he acknowledged that he had very slight hopes that weshould ever again hear of them. The reality came with fearful forceupon me when he said this, and it was with difficulty I could refrainfrom giving way to my passionate grief. Lancelot, feeling as I didthere was nothing to keep us at home, returned to Plymouth, where Dickpromised to follow.

  On a bright day in the early part of spring, 1651, Lancelot and I wenton board the _Tiger_, which had been hastily refitted for sea. Martin,who was on the look-out, welcomed us back.

  "Just in time, gentlemen; there's work cut out for us, and the admiralis to be on board this evening," he said, as we shook hands. "We are torout out that nest of hornets in Scilly, and I've a notion we shall makethem disgorge the plunder they have been collecting for many yearspast."

  We were truly thankful for the promised excitement, for in the presentstate of our minds we could ill brook idleness. Besides the _Tiger_, anumber of small frigates were collected, well calculated for the work tobe undertaken. The admiral, accompanied by his nephew, came on boardthat evening, the former receiving Lancelot and me in his usual kindway, not forgetting to make inquiries whether our sisters and his friendMr Kerridge had returned. "Don't despair, notwithstanding, my youngfriends," he said, when we told him nothing had been heard of them "ByGod's providence they may still be found."

  Robert had now become, next to the captain, the principal officer onboard, and though so young, he well fulfilled the duties of his post.

  Lancelot had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant, but Dick and Iwere still in the admiral's cabin. We were often employed intranscribing his letters and other similar duties, though at the sametime we pursued our nautical studies. Despatches being received fromLondon, we immediately sailed for our destination. Two days' sailbrought us in sight of the Scilly Islands, slumbering quietly on thesurface of the bright blue ocean. They looke
d green and pleasant to theeye, with here and there a few rocky heights rising in their midst, butin most parts the land was not elevated many feet above the water.Above the other hills appeared the height on whose summit the Cavaliershad built a strong castle, which it was our object to capture. Comingoff Saint Mary's, the principal island, we hove to, and the admiralordered a boat to be lowered, in which went Robert Blake, and Iaccompanied him, bearing a message summoning Sir John Grenville, thegovernor, to surrender. Having proceeded up the channel leading to thefort, we landed, bearing a white flag, and walked on until we reachedthe entrance. We were at once admitted, when we had an opportunity oftaking a glance round the fortifications. The castle was filled withmen, a large number being evidently, from their dress and appearance,officers. They were rollicking-looking gentlemen, and were laughing,and joking, and amusing themselves at our expense as we passed along.

  Sir John Grenville received us with due courtesy. On reading thesummons he replied--

  "I might rather demand that Admiral Blake should deliver up his fleet,but yet I am willing to enter into a treaty, although it should be knownto you that I have a force with me not only sufficient to protect theseislands, but to restore the exiled prince to the throne of his fathers."

  "The result will prove that, sir," answered the young lieutenant. "Am Ito inform the admiral that you refuse to deliver up the islands andtheir castles to the fleet of the Commonwealth?"

  "Certainly such is my intention," answered Sir John, and he bowed us outof the hall.

  We returned unmolested to the boat, and pulled back for the ship. Nosooner had we arrived than the admiral sent for Captain Morris, one ofthe most trusted of his commanders, and ordered him to take eighthundred of the best men from the different ships, and to land at theback of Tresco, which is next in size to Saint Mary's, and lies close toit.

  Lieutenant Blake and I, with a small body of seamen from our ship,accompanied the troops. We found a line of breastworks thrown up forthe defence of the shore, and held by fully a thousand men. But ourbrave leader was not to be hindered in performing his duty by this showof resistance. The boats in line dashed on, and in spite of the roundshot plunged in among us, and the bullets whistling about our ears, themoment the keels touched the beach we threw ourselves overboard, and,wading on shore, speedily formed. Then the order to advance was given,and pike in hand we rushed up the bank. The Cavaliers received us witha hot fire of musketry, but their artillery was silent, being unable toplay on us without hitting them.

  The contest was fierce but short. Nothing could withstand ouronslaught. The Cavaliers gave way, and, escaping across the island,made for their boats, reaching which they crossed over to Saint Mary's,leaving us in possession of their cannon, muskets, and pikes, andpistols, besides several prisoners.

  A lodgment on the island being thus effected, we threw up trenches toprevent our position being retaken when night closed down upon us. Wehad to keep a strict watch, the men sleeping with their arms by theirsides, for at any moment we might be attacked. When morning came, theadmiral, with a reinforcement, landed, and immediately gave the word toadvance. We passed over a high ridge which crossed the island, anddescended on the other side, when a view broke on our sight which forpicturesque beauty could scarcely be surpassed.

  Before us rose Saint Mary's Island, with its castle and ramparts; below,in the centre of the roadstead, lay the war ships of the Cavaliers, withthe prizes they had captured, the blue expanse bordered by juttingpoints and fantastic rocks of various shapes, while the surroundingshores were covered with umbrageous trees, green fields, and richorchards.

  The admiral at once selected a point overlooking the harbour androadstead, on which he forthwith ordered a battery to be erected.

  No sooner were the works thrown up than we opened a hot fire on thecastle and other fortifications, as well as on the vessels, which,cutting their cables, endeavoured to escape up various channels hithertoconcealed from our sight.

  The admiral, however, no sooner seeing that, at the distance we werefrom the castle, our shot could produce but little effect on it,returned on board, leaving Captain Morris to continue the siege, andordering his nephew and me to follow.

  We now found that he had devised a new plan of attack. Summoning allthe lighter frigates, he placed on board a number of men, and suppliedeach also with several guns of larger calibre than they were wont tocarry. Going himself on board one of them, the _Fox_, with RobertBlake, Lancelot and I, he led the way towards a narrow channel betweenthe open sea and the roadstead, directly opposite Saint Mary's.

  Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advancedunmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

  The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when droppingour anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with ourbroadsides.

  In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, wascanopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into thesides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears weredeafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from ourown and the corsairs' fleets.

  Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I hadanticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls ofthe castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of ourshot.

  Night coming on put an end to the attack, and we retired out of range ofthe enemy's guns. But our admiral had no intention of desisting.

  All night long we remained at our quarters, thinking it possible thatthe enemy might venture to board us in their boats during the darkness.More than once an alarm was raised and the men flew to their guns, butthe night passed off tranquilly; the Cavaliers had no stomach for suchan enterprise. Morning broke at last. The castle walls, wearing abattered appearance, rose above the calm water shining in the rays ofthe rising sun; the air was soft and balmy, a thin haze softening themore rugged features of nature.

  Prayers being offered up, and breakfast over, we stood in to our formerposition to recommence our work of the previous day.

  Forthwith the guns on both sides began blazing away. "Hurrah!" criedLancelot, "we shall soon bring matters to a conclusion. Look there!"Turning my eyes in the direction he pointed, I saw that our fireconcentrated on one side of the fortress was producing a considerableeffect. Huge pieces of masonry, earth, and stones came toppling overand slipping into the ditch, and ere long we perceived that our shot hadproduced a practicable breach, through which our troops would quicklyeffect an entrance.

  The admiral then ordered them to prepare for the assault, but as theywere advancing, a flag of truce was thrown out from the walls, and aherald descending came off in a boat to the ship with a message from SirJohn, requesting to hold a parley.

  It was agreed to, when conditions were proposed. Six John offered,provided that the lives of the officers and men were spared, tosurrender the islands with their garrisons, stores, arms, ammunition,standards, and all implements and materials of war; the soldiers andseamen being allowed to enter the nation's service, while the gentlemenwere to be sent to London, to await the decision of Parliament.

  To these terms, which were considered very favourable to the Royalists,the admiral consented, and Sir John, with his corsair companions, wereput on board Admiral Askew's squadron to be carried to Plymouth.

  We, in the meantime, were employed in collecting the various vesselswhich had been captured by the pirates and bringing them under our guns,lest some of the rovers might attempt to get off and pursue their oldcalling in other regions. Lancelot and I were employed in this service.We had boarded several when we caught sight over the land of the mastsof another moving slowly through the water; we gave chase, and soon cameup with her. The captain vowed that he had no intention of escaping,but appearances were against him. On getting back to the harbour, wesent him on board the flag-ship to answer for his conduct.

  While we were on board we entered into conversatio
n with an intelligentfellow, Ned Watkins by name, who acted as boatswain. He seemed to befond of making use of his tongue. Lancelot, wishing to ascertainsomething about the corsair career of these ships, asked him if hisvessel, the _Speedwell_, had been long at sea and what prizes she hadtaken.

  "Never craft had worse luck," he answered. "We had sailed from Jerseywith the _Hector_, another ship of the same size as ours, carryingeighty men and twenty guns, bound out to Lisbon, or anywhere, as long aswe could fall in with that royal rover, Prince Rupert, when, as we werecoming down Channel, a strong gale blowing, we sighted a hoy, a tightlittle hooker, somewhere off the Start. We both made chase, for a smallfish is better than no fish at all, and soon came up with her, thoughshe tried her best to escape. The _Hector_, which boarded her, took outher people and several passengers, for so I judged them to be, as theywore petticoats, and all her cargo, and then a crew being put on boardthe prize we made sail for Scilly, where we had been ordered to call onour way southward. A strong north-westerly gale, however, which caughtus just as we neared the islands, drove us out to sea, and when itmoderated and we were about to beat back, seven large ships hove insight, which, as they approached, we saw carried the Parliamentary flag.As we had no wish to fall into their hands, we made sail to escape, andsucceeded in keeping ahead of them, but during the night we lost sightof the _Hector_. In what direction she was steering we could not makeout. When morning dawned, however, we caught a glimpse of the enemy'ssquadron, and from the way they were steering, we had little doubt thatthey were in pursuit of her. By furling all sail we escapedobservation, and three days afterwards managed to get back with thesloop to Scilly."

  "What became of the _Hector_?" I inquired eagerly, at once feelingcertain that the vessel she had captured was the hoy in which MrKerridge and his party were proceeding to Plymouth.

  "From that day to this I have heard nothing of her," answered theboatswain. "My idea is, if she escaped from the Roundhead squadron, andnot managing to get into the Tagus, that she ran up the Straits to dosome privateering on her own account. Her commander, Captain Kerby, wasnot a man to let a chance escape him, and he had been in charge of atrader to all parts of the Mediterranean."

  We questioned and cross-questioned Ned Watkins, but he could give us nofurther information. Lancelot and I talked the subject over.

  "My father and our sisters were not drowned, then, as some suppose, andmay still be alive, though held, I fear, in durance, or they would havefound means of communicating with us," he said. "That the _Hector_ didnot reach the Tagus we may be pretty certain, for if she had, my fatherwould have contrived to send a message to the admiral. If Watkins isright in his conjectures, she must then have gone up the Straits, andshe may or may not have afterwards joined the Prince's squadron, thoughI am inclined to think she did not, or we should have heard of her fromthe prizes we took, and she was certainly not among the vessels wedestroyed. It follows then that she met with some other fate."

  "Alack! and that may be a disastrous one," I exclaimed. "Too probablywe shall never again hear of the dear ones."

  "Not if we don't search for them," answered Lancelot, "but I have anidea. What do you say to obtaining leave from the admiral to fit outone of the vessels we have just taken, and to go and look for them? Wemay learn where the _Hector_ has been, and by that means trace them. Icannot bring myself to believe that they are lost."

  I fully entered into Lancelot's plan, which we speedily matured. He atonce went to Robert Blake, who, approving of our proposal, undertook tospeak to his uncle.

  Before long the admiral sent for us. "I can ill spare any trustworthyofficers, but your cause is a sacred one, and you shall have the bestvessel you can find, with such men among the prisoners as willvolunteer, and whom you deem fitted for the service. I will undertaketo pay their wages and all other expenses, and you may gain suchinformation of what is going on in the Mediterranean as may be of use toour country."

  We heartily thanked the admiral, and taking our leave, hastened to carryout our intentions.

  We soon, with Lieutenant Blake's assistance, fixed on a vessel,appropriately called the _Good Hope_. She was in seaworthy condition,with stores of all sorts on board, and carried twenty guns. Hercomplement of men we had no difficulty in obtaining, as the corsairs whohad just been captured were glad to obtain good pay and to escape havingto serve on board the Parliamentary ships.

  Lancelot was appointed captain, I went as his first lieutenant, andDick, who got leave from the admiral, as his second, while MartinShobbrok went as gunner, and Ned Watkins volunteered to act asboatswain.

  Getting such further stores, provisions, arms, and ammunition on boardas we required for a long cruise, we bade our friends "Good-bye," andmaking sail stood away from the Scilly Islands, which we soon ran out ofsight.