Clare Avery: A Story of the Spanish ArmadaHolt, Emily Sarah
History
Clare Avery: A Story of the Spanish Armada
Holt, Emily Sarah
Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603 -- Fiction; Historical fiction
When she saw her pursuers, she spread forth in a crescent form, in which
she was seven miles in length. Trumpets were sounded, drums beaten--
everything was done to strike terror into the little English fleet.
"_Santiago de Compostella_!" was the cry from the Armada.
"God and Saint George for merry England!" came back from the "Ark
Royal."
Both navies struggled hard to get to windward. But the Spanish ships
were too slow and heavy. The English won the coveted position. The
"Revenge" was posted as light-bearer, for night was coming on, and the
"Ark Royal," followed by the rest of the fleet, dashed into the midst of
the Armada.
Sir Francis Drake made a terrible blunder. Instead of keeping to the
simple duty allotted to him, he went off after five large vessels, which
he saw standing apart, and gave them chase for some distance. Finding
them innocent Easterlings, or merchantmen of the Hanse Towns, he ran
hastily back, to discover that in his absence Lord Howard had most
narrowly escaped capture, having mistaken the Spanish light for the
English.
"'Tis beyond any living patience!" cried Robert Basset fierily to Arthur
Tremayne. "Here all we might have hit some good hard blows at the
Spaniard, and to be set to chase a covey of miserable Easterlings!"
"'Twas a misfortunate blunder," responded Arthur more quietly.
After two hours' hard fighting, the Admiral, finding his vessels too
much scattered, called them together, tacked, and lay at anchor until
morning. It certainly was enough to disappoint men who were longing for
"good hard blows," when the "Revenge" rejoined the fleet only just in
time to hear the order for retreat. Fresh reinforcements came in during
the night. When day broke on the 22nd, Lord Howard divided his fleet
into four squadrons. He himself commanded the first, Drake the second,
Hawkins the third, and Frobisher the fourth. The wind was now north.
The Armada went slowly forward; and except for the capture of one large
Venetian ship, nothing was done until the 25th. Then came a calm,
favourable to the Spaniards, who were rowing, while the English trusted
to their sails. When the Armada came opposite the Isle of Wight, Lord
Howard again gave battle.
This time the "Revenge" was engaged, and in the van. While the battle
went on, none knew who might be falling: but when the fleet was at last
called to anchor--after a terrible encounter--Basset and Tremayne met
and clasped hands in congratulation.
"Where is Enville?" asked the former.
Arthur had seen nothing of him. Had he fallen?
The day passed on--account was taken of the officers and crew--but
nothing was to be heard of Jack Enville.
About half an hour later, Arthur, who had considerably distinguished
himself in the engagement, was resting on deck, looking rather sadly out
to sea, and thinking of Jack, when Basset came up to him, evidently
struggling to suppress laughter.
"Prithee, Tremayne, come below with me one minute."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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