Produced by Bethanne M. Simms, Wolfgang Menges and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net Transcriber's Notes: Italics have been marked with underscores, like '_this_'. oe ligature has been changed to 'oe'. In "triêres" and "Triêres", the 'ê' stands for an 'e' with a macron. Changes: p.23: "Platea" changed to "Platæa" p.23: "Leothychides" changed to "Leotychides" p.27: Footnote 2: "see Chapter XIII" changed to "see Chapter XI" p.67: "1494" changed to "1396", for the battle of Nicopolis took place on 25 September, 1396, not in 1494 p.71: "Nicosis" changed to "Nicosia" p.126: "Reganzona" changed to "Regazona" p.145: Caption: "Vanderelde" changed to "Vandervelde" p.152: "ninety two" changed to "ninety-two" p.162: comma after "off San Domingo" changed to period p.227 Footnote 18: comma removed after "Worden" pp.300, 301: "Sevastopol" changed to "Sebastopol" p.308: "Admiral Seniavine" changed to "Admiral Senyavin" p.341: "Swir" changed to "Svir" (two times) p.345: Index: "Bragadino, Ambrosio" changed to "Bragadino, Ambrogio" p.348: Index: "Monceda" changed to "Moncada" (admiral of the galeasses in the armada) p.349: Index: "Valdes, Diego Flores de, admira" changed to "Valdes, Diego Flores de, admiral" [Illustration: THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR From an engraving by W. Miller from the painting by C. Stanfield, R.A.] FAMOUS SEA FIGHTS FROM SALAMIS TO TSU-SHIMA BY JOHN RICHARD HALE WITH THIRTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS AND SEVENTEEN PLANS BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY 1911 INTRODUCTION Three hundred years ago Francis Bacon wrote, amongst other wise words: "To be Master of the Sea is an Abridgement of Monarchy.... The Bataille of Actium decided the Empire of the World. The Bataille of Lepanto arrested the Greatnesse of the Turke. There be many Examples where Sea-Fights have been Finall to the Warre. But this much is certaine; that hee that commands the Sea is at great liberty, and may take as much and as little of the Warre as he will. Whereas those, that be strongest by land, are many times neverthelesse in great Straights. Surely, at this Day, with us of Europe, the Vantage of Strength at Sea (which is one of the Principall Dowries of this Kingdome of Greate Brittaine) is Great; Both because Most of the Kingdomes of Europe are not merely Inland, but girt with the Sea most part of their Compasse; and because the Wealth of both Indies seemes in great Part but an Accessary to the Command of the Seas."[1] [1] Bacon's Essay on "The Greatness of Kingdoms," first published in 1597. The extract is from the edition of 1625.