A True Hero: A Story of the Days of William Penn

  CHAPTER EIGHT.

  "And thou art going away on board a warship to fight and slay, and,alack! perchance to be slain," said Mary Mead, whose hand was held byWenlock Christison. "It is sad to think of such cruel deeds, and sadderstill that thou, Wenlock, should engage in such work. I had thought myfather had shown thee the sinfulness of warfare, and that I might havesaid something to the same effect that might have moved thee."

  "So you did, Mary; and when I am with you truly I feel inclined to playthe woman, and, throwing up all my brilliant prospects, to join myselfto your father or Master William Penn, and to go forth as they are wontto do to promulgate their doctrines."

  "Nay; but that would not be playing the woman, surely," said Mary,reproachfully. "It is no woman's work they have to go through, althoughsome women are found who boldly go forth even into foreign lands, and,in spite of danger and opposition, are not behind the men in zeal in thegood cause."

  "I am wrong, Mary, thus to speak. I should greatly have disappointed myfather had I refused to serve under the Earl of Ossory; besides which,no other means are open to me of supporting myself. I must, I find,depend upon my sword; for my father now tells me, what I did not beforeknow, that all his means are expended, and that without a profession Ishould be little better than a beggar."

  "Alack! alack!" said poor Mary, and the tears came into her eyes. "For`they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.' You know,Wenlock, too, that my father would gladly have found employment for you,if you would have accepted it."

  This remark came home to Wenlock's heart. It was the truth, and hecould not help acknowledging that he had preferred his worldlyassociates, and the so-called brilliant prospects offered to him by theearl, instead of becoming a haberdasher's apprentice, an humble Quaker,and the husband of the pretty Mary Mead. He still hoped, indeed, to winher. She had acknowledged her love for him, and he had built up manycastles in the air of which she was to be the mistress. After serving afew years under Lord Ossory, he expected to rise in rank, and to comehome with ample wealth, which would enable him to settle down on shore,and marry her. Master Mead had parted from Captain Christison somewhatcoldly. He bade Wenlock farewell with a sigh.

  "Thou hast been led to act as thou art doing by thy father, and I cannotblame thee," he said. "I had hoped better things of thee, and I wouldnow pray that thy heart may be turned to the right way."

  Mary was very sad after Wenlock had gone. He was frank and artless,good-looking, and of agreeable manners; and believing that he was aboutto join her sect, she had given her heart to him without reserve. Hehad come frequently to the house after he had taken service under LordOssory, though his duties had of late prevented his visits being asfrequent as at first. Several months had thus passed away, his fatherhaving in the meantime joined the fleet under the Earl of Sandwich, oneof the bravest of England's admirals at that time. He would have takenWenlock with him, had not Lord Ossory desired that the young man shouldremain in his service. The morning after parting from Mary, Wenlockaccompanied Lord Ossory to Portsmouth. Here a ship of sixty guns, the_Resolution_, was waiting to receive the earl as her captain.

  Not till Wenlock was on board, and sailing out from Spithead past SaintHelen's, had he any notion whither the fleet was bound. He, withseveral other young men and boys, were occupants of part of thecaptain's cabin, which was devoted to them.

  "You will see some service, Christison," said the earl. "I wish it wereof a more worthy character than it is likely to prove. King Charles'sexchequer is low, and we have been sent out here to capture ahomeward-bound fleet of Dutch merchantmen expected shortly in theChannel. You heard the other day of the Dutch refusing to strike theirflag when the _Merlin_ yacht passed through their fleet with Lady Templeon board. Her captain fired in return, and was rewarded with a goldchain on his arrival at home. This is our pretence, a sorry one, Iconfess, for war."

  The _Resolution_ formed one of the fleet under Sir Robert Holmes,consisting altogether of some thirty-six men-of-war. Eight only had,however, been got ready for sea, and with these Sir Robert was about totake a short cruise outside the Isle of Wight, for practising the crews.Scarcely, however, had they lost sight of land before the _Resolution_,being to the westward, descried a fleet standing up Channel. Shecommunicated the intelligence to the rest of the squadron. They weresoon made out to be Dutch. The sea officers, after examining themcarefully, declared that there were several men-of-war among them. Ontheir approaching nearer, of this there was no doubt. Sir RobertHolmes, however, followed by the _Resolution_, stood gallantly towardsthem, when in addition to the seventy merchantmen expected, six stoutmen-of-war were perceived. Of the English ships five were frigates.The Dutch, who had timely notice of the intended attack, were preparedfor battle, with their decks cleared, divided into three squadrons, eachguarded by two men-of-war, and together forming a half-moon. Sir Robertapproaching them, ordered them to strike their flags. On their refusingto do so, he fired a broadside into the nearest ship. They, however,lowered their topsails. Again he asked whether they would strike theirflags. On their refusing, he again fired; and now the action becamegeneral.

  Sir Robert especially attacked the ship of the Dutch commodore, whileLord Ossory attacked another commanded by Captain du Bois. For somehours the action continued, but so well did the Dutch defend themselves,that when darkness put an end to the fight, no material advantage hadbeen gained. The next day, however, the English fleet being joined byfour more frigates from Portsmouth, again attacked the Dutch. LordOssory gallantly boarded Captain du Bois' ship. Wenlock was among thefirst to dash on to the deck of the enemy. His swordsmanship served himin good stead. Many, however, of his companions were killed around him,and for some time he was left with but few followers on the enemy'sdeck. Lord Ossory, seeing the danger of his young officer, calling uponhis men, led a fresh body of boarder on to the deck of the enemy. Inspite however of his valour, they were driven back on board his ownship. Out of the whole Dutch squadron, indeed, when darkness again cameon, only one man-of-war and three merchantmen had been captured. Withthese Sir Robert was compelled to return to port, the Dutchmen makinggood their escape.

  "It was scurvy work," exclaimed Lord Ossory, as the ship came to ananchor. "Such is unfit for gallant gentlemen to engage in. I wouldrather sheathe my sword, and forswear fighting for the future, than toundertake again such a buccaneering business."

  Wenlock, however, had got a taste for sea life. His gallantry in theaction had been remarked, and was highly commended. When therefore the_Royal James_, on board which his father was serving under the Earl ofSandwich, came to an anchor, he begged that he also might join her.Through Lord Ossory's introduction, the admiral received him verycourteously, and promised to look after his interests. The captain ofthe ship, Sir Richard Haddock, also expressed his satisfaction at havinghim on board.

  The _Royal James_ was one of the largest ships in the navy, carrying ahundred guns, and nearly one thousand men, including seamen andsoldiers. Captain Christison, now in his element, was delighted to havehis son with him, and well-pleased at the credit the young man hadgained.

  "You will see some real fighting before long, Wenlock," he observed."Braver men than Lord Sandwich and his captain do not exist, and nowthis war with the Dutch has broken out we shall not let their fleetsalone."

  Some time after this, the English fleets, consisting of nearly a hundredsail, under the command of the Duke of York, the Earl of Sandwich beingthe admiral of the blue squadron, were lying at Spithead. War had beendeclared against the Dutch, in reality at the instigation of France,whose armies were at the same time pouring into Holland. Early in May,a French fleet of forty-eight ships, under the command of Countd'Estrees, arrived at Portsmouth, and soon afterwards he and the Englishtogether put to sea. After cruising about for some time in search ofthe enemy, they anchored in Sole Bay.

  "Wenlock, before many days are over you will have seen a real sea-fight.The very thought of it w
arms up my old blood," exclaimed his father."I know you will acquit yourself well; and if the enemy's fleet fallsinto our hands, as I doubt not it will, we shall have no causehenceforth to complain of want of money in our purses."

  Alas! what would Mary Mead, what would her father and William Penn, havesaid to such sentiments?