***
The three French frigates succeeded in entering the harbour well before coming into the firing range of Jason’s fleet. The king and the duke watched from the palace balcony as all three warships approached the main quay. Although still some distance away, Jason’s ships had at least become visible to the naked eye. Nevertheless, the king and the duke both raised their telescopes and they scanned the seven ships in unison.
‘Ah. Prince Jason has at last ordered his vessels to raise their standards,’ the duke observed. ‘The flags seem a little larger than usual. What do you think your majesty?’
‘They need to different,’ the king replied instantly. ‘The question is whether they will pass as Royal Navy standards from a distance.’
‘We can only hope so, your majesty.’
They watched as some protestors ran along the main quay to offer assistance to the mooring French vessels. The vessels had hardly become secured when hundreds of French soldiers in blue jackets and black hats commenced disembarking down the gangplanks. They swiftly assembled on the main quay to the sound of cheers from the crowd of protestors gathered near the harbour entrance. The crowd had swelled to well over two thousand souls.
‘Listen to those fools,’ the king scoffed. ‘They think that their hour has come.’
‘The French have brought about eight hundred soldiers,’ the duke remarked thoughtfully. ‘And their sailors, most of who are still on board, are probably armed too. At least another four hundred and fifty, I should imagine.’
‘More than we thought,’ the king remarked ruefully. He glared scornfully at the protestors.
The French troops commenced marching down the main jetty towards the city. Without warning, several of the Montugan cannons in the concealed emplacements higher above the harbour fired shots which landed in the water just short of the three French frigates. The French troops stopped abruptly. Some bumped into others as their formation lost shape. They regrouped nervously, apparently awaiting orders from their commanders.
‘They were clearly not expecting to face artillery.’ The king grinned and rubbed his hands together. He reached out to the royal guard standing next to him in order to reclaim his telescope. The lenses revealed a hastily convened conference of French officers on the main quay. They were staring at several clouds of smoke, each of which exposed the location of previously concealed Montugan artillery positions higher in the city above them. One of the French officers could be seen gesticulating wildly in the direction of the harbour entrance.
‘That officer realises that the French are sitting ducks on that quay. I bet he is wondering whether to order their troops to run down the main quay towards the city before our canons can destroy it,’ the king speculated. He then noticed a perplexed expression on the face of another French officer as the latter stared down the quay at the protestors who were gesticulating wildly. It took a few moments for the French officer to appreciate that the protestors were not pointing at his soldiers, but at something further afield.
‘Damn,’ said the king as he adjusted the telescope. ‘All their officers are now facing the other way. I can’t see any of their faces. I would pay handsomely to see their expressions now.’
Seven warships were now in full view in the bay. Five were drawing up to the breakwater and were about to enter the harbour. Two of the larger ships of the line remained outside the breakwater. The latter vessels were turning hard-a-port, signalling an intention to deliver a massive broadside into the harbour which threatened to destroy all three French frigates at anchor. The vulnerable sterns of each of the three French frigates now faced the guns of both of the newly arrived warships, albeit at an angle. None of the French frigates were in a position to fire any of their cannons at any of these warships. Massive flags flew from the aft section of each vessel.
The French troops remained standing impassively on the main quay. Some mouths hung open and as they stood about in small groups, staring at each other or fidgeting awkwardly. They seemed uncertain about what to do next. In the face of the volley of cannon fire which had emanated from emplacements in the city above them the only wise option open to them was to beat a hasty retreat towards their ships. But it had become abundantly obvious that those ships faced imminent destruction from the guns of the recently arrived warships. The French officers could again be seen huddling in a group. The faces those officers who were visible in the king’s telescope revealed concern and dismay in equal measure.
‘Your majesty, my misgivings about the plan were evidently unfounded,’ the duke concluded gleefully as he briefly lowered his telescope. ‘The French officers seemed transfixed by and completely overwhelmed by their apparent uncertainty…just as the prince had predicted. I believe the prince’s ruse has succeeded. I am convinced the French officers believe that the royal navy has arrived to confront them.’