Advertisement [iii]
A preface is now considered an established introduction to a book, yet the writer of the following pages ventures to usher in his work without the usual formal bow. Like Sir John Falstaff, he might talk of plentiful reasons, but he contents himself with two; namely, that his book is addressed solely to those whose young hearts, alive to every natural emotion, will glow at the generous and lofty deeds of their renowned countrymen, without the necessity of the recorder requiring of them – while their frank minds demand no flattery to win their favourable regard.
L.D.
London, Nov. 1, 1842.
Contents
Edward the Black PrinceJoy in England on the Birth of the Prince – At thirteen created Prince of Wales – Entrance into military life – Battle of Cressy – Affecting anecdote of the old King of Bohemia – Sea fight off Winchelsea – Danger of the Prince – Second expedition to France – Battle of Poitiers – Heroic resolution of the Black Prince – The conqueror turns page – Entry of the Prince with the captive French King into London – Marriage of the Prince – Third expedition to France – Death – Interred in Canterbury Cathedral 1
Sir Francis Drake
Birth and parentage – Humble industry – Treachery of the Spaniards – A naval divine’s opinion – Hostile expedition against the Spanish Indies – A friendly warning – Attack on Nombre de Dios – Formidable battery – Spanish courage – Spanish treasure – Drake wounded – Ingenious artifice – First sight of the Great South Sea – The treasure mules – Narrow escape from the Spaniards – Delicacy of a maroon chief – Drake’s generosity – Arrival at court – Drake fits out a splendid squadron – Sails for the South Sea – Singular conduct of Balboa – A sailor’s jest – Felipe, the Indian – Valuable prize ship – Ternate – Story of a Chinese exile – Fire flies – Ship repaired – Wonderful escape from shipwreck – Return to England – Elizabeth visits the ship and knights Drake – A family quarrel – Drake singes the King of Spain’s beard – Year of the Armada – Last expedition – Death and burial of Drake at sea – Fables and traditions concerning Drake 29
Sir Walter Raleigh
Birth – Early inclination for an active life – Becomes one of a gallant band – Legend of the muddy cloak – Raleigh rises in favour with Elizabeth who knights him – Raleigh’s study – Raleigh’s first pipe in England – Sowing gunpowder – Weighing smoke – A witty beggar – A Queen’s jealousy – Raleigh’s first captivity – Restored to favour – Expedition against Spain – Rivalry of Essex – An awkward knight – The “boy” yeoman – Raleigh’s splendour in dress – James I – Raleigh tried for High Treason – Defence – Sentenced to Death – “The Pilgrimage” – Reprieved and sent to the tower – Raleigh’s studies, companions, and amusements – Meanness of James – Liberation of Raleigh – Voyage to Guiana – Old sentence revived against Raleigh – Warrant for execution – Parting with Lady Raleigh – Verses written by Raleigh in his Bible – The scaffold – A venerable spectator – The last scene – Young Raleigh at court 65
Admiral Blake
The dwarf student – Begins public life at fifty-one – Portuguese protection – A rich French prize – Blake’s noble conduct to a gallant French captain – War between England and Holland – Van Trump’s refusal “to take his hat off” – A Brave man as safe as a coward – Van Trump’s broom – The English acknowledged “Masters of the Seas” – Blake punishes the Governor of Tunis and fires his fleet – Collects tribute – English sailors at Malaga – Their improper conduct punished – Blake interferes – Cromwell’s approval – The plate-fleet destroyed at Santa Cruz – Superstitious consolation of the Spaniards – Blake sails for England and dies on the passage – Embalmed and buried in Henry the Seventh’s Chapel 96
John Duke of Marlborough
Enters life as page to the Duke of York – The page turns soldier – Turenne’s “Handsome Englishman” – Marriage – Lord Churchill joins the Prince of Orange – Created Earl of Marlborough – A boat adventure – “The Earl” becomes “The Duke” – Charles of Austria – Prince Eugene and the English troops – Throwing away the scabbard – Battle of Blenheim – Better troops than “The Best” – Battle of Malplaquet – Marlborough’s humanity – A Frenchman’s valuation of the Duke – High esteem of George I – Marlborough retires to Blenheim, and dies there – Anecdotes of Marlborough – Fenelon – A grumbling servant – The Duchess’s revenge – A living tomb 102
General Wolfe
Commencement of military career – Excellent order of Wolfe’s battalion – Affairs in Canada – Attack on Louisbourg and capture of the town – Frozen out – Quebec – A reduced army – Noise and work – Careless outposts – Battle of Quebec – Close fire – Wolfe wounded – Dies on the field – Remains carried to England – A Mother’s claim 136
Sir Ralph Abercromby
Begins active life at threescore – A Retreat in Flanders – Honour and emolument – Holland again – Sir Ralph ordered against the French in Egypt – Enters Aboukir Bay – A friend turns into a foe – Gallant landing of the troops – The French driven back – Effects of the Mirage – Battle of Aboukir – Fighting in the dark – Peril of Sir Ralph – A Corporal takes sure aim – Abercromby’s wound – Dies on board the flag-ship – A patriarchal father 154
Sir John Moore
Early days – The young Duke of Hamilton – Moore and the Emperor Joseph – Captain Moore becomes a merchant’s clerk – Corsica – The West Indies – Egypt – An army of prisoners – Easy drilling – Anecdote of William Pitt and Moore – A true soldier – The peninsula – Presence of mind in an officer – Terrible retreat – Sad disappointment – Sir John Moore resolves to fight – Captain Basil Hall – Adventure of a pig – Battle of Corunna – A cannon-ball wounds Sir John – Highland bearers – Burial of Sir John Moore – Private character – Embarkation of the troops 184
Admiral Lord Nelson
The rectory – Certain provision for life – “What is fear?” – Adventure with the pears – “Remember! It was left to our honour” – Desolate days – Nelson sails towards the North Pole – A bear hunt – “I will be a hero!” – Nelson’s presence of mind saves many lives – A poor fisherman – Prince William Henry’s description of “The Boy Captain” – Nelson’s kindness to his “Middies” – Marriage – Battle of St. Vincent – A Faithful Coxswain saves Nelson’s life – Attack on Santa Cruz – Nelson loses his right arm – Curious memorial of services – Nelson and the mob – A whimsical certificate 224
Admiral Lord Nelson, (continued)
Nelson rejoins Earl St. Vincent – Battle of the Nile – Sad fate of the Orient – Strange present of a coffin to Nelson – Anecdotes – An old German pastor – The wine merchant of Hamburgh – Humanity of Captain Riou – Battle of the Baltic – Nelson’s anxiety to give the French “a drubbing” – Nelson’s last signal – Battle of Trafalgar – Death of Nelson – Sailor’s relics 255
The Duke of Wellington
The two military students – Wellington’s first campaign – India – Tippoo’s bracelets – The peninsula – Heights of Guinaldo – Strange French review – Taking of Ciudad Rodrigo – Passage of the Garonne ingenious stratagem of an English officer – Abdication of Buonaparte – Wellington at Dover – Brussels – Battle of Quatre Bras – Napoleon out – Generalled – Waterloo 278