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Westward Ho！
by Charles Kingsley
TO
THE RAJAH SIR JAMES BROOKE； K。C。B。
AND
GEORGE AUGUSTUS SELWYN； D。D。
BISHOP OF NEW ZEALAND
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED
By one who （unknown to them） has no other method of expressing his
admiration and reverence for their characters。
That type of English virtue； at once manful and godly； practical
and enthusiastic； prudent and self…sacrificing； which he has tried
to depict in these pages； they have exhibited in a form even purer
and more heroic than that in which he has drest it； and than that
in which it was exhibited by the worthies whom Elizabeth； without
distinction of rank or age； gathered round her in the ever glorious
wars of her great reign。
C。 K。
FEBRUARY； 1855。
CONTENTS
I。 HOW MR。 OXENHAM SAW THE WHITE BIRD
II。 HOW AMYAS CAME HOME THE FIRST TIME
III。 OF TWO GENTLEMEN OF WALES； AND HOW THEY HUNTED WITH THE
HOUNDS； AND YET RAN WITH THE DEER
IV。 THE TWO WAYS OF BEING CROST IN LOVE
V。 CLOVELLY COURT IN THE OLDEN TIME
VI。 THE COMBES OF THE FAR WEST
VII。 THE TRUE AND TRAGICAL HISTORY OF MR。 JOHN OXENHAM OF PLYMOUTH
VIII。 HOW THE NOBLE BROTHERHOOD OF THE ROSE WAS FOUNDED
IX。 HOW AMYAS KEPT HIS CHRISTMAS DAY
X。 HOW THE MAYOR OF BIDEFORD BAITED HIS HOOK WITH HIS OWN FLESH
XI。 HOW EUSTACE LEIGH MET THE POPE'S LEGATE
XII。 HOW BIDEFORD BRIDGE DINED AT ANNERY HOUSE
XIII。 HOW THE GOLDEN HIND CAME HOME AGAIN
XIV。 HOW SALVATION YEO SLEW THE KING OF THE GUBBINGS
XV。 HOW MR。 JOHN BRIMBLECOMBE UNDERSTOOD THE NATURE OF AN OATH
XVI。 THE MOST CHIVALROUS ADVENTURE OF THE GOOD SHIP ROSE
XVII。 HOW THEY CAME TO BARBADOS； AND FOUND NO MEN THEREIN
XVIII。 HOW THEY TOOK THE PEARLS AT MARGARITA
XIX。 WHAT BEFELL AT LA GUAYRA
XX。 SPANISH BLOODHOUNDS AND ENGLISH MASTIFFS
XXI。 HOW THEY TOOK THE COMMUNION UNDER THE TREE AT HIGUEROTE
XXII。 THE INQUISITION IN THE INDIES
XXIII。 THE BANKS OF THE META
XXIV。 HOW AMYAS WAS TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL
XXV。 HOW THEY TOOK THE GOLD…TRAIN
XXVI。 HOW THEY TOOK THE GREAT GALLEON
XXVII。 HOW SALVATION YEO FOUND HIS LITTLE MAID AGAIN
XXVIII。 HOW AMYAS CAME HOME THE THIRD TIME
XXIX。 HOW THE VIRGINIA FLEET WAS STOPPED BY THE QUEEN'S COMMAND
XXX。 HOW THE ADMIRAL JOHN HAWKINS TESTIFIED AGAINST CROAKERS
XXXI。 THE GREAT ARMADA
XXXII。 HOW AMYAS THREW HIS SWORD INTO THE SEA
XXXIII。 HOW AMYAS LET THE APPLE FALL
WESTWARD HO！
CHAPTER I
HOW MR。 OXENHAM SAW THE WHITE BIRD
〃The hollow oak our palace is；
Our heritage the sea。〃
All who have travelled through the delicious scenery of North Devon must needs know the little white town of Bideford； which slopes upwards from its broad tide…river paved with yellow sands； and many…arched old bridge where salmon wait for autumn floods； toward the pleasant upland on the west。 Above the town the hills close in； cushioned with deep oak woods； through which juts here and there a crag of fern…fringed slate； below they lower； and open more and more in softly rounded knolls； and fertile squares of red and green； till they sink into the wide expanse of hazy flats； rich salt…marshes； and rolling sand…hills； where Torridge joins her sister Taw； and both together flow quietly toward the broad surges of the bar； and the everlasting thunder of the long Atlantic swell。 Pleasantly the old town stands there； beneath its soft Italian sky； fanned day and night by the fresh ocean breeze； which forbids alike the keen winter frosts； and the fierce thunder heats of the midland； and pleasantly it has stood there for now； perhaps； eight hundred years since the first Grenville； cousin of the Conqueror； returning from the conquest of South Wales； drew round him trusty Saxon serfs； and free Norse rovers with their golden curls； and dark Silurian Britons from the Swansea shore； and all the mingled blood which still gives to the seaward folk of the next county their strength and intellect； and； even in these levelling days； their peculiar beauty of face and form。
But at the time whereof I write； Bideford was not merely a pleasant country town； whose quay was haunted by a few coasting craft。 It was one of the chief ports of England； it furnished seven ships to fight the Armada： even more than a century afterwards； say the chroniclers； 〃it sent more vessels to the northern trade than any port in England； saving （strange juxtaposition！） London and Topsham；〃 and was the centre of a local civilization and enterprise； small perhaps compared with the vast efforts of the present day： but who dare despise the day of small things； if it has proved to be the dawn of mighty ones？ And it is to the sea… life and labor of Bideford； and Dartmouth； and Topsham； and Plymouth （then a petty place）； and many another little western town； that England owes the foundation of her naval and commercial glory。 It was the men of Devon； the Drakes and Hawkins'； Gilberts and Raleighs； Grenvilles and Oxenhams； and a host more of 〃forgotten worthies；〃 whom we shall learn one day to honor as they deserve； to whom she owes her commerce； her colonies； her very existence。 For had they not first crippled； by their West Indian raids； the ill…gotten resources of the Spaniard； and then crushed his last huge effort in Britain's Salamis； the glorious fight of 1588； what had we been by now but a popish appanage of a world… tyranny as cruel as heathen Rome itself； and far more devilish？
It is in memory of these men； their voyages and their battles； their faith and their valor； their heroic lives and no less heroic deaths； that I write this book； and if now and then I shall seem to warm into a style somewhat too stilted and pompous； let me be excused for my subject's sake； fit rather to have been sung than said； and to have proclaimed to all true English hearts； not as a novel but as an epic （which some man may yet gird himself to write）； the same great message which the songs of Troy； and the Persian wars； and the trophies of Marathon and Salamis； spoke to the hearts of all true Greeks of old。
One bright summer's afternoon； in the year of grace 1575； a tall and fair boy came lingering along Bideford quay； in his scholar's gown； with satchel and slate in hand； watching wistfully the shipping and the sailors； till； just after he had passed the bottom of the High Street； he came opposite to one of the many taverns which looked out upon the river。 In the open bay window sat merchants and gentlemen； discoursing over their afternoon's draught of sack； and outside the door was gathered a group of sailors； listening earnestly to some one who stood in the midst。 The boy； all alive for any sea…news； must needs go up to them； and take his place among the sailor…lads who were peeping and whispering under the elbows of the men； and so came in for the following speech； delivered in a loud bold voice； with a strong Devonshire accent； and a fair sprinkling of oaths。
〃If you don't believe me； go and see； or stay here and grow all over blue mould。 I tell you； as I am a gentleman； I saw it with these eyes； and so did Salvation Yeo there； through a window in the lower room； and we measured the heap； as I am a christened man； seventy foot l