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westward ho-第189章

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ovember: which day was wholly spent in fasting; prayer; and giving of thanks。

〃Likewise the Queen's Majesty herself; imitating ye ancient Romans; rode into London in triumph; in regard of her own and her subjects' glorious deliverance。  For being attended upon very solemnly by all ye principal Estates and officers of her Realm; she was carried through her said City of London in a triumphant Chariot; and in robes of triumph; from her Palace unto ye said Cathedral Church of St。 Paul; out of ye which ye Ensigns and Colours of ye vanquished Spaniards hung displayed。  And all ye Citizens of London; in their liveries; stood on either side ye street; by their several Companies; with their ensigns and banners; and the streets were hanged on both sides with blue Cloth; which; together with ye foresaid banners; yielded a very stately and gallant prospect。  Her Majestie being entered into ye Church together with her Clergy and Nobles; gave thanks unto God; and caused a public Sermon to be preached before her at Paul's Cross; wherein none other argument was handled; but that praise; honour; and glory might be rendered unto God; and that God's Name might be extolled by thanksgiving。 And with her own princely voice she most Christianly exhorted ye people to do ye same; whereunto ye people; with a loud acclamation; wished her a most long and happy life to ye confusion of her foes。〃

Yes; as the medals struck on the occasion said; 〃It came; it saw; and it fled!〃  And whither?  Away and northward; like a herd of frightened deer; past the Orkneys and Shetlands; catching up a few hapless fishermen as guides; past the coast of Norway; there; too; refused water and food by the brave descendants of the Vikings; and on northward ever towards the lonely Faroes; and the everlasting dawn which heralds round the Pole the midnight sun。

Their water is failing; the cattle must go overboard; and the wild northern sea echoes to the shrieks of drowning horses。  They must homeward at least; somehow; each as best he can。  Let them meet again at Cape Finisterre; if indeed they ever meet。  Medina Sidonia; with some five…and twenty of the soundest and best victualled ships; will lead the way; and leave the rest to their fate。  He is soon out of sight; and forty more; the only remnant of that mighty host; come wandering wearily behind; hoping to make the south…west coast of Ireland; and have help; or; at least; fresh water there; from their fellow Romanists。  Alas for them!


     〃Make Thou their way dark and slippery;       And follow them up ever with Thy storm。〃


For now comes up from the Atlantic; gale on gale; and few of that hapless remnant reached the shores of Spain。

And where are Amyas and the Vengeance all this while?

At the fifty…seventh degree of latitude; the English fleet; finding themselves growing short of provision; and having been long since out of powder and ball; turn southward toward home; 〃thinking it best to leave the Spaniard to those uncouth and boisterous northern seas。〃  A few pinnaces are still sent onward to watch their course: and the English fleet; caught in the same storms which scattered the Spaniards; 〃with great danger and industry reached Harwich port; and there provide themselves of victuals and ammunition;〃 in case the Spaniards should return; but there is no need for that caution。  Parma; indeed; who cannot believe that the idol at Halle; after all his compliments to it; will play him so scurvy a trick; will watch for weeks on Dunkirk dunes; hoping against hope for the Armada's return; casting anchors; and spinning rigging to repair their losses。


     〃But lang; lang may his ladies sit;         With their fans intill their hand;       Before they see Sir Patrick Spens         Come sailing to the land。〃


The Armada is away on the other side of Scotland; and Amyas is following in its wake。

For when the lord high admiral determined to return; Amyas asked leave to follow the Spaniard; and asked; too; of Sir John Hawkins; who happened to be at hand; such ammunition and provision as could be afforded him; promising to repay the same like an honest man; out of his plunder if he lived; out of his estate if he died; lodging for that purpose bills in the hands of Sir John; who; as a man of business; took them; and put them in his pocket among the thimbles; string; and tobacco; after which Amyas; calling his men together; reminded them once more of the story of the Rose of Torridge and Don Guzman de Soto; and then asked:

〃Men of Bideford; will you follow me?  There will be plunder for those who love plunder; revenge for those who love revenge; and for all of us (for we all love honor) the honor of having never left the chase as long as there was a Spanish flag in English seas。〃

And every soul on board replied; that they would follow Sir Amyas Leigh around the world。

There is no need for me to detail every incident of that long and weary chase; how they found the Sta。 Catharina; attacked her; and had to sheer off; she being rescued by the rest; how when Medina's squadron left the crippled ships behind; they were all but taken or sunk; by thrusting into the midst of the Spanish fleet to prevent her escaping with Medina; how they crippled her; so that she could not beat to windward out into the ocean; but was fain to run south; past the Orkneys; and down through the Minch; between Cape Wrath and Lewis; how the younger hands were ready to mutiny; because Amyas; in his stubborn haste; ran past two or three noble prizes which were all but disabled; among others one of the great galliasses; and the two great Venetians; La Ratta and La Belanzara which were afterwards; with more than thirty other vessels; wrecked on the west coast of Ireland; how he got fresh water; in spite of certain 〃Hebridean Scots〃 of Skye; who; after reviling him in an unknown tongue; fought with him awhile; and then embraced him and his men with howls of affection; and were not much more decently clad; nor more civilized; than his old friends of California; how he pacified his men by letting them pick the bones of a great Venetian which was going on shore upon Islay (by which they got booty enough to repay them for the whole voyage); and offended them again by refusing to land and plunder two great Spanish wrecks on the Mull of Cantire (whose crews; by the by; James tried to smuggle off secretly into Spain in ships of his own; wishing to play; as usual; both sides of the game at once; but the Spaniards were stopped at Yarmouth till the council's pleasure was knownwhich was; of course; to let the poor wretches go on their way; and be hanged elsewhere); how they passed a strange island; half black; half white; which the wild people called Raghary; but Cary christened it 〃the drowned magpie;〃 how the Sta。 Catharina was near lost on the Isle of Man; and then put into Castleton (where the Manx…men slew a whole boat's…crew with their arrows); and then put out again; when Amyas fought with her a whole day; and shot away her mainyard; how the Spaniard blundered down the coast of Wales; not knowing whither he went; how they were both nearly lost on Holyhead; and again on Bardsey Island; how they got on a lee shore in Cardigan Bay; before a hea
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