i- life*- .-^ '6 THE PALACE A^D THE HOSPITAL OB CHRONICLES OF GREENWICH. VOL. n. <^mi THE PALACE AND THE HOSPITAL OK, CHRONICLES OE GREENWICH. THE 1!EV. A. G. L'KSTRA.NiGE, AUTHOR OF ' THE VILLAGE OF PALACES,' * THE FKIENDSHIPS OF MART RUSSELL MITPORD/ ETC The QuEE^ s House, 16C5 IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. H. LONDON : HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 13, GEEAT MARLBOEOUGH STEEET. 1886. All Rights veserDed. CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. CHAPTER I. James I. — Challenge of Chivalry — Armoury — Lord North ampton — Arabella Stuart — Raleigh — Proposed Spanish Marriage . . ...... 1 CHAPTER II. Charles I. — Scarcity of Money — Theatres — Witches — Loyalist Demonstration — Charles Departs from Green wich — Sale of Art Treasures .... 27 CHAPTER III. Decay under Commonwealth — Van Tromp — General Deane — Condition of the Palace . , . . • 44 CHAPTER IV. Admiral Montagu — Sir John Lawson — The Earl of Sand wich — Kempthorne — Harman .... 50 CHAPTER V. Tree-planting at Grfeenwich— The 'Queen's House'— Building of Charles II.'s Palace— Sir John Denham— Evelyn 61 vi CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. James IL — Flight of the Queen — "War with France — Battle of La Hogue — Sir Christopher Wren ... 75 CHAPTER VII. The Hospital Commenced — Slow Progress — Retirement of Evelyn . 86 CHAPTER VHL Founding of the Observatory — Flamsteed — His Expenses at Greenwich — Jealousy of Newton — Halley Succeeds 91 CHAPTER IX. Lord Torrington — Defeated off Beachy Head — Lord Aylmer — Sir John Leake — Siege of Londonderry . . 109 CHAPTER X. Privateers — Kidd Employed — His Piratical Proceedings — His Trial and Execution . . . . .117 CHAPTER XI. First Pensioners Admitted — Political Conflicts — Last Hours of Queen Anne — The Duke of Ormond — Thornhill 129 CHAPTER XII. The Earl of Derwentwater — Leaves Dilston Hall — Progress of the Insurgents — Welcome in Lancaster — Capitulation — Execution — Confiscation of his Property . .142 CHAPTER XIII. Sir John Jennings — Sir John Balchen — His Misfortunes — Loss of the Victory ...... 156 CONTENTS. vii CHAPTER XIV. Pelham — Chesterfield — His Retirement — Letters to his Sou — Advice to a Lady — Gradual Decline — Dr. Johnson at Greenwich — Polly Peachum . . . .162 CHAPTER XV. Hostilities in America — Failure and Death of Byng — Wolfe's Early Days — Admiral Saunders — Capture of Quebec 177 CHAPTER XVI. Hawke and Conflans — Rodney — The Luxembourg Gallery — Palliser — The French Command the Channel . 190 CHAPTER XVII. Royal Visits to Greenwich — The Duke of York and Albany — His Reception in France — Death and B^uneral . 205 CHAPTER XVIII. Bradley, Astronomer-royal — His Industry and Retiring Character — Maskelyne — Visits Foreign Countries — Improved Instruments ..... 209 CHAPTER XIX. Parentage of Cook — Love of the Sea — Promoted to the Navy — Arrives at New South Wales — Explores the Antarctic Ocean — His Last Voyage . . .215 CHAPTER XX. Rodney Resigns — Comte de Grasse — Great Victory — Lord Hood— The Roijal George— Ellison . . .228 CHAPTER XXL Government of the Hospital — Baillie's Account — Landsmen Employed — Peculation — Official Abuses — Complaints and Trials 241 viii CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXIL Expedition of Royalists — Melancholy Defeat — ^Intrepid Con duct of Ellison — Locker — Hunter . . . 260 CHAPTER xxin. State of the Navy — Mutiny at Spithead — Lord Bridport — Colpoys' Imprisonment and Release . . .268 CHAPTER XXIV. Depressed State of Greenwich — Smuggling — Robberies — Outrages — Duels 275 CHAPTER XXV. Ambition of Nelson — His Family and Relations — Letter to Locker — Capture of the San Josef- — Letter to Lady Nelson — ^Victory of the Nile . . . .284 CHAPTER XXVI. Nelson at Naples — Copenhagen — Trafalgar — His Death and Funeral — Villeneuve — Lady Hamilton — Memorials of Nelson at Greenwich . . . . .298 CHAPTER xxvn. Lord Collingwood — His Unremitting Service — Kindly Nature — ^Letters to his Daughters . . . 321 CHAPTER xxvin. Greenwich Fair — Disorderly Scenes — Exhibitions — ' The Devil at Greenwich Fair' — ^Its Suppression . 336 CHAPTER XXIX. The Princess Sophia Matilda — Pond — Airy — Fire at the Hospital — Hostelries — Fish Dinners — Retrospect . 345 Index ........ 3gi THE PALACE AND THE HOSPITAL. CHAPTER I. JAMES I. —CHALLENGE OF CHIVALRY — AEMOURi' — LORD NOKTHAMP- TON — ARABELLA STUART — RALEIGH — PROPOSED SPANISH MAR RIAGE. The grant made by James when he first carae to Greenwich from Scotland was well in accordance with the festive character of the place. It Avas a license to certain players,, among them William Shakespeare, to perform ' comedies, tragedies, his tories, interludes, morals, and pastorals,' and hence forward the actors previously called the Lord Chamberlain's servants gave themselves the high- sounding title of the king's servants. They acted at Blackfriars and the Globe, but in the latter (in 1613) during the performance of ' All is True,' an adapta tion of ' Henry VIII.,' they fired off cannons so liber ally at the scene where Henry comes to Wolsey's masquerade, that they set the thatched roof on fire and the theatre was burnt to the ground. VOL. II. B 2 CHALLENGE. On the 20th of May there were grand doings at Greenwich, many knights were dubbed, among them Sir Julius Csesar,^ and at night the Thames was radiant with fireworks. James stayed here for the greater part of this June, and we may suppose that he appreciated the place, for in 1606 a complaint was made by the Lord Mayor that he had been ordered by the Lords nf the Council to supply two hundred pair-horse carts and the Lord Mayor's barge for removing the king's effects to Greenwich. The civic authorities dolefully called attention to the great obstruction to trade which the fulfilling of these commands would entail, and respectfully ob served that the Lord Mayor's barge was not intended for the conveyance of baggage.^ The following challenge shows what gallant con tests took place at Greenwich in 1606, what sound opinions were held, and what pointed arguments* were used : ' To all honourable men at arrmes, and knights, adventurers of hereditarie note and exemplarie noblesse that for moste maintainable actions do weild eyther sword or lance in quest of glorie. ' Right brave and chivalrous wherever thorowe the world. Wee four knights errant, denominated of the fortunate Hand servants of the destinies, awake ' An eminent lawyer, son of C;03ar Adelmar, physician to Mary and, Elizabeth. 2 James is said to have been the first to wall in the park. Some of the brick wall on the south side seems of considerable age, but we find that iron raihngs were substituted for the wall towards the heath in 1776. CHALLENGE. 3 y'' sleeping courage with martial greetinge. Know you that our sovereign ladie and mysters, mother of the fates and emprisse of high acchievemente, hath been revolving of late the adamantine leves of her eternal volumes, and findinge in them the triumphale times were now at hande wherein the marvelous adventures of the Lucente Pillor^ should be revayled to the wonder of times, and (Merline, secretary to her most inward designes, did long since profesie) hathe therefore (most deeplie weighing with herself how necessarie it is that some oppinions should pre pare the ways to worthye Celebration of so unheard of mysterries) been pleased to command us her volun taries, but ever most humble votaries solemnly to publishe and maynetaine by all the allowed wayes of knightly arguing these foure undisputable pro positions following : ' 1. That in the service of ladies knights have no free will. ' 2. That it is beaty mayntaynes the world in valor. ' 3. That no fayre ladie was ever false. ' 4. That none can be perfitly wyse but lovers. ' Against which or any of which, if any of you shall dare to argue at poynte of the lance and sword in honorable list before rarest beaties and best Judg ment, know you that wee, the said assured Champions by the highe sufferance of heaven and vertue of our knightlye valor, be redie in the vale of Mirefleur constantly to answer and make perfitt o^ imposed 1 In Ben Jonson's 'Masque of Beauty,' acted next year, 1607, the ' tralucent pillar ' stood in the centre of the throne, so these two performances seem to have had some connection. b2 4 ARMOURY. undertaking, against all such of you as shall within forty days after o'' firste publike intimation of this universale challenge maine to attend the glorious Issue, thrise fames adventure of the Lucente PiUor, in Avhich the prizes are reserved ordayned by the happie fate of o'' countrie to crown o"^ succeeding days of Triall at tilt, turnye, and Barriers.' We thus find that Greenwich continued to main tain its character as the scene of gallant exploits. There had been from the days of Henry VIII. a magnificent armomy here, consisting mostly of suits of tilt-armour, some of which we see now in the Tower. There was also a manufactory of ' Almaine ' armour established here by Henry, and this was the first place in England where iron and steel armour was made. The workmen were Germa^^s; previously there was only in this country a company of linen. armourers. We are also told that ' Queen Ehzabeth, though a wom.an and thrifty, kept up the armoury, and accounted it a regalia, and oftentimes went into the workhouses and the mill. Tilting, running at the ring, quinting, and barriers were kept up by Elizabeth and James.'' We find from the state accounts that in 1611 the armour for the ordinary soldiers was mostly kept in the Tower, but. there was a splendid collection at Greenwich, consisting principally of whole suits made for noblemen or princes. In what was called the 'Greene Gallery' were eleven full suits, some black, some white, some gilt and engraven. The horse-harness was of silvered steel, with steel saddles ' State Domestic MSS., 1662. OVERBURY. 5 and bridles and gilt bosses. These panoplies were made for the Earls of Leicester, Shaftesbury, Kildare, and other noblemen. There were here one hundred and fifty lances, one hundred and forty-five corslets, a good supply of swords, and also some ornamental objects, for we read of 'tusks for the wild boar,' ' birds of Arabia,' painted shields, and a great standard. In ' the great chamber at Mr. Pickering's,' a gentle man who seems to have had the supervision of the armoury, were eighteen other suits made for noble men, the king, and prince. One grand suit is espe cially mentioned as having been given by Sir John Smith to the king. It consisted of back, breast, almaine collar, burgonet, morion, sleeves of mail, steel saddle, gilt target, belt of crimson A^elvet, gilt stirrups, and two cases of pistols. On the 19th of June, 1608, James knighted at Greenwich Thomas Overbury, a man of old family, integrity, and learning. He seemed destined to rise to high and honourable preferment, but fell a victim to a woman Avhose face sadly belied her heart. The Countess of Essex was so lovely that she almost shook the resolutions of pious Prince Henry, and entirely captivated Carr (Viscount Rochester), the king's unscrupulous favourite. Under this new fas cination, she refused, though but lately married, to associate with her husband, and locked herself up in a dark room, counterfeiting intense grief. After many vain entreaties, Lord Essex troubled her no longer, but let her have her own way, Avhich ended in her living openly with Carr. Sir Thomas Overbury was Carr's bosom friend, but one day, unhappily A'eiituring 6 LORD NORTHAMPTON. to expostulate Avith him about his relations with the countess, he made both the lovers his deadly enemies. They resolved upon his destruction, and the favourite soon managed so to prejudice James that Overbury was committed to the Tower. There a serA'ant Avas introduced who sloAvly poisoned him. Some leading persons seem to have been compromised in the mat ter, and Sir Thomas Monson sent the unfortunate man a delicious jelly, after which he was in great suffering.-^ Rochester and the countess were even tually married ; they were afterwards tried and found guilty of the crime, but James reprieved and par doned them. One of Carl-'s intimate friends was Lord Northamp ton, a son of the Duke of Norfolk, who did not escape the influences of the Court in which he lived. This nobleman was cognisant of the intrigue with the countess, and even assisted in having Overbury com mitted to the ToAver, but it may be doubted whether he was implicated in any darker proceedings. He was not put on his tiial, and accusations against him must be received Avith caution, as he was unpopular, being reputed to be what he Avas, a Romanist. If letter- Avriting indicates anything, his character must have been very different from those around him, for his A'iews are not only well expressed, but are in a clear, clerkly hand, almost like printing. In the subjoined, from GreenAvich, we have proofs of his attachment to ' One Simon Mason, a servant of JMonson's, carried a poisoned tart to Overbury. The judge said to him, ' Thou hadst a hand in this poisoning.' ' No, my lord, only one fiuger, and that cost me all my hair and nails.' *¦ HIS LETIER, 7 Carr ; Ave must bear in mind that it was written some years before the favourite was found guilty of murder. Earl of Noriliampto-n io Viscount Rochester. ' SwETE Lord, ' Believe that tbe very sight of any man that cares for you creates an appetite in me to let you know that men have leisure to think tenderly of their best friends in comfort that live in a Avilderness, never hearing any other news of the world than as Amadis de Gaul did in his hermitage by passengers . . . . I am exceeding joyful to hear that this Avet summer hath not taken auy hold of you by heate, though ague in these parts has been so busy . . . but that you are likely by the grace of God to Ka'c as many years as any man, if you light not into the hands of some such mahgnant enemy as not long since did the best he could to abridge your days by cream and straAvberries out of an infinite desire to be rid of you .... Were I so happy as sometimes to meet Avith my lord of Rochester-upon these hills, I should hold myself more happy than the little lord that Avas so desirous, as he said at Bath, to spend his Avhole life without separation from your Welche Earl, who is likely to prove an alchemist, having learned during the short time wherein he conversed with his hydropical Adonis to work both by sulphur and mercury .... ' Your lordship's most affectionate and ' Constant friend to do you service, ' Northampton.^ ' August 2, 1612.' ¦¦ State Papers, Doraestic MSS, xx, 21, James I. 8 GREENWICH CASTLE. The queen seems to have been fond of Greenwich. She often kept her court there when James was ab sent, and so, when she required an increase of income, this palace and park were settled upon her, with other properties, ' for one hundred years, if she live so long.' Lord Northampton was keeper of GreenAvich Park, and, though a Avealthy man, became, as we shall see, much alarmed lest he should lose his place, as the queen dishked CaiT and his associates. To Sir Thomas Lake. ' Worthy Sir Thomas Lake, ' Being awakened with the daily alarms coming out of the queen's side that her ma jesty Avould thrust me out of my little cell in the park of Greenwich, that she A^alues not my patent under the broad seal at a penny, and that she will be absolute, I thought good to take advice of my learn ed counsellor, upon comparing my patent with the strength and value of the king's warrant, holding it unsafe to put myself further into the mercy of a wrathful mistress (Avhom I have neither offended in word or deed) than I must upon necessity. ' My counsel, having perused my patent, Avish rae to bcAvare of a blow, for they hold it lawful for her, being put in possession of the king's grant (before any counsel be taken to secure my right) to thrust me out both of the lodge and of the keeping of the game (so as she see me satisfied with the fee, which is threepence by the day) at her own pleasure .... ' In ttiis place I Avas brought up as a child, I lived many years after I grcAV up to be a man, I have be- LORD NORTHAMPTON. 9 stowed out of my purse £2,000, and in this place I would be glad, Avith the king's gracious favour, to give up my last gasp and lay my bones. Wherefore I pray you, good Sir Thomas Lake, Avith all speed possible to acquaint his majesty with the Avhole state of my poor tenure, that his majesty may secure his humble beadsman before the grants do pass. ' My years are in number more than the recreations and refreshments of my spirits which this place affords. I would be glad to spend the few days that are behind Avith some little comfort between fits. The disgrace, Beside, is somewhat greater than I Avould willingly undergo without the least desert in my declining years .... ' Your affectionate and faithfully assured friend, ' Northampton.^ ' Whiteliall, December 9, 1613.' It does not appear that Lord Northampton suffered the disgrace he feared, but about this time he Avas accused of conniA'ing, as warden of the Cinque Ports, at the introduction of Jesuits into England, and Avas reprimanded by the king. The earl died when seventy-five, six months after the above letter was written, at the house he had built (almost entirely) at Charing Cross, called Northampton House. This mansion he bequeathed to the Earl of Suffolk, Avho called it Suffolk House, and it finally became North umberland House, and, as the last of the river-side houses of the nobihty, gave until lately an air of ancient respectability to the neighbourhood. Lord Northampton Avas fond of building, and en- 1 The spelhng in these letters has beeu a little modernized. 10 NORFOLK COLLEGE. larged and beautified the castle on the hill at Green wich (noAV succeeded by the Observatory), where he resided. Perhaps, also, he had some belief in sal vation by merit, for he founded in 1603 an establish ment for poor men at Greenwich, which was for some time known as Greenwich Hospital. Its proper name was Norfolk College, and the earl endowed it with land near Charing Cross, making the Mercers' Company the trustees. This building can be seen at the present day on the riA-er bank beyond the Hos pital. It has a small tower, on the front of Avhich is a slab, with the inscription — hospitale SANCT.aE ET INDIVIDU^. TRINITATIS. GRENWICI, 1616. Through the tower a tiny quadrangle is reached, surrounded by an arcade like a cloister. The pointed arches have a modern look, but the short, wide win- doAvs above, Avith their stone mullions, are decidedly old. The establishment contains a warden and tAventy men, twelve from GreenAvich and eight from Nor folk; but the society may be somewhat melancholy, as all the rnen are AvidoAvers. There is a large garden at the back, from Avhich the widoAvers are allowed to sell fruit and vegetables.-' I Close to jSTorfolk College, on the east side, there stood a house with five oriel Avindows in front of it, and of so imposing an ap pearance that it was actually engraved as Greenwich Palace. It is marked on the map of 1695, and probably belonged to some Court official. Mr. Henry Eichardson, who has long studied the antiquities of Greenwich, tells me he remembers having seen this house in his youth. LADY ARABELLA. 11 The body ofthe earl lies here, haAang been removed from the chapel of Dover Castle when it became ruinous. There is a fine marble statue of him in the chapel, Avhere he appears a handsome old man in a court dress with wide ruffles.' Raleigh had no loA'e for James, and, as soon as that monarch came tothethrone, he joined in a conspiracy to supplant him. The Romish party Avere to be roused, and Lady Arabella Stuart, the king's first cousiu, waste be proclaimed. But the bqld enter prise failed, the plotters Avere found guilty of high treason, some Avere executed, and Raleigh Avas com mitted to the Tower. In that dark solitude the man, Avhose world-exploring mind was full of sea voyages and distant conquests, Avore out, like an eagle chained, thirteen years of his life. But his soul could not be fettered. Great in conception, though curbed in action, his thoughts still roved through time and space, and he employed the hours of his confinement in writing no less a work than the ' History of the World.' Monarchs were not yet able to regard Avithout alarm the marriages of their near relations. Lady Arabella had not herself shown any disloyalty, but James now kept a vigilant watch upon her flirtations. She was a girl of spirit, and withal cultivated and ' On June 4th, 1617, Chamberlain writes to Sir D. Carleton : ' Yesterday there fell a great mischance to the Earl of Arundell by the burning of his house (built and left him by the Earl of Northampton) at Greenwich, where he likewise left a great deal of household stuff and rich furniture, the fury of the fire being such that nothing could be saved. No doubt the Papists Avill as cribe and publish it as a punishment for his dissembling and fall ing from them.' 12 LADV ARABELLA. witty. In a letter to the Earl of Shrewsbury she writes in 1603 of Taxis, the Spanish ambassador, as folloAvs : — ' I Avritt to you of the reason of the delay of Taxis' audience; it remaineth to tell hoAV jovially he be haveth himselfe in the interim. He hath brought great store of Spanish gloves, hawkes' hoods, leather for jerkins, and, moreover, a perfumer ; these delica cies he bestoweth amongst our Ladies and Lordes. I will not say av' a hope to effiminate the one sex, but certainly av' a hope to grow gratious av' the other, as he already is. The curiosity of our sex drew many La and gentleAvomen to gaze at him betAvixt his landing-place and Oxford, which he, desirous to satisfy (I Avill not say nourish that vice), made his coche stay and took occasion av' pretty guiftes aud courtesies to Avinne soone-wonne affections. At Ox ford he took som distast about his lodging, and Avould needes lodge at an inne, because he had not aU Christ's Colledge to hiselfe.'' There were plenty of candidates for the forbidden fruit, perhaps more from the prohibition, and among them we may reckon that fantastical fellow, Wil liam Fowler (secretary to the queen), who calls her ' the eighth wonder of the Avorld.' Up to her thirty- fifth summer she was kept in check, but at last baffled the royal locksmiths, and formed an alliance with young Wilham Seymour, grandson of the Earl ^ Lady Arabella was one of the ' beautiful ladies ' who acted in Ben Jonson's ' Masque of Beauty ' in 1607. ELOPEMENT. 13 of Hertford.^ James was highly incensed, and Seymour was bundled off to the Tower, while Arabella Avas placed under supervision in her own house at Highgate. But it would seem that no strict guard was kept, for the prisoners were able to communicate and to make arrangements for a flitting in the bright month of June. Seymour put on at night the clothes of his lackey, Avhom he left tucked up in his bed, to deceive the keeper, and Arabella passed from her home in the costume of a gay gal lant. ' They Avere to meet at Greenwich, Avhere, under the A^ery shadow of the royal palace, daring sailors were wont to congregate ready to assist offenders to escape out of the king's dominions.^ Lord- Seymour Avas punctual, and departed, leaving Avord for his wife to follow to .Dunkirk. But Lady Arabella, delayed perhaps in adjusting her unusual costume, was late, and found by sad experience that time and tide wait neither for man nor woman. When she reached the vessel waiting for her, two hours of the ebb had been lost. The folloAving letter from William Monson to the council evidently refers to this unfortunate attempt. ' January 4, 1611. ' Right Honourable, ' Taking boat at Whitehall to go to Bilhngsgate 1 She had been reprimanded in 1609 for receiving attentions from this W. Seymour. He afterwards distinguished himself in the civil wars and became second Duke of Somerset. The title at his death went to a cousin, whose son married the heiress of the Perc3's. Their son became Duke of Northumberland, whose son- in-law. Sir Hugh Smithson, became ancestor of the present dukes.. "¦ ^Ve find this work going on in 1633. 14 ELOPEMENT. to change my Avaterman, my Lord of Walden's man, with Avhom I went, told me that yesterday about five in the afternoon he, being at Blackwall, there passed by in a boat certain gentleman that was Avont to keep company Avith Mr. Will Seymour, and that at the same time there Avas ashore in a taA^eru a young gentleman and a middle-aged gentlcAvoman. For my better satisfaction I carried the said Avaterman Avith me to BlackAvall, where I understood the fare he Avaited for was the Lady Gray, daughter to the Earl of Shrewsbury, who he landed at GreenAvich, and that there came to the gentlemen and gentle- Avoman a man by land and another in a pair of oars by water, both of them in cloaks alike, and he that came by water landed here and put the other aboard his boat, Avho followed, the gentleman and gentle- Avoman being put from the shore a little before their coming. ' Upou further examining, I have found and sent to your lordships the Avaterman Avho carried them, and because my going requires expeditiou, I refer most to the man's relation, only thus much it is fit your lordships should know from me that seven miles beloAv there lay a French bark of purpose to take them in, aud had a sign by showing a flag when they should come aboard them. About four o'clock this morning they came aboard and set sail, two hours being spent of the ebb. I make account that tide they recovered but the North Foreland, and, if the Avind Avere easterly, they cannot this night re cover Calais, Avhither they are bound. I have already sent to the narrows seals for a ship to stand over for PURSUIT. 15 Calais, and for the more certainty I have sent another packet to my lords at GreeuAvich to send aAvay in haste Avith gallies open. I have stayed an oyster- boat, and have put men and shot into her, and am hasting after them with all the haste I can for my life. - William Monson.' If Lady Arabella had taken the tide at the turn, her fortune would have been different. Those two hours lost were never regained. While she Avas beating against the flood, Monson's messengers Avere spurring to Dover. There ships put out, and it must have been an exciting chase. Poor Arabella Avas not only in sight of France, but in the A^ery roads of Calais, Avhen one of King James' ships captured her. She was brought back ignominiously, and locked up in the ToAver, where in 1615, after four years of durance, she died — insane. Our next record will be of a similar failure. Raleigh was at last released from the Tower, probably owing to his holding out hopes to James that he Avould open up gold-mines in South America, and fill the king s empty coffers. It is uncertain Avhether he really thought he could accomplish this, or Avhether, demoralized by long confinement, he sought to gain his liberty by a plausible story, and to start on a buccaneering expedition. The British admirals of that date showed much of the wild spirit often found among sea-faring men, and had little respect for the rights of foreigners. Whatever his vieAvs, James gaA^e him command of a naval force to search for 16 DECEIT. the mines, but not to molest the Spaniards. But iu the sequel the only gold he acquired was that Avhich he obtained by pillage. The Spanish ambas sador loudly complained of his depredations. On his arrival in England he started from Ply mouth towards London, to surrender himself to the king. But he met Sir LeAvis Stukely, Vice-Admiral of Devon, who came with orders to arrest him. Stukely was a relation of his, and, representing that there Avas no pressure for time, they returned to gether to Plymouth. Soon afterwards Stukely Avas commanded to bring Raleigh to London Avith such expedition as his health Avould permit, and the latter, to lengthen the time and gain opportunities of escap ing, feigned illness, and procured from a French quack a composition which, being rubbed upon him, made him ' all pimpled, his face full of great blisters of divers colours, having in the midst a little touch of yellow and round about like a purple colour." Raleigh, thinking that this Frenchman (to whom he gaA'e money) was true, employed him to negotiate Avith Stukely, to whom he offered fifty pounds in fnoney and ' a jewel made in the fashion of hail, poAvdered Avith diamonds, ha\-ing a ruby in the mid dle valued at a hundred and fifty pounds.' Stukely accepted it, but said that he Avould have to fly the country Avith Raleigh, and AA-ould lose his office of vice-admiral, for AA^hich he bad given six hundred pounds." No fallen man ever experienced greater treachery ^ Nannton says Raleigh offered him £10,000. TREACHERY. 17 than Raleigh at this time. Captain King, a really stanch friend, hired one Hart, his boatswain, to have his ketch ready to convey Raleigh to France. The man took the money, and promised secrecy and fideHty, but forthwith gave information to the Goverumeut. King believed that the boat Avould be Availing at the appointed time at Tilbury. Raleigh still feigning illness, obtained pennission to live at his own house on reaching London. The day after his arrival, August Sth, he decided upon attempting to escape, and arranged Avith Stukely, Avhom he thought an honest man, to accompany him. Accordingly Raleigh arrived at the Tower dock the next night, wearing a false beard and a hat Avith a green band. Stukely and his son came Avith him. Sir Walter asked if all was ready, and King an swered in the affirmative, adding that the cloak, bag, and four pistols were in the boat. They had not rowed above twenty strokes when the waterman informed them that Jlr. Herbert, a govemment official, had lately taken a boat, and, having rowed up the riA-er, was now coming down after them. Raleigh became alarmed, and thought of returning ; but Stukely, Avho wished to compromise him, accused him of being timid, and acted his part so vigorously that he began cm-sing and swearing, and threatened that he would kill the Avaterman if he did not pull away for Tilbm-y. In this unpleasant way they passed Greenwich, Avhere a wherry crossed their bows in a suspicious manner. Raleigh again wished to tum back, but was persuaded by King and Stukely to proceed. VOL. II. C 18 TREACHERY. The tide began to flow- as they came before Wool wich, and, finding that they could not reach Graves end that night, Raleigh proposed to land at Purfleet. While this measure was being debated, and they were about a mile below Woolwich, tAvo or three ketches passed them. Raleigh now perceived that he was betrayed, and ordered the boatman to row back, hoping that he might reach home undiscovered. They had scarcely turned when another wherry came up, and Raleigh told Stukely to pretend that he was still a prisoner in his custody, which he did. They then, Avith some mutual dissimulation, con cocted a story that might account for this strange excursion, aud expressed the greatest confidence in each other. They landed at Greenwich, and at GreenAvich Bridge"- Stukely told King that it would be well if he should pretend to be a consenting party to the betrayal of his master. King boldly refused to make himself so contemptible, and Stukely thereupon arrested him, and gave him in charge to some of Herbert's men. They all then went to a tavern, and Raleigh said to Stukely: 'Sir Lewis, these actions will not turn out to your credit.'^ Ten Aveeks afterwards Raleigh stood on the scaffold at Westminster. One of the last things he said was : ' I forgive Sir LcAvis Stukely the wrongs he has done me with all my heart.'^ "¦ A structure for landing. ^ Chamberlain writes to Sir Dudley Carleton : ' It Avas a fowle pas-de-clerc for an old cousiner to be so cousined and overtaken.' ^ His property was confiscated. James ordered his scientific instruments to be seized as of no use to his wife. Lady Raleigh replied that the money they would sell for would be of great use to her. FUNERAL POMP. 10 The -queen died in the beginning of 1619. Her faA'Ourite residence Avas Somerset House, called dur ing the time of her occupancy Denmark House. But she was also often at Greenwich, and, as she Avas fond of masquerades and other festivities, no doubt some times thepalacewasthusenlivened. She was much here in the spring of 1617. She had just had a fit of the gout, aud seems to have been growing more serious, for Ave hear that she did not miss a single Lent sermon. She now commenced the Queen's House here after a plan by Inigo Jones. Her funeral was on a grand scale, and the cost was estimated at £40,000. From Chamberlain's de scription of it, we might suppose it appeared more ludicrous than solemn. ' It was but a drawling, tedious sight, more remarkable for numbers than for any other singularity, there being tAvo hundred and eighty poor women, besides an army of mean fellows that Avere servants .to the lords and others of the train ; and though the number of lords and ladies Avas very great, yet we thought altogether they made but a poor show, which Avas perhaps because they wen' apparrelled all alike, or that they came laggering all along, even tired Avith the length of the way and the Aveight of their clothes, every lady having twelve yards of broadcloth about her, and the countesses sixteen.' The king Avas living at Greenwich at this time, and the day before the funeral, when the queen's trunks, cabinets, and jewels, valued at £400,000, were brought there in four carts from Denmark House, he scrutinised the inventory very closely, and 0 2 20 PRINCE CHARLES. made some presents to favourites. He , was a man Avho, perhaps for his studious habits, soon bowed to accomphshed facts, and the ambassadors who came to condole with him after the funeral were surprised to find him dressed in gay attire, as if nothing what ever had happened. Perhaps he Avas in the better spirits as he Avas recoA'-ering from illness. We read- that ' during the late hunting progress he bathed his legs in every stag's and buck's belly he killed, and is now better.' Raleigh's death was a retribution Avorked by the king of Spain, whose wealthy daughter James was hoping to obtain for his son, afterwards Charles I. The negotiations about this marriage commenced in 1616, and lasted seven years. At first the king of Spain was not in earnest about it, but eventually Philip IV. was anxious that it should take place, as he thought to gain great advantages for the Roman Church. A froHc, however, of Buckingham's put an end to all these important arrangements. The young -favourite thought that he and the prince might have a very pleasant time in Spain during the preparations for the wedding. We are glad to find that Charles, Avho was destined to lead such a troubled hfe, had some merriment in his early days. One morning in May, 1616, Ave find him in the gardens of Greenwich playfully turning a jet of water on ViUiers— an impertinence for which the king administered a sound box on the ear.^ ' Sherburn to Carleton. We read of a fountain in one of the palace gardens in Ehzabeth's time, which, on a tap being turned, Avet all the spectators. HIS RECEPTION IN SPAIN. 21 James found he could not refuse, and so the young men started, disguised in beards, as Thomas and John Smith. In Paris they also wore bushy periwigs, and, thus 'translated,' Prince Charles saw for the first time, on his Avay to the Infanta, his future queen, Henrietta Maria. He arrived in JIadrid on the 17th of March, where the Earl of Bristol Avas greatly as tonished to see him. The Spanish court were equally surprised at his arrival, and came to the conclusion that he was come over to be admitted into the Catholic Church. He was soon pressed on the subject by several ecclesiastics, and even received a hortatory letter from the Pope. Meanwhile festivals were prepared for him, among others a great bull-fight. Brilliant Avas the assembly and great the carnage : the height of civilization stood beside the depth of barbarism ; but, disgusting as such a combination was, the combat Avas not debased to its present level. Men of rank entered the arena, and on this occasion Don Diego de Raminez and Don Pedro de Toledo were thi-own. There was less cowardice at that time, and Ave read that ' com monly there are men killed at the sports, therefore there are priests appointed to be ready to confess them,' and ' it often happens that a bull has taken up two men upon his horns, with their vitals dangling about them.' There was at least some courage shown in facing such horrible deaths ' to make a Roman holiday.' It is pleasant to turn aside from this noisy and barbaric exhibition, and to think of Spain as the land of love and castanet. Prince Charles thought so, Ave 22 ROYAL COURTSHIP. may be sure, though in some respects his courtship was carried on under difficulties. He was allowed to see the Infanta Avith her mother, but never alone, and he could only converse Avith her through the unplea sant medium of an interpreter, Lord Bristol. His pleadings were therefore only those ofthe eye, but they were apparently earnest of their kind, for James Howell writes : ' I have seen the prince Avith his eyes immovably fixed on the Infanta half-an-hour together in a thoughtful, speculative posture, which sure Avould need be tedious unless affection did SAA'eeten it ; it was no handsome comparison of Oli- vares' that he watched her as a cat does a mouse.' One day Charles determined — instigated, perhaps, by Villiers, who Avas always ready for merry mischief — to break through his golden chains, and seek a pri vate, even though a clandestine, intervioAV. It was in the month propitious to lovers, and the princess was wont to resort early inthe morning to the Casa del Campo, the king's summer-house beside the river, to inhale the fragrance of the orange-blossoms and gather the mystic May-dew. The prince was ac companied in this attempt only by Endymion Porter, his gentleman ofthe chamber, Avho was almost Spanish, and could translate his pretty speeches. They found no difficulty in obtaining admission into the house and adjoining garden, but the Infanta was iu the orchard, and there was a high wall in the Avay and a strong door doubly bolted. Here they seemed to be baffled, but they Avere active and ardent, and soon found means to climb to the top of the Avail, spring doAvn from a great height, and make toAvards the princess. GRAND PREPARATIONS. 23 She was the first to observe the invasion, and, giving a shriek, ran back. Her guardian, an old marquis, immediately adA'anced, and, on seeing the rank of the intruder, fell on his knees and conjured him to retire, - as, if he allowed an intervicAv, his head might be the forfeit. Charles could not disregard the old man's entreaties and alarms, and so had to abandon his romantic enterprise, and submit to be handsomely bowed out through the orchard gate." Greenwich meanwhile was in a state of joyous commotion. JeAvels were arriving from the Tower, among them the great ' Portugal diamond,' to be sent to Spain for the adornment of the bride and bride groom — to the latter James sent diamond buttons, and the ' Mirror of France ' to be Avorn in his hat, with a black feather. Towards the end of May the Earl of Rutland was at Sandwich with ten ships waiting for favourable Avinds to carry him to the Spanish festivities. ' The prince's ship,' in Avhich the royal pair were to return, ' was as richly furnished as if it were to recei\'-e a goddess.'^ Rutland Avas de tained in the DoAvns by adverse winds 'in this flotinge and toteringe prison of the sea,' as he calls it, until the 14th of June, and on the day he sailed James sent Inigo Jones and Allen the player (the founder of Duhvich College) to Southampton to repair the road, and organize pageants for the diversion of the Infanta on her way to London. The Spanish ambassador went to inspect the preparations for the princess at Denmark House and St. James's, and generally ap- 1 James Howell to Captain Thomas Porter. 2 Chamberlain to Carleton. 21 SPANISH REQUIREMENIS. proA^ed of them ; but the chapels seemed poor -com pared Avith the rich Spanish sanctuaries, and he ordered a new one to be built to each house by Inigo Jones. All these arrangemeuts and the munificence of James were uoav leaving but little money in the royal coffers, and we find complaints about the ex penses of the Spanish ambassador, whose diet cost £80 a day. It was represented that he should only be alloAved the same fare as the king, that is thirty dishes daily, Avhich, Avith the sweetmeats, would not come to more than £20 daily. The Spanish ambassador extraordinary (Inojosa) arrived on the 16th of June, Avith between thirty and forty well appointed attendants. He and his suite were conveyed from their ship at Gravesend to afr«, audience at Greenwich in eight barges, and thence in many coaches to Exeter House, which was sumptu ously furnished for their reception. The Spaniards seem to haAi-e been in gay attire, and Chamberlain ~ writes, ' Whether it be so indeed, or out of knavery, our boys will not allow their gold lace but by touch ing or sraelling, so Avill needs persuade it is copper.' Scarcely had Rutland put to sea after his long suspense, Avhen he was met by orders to return. In telligence from Spain arrived, shoAving that the mar riage could not be ratified for some time. Bucking ham's hand re-appeared, and the whole of the elabor ate preparations collapsed as by a magician's touch. Mystery shrouds the motives of his action in this matter ; but at his instance Charles wrote to his father saying that he would probably be detained in Spain as a prisoner for life. James was overcome with LETTER FROM JAMES. 25 alarm and grief, and indited at Greenwich a melan choly epistle to ' Babie ' and Buckingham, commenc ing, 'My sweete Boyes,' and concluding, ' Alace ! I now repente me sore that ever I suffered you to goe awaye. I care for Matche nor nothing, so I maye once have you in my armes agane. God grawnte it I God grawnte it ! God grawnte it ! Amen ! Amen ! Amen ! I protest ye shall be as hairtilie wellcome as if ye hadde done all things ye Avent for, so that I maye oncehaA'-e you in my armes againe; and so God bless you both, my onlie sweete sonne and my onlie best sweete servante, as lette me heare from you quickelie with all speede, as ye love my lyfe. And so, God sende you a happie and joieful meeting in the armes of your deare Dade. ' James, R.' The plans of the Earl of Bristol for the marriage with the Infanta having failed, and the Prince and Duke of Buckingham having proposed Henrietta Maria as a substitute. Lord Bristol was recalled from Spain. Not only so, but when the earl returned he was placed under arrest until he should be examined. Sir Francis NethersoU writes to Carleton, July 3rd, 1624: ' My Lady Bristol continues at Greenwich to solicit hard that her lord might be brought to his trial, but whether thereupon or not I know not, but I am certain his charge is sent to him, and he proceed ing to answer it. His lordship is yet so farre from being converted from Spain that he saith the king hath committed the greatest error that ever he did, in having yielded to the breaking of that match.' 26 SILKWORMS. On July the 2 let, 1614, we find a grant of the office of keeping silkworms at Whitehall and Green wich. An attempt was being made to introduce those valuable insects into this country. Some of their eggs had been stealthily brought from China to Justinian by tAvo monks, but they were not grown further Avest than Greece until after the twelfth cen tury. Thence they made their way to Spain, and finally were introduced into France just before the above incidental notice of the attempt to cultivate them at Greenwich. 27 CHAPTER II. CHARLES I. — SCARCITY OF MONEA' — THEATRES — AVITCHES — LOYALIST DEMONSTRATION — CHARLES DEPARTS FROM GREENWICH — SALE OF ART TREASURES. Greenwich was in its zenith in the early days of Charles I. It was at this time a most interesting place both from its history and magnificence. The palace was an extensive conglomeration of buildings, a history in brick of the Tudor and Stuart dynasties ; for, while every monarch had made an addition, some of the old wojk still remained. Imagination can bring before us the three grand courts ; the first adorned with a bronze equestrian statue of Charles, the hall court (so called from the large tiled roofed banqueting-hall on one side of it), Avith a marble statue of the king, and the conduit court having a large fountain and basin in its centre. Beyond these, towards the park, Avere the queen's apartments, and the new ' white ' i.e., stone house — looking into gardens laid out with flower-beds, trim yew-hedges, marble statues, sparkling fountains, and ornamental summer-houses. The marbles at Greenwich were Avorth £13,710. A palace must haA'e been nobly adorned Avhich had 28 LIBELS. Avelcomed the great left-handed Holbein, the quick- - eyed Vandyke, and the grandly dreaming Rubens. Charles Avas always a lover of the arts. There is extant a letter written by James I. from Greenwich to Prince Charles, saying that he had long wished to establish an academy for the encouragement of men of art, but has not had money. He will noAv order certain sums to be paid to the prince to found some such public institution. But troublous times Avere approaching, and we soon meet with small indications of the coming storm. We find tAVO libels endorsed by Laud at Greenwich as having been set up at Paul's Cross on the Sunday before Whitsuntide, 1629 : ' The court now at Green Avich.' The first paper commenced — ' Oh ! king, or rather no king, for thou hast lost the hearts of thy subjects.' The writer calls on the king to purge his house and kingdom of idolatry. The second paper enlarges on the fate of Rochelle. The king, is called upon to hear the voice of God — ' Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer Stuart !' The king is charged to read these papers privately, and make use of the advice they contain before it is too late. Perhaps we have a proof of the groAving disloyalty two years later, Avhen the Lords of the Admiralty ordered that, if any master having charge of a ship passing the Mansion Piouse at GreenAvich, whilst the king, queen, prince, or standing house.be there resi dent, do not, according to ancient custom, strike its topsails and shoot off some pieces of ordnance, the porter of GreenAvich Palace is to arrest him FAST DAYS. 2& and detain him until he make condign satisfaction.-^ We have several indications of the scarcity of money about this time. An old ordinance against eating meat on fast days in Lent, Avhich had fallen into disuse, was uoav put in force by proclamation. The object does not seem to have been entirely re ligious, for the fines imposed by Elizabeth of three pounds upon the offender, and of forty shillings upon the owner of the house in which such sinful act was committed, Avere to be paid over for the benefit of the navy, and it is added that the increase of fisher men thus caused ivill be an advantage in proAdding men for the ships of war. A glimpse is obtained of the pecuniary embarrass ments of James and Charles from an application made to the king at Greenwich in June, 1632, by one Lewis le Myre, apothecary in ordinary to His Majesty, the Prince of Wales, and princess. He states that he served the king's father and mother for many years, and provided all the ' accompliments for the embalmation of both their majesties bodies,' costing him the greater part of his estate, for all Avhich he is unpaid and much in debt. He has also 1 1634, May 5th. Proclamation at Greenwich appointing the flags as well for the navy as for the ships of subjects of South and North Britain. None to carry the Union flag on maintop but king's .ships. Ships of England or South Britain shall carry the Red Cross, commonly called St. George's Cross, 'as of old time, and those, of Scotland or North Britain the White Cross, or St. Andrew's Cross. 1634, June 25th. Proclamation from Greenwich that persons are to abstain from encroaching on the patent of Captain Thorniff Francke for saving fuel aud lessening the smoke in London. 30 ABSENTEEISM. supplied for the households of the prince and prin cess ' many medicaments, perfumes, sweet powders, and odoriferous waters.' These allegations seem to have been true, for Charles ordered payment to be made of the sums claimed.^ Another proclamation from Greenwich at this time (1632) shows an uneasiness in the government, and a desire to propitiate the poorer classes. The evils of absenteeism, of Avhich we haA'e heard so much in modern times, were even then beginning to be re cognised. The Avrong was partly of a sentimental character, but Avas likely to affect the state and the pecuniary position of the poor, especially at a time when cheap transport of produce was unknown. The nobility, gentry, and ' abler sort of people ' with ¦ their families resorted in large numbers to London and Westminster. ' The money is draAvn from the counlies Avhere it ariseth, and spent in the City iu excess of apparel brought from foreign parts, and iu other vain delights and expenses.' ' No hospitality or Avork is given in the counties, and the poorer sort are not guided or governed.' Therefore, ' before the end of forty days, all persons of quality having country residences are ordered to depart from toAVii, and to. ' keep their habitations and hospitality.'^ Charles seemed to have wished to set an example of entertaining the people, for in January, 1638, he proposed reviving the hall (public table) at the king's three standing houses, Whitehall, Hampton Court, and GreenAvich, as in Henry VIII.'s time. ' Domestic State MSS. 2 State Domestic JMSS. MANSLAUGHTER. 31 A petition characteristic of the time had been presented to the king at GreeuAvich in the previous June. It ran as follows : To the King's Most Excellent Majesty. ' The most humble petition of John Davies and Anne his wife in the behalf of themselves and their three poor small children, ' Humbly Sheweth ' That your poor petitioner, John Davies, about Michaelmas last past, most unfortunately happening into the company of divers of his friends, as he then supposed, whereupon some difference falling out, there happened a man to be slain, for AAdrich your petitioner was taxed and endured much misery in prison therefore, nigh half a year, notwithstanding he was much wounded, very near to death. ' For which your petitioner at the last assizes for the county of Worcester received his trial before Justice Jones, where it was found manslaughter in your petitioner, who thereupon had his clergy, " and did read." But for the burning of your petitioner in the hand, the same was respited, in hope of your Majesty's most gracious pardon. ' May it therefore please your most excellent ma jesty to refer the examination of the matter hereof to your attorney-general. And if he find the same to be true, then in your abundant goodness to vouch safe your majesty's most gracious pardon to your petitioner with such benefit as accrued to your majesty thereby, the value thereof being small, towards pay ment of your- petitipner's debts, the maintenance of 82 THEATRES his wife and family, and the education of his children. This is answered ' at the court at GreenAvich ' to the effect that his majesty's pleasure is that the ¦ attorney-general should inquire into the truth of the matter.' Another petition presented to Laud at Greenwich by the churchwardens and constables of Blackfriars shoAVs how popular theatricals had become in 1631. These officials set forth that the play-house at Black friars is frequented to excess to the great incon- A'enience of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. A melancholy catalogue follows of all the miseries caused by the gay play-goers. The shop-keepers' business is stopped by the great concourse, espe cially by the coaches, their commodities being broken or beaten off their stalls. The inhabitants find great difficulty in taking in their beer, coals, and other necessaries. The passage to the water is cut off, and, if fire should break out, the consequences would be most serious. Persons of quality ' cannot go or re turn home,' and christenings and burials are greatly hindered.^ The council had previously ordered that only two theatres should be alloAved, one at Bankside and the other near Golden Lane, and the players promised that they would abstain from performing at Black friars. An order was now accordingly made at Greenwich against the ' inordinate use of play-houses and players.' Plays are to be allowed, if good order is observed, ' her majesty being pleased at times to ' Perhaps the growing spirit of Puritanism among the middle classes may have led to a little exaggeration of the inconvenience. AMUSEMENTS. 33 take dehght and recreation in the sight and hearing of them.' There are to be about the city two houses, and no more, one in Surrey and the other in Middle sex — i.e., the Globe, and the house built near Golden Lane by Allen, the actor. Each company may play tAvice a Aveek, not on Sunday, or in Lent, or in times of infection. The royal family seem to have been fond of the amusements of the time. We read not ouly of the queen's players and jester at Greenwich, but of the Master ofthe Bears, and his baiting them before the king and queen. There was also a tolerable orches tra, a composer of music, a tuner, eleven violins, two flutes, four sackbuts, five lutes, and a virginal." So much for the amusements of the day. But we can imagine more solemn scenes, and even at this distance of time think we can hear ' the pealing organ blow To the full-voiced choir below,' and see Charles and his brilliant retinue assembled in the chapel royal. There Archbishop Laud, a small but dignified man, ascends the pulpit and preaches before the king. Both are men of strong Avill and character, determined to do what they consider right, upon both the dark angel whose visits to Greenwich are not few nor far between has laid his spectral hand. " In 1637 there were ' chair' organs at Whitehall and at Green wich chapel ; the friary chapel is still mentioned. In July, 1628,Franc.is, Earl of Rutland, Avas made, in place of the Earl of Worcester, deceased, ' Keeper of the Manor of the Pleasaunce in East Greenwich, the Stewardship and Bailiwick of Greenwich, and the keeping of the Fryery.' VOL. II. D 81 PROSELYTIZING. The enemies of the king and the archbishop ac cused them of favouring the Church of Rome. But there are some transactions at Greenwich which show how unjust were such charges. Laud, writing to the king on July 20th, 1634, says that Lord New burgh has made him (the archbishop) acquainted Avith the fact that two daughters of the late Lord Falkland are reconciled to the Church of Rome through their mother. The king remembers what suit Lord New burgh made at Greenwich, and Avhat command his majesty sent through Secretary Coke to the lady that she should forbear working on her daughters' consci ences, and give them leave to go to their brother. The lady ' trifled over all these commands,' pretend ed her daughters were sick, ' till uoav they are sick in deed, yet not without hope of recovery, for Lord Newbury informs the archbishop they meet with some things they cannot digest, and are willing to be taken again by any fair way.' Laud prays his majesty's leave to call the old lady before the high commission, and desires that she may be commanded from Court, where she is likely to breed inconvenience. A proclamation to the people of Scotland issued at GreenAvich, June, 1638, make the king's views still more clear. ' We neither were, are, nor, by the grace of God, ever shall be stained with Popish superstition, but are resolved to maintain the true Protestant Christian religion ; and we assure all men that Ave will not press the practice of the book of canons and service book, nor anything of that nature, but in such 'a fair and legal Avay as shall satisfy all our loving subjects, WITCHES. 35 that we neither intend innovation in religion or laws.' The prosecutions for witchcraft Avhich were com mon at this time impress us unpleasantly Avith the littleness of the human mind. The credulity aud disingenuity of high officers of state, is here seen side by side Avith the malice and envy of the poor. Those Avho had grudges against others, or wanted to extort money from them accused them of being Avitches, Avhile some seem to have pretended to supernatural influence for the purpose of intimidating their neighbours. A tale invented by one Robinson, a naughty little boy Avho wanted an excuse for not bringing home his mother's cows at the proper time, led to all the coraraotion about the Lancashire witches. Many stories of modern miracles can be traced to similarly puerile origins. This imaginatiA'e urchin told his father and mother that he found two greyhounds, and, having started a hare, the greyhounds refused to follow it. He thereupon tied them to a bush and beat them, Avhereupon one assumed the form of a woman and the other of a boy. The woman then put a bridle into the boy's mouth, and he became a white horse, and took up Robinson and carried him to a place called Horestones in Pendle Forest, Avhere he saAV a number of persons collected together. All this was confessed to have been an invention when the above-mentioned naughty boy was even tually examined by order of Secretary Windebanlc on July 10th, 1634. Meanwhile sad consequences resulted from this fabrication. d2 36 WITCHES Sir AViUiam Pelham Avrites to Viscount Conway on May 16, 1634 : ' The gi-eatest ncAvs from the country is of a huge pack of Avitches Avhich are lately discovered in Lan cashire, whereof rit is said nineteen are condemned, and that there are at least sixty already discovered, and yet daily there are more revealed. It is sus pected that they had a hand in raising the great storm wherein His Majesty Avas in such great danger at sea in Scotland. Seven surgeons and ten certifi cated midwives examined the bodies of the supposed witches, but found nothing unnatural about them.' It would appear that Margaret Johnson, widow, rather set up for a witch, and prided herself on being one, but the sixty above-mentioned dwindled down to seven. Bishop Bridgman, of Chester, writes very seriously about the witches to Secretary Coke and Windebank on June 15th, 1634. He receiA'ed an order to examine seven of the persons condemned for Avitchcraft iu Lancaster. Three of them died l§,tely in gaol, and one is sick beyond hope of recoArery. The other three he has examined. The old woman, Margaret Johnson, replied, with tears in her eyes, ' I will not add sin to sin ; I have already done enough, nay, too much, and will not increase it. I pray God 1 may repent.' She acknowledged being a witch. The bishop adds that he was told that if Dicconson (one of those accused) would have given Robinson forty shillings, neither he nor his son would have said anything against her. But the bishop did not further WITCHES. 37 inquire into these allegations, as they were ' against the king.' Mrs. Johnson said she had been a witch six years, and Avas brought thereto by vexations of her bad neighbours. About that time there appeared to her as she Avalked in the highway a man in black attire, who said if she Avould giA'e him her' soul she should want nothing, and have power to hurt whom she Avould. She refused, and he A'anished. He appeared to her afterwards, and at last she yielded, and he gave her gold and silver, which Ave are not surprised to hear ' soon vanished,' and she was always poor. He called himself Mamilion, aud Avhen he came generally took liberties with her. After this he appeared to her as a dog, a white cat, and a hare, and sucked her blood. She uever hurt anyone by AA'itchcraft. Seven or eight of her neighbours were witches, but most were dead. She frequented church before her compact with the devil, but seldom since. The other condemned witches denied the charge. One of them, Mary Spenser, twenty years old, said that her father and mother had been executed as witches. One Cunliffe accused her of calling a pail Avhich would run after her, but she explained, that she sometimes, going for water, rolled the pail down the hill, and may have called it when running beside it. On June 29th, 1634, the council ordered His Majesty's surgeons to select midwives to inspect again the bodies of the women brought up by the sheriff of the county of Lancaster indicted for witch craft. We'^are told that the prisoners were at this time kept at the ' Ship Tavern,' Greenwich. 38 RISING IN KENT. In 1 645, Colonel Blount, who was a parliamen tary commander, and had charge of protecting the palace buildings, amused the neighbours by drawing out his tiroops on the heath, where he exhibited a sham fight between Royalists and Roundheads. But such military shows did not satisfy the people, and in 1648 there was a loyalist rising against the continuance of Fairfax's army in Kent, where their proceedings Avere found most objectionable. In a declaration made by ' many thousands of the city of Canterbury and county of Kent,' we read that the Long Parliament ' had sat seven years to hatch cockatrices and vipers.' They have filled the kingdom with serpents, bloodthirsty soldiers, extor tioning committees, excise men, all the rogues and scum of the kingdom have been set on to torment and vex the people and eat the bread out of their mouths.' At length a petition was prepared and signed by twenty thousand persons, calhng upon the king to relieve the country of Lord Fairfax and his army. Notwithstanding threats of ruin and summary exe cution issued agaiust the signatories, the men of Kent marched to present their petition at West minster. They chose for their general Edward Hales, and Sir Thomas Peyton was next in command. The parharaent were seized with alarm, and, instead of listening to the complaints, ordered General Fairfax to see to the business. The ten thousand men of Kent marched on, and tbe adA-anced guard reached Blackheath and GreeuAA'ich on the 29th of May. There they met Lord Fairfax with seven CHARLES LEAVES GREENWICH. 89 thousand regular troops. The loyalists asked for leave to send ten of their number to present their petition. This was not noticed, but Fairfax prepared for action, and the loyalists fell back. Fairfax marched after a detachment of them to Farleigh, but meanwhile another body crossed Rochester Bridge, and, marching all night with Lord Goring at their head, arrived next day at Blackheath. They AA'aited in GreenAvich Park till evening for permission to pass through the city. But London was well- defended, and they could not obtain their object, and by degrees the insurrection of men ' naked and solitary' died out. The last foothold that Charles had near London was ' at Greenwich, whither he betook himself, in 1642, after his futile attempt to suppress Lord Kimbolton aud the five raembers. In vain he demanded that these members should be given up. It was published abroad that the king's followers went to the door of the House of Commons Avith pistols aud other Avea- pons, and great demonstrations Avere made in favour of the five merabers in the city and on the riA-er. The king now left Whitehall for Harapton Court. Leaving Harapton for Greenwich, Charles accom panied the queen to take ship for Holland, and then returned and ordered the Marquess of Hertford to bring the Prince of Wales from Hampton to raeet hira at GreeuAvich. The House of Coraraons there upon sent a message to the king on his way from Dover requesting that the prince might not be re moved from Hampton Court, and sent an order to the Marquess of Hertford not to remove the prince. 40 GRIFFITH. But the marquess preferred to obey the king, and some members of both houses went to Greenwich on Sunday, February 27th, to bring the prince back to London, but on arriving they found the king already there, who told them Avith dignity that he intended to take charge of the prince himself, and to carry him with him Avherever he went. Upon receiving this reply, they returned much disconcerted. This unpleasant affair arose from the mahgnity of one Griffith, a Welshman. He wanted the queen, Avhen shipping at Dover for Holland, to get him a place in the king's bed-chamber, and, being refused, said, ' Since he could not do the king a service, he would do him a disservice,' and went instantly to London and told the members of Parliament that the king was going to ship the prince for France. Hampden took this rascal in his arms and told him ' that his soul rejoiced to see that God had put it into his heart to take the right way.' The king did not now think himself safe in Lon don, and never entered it again before he set out on his unfortunate campaign. He departed from Greenwich to Theobalds in Essex, and so proceeded to the north, where he set up his standard.^ 1 We flnd that in this reign Greenwich was infested by a dis orderly rabble, some trying to make a liA'ing out of the courtiers and their attendants, some taking up their residence in the neigh bourhood, with a view to obtaining admission into the hospitals^ ' Tents,' i.e. booths for seUing drink were set up for the reception of these people, and such was the noisy Jollification thus occasion ed, that orders were made against ' tent keepers and artificers.' Until the year 1630, victuallers who followed the Court never ' erected tents to utter wines.' :i..i,' PRYNNE. 41 In 1637, sentence was passed in the star chamber against Bastwick, Burton, and Prynne, for dispensing ' a pernicious, damnable, , scurrilous iuA'ective and libel ' to excite the people against the king's ecclesi astical government. Mr. Shepherd, a silenced minister, writes (June 17th) about this trial in the star chamber, ' The Lord of Canterbury has possessed the king with I know not what. He slobbered OA'er a company of arguraents, and then he speaks for altars — altar! altar ! altar ! altar ! just Hke the fellow raonks of his acquaintance .... He said that Avhere there was Verbum Dei there was Corpus Dei. Oh ! wretched man, 'tis blasphemy. Many scandalous speeches con cerning the coming in of Popery. Here was Wren, the last Lord's Day he goes doAvn to GreenAvich, for sooth, and as he took water the people all there bade the devil take him, the devil go with him, so. that you raay see that it is God's mercy that he is hated of all the people.' In July, BastAvick, Burton, and Prynne Avere put into the pillory and ' clipped ' at Westminster. The ' light comraonpeople' strewed herbs andflowersbefore them, and, ' when Burton's ears were cut off, the people wept and grieved much, and at the cutting off of each ear there was such a roaring as if every one of them had lost an ear.' Prynne had the letters S L branded on his cheeks,^ and on returning to the Tower made the following epigram on the punishment : — ' Triumphant I return ! My face descries Laud's scorching soars — God's grateful sacrifice.' S L, Stigmata Laudis. ' Stigmata maxellis bajulans, insignia Laudis, Exultans remeo, victima grata Deo !' ' He had been clipped before, but his ears had been sewn on again. 42 ART TREASURES. In the time of the Commonwealtb, Greenwich fell into a deplorable state of decay. No repairs Avere undertaken, and the lawless spirit which had grown up led to depredations being committed. So unsafe was the locality that we read of a Mrs. Jane Pucker ing (perhaps a relation of the armourer) having been carried off from thence into Flanders in 1649, and of a well-armed ship being sent out to press the pick- eroons to rescue her. Robbery was now rife, and valuables belonging to the queen were extorted from the Avardrobe-keepers and servauts at the palace. On May 18th of this year the rich armour of the late king and all the tools and irapleraents of the Master Armourer at GreeiiAvich were searched for and seized, aud on July 4th a troop was ordered to Greenwich to preserve the deer in the park and oppose those Avho came to take them by violence. Charles had one of the most splendid collections of works of art in Europe, and when the intelligence spread abroad that it Avas to be sold, agents came to purchase from all the Powers that had been hostile to his government. Cardinal Mazarin sent to buy rich beds, hangings, and carpets for his palace in Paris. The King of Spain bought pictures for the Escurial at Madrid. Christina, Queen of SAveden, purchased choice medals, jewels, and paintings. Many of the finest pictures were bought by the Arch duke Leopold, and taken by him to Brussels and Germany; some, however, are noAv preserved at Wilton. Such a dispersion had never been known. Many valuables were ordered to be sold out of Greenwich, including the raarble statue of Charles, DESOLATION. 43 but next year the sale there Avas discontinued, and the house reserved for the use of the State. Inquiry was made as to who had the custody of the brass (or bronze) statues of the late king, one of which had stood in Covent Garden^ and one at Greenwich. The large halls and erapty rooras of the extensiA'e palace were now put to a variety of uses. Sorae of the courtiers and king's servants, araong them the Duke of Richmond, seera to have been allowed to reraain in certain apartraents, and in July, 1650, the council were inforraed that GreenAvich House, a place of strength,^ was full of raalignants aud disaffected per sons by whom use may be made of it against the public peace, and directed Sir H. Mildway (to whom parliament had committed the care and keeping of this house) to remove all families and persons of whose fidelity there is not very good assurance, especially Mr. Babington and his faraily.^ Another part of the palace was used as a storehouse. On March 25th, 1651, the council ordered the keeper of Greenwich House to allow the contractor for biscuits for the array in Scotland and for the navy to make use of certain rooras and houses at Greenwich with the ovens and utensils therein, and also the wharf, crane, and back-yard now unused. ' That now at Charing Cross, which was last at Covent Garden, was not set up there. It was sold by the Parliament to a man to be broken up, but he buried it until the Restoration, making meanwhile a profit by selling articles supposed to be made of it. 2 Perhaps especially referring to the castle or tower on the hill. ' We find an order dated January 21st, 1652, to search for and apprehend one Sir George Muskett, a Scot, servant to the late King of Scots, come from Sweden and lurking at Greenwich. 44 CHAPTER III. DECAY UNDER COMMONWEALTH — VjVN TROMP— GENERAL DEANE — condition of THE PALACE. ¦The CommouAvealth parliament sought to form a close alliance with the Republic of Holland, and in 1651 sent over an ambassador, St. John, to treat with the Dutch. But, as the proposals he raade Avere only to the advantage of England, he Avas coldly received, and his rude discourteous behaviour fended rather to separate the nations. He took precedence of the Duke of York (James II.) in a public walk at the Hague, and the Prince Palatine being present, struck his hat, and told him to respect the brother of his king. St. John refused to recognise the duke, and put his hand on his SAvord, but a crowd collected, aud he was obliged to retreat ignominiously to his lodgings. It is said that St. John was so much irritated that he persuaded Cromwell to take measures ¦ against the Dutch. An act was accordingly passed to prevent the Dutch vessels performing the carrying trade to England. Arabassadors came from Holland, in 1651 to complain of this change, and, as these were the VAN TROMP. 45> days of Van Tromp, it was thought desirable, to treat them with respect. Grand preparations were accordingly made for their reception at Greenwich. The landing-bridge having fallen into decay, a private flight of stairs from the river was constructed for their landing. The Privy Council chamber, long desolate, had its bare Avails again draped with rich hangings. Sir OHver Fleming, a raore suave master of the (Repub lican) ceremonies than St. John Avould have been, was ordered to repair to GreenAvich Avith members of Parliaiment to meet the plenipotentiaries, and to take state barges Avith hira for their conveyance to Lon don. But all this attention had little effect upon the irritated Dutchmen, who refused to consent to Crom well's proposals. They scarcely foresaw that this palace of GreeuAvich, and also Chelsea College, would soon be crowded with miserable captives of their own nation.^ Van Tromp, as soon as the Dutch Avere prepared in 1652, appeared in the Channel with forty-fiA'e ships of war. We can see a portrait of this famous admiral at GreeuAvich by Lievens, a contemporary. He appears a short, square-built Dutchman- in a steel collar, blue jacket, and immense brown breeches, his short hair and small pointed beard and moustache contrasting strongly with the sraooth faces and flowing ringlets of the English admirals. A battle Avas noAV fought with Blake, but the issue was indecisive. Another ambassador was thereupon sent to propose an agree ment, but nothing ivas effected. The same year Sir " A regiment was quartered at Greenwich to guard them. 46 VAN TROMP. George Ascough attacked the ships ot Admiral Ruyter, who Avas convoying Dutch merchantmen. A sanguinary conflict took place, and finally Ascough Avas compelled to retire. The English were now thoroughly aroused, and put to sea iu such force that they seized a fleet of richly-laden merchantmen from India and Portugal. But Van Tromp, whose fleet had suffered in a gale, soon again appeared in the Channel with seventy men-of-war and six fire-ships, and haA'ing driven away Blake, who was wounded in the engagement, pursued his course with a broom at his masthead, saying he would SAveep the Enghsh from the seas. On his return, however, convoying some merchant ships,, he was again attacked bythe indefatigable Blake, and a great battle was fought, but the Dutch succeeded in bringing home their three hundred merchantmen with the loss of only six. General Deane" shared the coramand with Blake in these severe engagements, and in the former action their ship, the Triumph, was at the point of being taken, the captaiu and one hundred men having been killed, when Lawson came to their rescue in the Fairfax. Deane was slain soon afterAvards in a vic torious action against the Dutch fleet. Monk and Deane, with ninety-five ships of war and five fire- ships, attacked (June 2, 1653) Van Tromp, Avho had ninety-eight and six fire-ships. Deane Avas struck by a chain-shot which nearly cut his body in two, but Monk, who was in the same ship, covered his mangled " He is called General of the Fleet. In those days laud ofScers often held command at sea. Even at the commencement of this century, many naval officers had little knowledge of navigation. GENERAL DEANE. 47 remains Avith a cloak, aud encouraged his men. Finally one of the Dutch first-rates blcAv up and the enemy retreated, though the valiant Van Tromp fired on those of his own ships that dre.AV out of the line of battle. Twenty of the enemy's ships Avere captured, burnt, or sunk, and one of their three admirals' flag ships went down. On the English side the chief loss was in the general's ship, in Avhich one hundred and twenty-six men Avere killed, but no officer of note except General Deane. Captain Richard Stayner. Avas in command of one of the ships, and came into the Thames shortly afterwards with twelve sail of our fleet disabled, eleven prizes, and one thousand three hundred and fifty Dutch prisoners." It Avas decided to give General Deane a public funeral, but it Avas necessarily to be of a simple and inexpensive kind, not to cost more than £60t). His body was accordingly brought up and laid in Green Avich Palace, the place most suitable from its royal aud naval traditions. John Portman writes about the obsequies with the religious affectation then iu fashion : ' 1 am glad to hear that there is such a spirit in our rulers as to discountenance the very appear ance of anti-Christ in their practices, as the vain pomp at the funeral of Lord Ireton was offensi\'e to many. It Avill be disowned in the burial of General Deane. I hope anti-Christ and his ways will fall every day in our nation.' Barges draped AA'ith black awaited the mourners, 1 Notwithstanding this defeat, Van Tromp in 1654 attacked, with ninety ships, one hundred and six English men-of-war of superior size, and was killed after a three days' indecisive action. -18 NAVAL SUCCESS. the Lords Coramissioners of the Great Seal, judges, and other state officials at the Tower stairs at two o'clock on the 21st of June, and, accompanied by those of the Lord Mayor and aldermen, proceeded to Greenwich, returning with the corpse, Avhich was landed at Westminster at seven in the evening. Cromwell was at war with Spain in 1655, OAviug to his haA'ing unjustly attacked their West Indian possessions. The next year Stayner, under Blake and Montagu, with four ships, fell in Avith a Spanish flotilla of eight ships, and in a few hours he sank one, burnt another, captured two, and drove two ashore. The treasure taken on this occasion was said to be worth six hundred thousand pounds, and Crorawell had it paraded in waggons through the streets of London. In the following year Stayner, under Blake, boarded and burnt the Spanish fleet at Santa Cruz — a wonderful feat of gallantry, consider ing their position and the batteries on shore. Claren don tells us that ' the Spaniaii'ds comforted theraselves Avith the belief that they Avere devils and not men who had so destroyed thera.' In 1 653 the Parliament decided to sell the greater .; part of the royal estate at GreenAvich. Babington purchased a considerable portioU, comprising his own house and garden, the friary, and the old house keeper's house and garden, for which he paid £9.79. No doubt the price was Ioav, as the title might sorae day be disputed. The onlj' other considerable buyer Avas one John Parker, apparently a speculator. He bought the queen's ucav buildings, or ' White House,' with the park of one huudred and eighty-seven acres, the SALES AT GREENWICH. 49 castle, lodge, trees, and pollards, ninety-six deer, and ' a sraall stock of coneys.' This raan did not pay the money stipulated, £5,778, though he sold the castle, deer, timber, aud one picture for £1,000, and the property Avas consequently resumed and placed in care of Babington. The mass of the palace buildings were not sold, that is those towards the river ; the First Court, the Hall Court, and Conduit Court, with the queen's lodgings, and the garden called the Comraon Garden, value £3,120 ; also the kitchen, AA'ard- robe, and Duke of Lennox lodgings, Avhich were valued at £707, and the tilt-yard and buildings £910. Babington had no sinecure in his charge at Green wich; in February, 1654, he Avas authorized to pre- A'ent ' the defacing of Greenwich House, and the plucking down and burning of the materials.' In that year it was declared that the palace and park were fit for the Protector, and should be reserved for him. Cromwell is said to have preferred Greenwich to Whitehall. Notwithstanding the religious tone adopted by the Republic, cases of forgery came into unpleasant pro minence at this time. We read of one Granger lying near the Feathers Tavern, Greenwich, charged with forging warrants for prize money, and Fugill, who forged debentures on a large scale, expresses his hopes of pardon in the edifying language then com mon. ' I Avill go to the king, like Esther, and say, hke Manoah's wife, " If God had an intent to destroy me, He would not have showed me these gracious dispensations." ' VOL. II. E 50 CHAPTER IV. AD.MIRAL MONTAGU — SIR JOHS LAWSON — THE EARL OF SANDWICH— KEMPTHORNE — HARMAN. Gladly Ave turn from this melancholy scene to a brighter and gayer spectacle. In the auspicious raonth of May, 1660, Charles II. returns araid the acclaraations of the people ; and the joy-bells of Greenwich, which have been silent for twenty years, ring out a merry peal of welcome. The fleet which conveyed the king was com manded by Admiral Montagu, who had been mainly instrumental in bringing the navy back to their allegiance. Charles — not in this case neglectful — made him, two days after landing, a Knight of the Garter, and soon he was created Earl of Sandwich, and appointed Lieutenant-Admiral to the Lord High Adrairal, Prince Jaraes. This Edward Montagu was a grandson of Lord Montagu, and had set the good, or bad, example of marrying when only seventeen. In his youth he devoted his energies to the cause of the Repubhc, but, on Cromwell assuming the chief power, became dissatisfied. He was in the army, but, nevertheless, DUTCH WAR. 51 was appointed to be, Avith Blake, joint commander of the fleet. It is remarkable that these men, both landsmen and unacquainted in early life with mari time affairs, should have raised the navy to such a high point of efficiency. Montagu, during his naval operations under the Republic, still continued to have the comraand of a cavalry regiment, and one of the causes of his becoming a royalist was his being depriA'ed of it on Cromwell's death. Lawson was then appointed to supersede hira in coraraand of the fleet. Richard Stayner, of whom we have spoken, went Avith Montagu to escort the king back, and was made a Rear-Admiral and re-knighted. He was buried at Greenwich in 1662. A change of government did not ensure peace Avith the Dutch. In 1664 war Avas coraraenced against them by Charles IL, the Duke of York (afterAvards Jaraes IL) seizing the Dutch horaeward bound fleet, laden with wine and brandy — a capture likely to be much resented by the jovial burghers. The duke took on this occasion one hundred and thirty ships, which were sold as prizes. War was now formally declared, and the Dutch were repre sented as the aggressors. In an amusing play Charles is made to ask a courtier, Avho has been spending a Aveek with his wife ' for a change,' what have been his experiences. He replies, 'Affectionate on Monday, agreeable on Tuesday, cool on Wednesday, provoking on Thurs day ; on Friday we skirmished a little, and on Satur day we had a regular engagement.' B 2 52 NAVAL 'And how didst thou come offf inquires the king. 'Much as your Majesty's generals do Avith the Dutch. I claimed the victory, but she loon the battle.' There was some point in this satire, but, in 1665, a signal success was scored by the Duke of York. In command of one hundred and seven men-of-war and fourteen fire-ships, he sailed over to the Texel, and when he retumed to Harwich for provisions, the Holland and Zealand fleets, numbering one hundred and tAventy raen-of-war besides fire-ships, appeared off that port, under Obdam de Wassenaer. This admiral received orders to fight under any circumstances, and the result was such as generally folloAvs rash commands. He found the English fieet in three divisions. The first, under the red fla.g, was commanded by the Duke of York, assisted by Penn and LaAvson. The second, the White Squadron, was led by Prince Rupert, with Myngs and Sampson ; the third was the Blue Squadron, under the Earl of Sandwich, Cuttings, ahd Sir George Ascough, This memorable engagement took place on the 3rd of June, with great damage to the Dutch, At least fourteen of their ships were burnt or sunk, and it is said that eighteen were taken, and that, they lost six thousand men, Obdam, Avith his ship and all his crew, were blown up, and Cortenaer, who then assumed the comraand, was killed upon the deck. These losses show the courage of the Dutch, and the determined character of the enarag-e- ment, as does the fact that fifteen hundred men BATTLE. 63 aud four ships were lost on the English side. The Earl of Falmouth, Admiral Sampson, the Earl of Marlborough, and Vice-Admiral Lawson were killed on this occasion; and the Duke of York seems to haA'e been in the thick of the fight, and to have had a narrow escape, for a cannon ball intended for him killed Lord Muskerry, Mr. Boyle, and Lord Falmouth, who were standing so near the duke that he was bespattered with their blood and brains. The reraains of the Dutch fleet retired to Texel. Not much attempt Avas made to pursue them, from which we might gather that the English fleet was considerably disabled. What a grand name the Duke of York Avould have left had he fallen in this battle, and never lived to be James II. ! He was received in London with acclaraations ; a day was appointed for a general thanksgiving, and medals were struck in honour of the Adctory. He ordered a series of twelve portraits, nearly full length, to be painted of the principal officers engaged in this action. We can see them now at Greenwich, for George IV. presented them to the hospital. We have Pepys' testimony as to their excellence. He says, ' To Mr. Lilly's, and there saw the heads — some finished, and all begun — of the flagsmen in the late great fight. The Duke of York hath thera done to hang in his chamber, and very finely they are done indeed.' All these com manders are represented in brown costumes, Some with steel breastplates and Avearing the long flowing hair of the period. There is in the Council Chamber at Greenwich a 54 ' LAWSON. large full-length portrait of the Duke of York, Lord High Admiral, in fantastical Roman costume. The face has a likeness to that of Charles, but is longer and more melancholy.^ Sir John Lawson was remarkable as a man whose predilections were republican, but who subordinated them to the public good and supported the Restoration. He was of humble origin, and began life before the mast. After perforraing many brilliant exploits against the Dutch, he Avas committed to the Tower for oppos ing sorae of Crorawell's tjTannical measures. He was even accused with some other Anabaptists of having designs upon the Protector's life. Having been re leased, he joined in bringing back the king, aud was appointed by the parliament to take coramand of the fleet, and make arrangements with Monk and Mon tagu ; Charles II. knighted him in Holland before his return. After serving in the Mediterranean, he took part in the great battle against Obdam, in which he exerted himself to the utmost. Unfortunately, when it was almost over, he Avas hit by a bullet in the knee, and no proper attention was at that time paid to the wounded. Lawson was carried to Green wich, Avhere for some days hopes Avere entertained of his recovery ; but gangrene set in, and he died on the 2 Tth of June. Lord Sandwich greatly distinguished hiraself in the engagement AA'ith Obdam, leading his squadron into the ceatre ofthe enemy. He succeeded the Duke of York in command of the fleet, and afterwards fought ^ In the Painted Chamber there is a portrait of him in robes of state. DEATH OF LORD SANDWICH. 55 several successful actions with the Dutch. At the coraraencement ofthe second Dutch Avar in 1672, he fought a great battle in Southwold Bay, off the coast of Suffolk. He hoisted his flag as admiral of the blue in the Royal James, with a crew of one thousand men, and led the van of the British fleet. The fight whs ' terrible and bloody,' especially between the Dutch and the blue squadron. Van Ghent was killed at the beginning. Lord Sandwich, though over powered by a number of 'men-of-Avar and fire-ships, continued the fight bravely, and sank two or three of the fire-ships which were sent against him ; but at last his ship was &et on fire by one of them and blew up. There is a picture of this at Greenwich, in which we see a little fire-ship, with its deadly sheet of flame flying in front of it, drifting against the huge hull of the Royal James. The men appear dropping out of the English ship into the water by the bowsprit, and it seemed frora the condition of the earl's body that after having been badly burnt on his face and breast he threw hiraself into the sea to try to swim, and was drowned. On the 10th of June his body Avas seen floating in the sea, being recognised by the star on his coat." It was embalmed, and brought in a yacht to Deptfor^, and lay in' state at GreeuAvich. Thence it Avas conveyed in " a sumptuous barge to Westminster, attended by the barges of the king, the Duke of York, the principal nobility, the Lord Mayor and city corapanies, with banners flying, drums beat- ' Of the order of the garter — an eight-rayed star with St. George's Cross. The combination of meat and bread still so much approved is supposed to have been called after this earl. 56 THE ¦MAB.YROSE: ing, and trumpets sounding, cannons were fired at inteiwals, and the great bells tolled. There is a portrait of the earl by Lely in the painted hall,, one of the Duke of York's series, and another in the council chamber. He seems to have had a remarkably handsorae and powerful counte nance — thought in the upper part of the face, firmness in the lower. He was a highly accomplished man,' a mathematician and musician. We have also in the vestibule of the painted cham ber a picture representing a very gallant action fought by Rear-Admiral Kempthorne in the Mary Rose against seven Algerine men-of-war. The war-ships of Algiers were ahvays more or less piratical, and on this occasion attacked a fleet of merchant A'essels Avhich Kempthorne was convoying from Sallee to Tangier. The action which took place is here well depicted ; we see the high-built Algerine corsairs with their blood red flags flying, and one of them in conflagration. The seven corsairs at last aban doned their design, and took to flight; but the admiral's victorious ship received so ,much daraage as to be with the utmost difficulty kept above Avater. Kempthorne was knighted for this success, and afterwards distinguished hiraself against the Dutch in Solebay, and assisted raaterially in the defeat of Van Tromp in 1673. He was descended from a good old Devonshire faraily, Avho were ruined by sup porting the royal cause in the civil war. At first he Avas in the raerchant service, trading frora Top- sham, near Exeter, and, on obtaining command of a vessel, he showed remarkable courage and per- GRATITUDE. 57 sistency. Being attacked by a Spanish man-of-war cemraanded by a knight of Malta, he defended his merchantman with great spirit, and, his shot faihng, loaded his guns with dollars, beiug deter mined that, if the ene'my were to take thera, they should have them in as disagreeable a way as possible. For the first time the Spaniards found they were receiving too much money, and Avere draAving off, Avhen a shot rendered Kempthorne's ship un- raariageable, and she was boarded and taken into Malaga. The knight of 'Malta thought so highly of Kerapthorne's bravery that he treated hira Avith great respect, and sent hira back to England. Shortly afterwards the knight himself Avas taken by Com modore Ven, and imprisoned in the ToAver; but Kempthorne, hearing of it, spared neither time nor money to procure his release. This romantic story being much talked about, and also the losses of the family in the civil war, led the king on the Restoration to giA'e him a comraission in the navy. FcAv raen have distinguished theraselves raore in a short lifetime than Captain Thomas Harman. In 1672 he Avas given the command of the Tiger frigate. With this he was eraployed to convoy a fleet of col liers, Avhose cargo was raost valuable at the tirae, as London was suffering from a scarcity of coal. While on this duty he was attacked by eight large Dutch privateers, but he succeeded in carrying the whole of his vessels safely into London. There remains in the ante-chamber" of the council-room at Greenwich Hospital a large picture of this gallant exploit, 1 Now the hall of the governor's'house. 68 FIERCE CONFLICT. painted soon after the occurrence. The perspective is somewhat remarkable, for, to show the great number of ships in the convoy, they are placed one OA-er the other. Now that convoys are for ever over, the picture has an additional interest. Soon after Avards he was engaged in another brilliant action. The vice-admiral of Evertzen's squadron, Paschall de Witt, had been cruising in sight of Cadiz, in February, 1674, but on the twenty-second of that month, after Harman arrived in the Tiger frora Tangier, went into port. Evertzen then told De Witt that, to saA'e his honour, he should challenge the Enghshman, which he did, having two hundred and seventy men on board his ship. The Tiger had only one hundred and eighty- four men ; and both of them fought next morning in the bay, in sight of the inhabitants of the town. They exchanged broadsides at half pistol-shot — ^the Tiger s men then boarded, and, after half-an-hour's sanguinary Avork, -they made the Dutch surrender, and returned amid the acclamations of thousands. The enemy lost one hundred and forty men, and eighty-six wounded ; the English only nine, and fifteen wounded, among them the captain, who re ceived a bullet under his left eye, which came out betAveen his ear and jaAvbone. There is a picture in ¦ the ante-chamber of this acrion, probably painted by the same hand as Avas the above-mentioned. Five years later, Ave find Harraan in another briUiant action, on the 10th of Septeraber, 1677, Avith an Algerine pirate, the Golden Horse. Notwith standing her larger size and more numerous guns, the pirate tried to escape, but Harman prevented A WHALE. 59- her. This encounter proved fatal to him, for he Avas shot through the body, and without any com pensating advantage to his country, for the pirate, having shot away the mainmast of the English ship, effected her escape. We have already seen, in Henry VIII.'s time, the arrival of whales regarded with no great favour. An iraraense Avhale, fifty-eight feet long, twelve high, and fourteen broad, came up to Greenwich on the 3rd of June, 1658. It was first seen by a boy at Blackwall, and immediately the Avatermen set out after it, armed Avith spits, hatchets, bills, and axes. The men ' stripped off their doublets and breeches, and went only in their shirts and drawers, to be nimble at their Avork.' They struck the harping irons into her body, but she got free of them. ' Some stabbed spits into her, and the Master of the hoy that lives at the " Three Flower de Luces," in Greenwich, shot a brace of bullets into her, but, although the blood spouted out of her body, they feared she Avould get away. At last a fisher man cast a little auchor into one of her nostrils, and she could not remove it, while she would soraetiraes 'bounce aboA'e the water as high as a house, and toss her body above the water sorae tiraes eight or nine feet high.' The water for twenty yards round her Avas like a red pond, owing to the harpoons thrown into her, and those near her were covered with blood. Great croAvds came down from London in coaches and on foot to see the won derful fish. She stared with her eyes most strange ly (which is not surprising, considering the Avay 60 EXHORTATION. she was treated), and was six hours in dying. The contemporary writer who records this won drous event ends with some edifying reflections, ob serving that such a visit was evidently a mark of Heaven's displeasure. ' Read,' he concludes, ' the second chapter of James. Let us be lovers of one another, and repent from the bottom of our hearts that God may divert His judgments frora us, and repent Him of the evil He hath threatened against us. Let us be as tender of one another's souls as of the apple of our eye; let us lock them up in the love of Christ, that we may be made partakers of His heavenly kingdom, to be seated on the throue of grace, and crowned with the imperial crown of glory,' 61 CHAPTER V, TREE- PLANTING AT GREENAVICH— THE ' QUEEN'S HOUSE ' — ^BUILDING OF CHARLES II.'S PALACE — SIR JOHN DENHAM — EA'ELYN. The tired mechanic of South London, Avith his wife and children, betakes himself on Sunday to Green Avich Park, and is seen stretched on the grass among his httle ones beneath the chestnut shade. He knows perhaps little of history, but feels that the mighty Avitnesses around him could, if they had tongues, tell him raany a wondrous tale. There is soraething weird in the look of the place, and it seeras to speak to us not only of gallant knights aud ladies gay, but of the giants and genii of olden fable. There stand ranks of arboreal Titans, with their forras twisted into all manner of con tortions in their struggle with all-conquering Time. They are gnarled and stunted, having to contend not only Avith fierce storms above, but also with hard gravel below. Here stands one almost yield ing in the battle, throwing iip its bare, or mutilated, arms ; there sinks another, Avith its limbs sup ported on many a crutch ; and here is a third, with five great fingers and a tremendous wrist, still able 62 TREES. to grasp its deadly enemy. Brave old trees they are, and have kept up the fight well, like the warrior kings who planted them. It would be interesting to know what trees date .from the time of Henry VIII. — under what branches Ave may fancy Anne Boleyn and Queen Ehzabeth to have ridden. We may safely consider some of the oaks to have been so honoured. There reraains one Avhich probeibly saw Humphrey, Duke of Glouces ter, and whose hollow trunk was afterwards used as a prison, like that of the oak at Kidlington Green, in Oxfordshire. The sweet chestnut has been long in this country, so we may conjecture that Henry and Catherine in their early loving days here planted the chestnut of Spain beside the oak of England. We know that an iraproveraent was made in arbori culture in their reign.-" In 1610, thirty-three pounds was paid for trees and plants at GreeuAvich, and two years later a new orchard and lodge were made, and a new garden was added to the old great garden. Barclay Avrites, in 1614, that from the high giround the neighbourhood of Greenwich looked like a gar den, and the roads were lined Avith avenues of tall poplars, as we see to-day in France. There Avere many hawthorns in the park at this time, sycamores and birch-trees, all of which seem to have wholly' disappeared. Harris, a fruiterer to Henry VIIL, planted the environs of thirty towns in Kent with 1 One of the Spanish chestnuts in the park measured, in 1800, fourteen feet ten inches in girth at three feet from the ground. At Tortwark, in Gloucestershire, is a great chestnut-tree, said to have been planted by the Romans, and the first in England. LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 63 fruit-trees,^ and there was a goodly orchard attached to GreenAvich Palace. In Charles. I.'s reign, the park Avas re-forraed. It had been Availed in by James L, and was now laid out by Sir William Boreraan in accordance Avith the designs of Le Notre, Avho planned Louis XIV,'s ornaraental devices at Versailles, Boreman was made Clerk Comptroller of the kiug's household, as a rcAvard for his services in supplying the Princess Henrietta with sustenance for tAventy-eight weeks during the siege of Exeter. He also provided money to take her to London, and had some claims, as he thus incurred debts which caused him to be ira prisoned for four raonths. Boreraan ' made ascents from the bottom to the top of the hill ;' he levelled and graduated the ground, and made terraces. The elms which aa'c now find in the lower places are undoubtedly the survivors of the six hundred planted by him, and he probably corapleted the chestnut avenues.^ Perhaps he may have moved some of the trees, but, Avith the excep tion of chestnuts and elms, none of his trees seem to reraain. In his account he records that he planted elras, birch-trees, quicksets, ivy berries, ' holy berries, privie, and ashen keys,' The chestnut-trees he brought from Leeson Abbey, and probably they were some size, for he makes an especial itera of ' taking up and fetching ' thera. This work was carried out during the auturan of 1661 and the spring of 1662, At this 1 Evelyn's Silva. - JIacaulay can scarcely be correct in thinking that all the trees were planted at this time. 64 DESOLATION. time he petitioned that he might have ' the keeping of the garden and groves Avhich he is planting, with a fee of £100 a year, and leave to dispose of the fruit of his majesty's gardens and orchards,' Zachary Platt applied a foAv months later for the place of gardener at Greenwich, and of keeper of the ' queen- raother's buildings' there, ' Avhich are now employed to entertain rude and debauched persons to drink and revel on Sabbath days,' W, Ryley applied in the following year for a grant of the ' old brick tower,' some decayed wood, and two ruined houses (proba bly the lofty buildings) in the tilt-yard, Greenwich.^ The above petitions may give some idea of the desolation into which the palace had fallen. But it was destined to rise from its ashes, for Charles II. was fond of building, and Boreman's labours were pre paratory.^ The payment of those employed was committed to Sir Hugh May, to whom £1,000 was ' At the Restoration, Charles must have found it difficult to decide between the claims of his numerous supporters. Thomas Audrey applied for the place his ancestors had enjoyed of keeper of Greenwich Park ; Colonel John Skringshire also asked for the place of keeper of the house and park ; Thomas Killigrew applied for the keepership of the armoury at Greenwich ; Colonel Thomas Blount claimed something because ' he set up the bells at Green wich and hired ringers to ring on the king's return.' In 1662 the custody of Greenwich House and park was given to the Earl of St. Albans. Babington was made under-housekeeper. 2 Boreman's expenditure for this planting was £543. It was continued afterwards from 1662 to 1665, during Avhich time sixteen coppices and some dwarf orchards were made, and a house was built. A mole-catcher was employed at an annual salary. In 1G63, Sir H. Wood and Dame Mary surrendered the office of uuder-housekeeper at GreenAvich Palace for £500. THE 'QUEENS house: 65 advanced in August, 1661, for repairs and additional buildings, and another £1,000 in February, 1662, for pulling down what is disrespectfully called ' the old house at Greenwich.' In 1664, £5,000 was expended on the new edifice. . The ' Queen's House,' sometimes called the House of Delight, or the White House, from its being con structed of stone up to the first floor and plastered above that, was the only part thought sufficiently modern to be left standing. Commenced by Anne of Denmark, it was finished by Inigo Jones for Henrietta Maria, and can still be seen on the verge of the park, having on its front a tablet with the inscription, ' Henrica Maria, 1635.' The building is a square block of no great height, for although the apartments are lofty there is only one storey over the ground- floor. In front tAvo semi-circular flights of stone stairs lead to a terrace which, together with the stairs, has a handsome stone balustrade. On enter ing, we find a magnificent hall, about forty feet square, reaching to the roof, and having a gallery round it on the first-floor. The floor is of marble in a black and white diamond pattern, and on the ceil ing is a circle and squares of stucco-Avork. A curious old ornaraented stove of china about eight feet high stands in the hall, bearing a raedallion head of Charles IL The rooms have stuccoed ceilings, are- twenty feet high, and generally about thirty feet long by fifteen wide.^ One apartment has a ceiling adorned Avith > This house Avas mainly built by Inigo Jones. It was re-floored in 1730, but the hall pavement seems to have remained. The VOL. II. F 66 THE ' QUEEN'S house: oak carving in squares riclily gilt. The monograms H. M. and C. H. M. are visible among the foliage. On each side of the mantelpiece is a strip of orna mental oak carving — the head of a rural deity, with a string of various fruits depending from it — and on the opposite Avail are two corresponding strips. The ceilings of this house were painted by Horatio Gen- tileschi, and the fittings and furniture were said to surpass those of any other mansion in England,^ But the most remarkable feature about the Queen's House Avas that the high-road passed through it from east to west. The paved roadway can be seen at present intersecting the marble floor of the palace, under an archway thirty feet wide, lined with cut stone — not well in harraony with a ' house of dehght.' It would seera that originally the main road through Greenwich turned northwards from the church, but it is probable there was always a right of way through the park to Woohvich. We may be sure that good Duke Humphrey would not close it, but it proves the consideration of our successiA'e sovereigns for the couA'cnience of the people that it Avas allowed to continue until the Commonwealth. It seems in the time of the Stuarts to have had a Avail on each side, and must have cut off the palace from the park. When, therefore, Anne of Denmark and building now accommodates the families of four officials connected with the naval school. • This became the Ranger's house. Lord Aylmer and Sir John Jennings, who had the appointments of Ranger and Governor, lived in it. The Ranger was called keeper of the Queen's House long after the palace was destroyed. ARCHED PASSAGE. 67 Henrietta Maria were building their 'house,' they placed it across this road, so that they could have access to the park by one door and to the palace by another. Mr. Escott informs me that there is little doubt, from the appearance of the arched way, that it Avas a part of the original structure.^ When the hos pital was contemplated, there was no object in having this kind of bridge between it and the park, and so the present road was made. In a map shown me by Mr. Henry Richardson, dated 1665, the old high-road through the palace is marked as existing, and the present way is called the ' NeAv Road.' Charles thought of having a kind of naval palace here, Greenwich and Deptford having been more or less connected with the navy from the tirae of Henry VIIL, and we noAv find the king's yacht frequently anchored here. Here the navy office was established,^ and in it our arausing friend Pepys was at this time signing warrants, and perhaps occasionally adding a note to his diary. A considerable amount of business must have been transacted here, for in 1665 the ¦estimate of the navy office, Greenwich, for sea victuals for a year for thirty-five thousand men was £425,833. The Duke of York was often here, and in 1665 we read of his sending up his yacht here for two or three hogsheads of water. It became afterwards common for the king's ships to take in fresh water here on the ebb tide. A large quantity of Portland stoue was used in ' This would not then have appeared so very objectionable; for as late as Mary's reign pack-horses went through St. Paul's Cathedral. - It was first moved from London to Greenwich on account of infection. f2 68 WAYS AND MEANS. building the palace, and we find John Webb^ appoint ed to act in the Avork as assistant to the chief sur veyor, Sir John Denhara, Avith a salary of £200 a-year, and power to grant warrants for Portland stone. A great quantity of this stone was brought over by the ' Mechlin and Post-house hoys,' the latter belonging to the ' post-house ' at GreenAvich. The expenses of the works at GreenAvich were defrayed frora a great A'arietj' of sources. In 1 665, £1,000 was granted from the proceeds of the sale of prize ships and goods. In the same year, one Peter Cole, a bookseller, having coraraitted suicide, his estate Avas forfeited and granted to Lord Berkeley and Sir Hugh Pollard, on condition of their paying half t>he money towards the king's house at Green Avich. In 1666, £2,000 from East Indian prizes were ordered to be spent on the gardens at GreeuAvich and Harapton Court, and in the next year the funds obtained by the sale of the Deborah of Arasterdam' was devoted to the adornment of the buildings at Greenwich. The interior of the palace was suitably decorated, and we find that £,1000 was remitted by Sir Hugh May in 1665 for the pruchase of some fine marble chimney-pieces which were on sale at Leg horn. In April, 1667, Sir John Denham reports that the charge of building Greenwich Palace from Febru ary, 1664, to February, 1667, was £26,433, whereof £] 7,606 had been paid, and he requests £10,000 for this year. Of the £10,000 granted the previous year, only £4,000 had been received. (This palace of Charles II, eventually became the 1 Son-in-law of Inigo Jones, whose plans he followed. SIR JOHN DENHAM. 69 north-western block of the hospital. Little remains of it now except the northern portion, the rest having been mostly burnt and rebuilt. In the governor's house we can form some idea of the grandeur of the design and of the large and lofty rooms. The handsome square entrance-hall leads on the left to the council chamber, a noble apartment, panelled, and hung Avith royal portraits,' Opposite the mantel piece there is, let into the panelling, a handsorae clock of Charles IL's date, having a white dial plate surrounded by the signs of the zodiac in brass.) The narae of Sir John Denhara has been men tioned in connection with the building of the new palace. He was more a poet than an architect, but, when we look at the beauty of the hospital, we may be inclined to think there is some affinity between the arts. On being promoted at the Restora tion to be Surveyor General, he forsook his poetical lines, and ' raade it his business,' as he says, ' to draw such others as raight be more serviceable to his majesty, and he hoped more lasting,' His father, Sir John Denham, had. a property in Essex, and became a baron of the exchequer in Ireland, and ' The pictures have been mostly presented by George IV. ; among them are excellent portraits of Drake, Sandwich, and Queen Charlotte. There is a fine marble mantel-piece, having in the centre a group by Flaxman — Neptune presenting the fruits of the earth to Britannia. The original mantel-piece has disappeared, and that in the chief room in the Queen's House came from another part of the hospital. Where are the mantel pieces of the old palace? Sold perhaps by the Commonwealth. I once saw for sale in a curiosity shop a grand marble mantel piece, said to have come from Greenwich Palace. 70 SIR JOHN DENHAM. finally in England, In his early life, young Den-, ham — who went as a gentleman commoner to Trinity College, Oxford — was ' slow and dreamy,' that is, in his academical work, for he devoted his energies to gaming and writing poetry. He consequently lost nearly all his patrimony, but obtained some fame. Dryden writes : — ' Then in came Denham, that limping old bard, Whose fame on the " Sophy" and " Cooper's HUl" stands. And brought many stationers, who swore very hard That nothing sold better, except 't were his lands.' Dr, Johnson considers Denham to have been one of the fathers of English poetry, and Pope imitated his style. His most celebrated poem, ' Cooper's Hill,' contained a fine description of the Thames — ' My eye descending from the hill, surveys Where Thames among the wanton valleys straj's. Thames, the most loved of all the ocean's sons. By his old sire to his embraces runs ; Hasting to pay his tribute to the sea, Like mortal life to meet eternity . . Nor are his blessings to his banks confined. But free and common as the sea and wind ; When he to boast or to dispense his stores. Full of the tributes of his grateful shores. Visits the world, and in his flying towers Brings home to us and makes both Indies ours : Finds wealth where 'tis, bestows it where it wants — Cities in deserts, woods in cities plant .... Oh ! could I flow like thee, and make thy stream My great example, as it is my theme ; Tho' deep yet clear ; though gentle yet uot dull ; . Strong without rage ; without o'erflowing full.' Denham is said to have died in despondency owing to his Avife's association with the Duke of York, SAYES COURT. 71 The name of John Evelyn must always be con nected with Greenwich Hospital. He Avas born near Deriving, at Wotton, a fine old Elizabethan place, whose many gables and muUioned windows still attract the attention of the traveller. As he was a younger son, he had little of his own, but he obtained Sayes Court,* near Dept ford, by his wife, Avhora he married when she was only fourteen. Cowley, in allusion to his loA'e of hor ticulture, says that he had ' the fairest garden in her looks.' The house was Ioav and built of timber, but ' ele gantly set off with ornaments and quaint mottoes.' The garden Avas ' boscaresque,' and Evelyn enriched it Avith trees and shrubs. Had it been situated in a more remote locality, it would have become one ofthe most interesting places in the county; but, unfor tunately, being near the naval depot at Deptford, the ground on which so much care had been bestowed was turned into the Victualling Yard, and the axe was laid to the roots of the rare trees. The elms, he tells us, were planted 'in the home field and west field ' at the same time as those in GreeuAvich Park, in the spring of 1664. At this period Evelyn's work on trees, the 'Sylva,' ^ Among the Lord Wardens of Dover appointed by Wilham the Conqueror was Gislebert Magminot, the heiress of whose line married WilUam de Say, who gave name to Says Court. There were sixty-four acres round it. Says Court stood near the river, where there is now a picturesque block of old brick alms-houses at the end of Czar Street, which runs out of Evelyn Street, Deptford. These alms-houses were once the Greenwich pensioners' offices. The only memorial now remaining of Sayes , Court is a part of the old garden wall. 72 THE ' sylva: Avas attracting much attention ; he had presented a copy to the Royal Society, of which he Avas an active member, and he tells us that at the end of February he dined with the chancellor, and thence went to Court, where he ' had great thanks for his " Sylva," and long discourse Avith the king of divers par ticulars.' The ' SylA'a ' was a very creditable work for the period. Evelyn here treats of the acacia, arbutus, bay, box, yew, holly, juniper, jasmine, cork, myrtle, olive, cypress, cedar, and raany others. He says the ilex should be planted in England, and that the chestnut is useful for fellings, many of the old houses in London being built of it, and that now it is ' all the mode ' for avenues to country palaces in France. Evelyn was now a comraissioner for the care of the prisoners and the sick and wounded in the war. A very unpleasant charge it was, as no proper pro vision was made for them. Evelyn, who was a hu mane man, made many representations on the subject to the government. In a letter addressed to Pepys at Greenwich, ' The Navy Office or elsewhere,' and dated September 30th, 1665, Evelyn writes : ' I enclose the letter you desired of me, and forgive the disorderly Avriting.- I am not soHcitous of any man's censure of the form, when I discharge my con science. I knoAv I shall be thought impertinent unless you back me with your attestation. I beg you not to look on me as sluggish or indiligent as far as my talent reaches, nor of so slavish and disingenuous a nature as to be tied to impossibihty and servitude. I cannot do miracles, nor know I how to sell goods PRISONERS OF WAR. 73 and treat with the merchant, but I can dispense such effects as shall be put into my hands.' This letter has a postscript : ' Ten at night — I have eaten one bit of bread to-day.' The enclosure, addressed to Mr. Vice-Chamberlain, ran as follows : — ' Sayes Court, September 80th, 1665. ' Mr. Vige-Chamberlain, ' I haA'e here full five thousand sick, Avounded, and prisoners, who are not to be fed with out your care . . . We are now arrived at that height that perishing reproach and the utmost confusion Avill be the event of your not providing for us. The pris oners dying for Avant of bread, our sick and wounded for AA'ant of harbour and refreshment. His raajesty's subjects die in our sight and at our thresholds with out our being able to relieve them, which, with our barbarous exposure of the prisoners, the utmost of sufferings, must redound to his majesty's great dis honour, and to the consequences of losing the heart of our own people, who are ready to execrate and stone us as Ave pass.'^ Already, the week before this, Evelyn had spoken about the misery at Chatham and Gravesend, and that ' they threaten to expose the sick in the streets.' The same day the Earl of Sandwich, writing to the king about the Dutch prisoners he has taken, says that he has been obliged to sell or pawn go6ds for the benefit of the sick and wounded prisoners, and to pay the sailors short allowance. 1 Domestic State MSS, Charles IL, cxxxiii. 74 PRISONERS OF WAR. On October 3rd Evelyn writes again to Pepys from ' Sayes Court.* ' At WoolAvich they refuse to take the sick and wounded men from the commanders in ships, on pre tence of a fear of contagion, while they, in the mean while, suffer others to tipple in the ale-house ; and Sir Theophilus Biddulph Avas with me to spare Green Avich, because of your sitting there (Commissioners of NaA'y), and Deptford in regard of his majesty's yard. I would be glad to know, since Chatham and Graves end can hold no more, and that I have peopled all the intermediate A'illages, what I shall do with these miserable creatures.' He cannot feed • and shelter two thousand persons without money, has contracted ' with Lord Colepeper for Leeds Castle, if only money can be raised to repair and fit it up, has Chelsea College, two hospitals in London, and nine other houses, besides villages. ' I haA'e the importunity of a tho'usand clamours at my doors, which neither lets me rest day nor night.'^ Before the end of Charles' reign, Evelyn gave valuable assistance in the rebuilding of the above- mentioned college, another dilapidated place, and converting it into a hospital for disabled soldiers. The idea was taken from the establishment lately raised by Louis XIV. for invalids, which also sug gested Greenwich Hospital. 1 Domestic State MSS, cxxxiv. 2 Mr. L'Estrange (afterwards Sir Roger) wrote a protest at this time against the manner in which the Dutch prisoners were treated. 75 CHAPTER VL JAMES II. — FLIGHT OF THE QUEEN — WAR WITH FRANCE — BATTLE OF- LA HAGUE — SIR CHRISTOPHER WKEN. Few notices of Greenwich occur during the short reign of Jaraes II. ; that sovereign seems to have principally inhabited Windsor, Hampton Court, and Whitehall. To him and his queen this was little more than a palace des adieucc— the last royal resi dence their sad eyes beheld as they quitted for ever the shores of England. Our history thus brings before us a scene in a critical time of danger. The king's followers were rapidly falling away, and join ing the Prince of Orange. How different was the front James shoAved when he conquered the Dutch fleet, and hung up the memorial portraits now at Greenwich ! When Wilham had advanced as far a^ Reading, he was met by a body of the king's Irish and Scotch cavalry, who fired a volley and — ran aAvay. Some of the Irish contingent then fortified Maidenhead Bridge, but the townspeople, not desiring to have a battle so near them, beat a Dutch march in the night, whereupon these dragoons took fright and 76 ESCAPE abandoned the post, leaving their cannon to the enemy. The royal family were now in a dangerous position, for the populace were all against ¦. them. The French ambassador counselled Jam.es to send away the queen and prince into France, and to follow them as soon as possible ; but the queen strongly opposed this, asserting that she would prefer any hardships, even imprisonment, undergone Avith the king to the greatest ease and security without him. Only on his promising to follow imraediately did she leave. Among those now with James Avas Count Lanzum, a daring, ambitious, and, withal, a disappointed man. At one time the bosom friend of Louis XIV., he was afterwards imprisoned by him. He had been the accepted lover of a royal heiress, but there also his hopes had been deceived. Still, however, he kept up a good spirit, and was as dauntless in his courage as he was refined in his address. He offered his services to Jaraes, who now, in the hour of his dis tress, had recourse to him. On a dark and stormy night (December 9th) the king rose from his bed, and ordered that a man who would be found waiting at the door of the ante-chamber should be admitted. ' Lanzura was the man. James then told him in a few solemn words that he was going to confide to his charge the queen and his infant son. Lanzum undertook the charge, Avhich was raost dangerous. No Frenchman Avas then safe in the streets. He asked that St, Victor, a gentleman of Provence, should be associated with him, and, this being grant ed, he agreed. The queen soon appeared, muffled up OF THE QUEEN. 77 and disguised, followed by the Prince of Wales, with his nurses, his governess, the Marchioness of Powis, the marquis, the Countess Dalmon, Signers Monte- cuculi and Turini, an Italian naraed Riva, Labidi a Frenchraan, and one or two woraen servants. They all stole noiselessly down the private stairs to the water side, Avhere a boat was in readiness to receive thera. Rough and wet on a high flood was their passage across the river, and when they reached the opposite bank they found that some common hackney coaches which had been hired had not arrived. They were unwilling to ask admittance to any house, for fear of being recognized, and the illustrious party crouched under the old wall of Lambeth Church to escape observation and obtain sorae shelter from the torrents of rain. What a group for the painter — what a study for the philosopher! The coaches were an hour late, and all that time they reraained waiting in the greatest anxiety. 'The queen, turning her eyes streaming with tears, soraetiraes on the prince, who was but five months old, and sometimes towards the innumerable lights of the city, amidst the glimmer ings of which she in vain looked for the palace where her husband was left, and started at every sound she heard from thence.'* As soon as the carriages came up, they drove off, escorted by a troop of horse, to Greenwich. There she saw the lights and palatial buildings, the last English royal residence upon which her eyes ever rested. At Greenwich a yacht Avas waiting, ostensibly - Memoirs of Sir G. Dahymple, vol. i. 78 RETURN OF JAMES. for Count Lanzum, but really to convey the queen, who passed as an Italian lady. They reached Calais in safety. The night after she left, the king also departed secretly, ,' in a plain suit and bob Avig,' and threw the sreat seal into the Thames as he crossed it. He was stopped on his journey, being taken for a Jesuit in disguise— a dark suspicion which seemed confirmed by his having about hira a piece of the ' true cross ' — but, on being recognised as the king, he was treated with such respect that his hopes revived, and he retumed again to London, A few days later (December 18th) an order was brought to James at Whitehall, when he was in bed at one in the raorning, that he should proceed to Hara House, He did not comply, but the same day the Prince of Orange entered London and took up his abode at St, James's, and King James took his barge at Whitehall, attended by four earls, six yeoraen of the guard, and accorapanied by eight or ten boats, full of Dutch soldiers of the Prince of Orange, The Aveather was again stormy as the exiled king was rowed down against the tide. If anything could add to his depression, it was the sound of the joy-bells of London breaking forth into raerry chimes for his successor, and the sight of Green Avich Palace rerainding hira of his former greatness, James fled to France, where Louis XIV,, to his cost, espoused his cause. It would appear that the subjects of the Grand Monarque seized English ships and took possession of territory in the province of New York. On thfese accounts, and also because PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. 79 the French put a duty on some of our exports and excluded others, persecuted ' our Protestant subjects in France,' and assisted Irish rebels, William declared Avar. It was a hazardous game, and Louis felt so confident of success that he prepared transports for the invasion of England. In 1689 James Avrote letters to several leading- persons in England about a scheme for restoring him to the throne. He afterwards published a declara tion, and entered Ireland. King William Avent over to oppose hira, and in his absence in that country, and afterwards in Holland, Queen Mary became re markable for her activity and courage. She had the English fleet fitted out, ordered all Papists to leaA'e London, and certain noblemen to be arrested. She also gave commands that a large body of troops should be drawn up in Hyde Park, and revieAved them herself, thus greatly kindling their enthusiasra. On some rumours being circulated about the dis affection of some officers in the fleet she wisely ignored them, and expressed her full confidence in the navy. An address was sent her in return by the admirals and men, araong them Sir Cloudesly Shovel, expressing their devotion to the king, country, and religion. James clung to the belief that the officers and men who once fought under his flag would not now take part against their old admiral, but he mis calculated as much as Louis, who thought no power on earth could stop his victorious army. These false A'iews, and an unjust reflection upon Tourville's courage, led to that great defeat which first shook 80 LA HOGUE. the rising power of France. The battle of La Hogue was, in fact, a series of naval engagements off the coast of France, lasting five days, and took its name from the bay Avhere the disaster culminated. Admiral Russell was in coramand of the united English and Dutch fleets. A mighty armaraent it was, consisting of no less than ninety large ships of the line, containing between thirty and forty thousand men, Tourville had only forty ships of the line. He was ordered to attack the English before the Dutch joined them, but this he could not accomplish, and the counter orders arrived too late. Early in the morning of the 19th of May, the rising sun revealed the vast fleet of the allies darkening the eastern horizon, Tourville felt that defeat was certain, but he had his orders, and could he draw back and stain the white flag which had everywhere adA'anced to Adctory ? It Avas a desperate attempt, but it must be made, A bold front might produce sorae effect, and corapensate for the weakness of his force. So he deterrained to bear down at once on the eneray. Meanwhile, the alHes were astonished at the teraerity of the raan. It Avas a splendid attack, but in every sense unwise. They could scarcely at first believe in their good fortune, and feared treachery. The commencement of this victory was marred by a sad accident. Admiral Carter, who first broke the French line, was killed by a splinter from one of his oAvn yardarras. The cannon now generally opened fire, and the roar could be heard twenty miles off. Admiral Tour ville was in an immense ship called the Soleil Royal. LA HOGUE. 81 ' It was named in allusion to Louis's favourite em- blera, and was Avidely renowned as the finest A'essel in the world. It was reported among the English sailors that she Avas adorned with an image of the Great King, and that he appeared there as in the Place of Victories, with vanquished nations in chains beneath his feet. The gallant ship, suri-ounded by enemies, lay like a great fortress on the sea, scat tering death on every side from her one hundred aud four port-holes. She was so formidably raanned, that all atterapts to board her failed. Long after sunset she got clear of her assailants, and, with all her scrappers spouting blood, made for the coast of Norraandy.'* Macaulay omitted to mention in this viA'id descrip tion that the English had also a ' fortress ' in this engagement — the Royal Sovereign — and that it was raainly owing to her that the Soleil Royal was at last forced to retreat,^ 1 Macaulay's History, There is a fine picture at Greenwich of the battle, in which Ave see the Soleil, Avith a representation of that luminary on her great stern, and three lamps over it. 2 The Sovereign of the Seas, afterwards the Royal Sovereign, was built in the happy days of Charles I. (1637), and intended to be an ornamental pleasure yacht for the royal family. She was profusely adorned all round with carA'ing, the stern being especially rich with allegorical figures, and round the quarter deck were five octagonal lanterns, in the largest of which ten persons could stand upright. She was the largest EngHsh ship yet built, one thousand six hundred and eighty-three tons, and carried, including culverines and!~ ' murdering- pieces,' about one hundred guns. She haid the peculiarities of the large ships of her time ; the bowsprit Avas a kind of slanting mast, and was rigged with a yard and square sail, the VOL, II. G 82 LA HOGUE. One of the most horrible features in ancient naval warfare Avas the employment of fire-ships. The Soleil Royal, being chased into Cherbourg by an Enghsh squadron and run into shoal water, Avhere the larger ships could not approach her, was burnt to ashes by these infernal inventions. Some pris oners fell into the hands of the English, but how many of the Avounded perished in the flames ! We are told that out of her crew of one thousand meu only three hundred and thirty survived. Four other ships were burnt along with the Sun. On the 20th a fog mercifully stayed the carnage for a time, but on the 21st the battle was still raging. Admiral Russell, in the Britannia, on that day pursued thirteen ships into the Bay of La Hogue. From a tower of St. Vaast oA-erlooking the bay, the unhappy Jaraes watched under the standard of France, and — vain illusion! — the royal standard of England, the destruction of his hopes and of his patron's forces.* He could not but be clews of which nearly touched the Avater. The forecastle then somewhat deserved its name, though not towering like the stern, and under the bowsprit a loug beak shot out, perhaps in imitation of the old rostrum. Some remains of this ornament appeared in ships for a long time afterwards. At the ' beak head ' was the figure-head, which, in the case of the Sovereign of the Seas, VI' as King Edgar trampling on seven kings. The ship was afterwards called the Royal Sovereign, and did good service in the wars against Holland. Like most of the large ships of the time, she was eventually burnt, in 1696. There is a model of her at Greenwich. 1 We see in the picture his large flag on the hill — the union flag of England variegated with the crosses of St. George and St. AndreAV. REWARDS. 83 profoundly moved at the spectacle, and penned a melancholy letter to Louis, begging him no longer to concern himself with one so unfortunate. ' Per rait me,' he added, ' to retire with my faraily to sorae corner of the Avorld where I raay cease to obstruct your prosperity and conquests.' Russell raade the night lurid Avith fire-ships. The shores of the bay were a sheet of flame, and re sounded with the crackling spars and tirabers of the French vessels. Not content with success at sea, the English landed and drove the French from their batteries, and next day burnt sixty-two transports which had been pre pared for the invasion of England. Altogether twenty- one ships of the line and two frigates were destroyed during the engagement. It is pleasant to turn our eyes frora the sufferings of the vanquished to the rejoicings of the conquerors. The loss of the English was small, and the thanks of their sovereign and country awaited them, Mary sent thirty thousand pounds to be distributed among the seamen. Gold medals were presented to the officers, and miniatures of the king and queen set in diamonds to Adrairal Russell, In Holland a cora- meraorative medal was struck bearing a representa tion of the French lilies withered, with the motto, Non semper lilin florent. But a more substantial recognition folloAved. The number of wounded brought home called attention to the small amount of hospital accommodation, and Mary now announced that the palace partly g2 84 FOUNDING OF THE HOSPITAL. rebuilt by Charles II, should be completed and de voted to disabled seamen. Thus, as the Chatham chest Avas founded after the conflicts Avith the Armada, was Greenwich Hospital established after this battle. The work was at once comraenced upon designs furnished by Wren, Round the hall we read an inscription in which the Avork is ascribed to Mary alone, but it Avas not till after her death that it Avas vigorously pushed forward by WiUiam, as a tribute to her memory, ' It is a meraorial of the virtues of good Queen Mary, of the love and sorroAv of "Williara, and of the great victory of La Hogue.* The queen gave eight acres of land and the palace to the hospital. The charter sets forth that, 'the king being desirous to encourage the study of naviga tion and the naval strength of our realm of England,' and wishing to increase the number of seamen and the success of our merchants and others interested in commerce, ' fishing, plantations, discovery, and other affairs connected with navigation,' founds this hos pital for those sailors Avho by age, wounds, or acci dents shall becorae disabled. Also to rehcA'e the Avidows and children, Mary was rauch loA-ed by her people ; she was raunificent in her charities and Avinning in her raan ners. But she Avas an uncompromising Protestant, and therefore had eneraies araong the Cathohcs aud friends of James, This enables us to understand Avhat otherwise would seem unintelligible, that some people in Bristol rang the joy-bells on hearing of her death, that a scrivener in the Borough died in a fit WREN AND VANBRUGH. 85 of joy at the intelligence, and that a clergyraan took for his text on the occasion, ' Go, see this ac cursed woman, and bury her, for she is a king's daughter,' Wren built himself a handsome house on the east side of. Greenwich Park to be his residence during the progress of the hospital. It has entirely disap peared, and the site is occupied by Christ Church vicarage, but the grand staircase is preserved in .the house of Sir Gilbert Jones, Vanbrugh was his surveyor in the Avork, and built tAvo houses close to that of Wren, in one of which he lived. They can be seen at the present day standing up in their dark old brick among a croAvd of sraall new houses, like twin giants of ancient fable. The celebrated play- writer seems to have exhibited some of his dramatic taste in his architecture, for these are fanciful buildings. Both have towered gate-houses, and are adorned with towers. One of thera, called Vanbrugh Castle, now a ladies' school, is most picturesque, being half covered with masses of dark ivy. It was called the Bastile, and the rooms are numerous but small. The other has large handsome rooms, and Avas called Mince-pie House, from its having been at one tirae used as a place of entertainment ; there are some peculiar rings or lines of brickwork round it. These intei-esting relics are, it is said, dooraed to destruction, and will be reraoved in thirteen years, when the leases fall in, to make room for another plantation of plastered villas. 86 CHAPTER VII, THE HOSPITAL COMMENCED — SLOW PEOGEESS — EETIEEMENT OF EVELTNj Lord Godolphin was one of the most prominent promoters of Greenwich Hospital, In 1695 he offered Evelyn the treasurership of the future establishment, with a salary of £200 a year. The first meeting of the commissioners for endowing the hospital was held at the Guildhall in London on May 5th, 1695, and among those present were the Archbishop of Canterbury and Sir Christopher Wren, At the next meeting, about a fortnight later, Evelyn and some others were appointed to survey the site, and on the 31st of May Vanbrugh Avas made secretary to the comraission. Subscriptions Avere now. solicited, and by July 5th betweeij seven and eight thousand pounds had been received. The part of the palace already built was to be made serviceable. The first order for proceeding with the building Avork was giA'en at Whitehall on the 4th of June, 1696, and on the 30th Evelyn Avent with a select committee, but not of persons of great note, to Greenwich AAdth Sir Christopher Wren, ' where with him I laid the first PETER THE GREAT. 87 stone of the intended foundation precisely at five o'clock in the evening, after we had dined together, Mr. Flamsteed, the king's astronomical professor, observing the punctual time by instruments.' Evelyn now, having obtained this appointraent, went to reside, by his brother's perraission, in the faraily place where he was born. He let Sayes Court to Vice-Adrairal Benbow, who greatly injured his plan tation, and in 1698 to Peter the Great, Avhose amuse ments contrasted strongly with his aspirations, for he utterly ruined the ornamental holly hedges by driving- through them in a wheelbarrow.^ Nor was Evelyn altogether corafortable at Wotton, for his ' good old brother' was fond of holding high festival there, and at Christraastide would entertain three hundred bumpkins, much interfering Avith Evelyn's ' Attic nights.' Our searaen Avere at this time from one year and a half to two years without receiving their pay, and this delay Avas no doubt the principal cause of the successes of the enemy. The Dutch fleet sailed up 1 No doubt a practical joke to mortifj Evelyn, whose horticul tural niceties he despised. Evelyn's servant writes to him, 'There is a house fuU of people, and right nasty. Their jewellery was splendid.' Peter was given to rude, horseplay aud other excesses ; he was at this time only twenty- six. He was induced to come over to England by having seen, when a youth, a foreign ship or boat at Moscoav, and being told, on inquiry, that it was English, and could sail against the wind. He amused himself much with this vessel, and then weut to Holland to learn shipbuilding ; but, not being satisfied with what he saw determined to come to England, where he heard ships were built more scientifically, and where he stayed four months. 88 PAYMENTS DELAYED. the Thames, set fire to houses on Canvey Island, took Sheerness, and burnt the Royal London and other of the king's great ships at Chatham, Bentham writes : ' When the news reached London, the drums beat^ the militia gathered, and there was much running of people. Some say Harwich, Colchester, and Dover are burnt, and that the king is gone out of the toAvu or out of the world,' ' People are fled from Green Avich and Blackwall Avith their wives and children,' writes Rushworth, In September guns and carriages Avere brought up for the defence of Greenwich. We now find Evelyn engaged upon the grandest work he undertook. He encountered the old ob stacle, delay in payments, when he tried to carry ou the building of Greenwich Hospital. By Noveraber, 1696, the cost had been £5,000, towards which he had only received £800. Two years afterwards, he had not received a shilling of his £200 a year salary. Lord Godolphin was the first who paid his contribu tion of £200. The king gave £2,000, and the Arch bishop of Canterbury £500. On the 9th of June, 1698, when Evelyn went to conteraplate the ruin which the Russian bears had made in his house and garden, he also inspected the foundations of the hall and chapel of the hospital. Next year an impetus was given to the work by means of a lottery, and between 1696 and 1701 Evelyn received toAvards the building £69,320. In 1703 he resigned the office of treasurer in favour of his son-in-law. Draper. At this time £89,364 had been expended. Evelyn had passed an eventful life, and had often 'MARRY land: 89 been placed in positions requiring courage and pati ence. Through all his difficulties he retained a high reputation, and as far as possible a cheerful spirit. He says that ' sometimes he was a scurvy poet,' meaning apparently that his muse was of a comic character, Pepys tells us that he supped with him one day at Vice-Admiral Sir J, Minnes (comptroller of the navy) at Greenwich, and that he repeated some Verses ' that did make us die almost with laughing,' and that he quite outdid Sir John, who Avas a wit. His chief sally of this kind Avhich has survived is a sketch called, ' Marry Land, or the Ladies' Dressing-Room Unlocked,' a skit on the fashions and requirements of ladies of the day (1690), After enuraerating a vast number of petti coats, ' nor fringe to sweep the Mall forget,' and other mysterious habiliments, he describes the lady's jewellery, and then her gloves — ' .^nd some of chicken skin for night To keep her hands plump, soft, and white ; And Spanish paper, lip and cheek. With spittle sweetly to belick. Nor therefore spare in the next place The pocket sprunking looking-glass. And that the cheeks may both agree, Plumpers to fill each cavity.' The furniture of the lady's apartment is next described, with the cabinets, A'ases, and glasses, and the dressing-room, with its toilet appliances. At the end is a necessary ' Fop Dictionary,' to explain the terms he has used, so that lovers may know how to procure the right articles. 90 EVELYN. Evelyn also wrote the 'Kalendarium Hortense,' or 'Gardener's Almanac,' treatises on coins and engraAangs, and plans for conducting Trades Unions, Pepys writes : ' Evelyn must be allowed a Httle for a little conceitedness, but he may well be so, being a man so much above others,' 91 CHAPTER VIIL FOUNDING OF THE OBSEEVATORA' — FLAMSTEED — HIS EXPENSES AT GREENWICH — JEALOUSY OF NEWTON — HALLET SUCCEEDS-. Already we have met with some astronomers, and seen one burnt for Avitchcraft in the reign of Henry VI, In Henry VII,'s reign we find an entry, ' To Master William Paronus, an astronymyre,' and in the sarae year (1499) an astronomer received payment for making a 'prognostication,' Probably all these learned men Avere also versed in astrology, then a fashionable study. We have noticed the strange A'iew of the uniA'erse which resulted from the lucubra tions of Henry VIII.'s astronomer at Greenwich some years after the great discovery made by Copernicus. Evelyn writes, on October 10th, 1677, ' Dined with Mr. Flamsteed the learned astrologer and mathe matician, whom his majesty has established iu the new observatory in Greenwich Park, furnished with the choicest instruments— an honest, sincere man,' Greenwich observatory was founded by Charles for the benefit of mariners. The original object was, by frequent observations of the motions of the moon and the places of the fixed stars, to ¦92 EARLY LIFE. aid in discovering the longitude at sea, Flamsteed was appointed astronomer royal, and several places were examined with a view to establishing an observatory. The Divinity College at Chelsea and the castle at Greenwich obtained the most favour, and at length the choice fell upon the latter, which has made Greenwich a place well known as fixing the time of day over England, and as determining the longitude throughout the world. Flamsteed suffered all his life from a weakly con stitution. When he was but fifteen, having gone out bathing with some other boys, he found next raorning his body and legs so greatly swollen that he could not put on his clothes, and this swell ing seeraed afterwards to affect his joiuts. Next year he Avas so unwell that he'-could scarcely attend school, and reading, Avhich was his delight, brought on headache. After leaving school, his father taught him arithmetic, fractions, and the ' Golden Rule of Three;' and soon afterwards (1662) he began to study eclipses, obtained some scientific books and forraed a quadrant. As he continued infirra in health, his father, who had private means, discouraged his studying, but some power within urged him irresisti bly forward. By the time he had reached eighteen he had made some progress in calculating the true places of the planets, and also araused himself by writing a burlesque almanac for 1666, which, however, was . not published. This year reports Avere circulated about the cures effected by a man of the name of Greatrex or Greatrackes in Ireland. He wa.s no VISIT TO IRELAND. 93 doubt an impostor, but professed to cure persons of diseases by stroking them Avith his hands, and Flam- steed's father, not wishing to leave anything untried, determined to take hira over to try this magic cure. The diary Flarasteed kept during this journey to the Blackwater is interesting in many respects, and Ave should at once conclude from it that he was gifted not only with observation, but also with a lively fancy. He Avas now nineteen, and, starting for Dublin from Liverpool at noon on a Friday, did not land at King's End until Sunday. ' It Avas night,' he Avrites of this arrival ; ' the doors Avere shut, and we ran from door to door to inquire for entertainment, which at last Ave got at a paltry . inn, where was no meat I could eat, but brown bread aud ale, of Avhich I made a hearty meal ; and lodged that night in a straAv bed, Avith a sheet and a half He giA'es an amusing account of his journey to the south, and Avhen stopping at Castieton inquired if there was service at the church, but was told that the minister lived twelve miles off, and only preached once a year, Avhen he came to collect his tithes. Eight miles further on they reached Cappoquin. They found Greatrackes at the Assaume, about a mile from Cappoquin ; and Flamsteed saw him touch several, some of whora were nearly cured, others mending, sorae no better. He was himself touched by him on the legs, but found his ailment the sarae as before. This irapostor 'had a kind of majestical yet affable presence, a lusty body, and a coraposed carriage,' which may account for the celebrity he afterwards obtained for a time in London. Flam- «4 ASTRONOMICAL STUDIES. steed, after three unsuccessful strokings, returned home. On his way he stopped at Clonmel, which, he say.=:, was then well fortified with a strong wall, and entered OA-er a draw-bridge guarded by a sentinel. Next year, 1666, Ave find Flamsteed busily engaged" in studying the solar eclipses. In 1669 he wrote an almanac for 1670. In this he entered sorae scientific observations about eclipses of the sua and 'appulses' of the moon to the fixed stars, which, being rejected by the publisher, he sent them through Mr. Ashmole to the Royal Society with an anagram signatm'e.i The members so highly appreciated his labours that the secretary sought him out and thanked him cor dially. At this time Flamsteed also wrote a small Latin tract on the ' inequalities and equations oi natural days,' and he also predicted some remarkable eclipses of fixed stars by the moon Avhich would take place in 1670, and sent them to Lord Bruncker, president of the Royal Society. Henceforward he began to be known, and to have accounts sent to hira of all the matheraatical books published in Eng land and on the Continent. He now visited London, and becarae personally acquainted Avith several dis tinguished men, entered Jesus College, Cambridge, and from a note it would seem that he first met NeAV- ton at this tirae, but he writes ia 1674 : ' My first ¦acquaintance with Sir Isaac NeAArton at Carabridge was occasioned by ray fixing the raicroscope, which he could not, the object glass being forgot by him,' Newton was in 1670 engaged in experiraents about light and colours and the iraproA'ement of telescopes, ' In Mathesi, i.e., Johannes Flamsteed, a sole fundes. HORROX. 95 all subjects bearing upon the further prosecution of astronomical research. At first Flamsteed did not agree in his theories. He could not understand how whiteness could be the result of a composition of colours, and was inclined to think that the sun's rays were yellow. But by degrees he Avas convinced of the truth of NoAvton's views, Flamsteed at this tirae had the advantage of perusing the observations of Horrox, a boy — for he only lived to be twenty-one — inspired with the same enthusiasm as hiraself, who passed his nights in star-gazing at a Httle village near the sraall town of Liverpool. Horrox is said to haA'e been the first person Avho calculated the passage of Venus over the sun's disc, which he observed at Hoole in 1639. Flarasteed notices the correctness of Horrox's theories in comparison with those of others.^ In 1673 Flamsteed wrote an Epheraeris, in which he exposed the falsity of the claims of astrologers. He now also set up a pair of mercurial weather glasses, or baroraeters, for his scientific friend. Sir Jonas Moore. Finding their predictions correct. Sir Jonas spoke of them to Charles II. and the Duke of York, and was ordered to proA'ide them Avith some, Avhich he did, and added Flamsteed's directions for judging the weather by them. Sir Jonas often at this time mentioned Flamsteed and his telescopes to the king, thereby doing him a great service. In March, 1675, the king appointed him Astrono- ' Horrox went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, which he left at fourteen, little the wiser, for Cambridge was then far behind Oxford in science. He continued to study the heavens without books or a teacher tUl he fell in with one Crabtree, an astronomi cal draper. Horrox became curate of Hoole. 96 GREENWICH CHOSEN. mer Royal, with a salary of £100 per annum, and at Easter Flamsteed took holy orders. Sir Jonas had designed to take the deserted and ruinous Divinity College at Chelsea^ for an observatory, and to ap point Flamsteed astronomer, but better things were in store. A Frenchman carae to London, and, making interest Avith the Duchess of Portsmouth, proposed to undertake the discovery of the longitude. He was referred by the king to the council of the Royal Society, and Flamsteed, being present, showed the groundlessness of his pretensions. When Charles heard what had occurred, and that the places of the fixed stars Avere not accurately knoAvn, he said that he would have fresh observations made, and that Flamsteed should be employed in this undertaking. Accordingly, an obserA'atory was to be built, and for the site Hyde Park, Chelsea College, and Greenwich Hill Avere proposed, Flarasteed seems to have been in favour of Chelsea, and Sir Jonas of Hyde Park, but. Sir C. Wren showing the superior advantages of Greenwich, it Avas decided upon. The king gave £500 in money, bricks from Tilbury Fort, wood, iron, and lead from a demolished gatehouse near the Tower, and promised further assistance. In July Flarasteed reraoved to GreeuAA-ich to see to the workraen, and the foundation Avas laid on the 10th of August, 1675. Flarasteed amused himself and his friends on this occasion by draAving the horoscope of the observa- tory.= 1 Afterwards rebuilt as Chelsea Hospital. 2 In the MS. in wbich he records this he adds, ' Risum teneatis amici.' The horoscope is printed in Mr. William Hones's EyeryT day Book. THE OBSERVATORY. 97 The roof was finished by Christraas, and during the progress of the work Flamsteed kept his quad rant and telescopes in the Queen's House at Green wich, whence he made observations. Greenwich Ob servatory derived the name of Flamsteed House from this astronoraer, and the height was called Flarasteed Hill. The principal part of the building of Wren still remains, and the twin turrets can be seen as in the old pictures. It consists of a large and lofty octa gonal room, with eight very long windows for taking observations, which answered the purpose tolerably well when comparati\'ely small telescopes were used. The ceiling is beautified with circles of stucco-Avork. There is a picture in one of the rooms of the ob servatory of Flamsteed's equatorial sector, and in another is preserved the quadrant raade for hira by Sharp. Search has been made about the premises for the well into which Flamsteed was wont to de scend to obtain a clearer view of the heavens, but it has not been discoA'ered. Flamsteed observes that when he first took his place at Greenwich his work was retarded by his having nothing but a sextant and two clocks, with pendulums thirteen feet long. They required to be wound up only once a year. After the death of Sir Jonas Moore (1679), the observatory was poorly supported by the admiralty, and would have ceased to exist had not Flamsteed possessed private means, and resolution to persevere without hope of reward. About the year 1679, Flamsteed, finding his ex penses connected with the observatory considerable, VOL. II. ^ 98 A COMET. took to giving lessons to young gentlemen. His object was partly to obtain the assistance of his pupils in taking right observations. From 1676 to 1709 he had one hundred and forty pupils, among them were the Dukes of Marlborough and Hamilton, Earls of Essex and Lichfield, and other noblemen ; so that the observatory became an aristocratic place. Mp.ny captains of vessels also came to be instructed. In the latter end of 1680, a great comet appeared, and was carefully observed by Flarasteed. Newton thought that there were two coraets, one in Novem ber and one in Deceraber, but Flamsteed maintained there was only one. After arguing for some time in two letters in favour of two comets, Newton at last adraitted in his Principia that Flarasteed was correct. On the death of his father, in 1688, Flamsteed obtained more means, and expended one hundred pounds in building a mural arc. This instrument was finished in 1689, and he found it of great A'alue, though a slight sinking in the wall somewhat con fused him at one time. By help of this arc he formed a catalogue of the fixed stars, assigning the places of three thousand of thera, and he also noted one thousand places of the moon and one thousand of the planets. On Saturday, Septeraber 1st, 1694, Greenwich observatory was honoured by the presence of New ton, who carae to visit Flamsteed. Newton had previously been suggesting to Flamsteed that he should publish his catalogue of the fixed stars, but the former replied that, although he might thus gain NEWION AT GREENWICH. 99 some popularity, he should seriously interrupt the course of his observations. Flamsteed was pained that Newton, in his Principia, had taken so little notice of his work, and on a paper, entitled 'Ex cerpts frora Mr. Newton's letters,' he Avrote, ''Tis as impossible for Mr. N. to hide what he has received from the observatory as to cover St. Paul's with a Scotch bonnet.' At this meeting at Greenwich Flam steed showed him one hundred and fifty places of the raoon derived frora observations, and allowed ' him to take copies of thera under a proraise that he would not confide them to anyone, and that he would inform him before anyone else of any results he arrived at through thera. These promises Flam steed considered that he broke, ahd there seems to have arisen some jealousy between the two astrono mers,^ Quarrels about priorities and properties are common among learned men, A few days after Newton had left, Halley^ called at the observatory with a friend, and, as he asked to see the lunar observations Flamsteed had shown to Newton, Flamsteed, with his usual kindness, granted the request.^ • Newton told Halley and Gregory. 2 About ten years younger than Flamsteed. ' A correspondence was carried on in 1695 between Newton and Flamsteed, and we may suppose he visited Greenwich. The subjects are generally astronomical, but seem to show a cer tain amount of anger. In one letter from Cambridge, dated July 20th, 1695, Newton refers to Flamsteed's head — ' Such expostulations, or expressions, in your last or other letters as tend to a difference I pass by. , Pray, take care of your health. Dr. Battely (chaplain to Archbishop Sancroft) was much troubled h2 100 FLAMSTEED AND NEWTON. In 1700 we find Flamsteed inviting Newton and Sir C, Wren to call and dine with him at Greenvrich^ ; and he would show them what he had done, 'he had hewed the materials out of the rock, but hands and time Avere required to perfect the building and cover it,' Speaking at this tirae of Newton, in a letter, he says, ' I believe hira to be a good mau at bottom, but, through his natural temper, suspicions, and too easy to be possessed with caluranies, especi ally such as are irapressed with raillery. To cure him of it, finding a Bible in his room where I waited his rising (for I got to his house before he was up), meeting a sheet of paper, I wrote upon it this distich, Avhich I remembered, from a late satire : — " A bantering spirit has our men possessed. And wisdom is become a standing jest." Read Jeremiah, chap, ix, to the tenth verse.' He seems to have been piqued at Newton speak ing of his work in taking observations as of an uniraportant character, while at the same time New ton Avas always importuning him for observations, ; In 1704, April llth, Newton came to the observatory ; and dined with Flamsteed, ' I knoAV his temper,' Flarasteed writes, 'and that he would be my friend no further than to serve his oavu ends.' ¦with violent headaches, and found it a certain cure to bind hia head straight with a garter till the crown of his head was numbed ; for thereby his head was cooled by retarding the circulation of blood. 'Tis an easy remedy, if your pain be of the same kind. ' I am your humble servant, ' Is, Newton.' FLAMSTEED AND NEWTON. 101 Newton, at this meeting, desired to see how far Flamsteed had gone with his catalogue of the fixed stars, and was shoAA'n, He then told Flamsteed that he Avould recoraraend it to the prince privately, Flamsteed said he should prefer it done publicly; and Sir Isaac left in the evening Avith an expression of good Avill : ' Do all the good you can,' but did not seem altogether well satisfied, Flarasteed re marks very siraply, ' I had taken notice of sorae faults in the fourth book of his Principia, which, instead of thanking me for, he resented.' The commendation to the prince (Queen Anne's •consort) was desirable, as Flamsteed wanted a grant for the publication of his observations. The expense Avould have been too great either for the astronoraer or the Royal Society, Shortly after this raeeting the prince did agree to give tAvelve hundred pounds for the purpose, but the work was placed in the hands of a comraittee, of which Newton was president. This arrangeraent caused long delay in printing the first volurae of Flarasteed's 'Historia Celestis,' and the second came to a standstill through open dis agreement. In condemning Newton for his unauthorised ap propriation of Flamsteed's observations, we must remember that he looked upon them as public pro perty made in a public institution by a paid astrono mer. Flamsteed, who was spending all his time and money on them, took an entirely different vicAv. He said that it was impossible to carry on the •obserA'atory under three hundred a year, and that, to do useful Avork, costly instruments had to be 102 FLAMSTEED AND NEWTON. provided. By means of his benefice,^ some private resources, and fees from pupils, he managed to meet the expenses, but felt little indebted to the govem ment for the one hundred a year salary they allowed. The battle between the celestial combatants was con tinued with much heat, but a great blow Avas coming upon Flamsteed. In 1710, Newton had the Royal ObserA'atory placed under the supervision of the Royal Society, of which he was president. In vain Flamsteed represented to St. John, the Secretary of State, that he had expended two thousand pounds of his own money on instruments and assistance. The stern reply Avas, ' The queen will be obeyed.' He was ordered to send copies of his observations to the Royal Society. A meeting of the Royal Society was at this time , held in their rooms in Crane Court, Fleet Street, at which stormy and undignified language was used on both sides. Flamsteed maintained that the in struments at the observatory, as well as the ob servations he had taken there, were all his own absolute property, and that he was being ' robbed of the fruit of his labour.' NeAvton retorted, ' Then we are the robbers,' and called the old mau 'a puppy,' and other disrespectful names. Iu the June of next year, a visitor came to Green wich observatory who was not at all pleasing to Flamsteed. This was Halley, who had edited, under NoAvton's direction, the volume of his ' Historia Celes tis.' It was full of mistakes, and Flamsteed says : ' In 1684, he was presented to the rectory of Burstow, near Blechingley, in Surrey, which he held through life. HALLEY. 103 ' Dr. Halley has written a preface only filled with lies and false suggestions against me. God forgive him, as I do ! But I shall surely let the Avorld know the falsehood and unfitness both of him and his master,' NeAvton, ' for such an employment.'^ Under date, June 18th, 1712, he writes : ' The impudent editor ' (Halley) ' came to see me, and brought with him his wife, son and daughter, and a neighbouring clergyman. He asked if I wanted preferraent (a snare !), and said he Avould burn his catalogue, as he called his spoiled copies of raine, if I would print ray own. I told hira of his blockish fault in his. charts. He answered that he Avas a young man when he did them, and that they were right on the back side of the paper, Avith much more impudent banter. I said little to hira.' About a year later, August 1st, 1713, other learned and unwelorae visitors arrived. Owing to Flam steed's opposition, the Royal Society had not before inspected the observatory, but now Sir Isaac Newton, having presented his celebrated Principia to the queen, came to Greenwich, attended by a formidable company — Dr. Thorp, Dr. Halley and his sons, Mr. Machin, and Mr. Rowley. This was a great humilia tion for Flarasteed, who, moreover, was lame with gout. Newton arrived first, about three o'clock, and Avas shown in to Flamsteed, but said very little until the rest arriA'ed, when he rose up and said that they were come to visit the observatory by royal order, to see what repairs and instruments were wanting. ' When Flamsteed wrote this he was old and infirm, and suffered much from a' swimming in the head. 104 FLAMSTEED'S LABOURS Flamsteed gave them leave to go whereA'er they pleased, except into his library. He was himself uhable to walk about with them, and retired to his chamber, but gave them a glass of wine before they departed. On this occasion, ' Sir Isaac promised to return me a Greek Ptolemy he had borrowed, and four volumes of the " First Night Notes," which he had kept six years, but he did not return them for four years afterwards, when I had coraraenced a suit for them.' A notable precedent for those numerous persons who omit to return their friends' books,-^ Flamsteed died at the age of seventy-two in 17J 9, He was sensible to the last, but speech failed him. He reserabled many other scientific men in haAring indifferent health, and receiving little reward for his labours. His observations were of a varied kind, mostly concerning the position of the earth with regard to the fixed stars. He catalogued three thousand stars, leaving tables for calculating their places and those of the planets, and added notes about eclipses and the diameters of the sun and moon. This work — a raonuraent of his industry — was not published until 1725. The rest of his MSS. lay undiscovered at Greeilwich until 1832, and were not printed until 1835. We have already spoken of Peter the Great and '' Newton was the first president of the Royal Society visitors of the observatory. In the Octagon there is an interesting series of engraved portraits, showing his appearance at different periods of Ms life. There is also a bust of him which would have delighted Flamsteed, for it gives him a very fierce expression of countenance. THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH. 105 his residence at Evelyn's house at Deptford. Flam steed had the honour of receiA'ing this studious and eccentric prince no less than four times during this period (1698), and he was sometimes present at the observations. In May, 1717, Flamsteed writes to Mr. Sharp: — ' The Duke of Marlborough has hired the house that Avas the Earl of Derby's, as I remember, when you lived with me. He Avalks feebly, but his memory is as good as ever, and his serA-ants tell us that he never was touched in that part, whatever reports Jacobites have offered to the contrary. He some times rides on horseback at the park or heath ; some times in his coach ; likes the air of this place so well that he intends to spend part of his sumraer here, and 'tis hoped Avill recover his strength.' (Among the frescoes on the ceiling of the painted chamber is a portrait of Flamsteed, by Thornhill — valuable, as he was alive Avhen it Avas executed- and must have seen the work in progress. He wears a pair of bands, and has a scrutinizing expression. In his hand is a scroll, on which is a description of the echpse of 1715. An old engraving in the Octagon of the observatory gives him the same cast of countenance.) Flamsteed was buried at Lee, but his tombstone, being in a state of decay, was brought OA'er in 1854, and set up in the wall of the observatory. It raight have added a pang to Flamsteed's last days had he known that the ' impudent editor' would succeed him as Astronomer Royal. Halley was not a young man at this time ; he had reached his sixty- 106 HALLEY. fourth year. Both Flamsteed and Halley had private means, and indeed, without such resources, their studies could not have been prosecuted, as scarcely any pecuniary encouragement was given them. The latter was the son of a wealthy soap-boiler. He gave considerable promise at school, especially in mathe matics ; had learned, before he left, the use of the celestial globe ; set up a sundial, and observed the variations of the magnet. He was more fortunate than Flamsteed, in going to Oxford (Queen's College), Avhere he studied astronoray. When only nineteen, he published sorae new ob servations and discoveries. Several of his observa tions, raade concerning a spot in the sun seen at Oxford in July and August, 1676, were published with those of Flarasteed in the Philosophical Transactions. Thus the raotion of the sun round its own axis was known, a phenoraenon not previously well ascertained. He then proposed to find the true places of the fixed stars, but, finding Flamsteed engaged on that work at GreeuAvich, determined to ascertain the places of those in the southern hemisphere. Sir Jonas Moore and Sir Joseph Williamson, to whom he applied, approved his design, and mentioned it to the king, and the East India Company offered to take him to St. Helena. Pie started in November, 1676, and arrived in three months. Though much impeded by fogs, he had before his return catalogued three hundred and fifty stars, and given to a new constellation the narae . of the Royal Oak, in honour of his patron, Charles II. Pie returned in 1678, and Avas made a member cf the Royal Society. Flamsteed not long after gave bim HALLETS COMET. 107 the n^rae of the Southern Tycho. Afterwards he went to consult with Helvetius at Dantzic. He then set out on the grand tour in 1680, and thus had, near Paris, in Deceraber, a sight before other English astronomers of the great comet of that year as it appeared retiring from the sun. He had seen it in November in its descent, and now completed his ob- serA'ations on it in the Royal Observatory in Paris. Halley's name is now mostly known in connection with comets. He wrote an interesting book about thera, tracing the history of observations of them, and showing that for a long time they were supposed to be only meteors. Seneca first decided that they were celestial bodies, but other philosophers did not agree with him. Even Tycho Brahe believed them to be below the moon. Halley especially notices the prodigious comet of 1680 above-mentioned, which was seen for four raonths, and was well observed at Paris and by Flarasteed at Greenwich. He draws. the conclusion that coraets return after long periods.-^ Halley hoped to establish a friendly correspondence between the great astronoraers at Paris and Green wich, He persuaded Newton to publish his Principia, containing his theories of gravitation, and presented it to Jaraes II, In 1687 he wrote a Avork on tides and rainfall ; in 1698 he lost the Savihan professor ship at Oxford because he refused to assent to the truth of Christianity, in this differing from Flamsteed, whose writings abound with religious sentiraents, 1 The assertion of Halley that this comet moved regularly round the sun opened a new field of science, and his theory and predic tions were verified by its return in 1758 and 1835. i08 HALLEY'S VOYAGES In 1698, wishing to ascertain the A'ariations of the oeedle, he obtained from William an appointraent as commander of the Paramour ' pink,'^ and intended to go to America to see ' what land lies to the south of the Western Ocean,' But on reaching the Hne his men became sickly, and, his first lieutenant refusing to obey orders, he was compelled to return home. Next September (1699) he traversed the Atlantic Ocean from north to south as far as the'ice would allow him to sail, and carae back in exactly a year. After staying at home half-a-year, he Avas commis sioned to sail round the Channel to note the course of the tides, and in 1702 he published a chart of the British Channel. In 1703 he was appointed, notwith standing his A'iews on religion, Savihan professor at , Oxford, and in 1719, as Ave have said. Astronomer Royal at GreenAvich. Upon the accession of George IL, his Queen Caroline, who was fond of science, paid a visit to the obserA'atory, and, noting that Halley had served as a captain in the navy, obtained him half-pay, Avhich he enjoyed for the rest of his life. He expired as he sat in his chair at Greenwich, Avithout a groan, January 14th, 1742, in his eighty- sixth year, and was buried at Lee. He always had good spirits, and was wont to say that ' a studious life generally is a long one, by keeping a man out of harm's way.' There is an engraving in the octagon of the ob servatory of ' Halleius,' with his flowing curls. There is also here a good oil portrait of Dollond the optician. ^ A pink was a small ship of discovery. 109 CHAPTER IX. LOED TOERINGTON — DEFEATED OFF BEACHr HEAD — LOP.D AYLMER SIR JOHN LEAKE — SIEGE OF LONDONDEEEY. Naval men at the period of which we are now speaking were frequently merabers of Parliaraent,. and continued to be so even while in service on foreign stations. No doubt many a constituency felt proud to be associated with the fame of a brave and victorious admiral. But an officer was not supposed to have any dynastic preference, or, if he had, it was to be subordinate to his duty of supporting the reign ing soA'ereign. The trial of conscience thus arising was sometiraes severe, and never more so than at the time when William III, succeeded James II, Herbert (afterAvards Lord Torrington) afforded a conspicuous example of one tested and unable to maintain his allegiance. The son of Charles I.'s Attorney-General, he was warmly attached to the Stuart line, and when employed under Prince Rupert fought and was wounded in the first action of the second Dutch war. Charles II. made him captain of the Rupert in 1677, and next year he lost one of his eyes in capturing a large Algerine ship. All the 110 LORD TORRINGTON. other officers of the Rupert down to the boatswain's mate were killed on this occasion. Wheu James II. succeeded, the memories of naA'al \'ictories linked Herbert closely to the sailor king, who in turn was so partial to him that he made him Master of the Robes, and conferred places on him Avorth £4,000 a year. But Herbert Avas a staunch Protestant, and distrusted the Romanists to such an extent that he would rather run the risk of losing'royal favour than do anything whereby they might recover their as cendancy ; so, when James proposed to repeal the Test act, by which Roman Catholics were excluded frora Parliament and pubhc offices, he stoutly resisted the measure, which incensed the king to such au extent that he deprived him of all the appointments Avith which he had enriched him. This petty and unwise policy threw Herbert into the opposite camp. He repaired to the Prince of Orange, was made com mander of the Dutch fleet, and the successful de barkation of William's troops on the English coast Avas largely due to his counsel and assistance. When the French fleet sailed to Ireland in support of James II. with forty-four ships, twenty-eight of Avhich were first-rate, Herbert, though he had only eighteen sail of the line, so gallantly opposed them that they tacked and made away. For this William made him Baron Herbert of Torbay, and Earl of Torrington, a sraall toAvn in Devonshire. The next year (1690) the French appeared in the Channel with eighty-four sail of the line, besides frigates and fire- ships. Lord Torrington followed them with fifty-six English and Dutch sail. While he Avas aAvaiting AYLMER. Ill reinforcements, the queen, instigated, it is said, by Russel], wrote to command him to engage. Such peremptory orders frora a distance generally lead to disaster. The French drew up off Beachy Head in a crescent (then a usual forra), and in the action two EngHsh and six Dutch ships were lost. Some of the ships were burnt, to preA'ent their being taken, and, but for Lord Torrington's good judgment, a greater destruction would have been sustained. The French pursued the allies as far as Rye, and this was the greatest victory they had obtained. The English people were clamorous, and Lord Torring ton was brought before a court-raartial, but acquitted,^ Though Aylmer had not been so much favoured as Herbert by James, he continued much longer to support him. He was an Irishman,^ and coraraenced his career by raising soldiers in the south of Ireland for the defence of Holland against Louis XIV, When these troops were no longer required, he became a page to the magnificent Duke of Buckinghara-, Avho afterwards forwarded his desire to enter on a sea hfe. Ships taken from the enemy Avere then often put into commission ; and (after the usual commence ment of commanding a fire-ship) he Avas given a vessel of that kind. When the Prince of Orange sailed for the invasion of England, Aylmer, iu the 1 Lord Torrington took great interest in Greenwich Hospital, and, dying childless, left all his ' manors, lands, tenements, and hereditaments' to the estabhshment, in case the male issue of Henry Clinton, Earl of Lincoln, should fail, which did not occur. The property|was worth £40,000. 2 The second son of Sir Christopher Aylmer, 112 LORD AYLMER. Swallow, distinguished himself in a remarkable man ner, by attacking and capturing one of his squadron. This vessel had on board four companies of foot of Colonel Babington's regiment, Aylmer was known to be in favour of the Protes tant cause, but his sense of duty and loyalty over came his private sympathies ; he was even charged with a design of seizing Lord Dartmouth. But when Williara was estabhshed on the throne, he served that king faithfully and brilliantly, acting under Russell with great gallantry at the battle of La Hogue, In 1693, he was appointed rear-admiral of the Red, and hoisted his fiag on the Sovereign, of a hundred guns. Next year he was made A'ice- adrairal of the Blue, In 1698, he Avas Commander- in-chief of the squadron in the Mediterranean, and Avhen in this service, the Dey of Algiers re ceived him Avith cordiality, gaA'e liberty in his honour to fifty Christian slaves, and sent home five horses, as a present to King Wilham, In 1701, he was made governor of Deal Castle, was soon afterwards M,P, for DoA'er, and in 1709, Avas appointed Admiral and Commander-in-cffief of the Fleet, He was succeeded (1711) by Leake, to Avhom he had succeeded, and was not re-appointed until the accession of George I, Upon that event taking place, he was again made Admiral and Commander-in-chief of the Fleet, and was soon afterAvards Ranger of GreenAvich Park, Keeper of his Majesty's palace there, and Governor for life of the Hospital, the establishment of Avhich he had much promoted. He is said to have been a mau SIR JOHN LEAKE. 113 of generous sentiments, A portrait of hira at Green Avich shows him in a full suit of armour, with a delicate, alraost efferainate face. He was created an Irish baron in 1718, but died two years afterwards. Sir John Leake, who has just been mentioned, was another eminent man, who served Avith equal devotion on the side of each competitor for the crown. First we find him in the Firedrake, a fire ship prepared under the command of L6rd Dart mouth to intercept and burn, if possible, the fleet in which the Prince of Orange was coming to invade England, and soon afterwards we see him, in the sarae ship, fighting against the French fleet, which had come to support James II, in Ireland, Affairs at this time became critical in Londonderry. The Protestants in that city were closely besieged, and had to contend not only with the fire of the enemy, but also with disease and starvation. They were liA' ing on hides, cats, dogs, horsefiesh, and tallow, and could only hold out a few days when the fleet of Sir George Rooke appeared off Lough Foyle. A council of war was held, and it was considered impossible for the snips to relieve the toAvn. But, in view of the sufferings of the besieged. Captain Leake, who was in command of the Dartmouth, deterrained to make a bold attempt. The only chance of succeed ing was by the river, for the town was surrounded by thirty thousand men. But this means of access had been rendered almost impracticable by the pre cautions of the enemy. The banks were lined with two thousand musketeers, and in the narrow part of the stream a boom of timber was placed, joined VOL. II. [ 114 RELIEF OF LONDONDERRY. by iron chains and strengthened by a coiled-cable a foot thick. On both sides of this were redoubts, with heavy cannon, while piles, spikes, and sunken boats rendered the defence raost forraidable. Nevertheless, Captain Leake started in the Dart mouth, with two smaller ships, to try to effect the pass age of two victualling ships, the Mountjoy and Phoenix. Advancing in front, he engaged Culmore Castle and the batteries, having directed the victuallers to run full sail against the boom, to break it. A furious cannonade was opened upon him frora every side, but he returned the fire ; and the ships sailed on against the boom. Unfortunately, just as they were reaching it, the wind dropped, and the Mountjoy, araid the shouts of the besiegers, ran back, stern foremost, on shore. She got clear, however, and, while the Dartmouth silenced several of the batteries and made the river-banks too hot for the enemy, the boats' crews cut through the boom, and the Plimnix and Mountjoy passed through triumphantly with the tide, and reached the city. The joy of the besieged knew no bounds — the enemy were so disheartened that they retu-ed. The investment had lasted for one hundred and eleven days, and seven thousand of the inhabitants had died of starvation. After the defeat of Lord Torrington off Beachy Head, Captain Leake joined his successor. Admiral Russell, and was present in comraand of the Eagle (seventy guns) at the battle of La Hogue, In this action his ship suffered severely from the fire of the enemy's SIR JOHN LEAKE. 115 large men-of-Avar. Her masts and rigging were almost entirely destroyed ; her huU was much shat tered. Seventeen of her guns were disabled ; seventy of her men were killed, and a hundred and fifty Avounded. But she was so far repaired, that Sir George Rooke shifted his fiag to her when he made his final attack in the harbour of La Hogue. In 1704 Sir John Leake served with Sir Cloudsley Shovel in the taking of Gibraltar, and in an iraportant action with the French. In 1706 he caused them to raise the siege of Barcelona, and took Alicante by storm. Ithaca and Minorca now surrendered to him, and he was received home Avith acclamations. Prince George of Denmark presenting him with a diamond ring and gold-hilted sword. After the death of Shovel, he succeeded as Rear-Admiral of Great Britain, and was appointed commander-in-chief of her majesty's fleet. Though constantly on active service, he was three times member for Rochester. (On the accession of George L, Sir John Leake was superseded in his post of Admiral of the Fleet by Admiral Aylmer, Having been a great favourite with Queen Anne, and a Tory, he was disliked by the new sovereign. He now retired on a pension, and built a villa at Greenwich, where he passed the evening of his life among his old naval friends. Sir John's biographer tells us that he was a man of middle stature, ' a little inclining to corpulency, but not so far as to inconvenience him in the least.' He had good health, and no doubt a strong head, for 'although he took his bottle freely, yet he Avas never i2 116 SIR JOHN LEAKE. disguised.' It is said that he was a man of a kind, benevolent disposition, and that he never swore except under very trying circumstances — a remark able instance of moderation for those tiraes.) 117 CHAPTER X. PRIVATEERS — KIDD EMPLOYED — HIS PIRATICAL PROCEEDINGS — HIS TRIAL AND EXECUTION. The pensioners of Greenwich Hospital were the only persons who benefited by the depredations of Kidd, the buccaneer. We have often read in romances accounts of the lives of pirates and other such inter esting and nefarious men, so perhaps some sketch of the proceedings of Captain Kidd may not be un acceptable, and may compensate in truthfulness for what it lacks in sensation. Inthe days of which we write there seems to have been little difference between privateers and pirates. The former had letters of marque, and did not generally attack Enghsh ships, but considered all foreigners as fair game. One of these privateer captains made a specious and profitable distinction when he said that he always thought it right to attack people who were not Christians. Rich prizes could at that time be taken from Mahometans, and. when William III. first carae to the throne it was easy for Englishmen to say they were at war with the French or the Dutch, just as best suited their purposes. 118 PRIVATEERING. During the war with France, at the end of the seventeenth century, English coraraerce suffered severely, and, a lawless spirit having been engen dered, piratical expeditions were fitted out along the coasts and islands of America. Such proceedings, it Avas said, were encouraged by some of the governors, who shielded the criminals and shared the profits. The men-of-war were at certain stations, and not at liberty to pursue the offenders. The state of Noav York greatly abounded with these adventurers, and Lord Bellamont was ap pointed governor of it by the king specially to put down this scandalous trade. The earl dis cussed the raatter with a Colonel Robert Livingston, a raan of considerable property and reputation in the province, who replied that, as no British ship of war could be obtained for this service, it would be well that a private vessel should be fitted out, and that such an enterprise might not be unprofitable. At the same time, he recommended the employ ment of Captain Kidd, a' Scotchman, as an energetic and trustworthy man, who was a settled inhabitant of New York, lived in a regular manner, and had a competent estate, having married a New York heiress. Moreover, as he had acted against the French, he could not, if he misbehaved, take refuge amongst them. As money Avas required, the next negotiations were carried on in England, where 'Lord Bellamont found that most of those to Avhom he applied were unwill ing to enter into the speculation. But the Duke of ShreAvsbury, Earl of Roraney, and Lord Orford, to- PREPARATIONS: 119 gether with Sir E. Harrison, subscribed £6,000, which was expended in purchasing and fitting out a vessel of two hundred and eighty-seven tons, suitably named the Adventure. Kidd had raeanwhile come over in a sloop of his own to Lymington, and stated that he kncAV well the haunts and movements of the obnoxious pirates. He and Livingston offered to pay one-fifth of the cost of the expedition, and articles of agreement were accordingly executed on the 10th of October, 1695, betAveen thera and Lprd Bellaraont. This docuraent stated that of late persons had departed from New England, Rhode Island, New York, and other places to become pirates, and that Captain Kidd was desir ous of fighting with them and other pirates, and asked for a comraission for a private man-of-war for this purpose, and to take prizes from the king's enemies, Bellaraont is to procure the commission, and to con tribute four-fifths of the cost of the ship, the rigging, furniture, and A'ictual. Before November 6th he is to pay £1,600, and Kidd and Livingston £400; any additional money required is to be paid within seven weeks, Kidd is to take with him one hundred sailors, aud to proceed to places Avhere he may meet with pirates, and use his utmost endeavours to conquer them and seize their goods and treasures. He is also to take what he can frora the king's eneraies, and to make his way Avith whatever he can obtain to Boston, where he is to deliver everything to Lord Bellamont, All prizes are to be lawfully adjudged before sale. One-fourth part is to go to the crew, who are to be engaged on the terms, 'no purchase no pay,' a 320 THE 'ADVENTURE: bad arrangement, as appeared in the result. The reraainder of the money is to be divided into five parts, of which the earl is to have four, and Kidd and Livingston one between them. If Kidd brings home nothing of value, he and Mr. Livingston are to refund the raoney advanced by Lord Bellamont before March, 1697, after which payment the ship is to belong to them. If, on the other hand, he brings such property worth £100,000, the ship shall reraain to the sole use of Kidd.-' The J[due« by the Governor of Newfoundland. He occupied his leisure hours with mathematics and astronomy, and gradually became farailiar Avith those sciences. Soon after his return to England, an expedition was fitted out for Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus, and George III. considered hira, recomraended as he Avas by Sir Hugh Palliser, to be the most suitable person to command the ship. Cook now began to attain the object of his ambition, for he was appointed a Heu tenant in the navy in 1768, The expedition Avas accompanied by Mr, Banks (afterwards Sir Joseph Banks, President ofthe Royal Society), TheEndeavour (270tons) sailed from Plymouth on the 26th of August,. On the whole, the expedition Avas a success. The natives, after some slight misunderstandings, shoAved themselves friendly, and the sun shone Avithout a cloud. Just before they left, two of the sailors Avere found to be missing, and, after waiting some time, Cook sent sorae marines to search for them, who returned Avith the intelligence that they had both taken Avives, and intended to reraain on the island. Cook had some suspicions as to what had be come of thera, and took hostages from the natives ; but the matter Avas finally settled to the satisfaction of all parties, except, perhaps, the wives, and the men were received on board. On the return voyage he NEW SOUTH WALES . 219 named a group of islands after his patron, Lord Sandwich, the First Lord of the Admiralty, In New Zealand he found the natives much more Avar-like, but treated them with great forbearance. Before leaving, he took possession of a part of that island, and hoisted on it the Union Jack, Sailing thence to New Holland, he anchored in a bay, to whicb, for the number of hitherto unknoAvn plants groAving beside it, Mr, Banks gave the name of BotauA' Bay, After contending for some time with gales and hostile tribes. Cook took possession of the eastern coast of NeAV Holland in the name of George HI,, and called it New South Wales, He uoav sailed to New Guinea, As they returned to the Cape of Good Hope, the Endeavour was little better than a hospital, OAving to the prevalence of disease — mostly scurvy, Mr, Banks was despaired of, and almost every night a body was coraraitted to the deep. On his return Cook was made a coraraander (1771), The question as to whether there was not some great continent in the southern ocean was now engaging the attention of scientific men. The idea Avas similar to that Avhich has long been entertained Avith regard to the arctic regions. Two ships were accordingly fitted out, the Resolution (462), and the Adventure (366), A landscape painter, two natural ists, and two astronoraers accorapanied the expedition. The Resolution carried one hundred and twelve men, and in July, 1771, joined the Adventure in Plymouth Sound, Saihng due south, he met in December several large ice islands towards the antarctic 220 HONOURS. regions, and continued his search for land, but with out success ; and at the end of March arrived in New Zealand, having been out of sight of land for one hundred and seventeen days. The explorers carried with them a A'ariety of animals and vegetables, and, not succeeding in discovering the gi-eat Antarctic Continent, planted the seeds of turnips, carrots, ¦potatoes, &c,, in Noav Zealand, Their sheep having died on the voyage, they were unable to introduce these animals into the country, but left some pigs and fowls there. These were great acquisitions, for the natiA'es, in default of more suitable meat, were accustoraed to eat their captives. Thence Cook sailed round Cape Horn, and anchored at Spithead on July I3th, 1775, having been absent raore than three years. Honours uoav flowed in upon the enterprising sailor. On August 9th he Avas appointed a post- captain, and three days later a captaiu of GreeuAvich Hospital. In February he was made a FelloAV of the Royal Society, and adjudged the gold medal by that scientific body. These later recognitions, which would have gratified him, ncA'er came to his know ledge, for some months previously he had sailed on his last voyage. The Antarctic continent theory was now abandoned; but an idea Avas entertained that a shorter route might be found to China and Japan than the usual oue round the Cape of Good Hope. Scientific raen dreamed that there might be an available passage alon'g the coasts of America frora the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and, as George III. Avas fond of learned speculations, it was PERSUASION. 221 deterrained to attempt the discovery. The next question was who should be sent in command of the expeditiou, and all eyes turned to Cook, who had been hoping to end his days in the sylvan shades of Green Avich. It was natural that a man of his experience should be consulted, and accordingly Lord SandAvich invited him to a quiet dinner, ouly to meet Sir Hugh Palliser (afterwards Governor of Greenwich Hospital) and the Secretary of the Admiralty. The subject of the expedition Avas soon introduced, and the three officials took care to speak highly of the dignity of the undertaking, aud of the grandeur of the prob able results. As the evening drew on they enlarged more and more eloquently on the glory to be acquired, until at length Cook's ambition Avas fired, and he started frora his seat, saying that he would take the command himself. This was all they wanted, and the're Avas an end to Cook's prospect of dying at home in peace. Accordingly in March, 1776, the old Resolution and the Discovery were fitted out at Deptford. On the 12th of June following, the Resolution stood out of Plymouth Sound, and was joined by the Discovery at the Cape onNoA'eraber 10th. On January 24th, they carae to Van Dieraen's Land, then Avent northward along the Avestern coast of North America, reached ' Cook's Inlet,' and then sailed back disappointed to the South Sea Islands.-' It should be mentioned that some little distrust Avas now felt with regard to the New Zealanders, 1 He Avas trying the reverse way, from the Pacific to the Atlantic. 222 DISHONESTY. from the fact that, during the former expedition, ten men belonging to the Adventure, Avho had gone ashore to look for wild edible plants, had been killed by them, and, as it was subsequently dis coA'ered, had been eaten. But on this latter visit the natives appeared friendly, though shoAving them selves a little in favour of a community of goods, and Cook forbade any measures of reprisal to be taken on account of the murders committed. Every thing seemed to proceed smoothly, until ihe Resolution and the Discovery, after cruising for some time along the Island of Owhyhee — one of the Sandwich group — anchored, in Deceraber, in Karakakooa Bay.. Here the ships becarae crowded with natives and sur rounded by a raultitude of canoes. Pilfering Avas in fashion, and was encouraged by the chiefs, Avho received the stolen property. On shore, however, the king was most courteous, and made Cook a gift of a splendid feathered cloak, in exchange for which the captaiu presented him with a more necessary article — a shirt.'' The crews, having been long condemned to salt provisions, had excellent appetites, and made con siderable havoc among the island pigs and veget ables. The natives seemed to think from their emaci- 1 While at this island a gunner named William Watman died. He Avas an old man, much respected by Captain Cook, and had entered the Resolution in 1772, and sailed Avith him to the ant arctic regions. On their return Cook obtained admission for hioi into Greenwich Hospital at the time when Cook was appointed a captain of it, but he quitted that retreat to sail with his bene factor on this voyage. UNFORTUNATE WEATHER. 223 ated appearance and enormous consumption of food that they had come from some place AA'here a faraine was raging ; and, Avhen the ships had been a fort night in the bay, began to show some signs of im patience, aud occasioned some amuseraent by strok ing and patting the sides and stomachs of the sailors — intimating that they were now pretty full ; had eaten enough, and should go aAvay. But when a day was fixed for their departure, the king Terreeo- boo, requisitioned the people for a large supply of hogs, vegetables, and cloth, and made the Avhole a handsome present to Captain Cook. The ships then set sail on January 4th, but, as raisfortune would have it, a heavy gale obliged thera to put back, and they anchored again in the bay on February llth. On this return their reception Avas significantly cold — no shouts of Avelcorae greeted them. The king, however, carae to see Captain Cook, and friendly terms seeraed to be re-established. Intelligence arrived that some of the chiefs were preventing their men from assisting the sailors in rolling casks, but this difficulty was settled by negotiation, A spark can set fire to a forest ! The sad conflict, which terminated in the death of many men aud of one eminently precious, arose about the loss of a pair of tongs ! The tongs were purloined, and some men from the Resolution Avent in pursuit of the pilferer, Frora that tirae everything went wrong — the tongs were restored, but good-humour was not. Au officer, by way of reprisal, seized a cauoe belonging to a chief, who objected to the act, pro- 224 REPRISALS. testing his innocence, and attempted to restrain him, but was knocked down by a sailor Avith an oar. Stones were now throAvn, and the EngHsh had to retreat to the pinnace, which would have been destroyed, but for the interposition of the chief, Avho had been lately ill-used. This man even brought back a midshipman's cap and some small things that had been taken from the boat, and finally rubbed noses in token of amity. Next morning, however, some of the natives, who had been irritated by the insult offered to their chief, carried off the Discovery s cutter. The sailors appear to have treated the islanders more roughly than was desired by Captain Cook, who invariably tried to keep on good terras with thera. He stopped his lieutenant of Marines Avhen about to shoot an arraed and dangerous native. In the state of tension at which matters had now arrived he thought his best course Avould be to ask the king, who was friendly, to come on board the Resolu tion, as he Avould be a hostage for the good be haviour of his subjects, . With this view, he landed at seven o'clock in the morning, AArith a few sailors and marines ; and his plan seeraed likely to be successful, but failed oAving to some of the Discovery's boats, which Avere placed across the bay to coerce the natives, having fired on a cauoe and killed a chief. The natives, on learning this, began to look gloomy and threatening, and the women retired from the vicinity of the English, The king, Avho had allowed himself to be led to the shore by Cook, refused to embark, ou his ATTACK UPON COOK. 225 Avife throAving her arms about him and begging him to reraain, aud sat down — the natives telling hira that Cook would put him to death, A man now came over to the captain holding an immense stone, which he threatened to throw at Cook, who told him to desist, but, as he continued his antics, fired some sraall shot at hira. Stones were now throAvn, and an attempt was made to stab one of the officers. Cook uow fired and shot a man — more stones were throAvn — and a volley was fired by the marines and those iu the boats ; but the natives instead of running away advanced with yells. The small party of English were now surrounded by thousands, and a dreadful scene ensued amid stone throwing and firing. Cook waved his hand to his men to desist. Meanwhile, the sailors crowded into the pinnace iu great confusion, and the launch, instead of pulling close in, was by some mistake put back. Cook was obliged, in the circurastances, to make for the pin nace, through the water, over the rocks. A native was seen following him, and at last advanced sud denly and gave hira a blow with a club on the back of the head. Cook staggered, fell on his hand and knee, and dropped his musket. As he was endea vouring to rise, another native stabbed him in the back of the neck with a dagger. He fell into the water, which was knee-deep, where the natives crowded on hira to keep him under. He struggled manfully, notAvithstanding his wounds, and got his head up, casting a look for assistance towards the pinnace. The boat was only five or six yards dis tant, but it seemed not in their power at that moment VOL. IL Q 226 DEATH OF COOK. to give him any succour. The natives now got him down again and iuto deeper water, but he raised his head once raore, and was trying to support hiraself by a rock, when a savage struck him with a club, and he was seen alive no more. They then hauled him up on the rocks, and satiated their vengeance by stabbing his lifeless body in many places. This hap pened at eight in the morning. There is a picture of this sad occurrence in Green Avich Hospital. The native chiefs are there repre sented as wearing Httle or no clothes, but showy, red caps Avith crests, somewhat like helmets. The body of Cook Avas cut in pieces, and became the property of the king and various chiefs. His' re mains, howeA'er, were soon afterwards given up, but the fact that they consisted mostly of bones upon which the smell of fire had passed gave rise to un pleasant suspicions, and the portions of flesh that reraained seemed to have been crimped and salted down for future use. All that could be obtained was collected together and comraitted to the deep with railitary honours. It seems to us somewhat strange to find that, after this dreadful tragedy, aud the very day after the mournful ceremony, the English aud natiA'es Avere on terms of amity. Some chiefs came on board, express ing their sorroAV for what had happened ; six of their chiefs had been killed by the rausketry. The past could not be recalled, and as the ships Avere in want of provisions, and there had been faults on both sides, raatters Avere arranged, the canoes came again to trade, and, as the ships weighed anchor and sailed THE 'DISCOVERY: 227 out, the natives crowded the shore, and bade them farewell with every mark of friendship and good-will. For many years after her return the Discovery was laid up at Deptford, and constantly visited by sight seers in the early part of this century. There is a good portrait at Greenwich of Cook, with his keen aquiline countenance, and in the rauseura here we find his compass and his ' dipping needle' — a brass instrument with wheels for shoAving the amount of a ship's oscillation. a 2 228 CHAPTER XX. RODNEY RESIGNS — COUNT DE GROSSE — GREAT VICTORY — ^LORD HOOD — THE ' ROYAL GEORGE ' ELLISON. Sir George Rodney was, as we have observed, a meraber of parliaraent, and in those days a seat was an expensive luxury. After sitting for Saltash, he was elected, in 1761, for Penrhyn in Cornwall ; in 1768 he contested Northampton, and won a victory, but Avith more daraage than he had ever sustained from his country's enemies. Few shots remained in the locker, and, wishing to wage a more profitable confiict, he sought to be employed on acti\-e service. It was difficult indeed to belicA'e that the govemment would long leave such a commander in the retirement of Greenwich. He was successful in. his application, but failed in a material point : he Avas appointed commander-in-chief on the Jamaica station, but Avas required by Lord Sandwich, First Lord of the Ad miralty, to resign his place at Greenwich, thus losing his £1,000 a year. This disqualification was first introduced in his case, and he regarded it as a hardship, observing that Aylmer, Jennings, aud Balchen had all continued VICISSITUDES OF RODNEY. 229 governors when on foreign service. Certainly he had sorae cause for dissatisfaction, if Sir Charles Hardy was afterwards perraitted, as he seeras to have been, to retain the office while making his inglorious de monstration in the Channel. Rodney differed from his predecessors in acquiring his highest renown long after his appointraent to GreeuAvich. At the end of his coramand on the Jamaica station, Rodney was in such distressed circurastances that he went to live for econoray araong his old eneraies the French, aud continued seA'eral years in obscurity, until he was enabled by a loan frora a French noble man to return to England. He solicited employment in the war then commencing, and at length, towards the end of 1779, was nominated commander-in-chief ou the Leeward Island station. On his Avay thither, he had to convoy some vessels to Gibraltar, then threatened by the Spaniards, and off Cape St. Vincent he was attacked by twelve Spanish ships. In the action which ensued one of the enemy's ships, the St. Domingo, Avas blown up, two of seventy guns each were captured, and two of the sarae class surrendered. On Sir George Rodney's return, the thanks of the Lords and Commons were voted to hira, and he was presented with the freedom of the City of London. At the next general election he was, though absent, elected member for Westmin ster without his solicitation. Meanwhile (1780) Sir George sailed to the West Indies, and there found a large French fleet, which, notwithstanding its supe riority, he in vain endeavoured to bring to a general action. The Dutch, continuing to supply the enemy 230 DE GRASSE. Avith naA'al and military stores from the island of St. Eustatia, Sir George took possession of this place the next year (1781), and confiscated the property found there to the value of three millions ster ling. He thought himself entitled to act in this way to punish the inhabitants for materially assist ing the eneray. But some of the sufferers were English, and no doubt many innocent persons were punished with the guilty. Such strong remonstrances and complaints were made about this summary con fiscation that Rodney fell for a time into discredit, and his somewhat extravagant habits gave colour to the charges agaiust him. But upon an inquiry into his conduct being instituted in the House of Com mons, he was honourably acquitted, and the king settled an annuity of £2,000 a year on him for his services, in addition to a pension lately conferred. The most important events in the naval history of this time were consequent upon the sailing of Comte de Grasse with a large force for the West Indies. The capture of St, Eustatia by the English was shortly afterwards compensated by that of Tobago by the French, In vain did Rodney, though with an inferior force, offer battle to De Grasse ; the count skilfully avoided hira, and accoraplished this intended conquest. But on the next iraportant occasion (April 1782), the French coraraander did not show an equal amount of judgment, Rodney (avHo had become Vice-Admiral of Great Britain on the death of Lord Hawke) Avas now in search of him, Avith a fleet Avhich, including that under Sir Samuel Hood, numbered thirty-six ships of the Hne, De Grasse accordingly DE GRASSE. 231 sailed, as soon as he Avas able, to try to join the Spanish fleet, hoping, notwithstanding the slowness of some of his ships, to escape the English ; but he was obstructed by having to convoy one hundred aud fifty vessels carrying troops and munitions of war for a descent upon Jamaica, The French main tain that he had not thirty, but only twenty-three ships of the line, and that 'various accidents one more melancholy than another,' some of them show ing a want of foresight and seamanship, led to his defeat, Rodney gave chase, but the calm weather would have rendered his movement unsuccessful had not some disabled ships of the French, several of which had fallen foul of each other in the night, been in danger of capture. In a rash and chival rous raoment, De Grasse determined to bear down to the assistance of these decrepit members. While he was thus engaged, Rodney dexterously passed to windAvard of him, aud cut off his retreat, A furious engagement ensued. (The French account attributes the result to the wind, Avhich had changed to an unfavourable point, and adds that the cloud of sraoke which enA-eloped the fieets prevented thera being able to see one another.) About noon Rodney broke through the enemy's line in the centre, and their ships being crowded with meu, the carnage was terrible. The French fought with the utraost bravery, and the battle lasted till night. They lost fiA'e ships : the Ccesar blew up, aud all on board perished ; the Glorieux and Hector struck their flags ; the Diadem sank frora a single broadside. 232 VICTORY. A raost obstinate defence was made by the Ville de Paris (110), which, as the French say, ' being sur rounded by ten ships, and rendered entirely power less, the Comte de Grasse, as no retreat was open nor succour at hand, bereft of his sailors, Avho had fought continuously for six hours, was obliged to haul down his flag.' There were one hundred and twenty-one men killed on board ; but the Corate de Grasse was not wounded, though he kept on the deck through out the whole of the action, proving that the. English did not aira, as the French did, especially -at the officers. This victory of Rodney was achieved, as we have said, by breaking the eneraies' line — a manoeuvre Avhich occurred to the admiral's mind before he left England, when sitting after dinner with some friends at the house of Lord George Gerraaine. The con- A'ersation turned upon militarj' tactics and charges of infantry columns, and he arranged some cherry stones on the table in the form of two fleets drawn up oppo site to each other, and attracted the attention of the party by saying that he Avould, if ever he had an oppottunity, break through the centre of the enemies' line, ancl he Avent on moving about the cherry-stones, showing into what confusion the opposing fieet Avould be thrown. He ended by swearing that he Avould lay the French admiral's fiag at his sovereign's feet. It appears that when the action Avith De Grasse was actually in progress, and at its height, Sir Charles Douglas, captain of the fleet, who had some rais givings about Sir George's new plan, exclairaed, point ing to the resistance made by the Glorieux to the ships DE GRASSE. 233 against her, 'Behold, Sir George, the Greeks and Trojans contending for the body of Patroclus!' Rodney, who Avas pacing the deck anxiously, and fearful about the success of his manoeuvre, Avas in no mood for joking or poetry, and replied, ' D the Greeks, and d the Trojans ; I've other things to think about.' But a few minutes later, when the supporting ships sailed through the French line in brave forra, he exclaimed, ' Now, my dear friend, I ara at the service of your Greeks and Trojans, and the Aviiole of Horaer's Iliad, or as much of it as you please, for the enemy is in confusion and our victory secure.' Writing to Lady Rodney at this time, he says : — ' Comte de Grasse, poor man, now begins to feel the very grave misfortune that has befallen him. As to himself, he is easy, as he is conscious of having done his duty, but he fears that the disagreements that Avill certainly happen among the nobility of France Avill occasion much bloodshed. He owns France is a century behind us in naval affairs ... It is incon ceivable what concern he expressed during the two days he remained on board the Formidable, Avhere everything was made as agreeable as possible to him, tiU he returned to the Ville de Paris. I discovered that it Avas all on account of his money, to the value of about £5,000, which he soon made me acquainted with. My answer Avas that everything that he as a man of honour could call his own was sacred, and at his oAvn disposal ; but that all pubhc money belonged to the captors ; that EngHsh officers never plundered their captives, nor should the lowest sailor belonging 234 RODNEY'S SUCCESSES. to them lose even a shoe. This set his heart at ease. His money is in his own possession, and the kiug's money, about £25,000, will be divided amongst my ships. My share shall be sent to you ; but I want to intercept the Spaniards — one ship of whom has a million on board.' The French fleet was now altogether broken up, and Rodney's success was opportune, for his political eneraies Avere about to recall hira ; his successor had, in fact, sailed. He now reached the zenith of his popularity, and Avas created a peer. Never did a hero receive a greater ovation. At Spanishtown, iu Jamaica, a temple was built for the purpose of receiving his statue. He was the conqueror of three admirals, one Spanish, one Dutch, and oue French. How proud the old pensioners would have been if this last victory had been won while Rodney was still govemor of the hospital, De Grasse Avas Avell received in London, as having made a gallant defence. He Avas presented to the king, Avho, as a French historian says, ' had the in humanity to give fetes in his honour.' On his release he was tried by a court-martial in France, but Avas acquitted. Sir Samuel Hood worthily shared in the glory of this action. He had already shoAvn great ability in maintaining, during this and the previous years, a series of defensive batties against the larger fleet of the Corate de Grasse, avHo had with him thirty-four ships. After remaining until the surrender of Brimstone Hill made his presence no longer useful, he escaped the vigilance of the enemy by saihng on a dark LORD HOOD. 235 night, and brought away his Avhole fleet intact to join that of Sir George Rodney. In the engagement which ensued, he led the van in the Barfleur, and, owing to the stillness of the Aveather, this division had to stand the attack of the whole French squadron. The Barfleur had at one time seven, and generally three, ships upon her. But she proved in the end victorious. The Ville de Paris struck her flag to her, and the Comte de Grasse surrendered his sword. Hood was then sent in pursuit of the scattered fleet, and captured four more ships. As a recognition of his services, he was raised to the peerage at the same time as Rodney. Hood had received a good early training in the service, haA'ing commenced his career, in 1740, as a midshipraan under Comraodore T. Smith — cora raonly known as ' Tom of Ten Thousand.' This intrepid officer approved of hira so rauch that he had hira raised to the rank of lieutenant, in which capacity he served off the coast of Scotland during the rebellion of 1746. In 1759, he sailed in the Vestal, to co-operate in the expedition against Que bec. On the 21st of February, h^ fell iu with a French ship, the Bellona (32), and after a gallant action, continuing nearly all day, took possession of her. Of her crew of two hundred and tAventy men thirty were found dead on the deck, and twelve had been thrown overboard. Lord Hood had, towards the end of his life (1793), to conduct very difficult operations at Toulon, in conjunction Avith the Spaniards, Neapolitans, and Sardinians, against the French Republic. On arriv- -236 TOULON. ing off the town in the Victory, he issued a proclama tion inviting the loyal population of the South of France to pronounce in favour of monarchy, and proraising all the assistance in his power. A deputa tion according waited on him, declaring for Louis XVIL, and offering to place Toulon in his keeping. After Lord Hood had possession ofthe town and forts, he found his action against the French impeded by the jealousy of the coraraander of the Sicilian ships and of the Spanish adrairal, who aspired to the chief coraraand. The corabined forces, thus disunited, noA'cr exceeded seventeen thousand, while the French besieging army numbered forty thousand,^ But the toAvn resisted for seven weeks, at the end of which tirae Lord Hood, being disappointed of a promised Austrian contingent, held a council of war, in which it was determined to abandon the defence. Accord ingly, in the night of Deceraber 18th, the troops embarked without the loss of a single man. About fifteen thousand of the loyal inhabitants were also received into the English and loyal French ships. Sir Sidney Smith then proceeded to destroy the Republican men-of-war in the inner harbour, and, after haA'ing succeeded, ^nearly lost his life by the explosion of two gunpowder ships, Avhich were per fidiously set on fire by the Spaniards. It seems that the Spanish governraent were in communication with Robespierre. The real orders sent to their admiral were to watch and thwart the English operations. On leaving Toulon, Lord Hood proceeded to Corsi- ^ Their artillery was commanded by Buonaparte. KEMPENFELT. 237 ca, thinking the possession of it would, owing to its excellent ports, be a great advantage to the English, He found that General Dundas had already been par tially successful there against the French, but that he was unwilling, without reinforcements, to attempt the siege of Bastia, This delay did not accord with Lord Hood's eager disposition. Having called on the French general to sur render, and being told that he Avould receive the answer of the Republic from cannon charged with red-hot shot, he determined to attack the place with the naval force alone, ' He landed some sailors and marines (only twelve hundred men), and set up his batteries with no ordnance, but the lower-deck guns of his ships. The place was defended by four thousand French and Corsican troops, and held out from the llth of April to the 21st of May, After its surrender, he reduced Calvi, and conquered the whole island. Nelson distinguished himself at the batteries on both of these occasions, (Lord Hood retired in 1795, and was appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital.) One of those who thwarted De Grasse's operations in the West Indies was Rear-admiral Kempenfelt. He was the sou of a Swede, a friend of Addison, Avho becarae a colonel in the English array. In manoeuvres and naA'igation Kempenfelt showed great skill, aud, having iraproved the code of signals, was highly coraraended by Lord Hawke. In 1781, he attacked, with thirteen ships off Brest, a fieet sailing- to revictual the forces of De Grasse, convoyed by nineteen men-of-war, succeeded in taking fourteen. 238 THE 'ROYAL GEORGE: vessels, and scattered the rest. A storm followed, and the remnant of the expedition returned in de plorable plight to Brest, only seven ships reach ing St. Doraingo. Next year, in command of the Royal George, he exhibited great ability in pursuing and eluding the enemy, and took several prizes. The Roycd George was a splendid ship, built at Deptford. Its sad fate is Avell known; it made a great impression on the pubHc mind, and was commemorated afterwards by thousands of little souvenirs made from the tirabers of the sunken ship.-^ The disaster occurred in the quiet and picturesque roadstead between the Isle of Wight and the raain- land. The Royal George was careened over for repairs, and at ten o'clock, to finish the works, was lowered a little more. It Avas a lovely sumraer raorning, and the bright water rippled calmly by her side. The men went to dinner; and Ave may picture a scene of noisy if not disorderly merriment, for there were on board, besides nine hundred men and fifty sailors' Avives, two hundred and fifty less demure women. Swifter destruction has never oA'ertaken the thought less. Just as the revelry was at its height the gust of Avind blew, and the death-wave struck the ship on the upraised side. The lee port-holes Avere open, and the sea rushed in like a giant loosed from his chains. In less than eight minutes the ship Avas the huge coffin of that carousing crowd I We are '' There are several cases at Greenwich containing such relics of this ship as a quadrant, spoon, candlestick, scabbards, and blocks. ELLISON. 239 reminded, as we write, of the catastrophe Avhich befel the Eurydice, also near the Isle of Wight, Had such a calamity happened to a French ship, we should not have been surprised, for they were con stantly meeting with accidents from inadvertence and misraanagement, but such carelessness was unusual araong the British, The captain had been away, and was returning in a boat when, to his horror, he saw the ship capsize, Kerapenfelt perished on this occa sion ; a portion of the crew who Avere on deck or near the ladders escaped, sorae climbing into the rigging, but nine hundred persons in the prime of life were drowned. Few officers had raore providential escapes about this time than Joseph Ellison. He served under Lord Hawke and Sir Charles Hardy, and, when in comraand of three ' gundaloes ' in the war against the Americans, was very near destruction. One night, while snatching an hour's sleep, which he rarely then could venture upou, an eighteen-pound shot carae into the larboard quarter, killed two men lying close to him, and actually cut through the clews of his hammock. But he Avas not destined long to enjoy this happy immunity. Soon after the French war again broke out, he was appointed to La Prudente, fitting out at Deptford. On the 4th of July, 1780, when he was still less than thirty years of age, La Prudente, being in company Avith the Licorne} a French frigate. La Capricieuse, bore down on them. Ellison's ship Avas engaged unequally with this ship • A ship taken from the French at the time of the Belle Poule affair. 240 SEVERE ACTION. for four hours and a half before the Licorne could come up. The action had the additional horror of being fought in the night, commencing at half- past eleA'en, and not terminating till half-past four in the morning, when the Capricieuse struck. In the course of the engageraent Ellison received no less than four Avounds in his back, but refused to go below, though losing much blood. At length an eighteen-pound shot struck his elbow and shattered the bones of his arm. He was now obliged to retire, and the surgeon, haA'ing stanched the blood, laid him on a mattress, to be attended at the close of th'e action, as he was busily occupied with others more dangerously wounded. While he was lying in this state, a shot came through the side of the Prudente and took off the cook of the gun-room's head, Avhich fell close to Lieutenant Ellison, to whom he was handing a glass of water. But in the midst of these horrors and his OAvn sufferings the lieutenant's mind was engrossed Avith the fate of the action, and he told one of the searaen that when he brought him information of the enemy's surrender, he would stand hira a glass of grog. In a quarter-of-an-hour the man appeared, waving his hat in triumph, a,nd the lieutenant ordered the grog for him, and took a glass hiraself, which Avas probably of service to hira in his Aveakened state. His arm was ampu tated by the French surgeon, but so unskilfully that he suffered much from it in after-years, and was glad to be employed in the impress service at Gosport. But we shall hear of hira again. 241 CHAPTER XXI. GOVERNMENT OF THE HOSPITAL — BAILLIe'S ACCOUNT — LAKDSMEN EMPLOYED — PECULATION — OFFICIAL ABUSES — COIIPLAINTS AND TRIALS. Every huraan institution declines, and eA'en the farae of great men, gradually fades ; we shall not, therefore, be surprised to find in Greenwich Hospital some ten dency to decay. After the access of wealth supplied by the DerAventAvater estates, the establishment was prosperous for half-a-century, but by the end of that time some parasites had fastened on the stately tree, and, although its structure was as grand as ever, its leaA'es were uo longer fresh and green. A hundred years ago, when the hospital had been a hundred years in existence, a strange contest took place within its precincts; Mr. Baillie, the lieutenant-governor, having the courage to come forward aud denounce the officials and the nefarious system which had arisen. He was opposed by the hospital authorities, but it would appear from the final result that there was some foundation for his accusations. Some idea of the importance attached to this hos pital by WilHam III. may be formed from the fact VOL. II. E 212 THE COMMISSIONERS. that in the charter he appointed as comraissioners of it all the leading personages in England, Araong them were the princes of the blood, the archbishops, the chancellor, the officers of state in all departments, the -Privy Councillors, the Speaker of the House of Commons, all the judges, admirals, and flag-officers, the judges of the Admiralty courts, the Lord Mayor, and three senior aldermen — altogether some four hundred persons. But as this vast and brilliant crowd could scarcely be expected to attend, the ordinary business was to be transacted by a body of twenty- four directors, who were to be admirals, merchants, or men of independent means. They were to meet not less than once a fortnight, and to them Avas com raitted the manageraent of the fabric and estates, the making of contracts for provisions, the placing out of the children, and the receiving of complaints to be laid before the general Court of Comraissioners, They had also the appointment ofthe pensioners. The arrangeraents inside the walls of the hospital Avere in the hands of a council presided oA-er by the governor. The rule adopted Avas like that on board a man-of-war, to which the pensioners Avere accus tomed,, but there was this pleasant difference— that, instead of corporal punishment, fines weVe inflicted, or the offender had to stand and proclaim his guilt iu an elevated place in the hall, or to Avear a yellow coat, to show that he had acted like a fool,^ 1 For minor offences a coat with yellow sleeves was ordered, and they were made to wear these marks of disgrace on Sundays as well as week-days. There is a story told that some strangers visiting the hospital, and seeing these gaily-clothed men, asked one of them why he was so distinguished. ' Oh, don't you know, POLITICAL EXPEDIENTS. 243 But all this elaborate and careful organization re- Suited in producing, according to Mr. Baillie's account, ' a splendid nothing,' It was soon found that in this, as in other cases, the numbers attending the com mittees began to fall off and to be limited to those who had in view personal objects, either pecuniary 'or arabitious. The only grandee Avho attended at the Court of the Coramissioners was at this time Lord Sandwich, who was Lord High Adrairal. The advantage attending Lord Sandwich's presence at the Commissioners' Court was counterbalanced by his motive, which Avas to obtain the entire patronage of the hospital, and to use it in a great raeasure for political purposes. Representative government is always raore or less carried on by bribery, and in those days money and offices Avere bestowed on electors who in our days would have been promised other people's property. Lord Sandwich's parlia mentary operations were carried on in Huntingdon shire, and gradually many of the good places in the hospital fell to raen who had interest in that county. The stewards had influence there, so had the butcher. The two chaplains Avere burgesses of Huntingdon, and ' at the last election the hospital resembled a large inn on the side of Lord Sandwich,' Indeed, it was said that Lord Sandwich treated the hospital as though it were his private property, and that two gamekeepers were appointed on each of the sixteen Derwentwater raanors. The charter declared that three members of the Ad- sir?' rephed the pensioner, with admirable effrontery, ' Tm one of the governor's band !' r2 244 MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS. miralty, the Treasury, or Privy Council must always be present at the Comraissioners' Courts, but with the above-raentioned brilliant exception the attendance of these lurainaries was often merely on paper. The court of directors met every ten days alternately at Greenwich and Salter's HaU, but only seven or eight persons generally attended. Occasionally one of the other directors would appear Avhen he wanted to present a boy td the charity, or felt inclined for the ten shiUings paid for each attendance ; but iu the latter case he usually left a^ soon as his name had been called. It was said that in course of tirae some of the comraissioners did not even know that they had any right to be present. There were, hoAv- ever, a few who could not be charged with unpunc- tuality in attendance. These Avere the receiA'er, the accountant, the coraptroller of the sixpenny office, the surveyor, and some prize agents. As these peo ple Avere executing- Avorks, bringing in bills and estiraates, or carrying on other pecuniary business connected Avith the hospital, they Avere careful to secure a raajority to pass each other's accounts. Several subordinate officials as well as the chaplains were added to the board, while the captains who Avere originally upon it were disraissed in the time of Lord Anson because they objected to the appoint ment of one Lee, an empiric doctor, in whom that nobleman put great faith. In 1753 this aspirant was granted rooms in the hospital and a handsome salary, that he might cure the old pensioners of rupture ; but the captains resisting, and the appliances proving useless, the appointment Avas cancelled. THE GOVERNOR. '2ib The privilege of admitting pensioners Avas gradu ally usurped by the Admiralty. This led to neglect frora press of business, and we read of a seaman with a certificate of twenty-one years' service haA'ing died 'from poverty, disease, and anguish of mind,' in a miserable lodging which a pensioner, an old mess mate of his, had taken for his Avife. The Admiralty also admitted marines as pensioners, which the blue jackets resented, regarding them as ' landraen.'^ The governor was too great to attend to the affairs of the hospital. He did not usually reside at Greenwich, sometiraes he was attending to his parlia mentary duties, and sometimes was actually away on foreign service. Instead of presiding once a Aveek at the council he was not there once a year. In his absence the lieutenant-goA'ernor took the chair at the meetings of the directors and council, and was prac tically the head of the hospital. Every week one of the captains who were pensioners had the immediate superAdsion of the domestic arrangements. Although the hospital was founded especially for searaen, aud it was expressly stated in the charter that none but they should hold any office in it, lands men were gradually introduced on the staff to such an extent that it becarae common to talk of the ' civil interest,' or, as the pensioners called them, the ' pen- and-ink men,' as an important eleraent in the insti tute.^ Though raany a naval officer's Avidow would ' A new charter in 1776 gave the Lord High Admiral and direc tors enlarged powers. 2 In 1742 the persons residing in Greenwich Hospital were ex amined by Sir Charles Wager, and eight hundred of them were dis charged. Among them were footmen, coachmen, and other servants. 245 THE STEWARD. have been glad to be one of the matrons, two of those lady superintendents, Miss Power and Miss Birt, were unconnected with the navy, unless, as Mr. Baillie somewhat raaliciously observes, they had been to sorae extent associated Avith the lords of the Adrairalty. Meanwhile twenty-four widows of naval officers are serving under thera as nurses and servants to the pensioners. Under the auspices of such directors as those mentioned, a plentiful crop of abuses grew up. The result at this time of prize agents being on the board, — the hospital haAdng a right to unclaimed prize- money — was that from the West Indies alone seventy or eighty thousand pounds due remained unpaid. In the year 1772 it was reraarked that the steward of the hospital Avas living in a most luxurious manner entirely out of keeping with his office and supposed emoluraents. The pensioners used to say facetiously that a moidore-tree Avas growing in his garden. On his affairs being inquired into there was found to be a deficit in his account of about £3,500. He was allowed, hoAvever, to leave the Jiospital, Avhich he did reluctantly — without refunding the money. A, Mr. Izard was now appointed stoAvard. He was a son of Lord Sandwich's steAvard, and had been butler at the hospital. As he had been accustomed to stand behind the officers at dinner, they greatly resented his being placed above thera as one of the corarais sioners, and he himself felt A'ery uncomfortable on taking his seat. But he did not long give trouble, for, eighteen months after his eleA'atiou, he died of intemperance. THE COOK. 247 Sea-cooks are not]generally held in high estimation. Their qualifications at this period were that from wounds and other causes they were unfit for auy other sei-A'ice. Many of the Greenwich pensioners were thus quahfied, and shipped on board men-of-war to manage or mismanage the culinary departments. It is no wonder that the calling becarae a subject of ridi cule, and we are surprised that one of the Greenwich grievances should be that a landsraan Avas appointed to be master-cook. But it must be admitted that this king of the cotton caps had no great knowledge of his art, for he had been promoted frora being- the porter of Clement's Inn because he convicted a printer of publishing a libel on ' a certain lord,' — apparently Lord SandAvich, If the result had not been so lamentable, the state of Greenwich Hospital at this time might haA'e , well furnished materials for a laughable coraedy. The porter Avas an old herald — a poor knight of Windsor, and a Roraan Catholic, He, of course, could not deraean hiraself by wearing the gown or carrying the wand of his office, nor by conducting the visitors, AA'ho paid his fees, to view the building, Sorae old pensioners were deputed to perform this menial duty for a sraall consideration. At one time the porter had power, under the governor, to regulate the hours of adrais.sion ; but the officials, finding that inconvenient, had the restrictions reraoved, HenceforAvard the hospital becarae a scene of riot and confusion during the greater part of the night, as routs, card-parties, balls, and other entertainments were being constantlj' given b}' the secretary and his fraternity, much to 248 ALLOWANCES. the disapproval and inconvenience of the pensioners, Mr, Godby, who succeeded Mr, Izard as steward, and received £500 a year, was soraewhat unworthy of his narae, for he made hiraself reraarkable by thrashing one of the pensioners with a cane in the public square of the hospital. He was a landsman, and a freeholder of Huntingdon. Mr, Godby married a niece of a Comraissioner of the Admiralty, and an additional apartment was fitted up for the lady. All the officials brought their wives to Hve in the hospital, and this privilege was viewed unfavourably by the pensioners, avIio were obliged to keep theirs outside. These ladies, moreover, had medical attendance and drugs supplied at the cost of the hospital, and so liberal an interpretation was placed upon their rights that a course of Spa waters or donkey's milk was sometimes included, and, after the above-mentioned marriage of the steward, a drove of asses for the benefit of his family had free quarters in the hospital for more than two years. As there was a clerk of the works, the surveyor held a sinecure appointment. But he Avas not en tirely idle, and the nature of his occupation may be . gathered from the following proposal made by him which is also instructive as shoAving a strange dis- crepany in estimates. At one of the raeetings of the directors in 1777, the surveyor observed that the paintings in the painted halP greatly required clean ing, and that, althougli the usual charge for execut ing the work would be about £2,500, he had a friend of so Hberal and disinterested a character that he 1 Sometimes called the Painted Chamber. DEMOLITION OF CABINS. 249 Avould do it for £1,000. The directors were, of course, delighted at such a reasonable offer, aud ordered the cleaning to be proceeded with. But raeanwhile a letter carae frora an experienced man, who Avent so far as to say that very Httle good would be done by cleaning the paintings, and that all that was required could be accomplished for £550, for which he would undertake the work. Shortly after wards a painter, accustomed to clean the chapel paintings and gilding, stated that all that was want ed 'was careful Avashing, and that he would do the whole satisfactorily for £50 ! One fine morning in April, 1778, at five o'clock, the pensioners were aroused from their sleep in the Royal George and Victory Avards by a body of Avorkmen, who told them to get up and turn out, as they were going to make rooms for Mr, Ibbetson's footmen,^ The pensioners loudly complained of the invasion of these matutinal workmen, who proceeded sum marily to pull down eleven of their cabins, some of which were particularly corafortable, the Royal George being one of the grand wards shown to visitors. One old octogenarian, who was dispossessed, expressed his opinion by saying that ' it was hard that eleven fighting men should be turned out for one Avriting man,' Owing to demonstrations being 1 This gentleman, 'whose success has been fully equal to his effrontery, which knows no bounds,' was secretary to the board of directors, and confidential clerk to the Admiralty. He was a landsman, for, although he held the place of purser to a hne-of- battle ship, he performed his duties by proxy, and had never been to sea in his life. 250 STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATIONS. made, Mr, Ibbetson's arrangements for his footmen were stopped ; but he revenged himself by seizing a public passage, which he converted into a private gallery, and fitted up magnificently, leaving the pensioners access to their rooms only by a narrow staircase, down which the infirm old men frequently fell, one being killed on the spot. The Royal Sovereign ward had already been con verted into apartments for the family of the secretary's clerk. We are disposed to look indulgently upon the clerk of the Avorks, inasmuch as somewhat of the grandeur of the terraces and buildings are due to the labour and peculations of hira and his predecessors. The infirraary, it was complained, was raade more like a palace for officers than a hospital for sailors. These clerks had managed for a whole century constantly to find work to be performed, and, wheu their in genuity could not doA'ise any new construction, they boldly pulled doAvn something they had erected shortly before. One of the lieutenant-governors having been long accustomed to live on board ship, objected to the lofty rooras at Greenwich, and accordingly it was ordered that his lodgings should be fitted Avith false ceilings, and converted into a set of cabins. The next lieutenant-governor justly ob serA'ed that such little boxes were unsuitable for the reception of distinguished visitors, and easily obtained his request that the apartments should be restored to their former handsome proportions. But the clerk gave mortal offence Avhen he procured an order to beautify the precincts by ploughing up the burial- THE BURIAL-GROUND DESECRATED. 251 ground, and laying it out with walks and aA'enues of trees. The pensioners looked on sadly and indig nantly as they srav the graves torn up, and the poor reraains of their deceased friends and predecessors were irreverently thrown about. Their old associa tions were ruthlessly destroyed, and raany felt thera selves depriA'ed of the places where they hoped to be laid beside their old raess-mates. Araong other raisdoings, the clerk of the works at this time raanaged to obtain possession of the key of a bar leading to the hospital wharf, and he refused to open it to the order of the commanding officer, alleging that he had the authority of the directors. Several persons of high position were inconvenienced by this action — which was intended to annoy Baillie — among thera Lady Catherine Pel hara.^ The clerk, hoAA'ever, was careful about his own requireraents, and converted a part of the store- yard of the hospital into a house for keeping cows for the benefit of his nursery. The domestic arrangements in the hospital were not niore creditable than those connected with the fabric. Nearly every person, high or Ioav, that had an opportunity tried to take advantage of the pen sioners. The boys"^ ward was kept in such a dirty 1 She died in 1780, aged eighty-one. She held two sinecures of £500' a year each — Ranger of Greenwich Park and Sweeper of the Mall in St. James Park. 2 The establishment for boys was kept up- mostly by ' Charity Money ' deducted in various ways from the pensioners. At first only the sons of pensioners, or of men slain or drowned in the ser vice, were admitted, but afterwards any sailors' sons were eligible. 252 THE BREWERY. condition that its odour acted like an emetic upon those strangers whose curiosity led them to visit it. Great peculations went on in the clothing departraent. The pensioners' shirts were always becoming nar rower and shorter ; their stockings broke into holes when first put on, and their shoes, which were to last them for eight months, Avore out in a fortnight, the inner soles being made of brown paper. The daily rations, however, afforded a wider scope for the exercise of ingenuity. Originally the beer was good, and the man Avho brewed ouly received ten pounds a year — it was a siraple raatter, not be yond the wit of an ordinary housewife to broAV ale frora malt and hops. But to make it without those ingredients required special knowledge — it becarae a raysterious, if not a diabolic art.-^ Baillie says that he supposes that was the reason that the master- brewer's salary was raised to sixty pounds a year. A really scientific concoction was now elaborated — thick, sour, and odorous — which made some of the men ill. It was considerably diluted Avith water — little, perhaps, to its detriraent. This mixture was conveyed from the brewery to the hall in subterranean pipes, aud mere water sometimes came instead of beer. On one occasion, when the taps had been, running water longer than usual, the butler went to the brcAv- er's foreman to inquire the cause. ' Don't you know it V demanded the foreman. ' No, I do not,' said the butler. 1 Dr. Johnson's friend, Mr. Thrale, the predecessor of Barclay and Perkins, spent thousands in trying to discover this art. PENSIONERS' DIETARY. 253 ' Then,' replied the other, with a sneer, ' you never will know !'^ The pensioners were allowed every day two quarts of the above-described beverage, sixteen ounces of bread, and a quarter of a pound of cheese. Three tiraes a week they had beef, and twice muttou, which were served boiled in their broth. As the old notions about fasting survived most Romish ob servances, the pensioners Avere made compulsorily religious on Wednesdays and Fridays, by not receiv ing any meat, but having only pease pottage and a sixteenth of a pound of butter. This dietary does not seem cheerful, as there were no vegetables nor puddings ; but it was rendered worse by dishonesty. The bread Avas of inferior quality, and the baker, being sent for, coolly observed 'that he happened to haA'e a musty batch of fiour by hira, but it would soon be out.' The meat which Avas supplied to the pensioners Avas frequently of light weight. An anonymous letter had been received in 1772 by a ' The brewer was formally reprimanded, but things went on as before. The pensioners complained that the beer was 'sour, crabbed, and watery, and gave them the gripes.' Their dishes also were not deep enough to hold the amount of broth or pease- soup allowed them, and the directors were of opinion that they had been artificially beaten flat, so as to contain a less quantity. It has been said that persons who enjoy pensions are generally blessed with longevity, and we find that, notwithstanding the hardships of which Baillie complained, some of the pensioners attained a good age. In 1761, there were two men of one hundred years in the hospital, and one of them could walk to Shooter's Hill and back (six miles) without resting. In 1764, David Evans died here at the age of one hundred and fourteen. He had been so thrifty that he managed to save £200 by selling his allowances. 254 THE BUTCHER. captain of the Aveek,^ to say that some of the hospital beef was stolen. He Avent to the cook's room, and found fifty-seven pounds of beef, which the contrac tor averred was 'surplus beef OA'er and above the men's allowance. AppHcation Avas made to Sir John Fielding, and that spirited magistrate declared that the man Avas guilty of felony, aud that, had he been brought before him in the fir^t instance, he Avould have had him hanged at the gates of the hospital in terrorem. The culprit was transported for scA'en years. We may haA'e observed that no roast joints were ever served to the pensioners. There was a reason for this : the decayed grinders of the old raen could scarcely chew the flesh of bulls and rams, even when boiled, and such irapenetrable stuff that was provided for them. On the 1st of June, 1775, one of the cook's-mates acquainted the steward that the raeat delivered was bull-beef. John Boycott and another of the contractors' men were called, and, being shown that the meat when boiled was uneat able, admitted the truth of the accusation. Mr. Pell, the magistrate before Avhom the case was brought, said that he had often wondered how the contractor, whora he had forraerly known as a butcher's coramon servant or slaughterman, had be come suddenly rich, but the cause of his opulence Avas noAv explained. We are told that the governor, then S-ir Charles Hardy, seemed to think lightly of the matter, aud turned it off by saying that * everybody 1 There were on the list at Greenwich four captains, four commanders, and eight lieutenants. THE BARBER. 255 was cheated by the butchers.' The contractor, Hoav- ever, was convicted at the Guildhall before Lord ]\Ian.sfield of having supplied bull-beef twenty-seA'en times (all the beef days) in one quarter. A fine was inflicted, but he cunningly compounded for his offence, and, justice having been eluded, celebrated the event on leaving the court by a jolHfication at a tavern just outside, of which he wrote that he and the steward, clerk of the Avorks, aud others, ' dined elegantly, and regaled on French Avines, whilst their foes, the lieuten an t-goA'ernor and others, sneaked off like dogs who had lost their tails.'^ We now come to consider that interesting func tionary the barber — surely the facetiousness aud sociability of his calling must have placed him above the teraptations of pelf, Alas ! Ave cannot here con nect him with anj' pleasant memories. Mr, Mackauess was the valet-de-c/iambre of a Mr, Stevens, and, Ave may suppose, had enjoyed some perquisites, for on his patron obtaining for him this office at the hospital, he took a country house and retired, leaving a substitute to perform his work. His salary was £12 a year, but he was allowed a halfpenny a Aveek for shaving each mau twice, and a penny a week for each boy's hair- cutting and powdering. There were two thousand one hundred and sixty-nine men and one hundred and forty boys, so that his whole receipts Avere £277 a year. He seems to haA'e paid his subordinate no- ¦ This contractor was allowed to continue to supply the hospital, aud died soon afterwards worth £70,000, made in twelve years. It was said that one reason of his being continued was that he gave long credit to the government. 256 THE BARBER. thing, but to have instigated him to extract from the men an additional halfpenny a Aveek. We do not read of any assistant being employed, but it is difficult to understand how one man could shave two thousand one hundred and sixty-nine per sons twice a week. The human mind can hardly realise the rapidity Avith which he must have operated, and the pensioners must have been in danger of having their features suddenly fore-shortened Avhile the sharp blade Avas flying round their faces at such hurricane speed. Even if he Avorked ten hours a day it Avould not alloAv an entire rainute for seat ing, lathering, and shaving each victira, and would leave nothing for rest, refreshraent, preparation, or the final controversy and cajoling the old raan out of his halfpenny. At length complaints grew loud, and a strong light was brought to bear on this arrangeraent. The rural Figaro was summoned from his roses, honeysuckles, and ripening corn, and ordered to cut his less smiling crops at Greenwich, or to pro vide a reaper Avho would work gratuitously. Of course he chose the latter alternative, and he allowed his understrapper £120 a year for performing his arduous labours. The chaplains at Greenwich had never served on board ship — where at that time chaplains only rank ed with warrant officers. These men were above that, and each of them held other preferments. They supported the views of the lower officers of the ho.spital. On one occasion the turncock (a landsman, Avho had been a gardener) through neglect alloAved all the basement of the hospital to be flooded, and, THE CHAPLAINS 257 being accused by the captain, was sentenced to pay a fine and stand in the elevated place of penance in both dining halls. Next Sunday the chaplain in his serraon enlarged on the A'irtues of Lord Sandwich as a great and merciful lord who had forgiven his ser vauts their offences, but added that one of these had 'taken his fellow-ser-irant by the throat, delivered him to the tormentor, and made him pay the utter most farthing,'^ Baillie thus satirises the affectation of the chaplains — ' Nothing can be more ridiculous than the pomp of the two young clergymen who are so rauch afraid of exposing theraselves to the dews of heaven or the damps of earth, that although they are generally attended to the burying-ground by a crowd of old people, yet perform the funeral rites of the pensioners with a degree of unprecedented pomp and parade, viz., under a canopy in a raachine reserabling a sedan chair, which is carried by four pensioners Avith great difficulty frora graA'e to grave, while three or four men are buried in one hole to save trouble,' He adds that 'columns, colonnades, architraves and friezes ill accord with bull beef and sour sraall beer mixed with water,' Complaints regarding the state of affairs were constantly being brought before Mr, Baillie during his tenure of office, as he was practically the head of the pensioners' establishment. Being a conscien tious and courageous raan, and naturally more anxious fbr the naval than the ' civil ' interest, he brought ' The turncock ivas finally let off the fine, and allowed to per form the penance where he could neither be seen nor heard. VOL. II. S 258 BAILLIE'S TRIAL. the charges before the council and the directors, but found that he was unheeded, the majority being composed of the culpable officials. At length a court of Commissioners was called, presided over by Lord Sandwich, to consider the question, A most dis creditable scene ensued — it is not improbable that Bailhe overstated the pensioners' grievances, but he Avas called a Har by one of the chaplains, and treated Avith ignominy. On his appeal, he employed Erskine (afterwards Lord Erskine) who was much brought into notice by this case, This eminent raan thus describes what occurred : ' Mr. Mylne, the clerk of the works, thought proper to call the lieutenant-governor a " blackguard," and dared to strike one of the king's lieutenants during the sitting of the coraraittee — a man born with a troiwel in his hand, a bricklayer, struck a gentleman for giving evidence in a court of inquiry !' Finally a Mr. Hicks, the sixpenny-rate collector, proposed that Bailhe should be dismissed, and Erskine continues, ' Lord Sandwich thereupon forgot for a moment the dignity of his station, and, more like a drunken chairman in a night cellar^ than a peer of parliament, called out, " All you that are of that opinion hold up your hands," aud they did hold up their dirty hands, and in five minutes this brave old officer was tried, condemned, and executed.' This ^ There was some sting in this, for Lord Sandwich was known to frequent low taverns. He Avas unpopular, and nicknamed ' Jemmy Twitcher.' But he was the friend and patron of Cook, was not devoid of ability, and published an account of his voyage round the Mediterranean. REVENUES 259 was evidently a rhetorical account of what happened, but we raust conclude that Baillie was substantially right in his charges, for, when the matter was brought before the judges of the Queen's Bench, the order for dismissing him was overruled. Lord Sandwich de fended hiraself in the House of Lords and showed that he had made some iraproA'eraents, and built the infirraary, but did .not disprove Baillie's charges. The lieutenant-governor's place was at this tirae worth £600 a year, and his wife was entitled to a pension. The parliaraent had liberaUy for thirty years voted £10,000 a year for the raaintenanee of the hospital, and, as that money was beyond the requirements, the surplus was invested, so that frora bank stock, South Sea annuities, and unclaimed prize money, there was a revenue of £7,700. The Derwentwater estate now brought in £21,000. The grant of Williara III. of sixpence a raonth per man from fifty-seven thousand sailors and raarines araounted to £18,000 ; sixpence a month from thirty thousand raen in the raerchant service to £9,000, and the Foreland Lights, a legacy by Mr. Osbolston, a merchant, and once a common sailor, brought £3,000. Altogether the income of the establishment was about £60,000 a year. The net incorae from all sources in 1859 was £148,000, and in 1884 £178,000.^ ' The resources of the hospital have been stated in a note on page 129. s2 260 CHAPTER XXIL EXPEDITION OF ROYALISTS — MELANCHOLY DEFE.iT INTREPID CON DUCT OF ELLISON — LOCKER — HUNTER. Never did a more ill-starred expedition leave the shores of England than that of the French emigrSes, Avho sailed for Quiberon in 1795. Sorae French royalists were still holding the field in Brittany, and the English government thought it might be well to make a little diversion in their favour. Four thousand refugees Avere accordingly sent to raise the white fiag on the southern coast, and in fifty transports were convoyed by a fieet under Sir John Warren. At first raatters went fairly well, a landing was effected at Carnac, sorae republicans Avere put to flight, and twenty-eight thousand muskets Avere distributed. But the auxiliary Chouans thus obtained proved worse than nothing, for they fled at the first appearance of the enemy. The royahsts now attacked and took the fort of Penthievre at the head ofthe peninsula, Avhere they were in proximity to the ships. The advance of General Hoche spread additional dismay, and Captain Woodley, observing the neglect UNFORTUNATE EXPEDITION. 261 and disaffection of some of the recruits, predicted that the fort would be taken on the first dark, rainy night. And so it came to pass. The coraraander of the royalists was a worthless and pusillaniraous fellow, one Puisaye, who had been a republican, and, after living in a sumptuous manner, quitted the field when danger appeared and took refuge on board one of the , ships. The command thus devolved upon the young Comte de Sorabreuil, the hero of the expedition. He had, from the first, entertained misgivings as to the success of the attempt, but yielded to the representa tions of the English ministers and to appeals to his loyalty and honour. Exemption might have been justly claimed iu his case, for he was on the eve of beiug married to a young lady in every Avay Avorthy of his love. But it was ordained otherwise. The dawn of the 20th of July found him standing on the sands of Quiberon with the remnant of his army. The night before, Avhile Puisaye was safely asleep in his berth, the republicans had carried the fort, and were now driving the garrison before them to the end of the peninsula. A dreadful conflict ensued, but at last some of the wretched meu threw away their arras, stripped off their clothes, aud jumped into the sea to make for the boats. • Captain Ogilvy ran the Lark in as close as he could, and endeavoured to divert the republicans, Avho were pouring in grape and bullets. Hundreds of the refugees fell, and the beach was covered with their dead bodies. When all hope was gone the general sent a flag of truce, promising their lives to those who surrendered. This was accepted ; nine hundred and fifty capitulated, a large proportion 262 DEFEAT OF ROYALISTS being men of rank and good faraily. But, notvrith- standing the amnesty, SombreuU, the Bishop of Dol, and the officers were taken to Auray and shot. A commemorative royalist chapel now stands there — a resort of pilgrims— bearing the appropriate inscription : ' In memoria perpetua erunt justi.' For many days the beach reraained covered Avith corpses, arras, clothing, and accoutrements. Some of the fugitives were saved by the boats, but many perished in the attempt to reach them. The rough ness of the Aveather prevented the ships affording rauch assistance, but some execution was done by the guns of a corvette and CA'ery exertion was made to pick up the swimraers. Better success attended the fleet in their action on this occasion with the enemy's ships. Among those who in this way distinguished themselves was Captain Keats,^ While he was in the Galatea convoying the trans ports to Quiberon, he was chased by sorae French raen-of-war, but Lord Bridport's fleet coming up the pursuit changed into a ffight, and three of the enemy's ships were taken, Keats now retumed to Quiberon and, in coramand of the boats of the squad ron, succeeded in rescuing from their enemies a por- 1 Afterwards flag-captain to Sir Thomas Duckworth in the action off St. Domingo, and for his gallantry on that occasion presented with a sword of £100 value. Hewas from 1813 to 1816 governor of Newfoundland, and from 1821 to 1834 governor of GreeuAvdch Hospital. It is particularly recorded that, during Sir Richard Keats' governorship, the Avell-being of the pensioners as to food and clothing was most carefully studied. He was the son of a clergyman. CONSPIRACY. 263 tion of the emigrSes and some of the loyal inhabitants — about two thousand five hundred persons. Captain Ellison, already mentioned, commanded one of the men-of-war convoying the expedition, and assisted in chasing the French fieet. He was soon afterwards, in 1797, in command of the Marlborough (74) in which a mutinous spirit had already mani fested itself At first the sailors seemed well-disposed towards their new commander, but the following year, when the Marlborough was under way to join Lord St, Vincent off Cadiz, disaffection again broke out, A conspiracy was formed to kill the captain aud the officers, and to carry the ship to Brest, Fortunately one of the seamen overheard a con versation of the disaffected and, getting in at the quarter-galley window, awoke 'Ellison, who was in his cot, 'For God's sake, captain, get up!' he said; 'the ship is in a state of mutiny — you and the officers are to have your throats cut, and the ship is to be seized,' Ellison iramediately went on the quarter-deck, and saw a number of men collected on the poop, who, on being thus surprised, hastily retreated and turned into their hammocks. All the officers were then ordered on deck, and the captain remained with them all night. In the morning he tried, but in vain, to discover the ringleaders, but in the course of the day inforraation was received which led to tAVO being placed in irons, who Avere afterwards tried aud executed. On his retireraent frora long and able service 264 LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR LOCKER. i Captain Ellison was made third, captain of the Hos pital. He eventually became second captain on the death of Sir R, Pearson, Avas a director of the Chathara Chest — and resided at Greenwich till his death. Comraodore Williara Locker, one of the distinguish ed officers Avho served under Sir Edward Hawke, came of a family who loug held estates in Middlesex, but lost them owing to their allegiance to the king in the civil war. As a lieutenant in the navy, he distinguished himself in an action which took place betAveen his ship of twenty guns, commanded by Sir John Strachan, and a French ship of twenty- six guns, A\'hich had three times as many men in the crew. The French raade so sure of victory that they boarded the , English ship, but a turn of the helra prevented their fully succeeding. When they did board they were driven off, and Locker, observ ing their confusion, asked leave to board the eneray, led the assault hiraself, and, though Avith a greatly inferior number of men, took possession of the vessel. Locker Avas afterAvards for a time fourth lieutenant in the Royal George. When in comraand of the Lowestoffe in the West Indies, Avhere he was until 1779, he had Nelson under hira as his lieutenant — a great friendship sprang up between thera, and Nelson always said he owed much to the instructions of Locker, Avho had made navigation his special study. Locker afterwards became a commodore; but his failing health led to his retirement, and he obtained the post of Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich Hos pital, where he died in 1800, He had received a wound in the leg from a splinter in the engagement LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR HUNTER. 265 above mentioned, and suffered raore or less from it through the reraainder of his life, (The painted hall, which Avas originally the dining- hall of the pensioners, was soon found too small to accommodate their increasing numbers, Lieutenant- Governor Locker was the first to make a proposal that it should be devoted to the exhibition of naA'al pictures,' which Avas carried out, after it had been disused for nearly a century,) Another lieutenant-governor, who had done good service, was Williara Hunter, and we must remeraber that the post was an honourable and responsible one, for this official Avas often the only resident head of the hospital. Hunter had nearly all his life suf fered severely from poverty. He was at first in the merchant service, and iu an East Indiaman become knoAvn to Williara Locker and Captain R, Walpole, When first appointed a midshipraan in the navy, he was so poor that his ship, the Bedford, not being ready, he had noAvhere to lodge, and slept every night at Chatham Hill under a haystack. In 1759, Ave find Hunter serving under Vice- Admiral Saunders in America, He was present in the action near Quebec, and on the 31st of July ^ A suggestion acted on in 1832 by his son, Edward Hawke Looker, one of the commissioners of the hospital. George IV. approved the design, and contributed among other pictures the portraits of the celebrated admirals of the reigns of Charles II. and WiUiam III. This Mr. Locker gives an interesting account of his ascent in 1805 with Monsieur Garnerin in a balloon from Lord's ground. A letter was given them, signed by the Prince of Wales and several noblemen, requesting that they might be well entertained wherever they alighted. 266 LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR HUNTER. assisted in a briUiant landing under Lord Townshend, in which one of the transports was ably raanaged by Jaraes Cook, raaster of the Pembroke.^ But, the eneray being strongly entrenched, they were all forced to retreat, and narrowly escaped the Indians. Hunter left before Quebec fell ; but was at the taking of Martinique by Rodney, After the death of Lord Egmont (1770), Hunter lost all his interest. ' I now,' he writes, ' drifted bodily to leeward, and, on being paid off, I felt my self a complete Avretch, without interest and Avithout re sources,' Fortunately his battles with foes and waA'es had left his mind ' as tough as a piece of old junk.' He obtained, however, a place as lieutenant in a ship fitting out for North America, and then had comraaud of the Gaspee brig, and was finally taken prisoner by the Republicans when commanding the Royal Savage, a light gun-boat for attacking shore batteries. After his release, he fought under Keppel in the general engagement Avith the French, In 1787, he Avas appointed to be Lieutenant- Governor of GreenAvich Hospital, but does not seem to haA'e been elated at this retired position, though he says that he was satisfied and happy, ' Here, after ploughing that turbulent and inconstant ele ment, the ocean, for forty-four years, I haA'e since led a life which, if it affords but little A'ariety, is not ex posed to uncertainty or dependence, Arabition in deed once fiattered me that I should have risen higher in my profession, and there have been times that I felt my services raerited promotion. When I have 1 The circumnavigator of whom Ave have spoken. LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR HUNTER. 267 heard, as — thank God ! — I have often lately, tbe shout of victory, I rode uneasy at ray moorings, and experienced a pang that, after so many years of ser vice, I should in my old age be unknown and un noticed. But the squall never lasted long, Araidst all my fortunes I have preserved that sheet-anchor which no man taketh from me — a firm belief in an over-ruling Providence, and a constant reliance upon Him loho stilleth the waves.' 268 CHAPTER XXIIL .STATE OF THE NAVY — MUTINY AT SPITHEAD — LORD BRIDPORT — COLPOY'S' IMPRISONMENT AND RELEASE. The disgraceful systera of peculation which we saw prevailing in GreenAv;ich Hospital towards the end of the eighteenth century Avas not unfortunately con fined to that establishment. On board ship the authorities were negligent almost to culpability of the coraforts of the men, and those eraployed under them were grossly dishonest. Everyone thought it his duty to have a pull at 'poor Jack,' and, each purser of a line-of-battle ship, considering that he ought to make a £1,000 a year out of the provisions, amply justified the application to hira of the narae of ' nip-cheese,' by which he Avas generally known. The contractors also made handsome fortunes, so that the raiserable state of the sailors cannot be a matter of wonder. No fresh A'egetables were provided; it was confidently affirmed that horseflesh had been found araong the beef, and that some of the meat had been so long in salt that it was nearly as hard as an agate, and would take 'a respectable polish. The biscuits 4ilso were not unlike stone, not only adulterated HARDSHIPS 269 by the contracting bakers, but sometiraes many years old. The water allowed was insufficient, and, having been long kept in wooden casks, Avas often putrid, and in a state more pleasing to the entomologist than the sailor. The only article given the men in. abundance was the worst thing for them, new Jamaica rum, which was very cheap. When, in addition to all these grievances, we remember that the men were raostly serving compulsorily, through the activity of the press-gang, and kept Adrtually prisoners, seldom being allowed to go on shore, it must be admitted that they had some good grounds for complaint. But they still continued to fight the battles of their country, and in the rautiny which broke out at the end of the eigh teenth century, although excited by agitators, scarcely comraitted any outrages, showing that they had a considerable Ioa'c of law and order. Before Lord Howe resigned his coramand at Spit head in 1797, the sailors had already sent hira anony- raous letters and ' round robins,' Their principal cora plaints seera to have been about their sraall pay, and the unequal distribution of the prize-raoney. As soon as Lord Bridport succeeded, a mutiny broke out at Spithead; committees of seamen were formed on board each ship, and parties of sailors in a line of boats rowed round the fleet, A petition was now presented to Lord Bridport and other officers of rank at Portsmouth, setting forth that the sailors' Avages had not been raised with those of the military, and expressing their determination not to proceed to sea until they Avere righted. Two delegates from 270 MUTINY. each ship met daily in the state cabin of the Queen Charlotte. By their orders the marines were disarmed and the magazines seized, although Mr, Pitt had sent down a comraissioner to negotiate ; unpopular officers Avere sent on shore, the rest corapulsorily retained on board. Ships that would not obey Avere fired into, but strict discipline was at the same time enforced, no intoxication was allowed, and offenders of any kind were frequently ducked, A certain amount of respect was still paid to officers. By order of the government, a board meeting was now held at Portsmouth, at which seA'eral admirals were present, among them Lord Bridport and Adrairal Colpoys. The demands of the mutineers were that the pay of a seaman should be raised from ninepence- three-farthings to one shilling a day, and that they should haA'e one third of all prize-money. Provisions were to be weighed out at sixteen ounces, instead of twelve, to the pound, and an asylura or pensions should be provided for the wounded. Lord Bridport made a pacific speech to the dele gates, and promised that their demands should be duly considered if the men would return to their duty. Admiral Gardner, on the other hand, went on board the Royal George, and told the men they Avere mutinous because they feared meeting the French, which raised such a storm that he seemed in danger of being thrown overboard, but, adroitly escaping, he jumped into the hamraock-nettings of the ship, and put his head into the noose of the yard-rope near him, telling the men that, if they would return to their duty, they might hang him at the yard-arm. DEMANDS. 271 This fortunate device changed the attitude of the men, who laughed and cheered hira. The seamen now presented a petition to Parlia ment, stating that ' the necessaries of life and slops of every denomination ' Avere thirty per cent, dearer than when their wages Avere fixed. They added that, while the out-pensioners at Chelsea College had £13 a year, those at Greenwich had only seA'en. This petition was signed by delegates from sixteen ships. They also petitioned the Lords Comraissioners of the Admiralty, The commissioners granted the tAvo principal de raands, an increase of pay, and a provision for seamen wounded in action, until they should receive pen sions or admissions to GreeuAvich Hospital, But the delegates, not satisfied, required that the pensions at Greenwich should be raised to £10 a year to be met by the imposition of an additional sixpence on the seamen monthly. They also wanted the men in the East India Company's service to be admitted to Greenwich pensions, and demanded an iraproveraent in the provisions. Finally, the require ments of the sailors were substantially coraplied with, and they were ordered to resume their duties, under pain of forfeiting their claim to any ' Smart Money,' or pension from the ' Chathara chest,' and of being rendered ineligible for Greenwich Hospital.-^ ' The foUoAving is a specimen of one of the old ' Smart Tickets ' - ' These are to certify the worshipful the Governors of ye Chest at Chatham for relief of hurt and wounded seamen in His Ma jesty's service that Archibald Brown, marine, aged about forty, Avas wounded, being in a detachment of His Majesty's sloop, the 272 ORDERS OF COLPOYS. The only difficulty that remained had reference to the granting an amnesty to the delegates, and until that was given the men refused to put to sea. Three adrairals, among them Colpoys and Gardner, went on board the Queen Charlotte, whe're the delegates Avere accustomed to assemble, and, failing to persuade them, Gardner seized one of the recalcitrants by the collar and declared he would hang him and every fifth raan in the fieet. Great confusion followed ; the men on board the Royal George hoisted the red flag ; Lord Bridport struck his flag ; the sailors loaded the guns and put all officers under arrest. The king now signed the desired amnesty, but some delay occurred about carrying- out the promised reforms, and the results were deplorable. When the signal was made, the ships' crews refused to weigh anchor, and the delegates, again assembling, pro ceeded to Colpoys' ship, the London, intending to hold a meeting there. This was too much for the vice-admiral's Irish spirit, and he ordered them to ' sheer oft',' They, however, insisted on boarding, and, while they Avere attempting to come to the side of the ship, Colpoys ordered the marines to fire, the result being that three of the delegates were kUled and five wounded, A struggle ensued, and the sea men gained the deck, wounding Lieutenant Simons Spy's, marines, by receiving a musket ball in tbe right side of his neck, which, having but just force enough to penetrate the in teguments, Avas Avithout diificulty extracted on February 2nd, 1759, being then actually on His Majesty's service at a battery at Guadaloupe. To the truth of which Ave certify. Signed by six officers and petty ofiicers. This man was examined in June, 1763, and received £4.' MUTINY. 273 and others, A regular fight folloAved ; the raen tried to poiut one of the main-deck guns at the officers, but were resisted by Lieutenant Bower, who pistolled one of his assailants. For this he was seized and taken to be hanged at the yard-arm. He was, how ever, respited while standing with the halter round his neck at the intercession of one of the delegates, with whora he had some acquaintance. The seamen now turned the muzzles of the can non aft, and threatened to blow all their opponents, officers and marines, into the water. At this juncture the admiral carae forward, saying that he alone was to blarae, and that he had acted under orders from the Admiralty. He and his officers were accordingly put under arrest, the red flag was hoisted, and the marines were made prisoners. All the principal officers were now sent away from the A'arious ships, and the Channel Fleet assembled at St. Helen's to try Colpoys, his captain, Griffiths, and the first-lieu tenant. Bower. While they were assembling, a gale came on, and, there being no officer in command, the ships were in great danger of being lost. Mean- Avhile, Mr. Pitt moved for a vote in Parliament to augraent the pay of the raen, and on hearing this Admiral Colpoys and his officers were set at liberty. Vice-admiral Colpoys, who had been a distinguished officer, and served at Louisburg, Avas now knighted and made Treasurer of Greenwich Hospital, He be came governor in 1816, but, being near eighty, died there only five years afterwards. Admiral Duncan was mainly instrumental in sup pressing the mutiny at the Nore, in 1797, aud a VOL, II, T 274 GEORGE III. few months later won a great victory off Camper- down over the Dutch, iu which he had two hundred and fifty men in his ship killed or wounded. He returned to the Nore. George III. tried to Arisit the fleet towards the end of the year, but was prevented by the weather. He was received at Greenwich by Lord Hood, and pardoned on this occasion one hundred and eighty mutineers. 275 CHAPTER XXIV. DEPRESSED STATE OF GREENWICH — SMUGGLING — ROBBERIES — OUTRAGES — DUELS. During the eighteenth century — at the end of which we have now arrived — Greenwich did not retain the same coraraanding position it held in the seventeenth. The presence of the sovereign Avas withdraAvn, and fashionable people did not find the salubrity of the situation sufficient to induce them to settle there. A humorous but significant description of East and West Greenwich is gi-^en in a book published at the beginning of the last century. ' The town ' (Deptford) ' is without necessaries : they've butchers without meat, alehouses Avithout drink, houses without furniture, shops without trade, captains without commissions, wiA-es without hus bands, a church Avithout religion, and hospitals with out charity.' Further on the writer speaks ofthe neglected appear ance of the churchyard at GreeuAvich, adding that the number of the dead had alraost buried the church, and that could each corpse but raise his head half a foot above the surface, he might peep in at the church window T 2 276 STATE OF GREENWICH. and frighten the congregation. ' I took notice,' he continues, ' of several good houses ou the left of the church, which looked like habitations fit for Christians to live in ; but in some parts of the town the huts Avere no bigger than Indian AvigAvams. Hearing of the King's House being converted into a hospital for disabled searaen, as a means to encourage others hereafter to venture their limbs in the nation's service, to be rewarded with a lazy life, no money, and short commons, when age or lameness has made them a misery to themselves, Ave took a walk into it to survey the noAv and well-intended piece of charity^ Avhich, like the gay buildings of Northampton,^ looks very stately and raagnificent outside, but inside you'll find but very poor inhabitants. One part is almost finished. Every pensioner is to have a cabin to himself, and is allotted a little more room than he is likely to enjoy in the churchyard. It is situated in a good place for little Adctuals to go a long way, for Greenwich, like a Spanish town, is under such a scarcity of flesh meat that a gentleman, who not long ago came down with his wife for a night, was forced to go back to London against the tide because never a public-house in the toAvn could provide him with a supper.' This disparaging author admits the existence of ' several good houses,' and, frora what we have said in previous chapters, it raay be seen that a feAV per sons of ' quality ' still kept to the old-world place. We find an incidental notice, in 1717, of a house at the foot of Gforaes Hill, near GreenAvich Park, ' The college already mentioned, an almshouse. - LADIES' FINERY. 277 occupied by a French merchant, Avhich contained Indian cabinets and tables, pier-glasses, and valuable pictures. There raust also have been sorae grandly- dressed dames driving through the streets, for in Dr. Cade's house there Avere Avhite satin counterpanes embroidered with Indian gold and all-coloured silk, and, in addition to other finery, a yellow farrandine petticoat, with three broad sih'er orris, the top and bottom of each orris edged with silver bone lace ; a petticoat of satin, striped scarlet and white, haA'ing a large furbelow with a deep scollop, trimmed with scarlet buttons and loops ; a ' head ' of fine grounded Mechlin lace, with knots of ribbon figured with scarlet and cherry. There was also here au acaderay for the gentry, in Avhich ' young noblemen and gentlemen are in the handsomest manner boarded, and in the most rational way, at reasonable rates, taught writ ing, arithmetic, merchants' accounts, or the Italian method of book-keeping, the mathematics (in Eng lish, Latin, or French), shorthand, draAving, fenc ing, music, dancing, English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Italian, High Dutch, and Spanish.'^ But all this lustre was partial, and Greenwich was really in a depressed state. The neighbourhood was remarkable for its poverty and insecurity. Dr. Cade's grandeur is only known to us through a robbery committed at his house ; and the roads were so badly ' A notice is added that such as learn French can go to the French church in Greenwich. There seems to have been many French settled here at this time, which may account for a society of anti-Galhcans assembhng here quarterly. We have read of this meeting in 1771, at the Chocolate House on Blackheath. 278 SMUGGLING, lighted and repaired, that it was said there were more sprained ankles and broken arras and legs in Green wich than in any other town in Europe. Some Avag gave out that such was the state of the place that two eminent surgeons were about to take up their abode there. Paving was postponed from time to time for want of raoney, and at last the inhabitants found it convenient to say that they would not repair the roads until an act of Parliaraent was passed that carriages should have broader wheels, so as not to injure the ' pebbles ' used ! The distinguished persons who from time to time went to visit the hospital — one of the sights of Eng land — could not but have wondered at the state of the town. In 1745, Marshal Belleisle was shown everything, and was astonished at the want of a landing-place at Greenwich suitable for all states of tide. The ' bridge ' of Tudor times had fallen down, and a new access to the shore was not made until 1770. Meanwhile a great variety of crime prevailed in the neighbourhood. Smuggling Avas carried on — mostly on packhorses. In 1744 one of the officers of the queen's yacht lying off Greenwich was observed to have become suddenly corpulent after a voyage, and being searched, a quantity of lace was discover ed round his body. In the same year a man Avas taken at Lee charged with srauggling goods to the value of £15,000,' 1 There were some large caverns under Blackheath in the chalk which might have been very convenient for smuggling. They were called ' Cade's Cavex,' perhaps from the alliteration, for they GREENWICH GEESE. 279 Even the pensioners were not immaculate. In formation was ofteu desired as to the whereabouts of a man who had decamped with ' a suit of blue clothes, one hat, a pair of shoes, three pairs of stockings, a shirt, marked G, R,, a stock, cup, spoon, and towel,' The pensioners obtained the name of Greenwich geese in a significant way. A farmer who lived near the hospital, and had often lost his geese, was awakened one night by an unaccountable cackling, but, on looking out, he saw no bipeds of any kind except some Greenwich pensioners, Avho were mak ing off as fast as they could in a boat. The farmer cried out, 'There goes ray geese — there goes ray geese !' and the uneuAriable narae stuck to the blue- coated fraternity ever afterwards. Meanwhile passengers, travelling backAvards and forwards by Greenwich coaches or in their own car riages, often had their boxes cut off from behind and carried away. JcAvellery and other valuable pro perty were thus lost. Blackheath, from its desolate were not known to the public untU 1780. Their length Avas about two hundred feet, but there was probably some continuation, as many imagined they extended to Eltham. They were accessible thirty years ago, and the entrance was at the foot of Maidenstone Hill near the present Trinity School. We may suppose that there were many caves under Blackheath. PhiUpot records a subsidence here in 1585. The ground sank so that three elm-trees were swal lowed up ; the compass of the hole was eighty yards, and so deep that a sounding hne of fifty fathoms could find no bottom. In 1798, as a farmer and his son were talking together in a field where a horse was feeding, the animal sank into the earth to the depth of fifteen feet and was crushed to death. In 1878 and 1880 several large cavities opened on Blackheath. I 280 HIGHWAYMEN. character, became a favourite haunt of highway men, from vulgar footpads to well-mounted gentle men. Soraetiraes it was the old-fashioned deraand, ' Your raoney or your life,' sometimes ciA'il speeches were made and apologies were attempted. An in structive history of road robbery might be formed from the occurrences on Blackheath. A young gentle man was robbed in the Woolwich stage-coach near the 'Artichoke ' on Blackheath, by two men ' genteel ly mounted.' After taking the passengers' money, the thieves kindly shook hands Avith them and Avished them ' good-night.' In June, 1774, a raid was made upon Greenwich Park. Four foot-pads entered it by different gates, and robbed all the ladies and gentle men who were taking their morning exercise. The one who entered the north gate by the ' Greyhound ' robbed the people on ' Brazen-faced Walk.' Just before this five sailors took his box from a pedler Jew, and then men-ily cut off his beard and ' walked gently away.' But all the highwayraen were not so pleasant or polite, many were gratuitiously cruel. In 1742 some of them not only stopped and plundered a young gentleraan, but beat him severely Avith a hanger. A few years later we read that four gentlemen, coming in a coach over Blackheath, were attacked by a highwayman, well-mounted, who, holding a pistol to the coachman's ear, ordered him to stop. He then presented it at the passengers, one of Avhora, a little boy, being rather sIoav in puUing out his pocket-money, the man told him to be quick or he would shoot him. The gentleman with whom the boy was travelling beg- OUTRAGE. 281 ged the man not to frighten the boy, who would give hira whatever he had. ' Poh ! d — n it,' replied the other raan, ' I shall be hanged soon, I know, so it does not matter what I do.' A dangerous rabble often collected in Greenwich Park on holiday occasions. Thus in 1763, as a gentleman and his wife were taking a walk in the park, some of the mob caught hold of her leg and dragged her down the hill. They alleged old usage as their excuse, alluding either to the custom of run ning down the hill, or of hooking, i.e., pulHng people for money. The unfortunate lady had nearly all her clothes torn off, lost her shoes and sih'er buckles, and was so greatly alarmed that her life was for sorae tirae afterAvards in danger. The lonely character of Blackheath made it also a faA'ourite place for the transaction of what Avere then called 'affairs of honour.' One Sunday in the September of 1806 a duel was here fought be- t-AV-een Mr. Richardson and Baron Hompesch — a man too well known in gaming circles. The origin of it was, as usual, trivial. Mr. Richardson was walking with his sisters, one on each arra, near Teraple Bar. The baron tried to pass them without leaving the foot-path, and pushed against Sir. Richardson, but, finding he did not give way, stepped into the road, muttered an imprecation, and knocked Mr. Richard son's hat off — who thereupon struck out and knocked him down. Baron Hompesch said he should expect satisfaction, but Mr. Richardson said he was perfectly satisfied with the result. They met on Sunday morning on Blackheath, two 282 DUEL. hundred yards from the ' Green Man ' inn. The dis tance between them was short. On first firing both missed, and an accoraraodation was proposed by Richardson, but refused by the baron, unless his antagonist would allow him to lay a cane gently across his shoulders. This not being permitted, they fired a second time without result. Being furnished with fresh pistols they fired again, and the baron shot Mr, Richardson through the body a little above the hips. The state of the church-yard at Greenwich has been mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, and especially the height to which the graves were piled up around the church. But Ave might add that, owing to constant burials beneath the floor of the nave, the church itself had sunk, and interments too close to one of the principal pillars at last led to a catastrophe — the whole roof falling in at midnight ou Noveraber 28th, 1710, and ruining the Avails. Thus perished the old church of St. Alphege, built in Tudor days, if not earlier. The inhabitants found it difficult to supply funds for erecting a new church, and in a petition to the House of Coraraons they set forth that ' the town is within this twenty years raightily depopulated and deserted by the rich, as is evident frora the largest and best houses being erapty. Nine-tenths of the inhabitants are seamen, watermen, and fishermen. Many were lost in the great storm, in Sir Cloudsley Shovel's misfortune and the accidents of war, so that three thousand persons are chargeable on the rates. NEW CHURCH. 283 The town has hitherto been without a dissenting house.' The church was rebuilt, and consecrated by Bishop Atterbury in 1718. The old tower remained, but was afterwards cased with stone, and the old masonry can be seen to-day inside the chief entrance. A picture of Charles I. and one of Elizabeth's tomb were pre served and transferred to the new church ; but at a later period sorae enterprising churchwardens sold these relics. The new church Avas one of the fifty ordered to be built by Queen Anne, 284 CHAPTER XXV. AMBITION OF NELSON — HIS FAMILY AND RELATIONS — LETTER TO LOCKER— CAPTURE OF THE ' SAN JOSEF ' — LETTER TO LADY NELSON — VICTORY OF THE NILE. GREENAVICH, from the highest to the lowest storey iu the hospital, recalls the glory and romance of Nelson. Not only do we here view his sad personal relics, not only do Ave see on these walls representations of his gallant and animating deeds, but Ave know that he has himself trodden these floors, and gazed upou these time-honoured portraits. A room in the hospital has been specially dedicated to him called the ' Nel son Room,' and no history of Greenwich would be complete without some account of his exploits, though it is irapossible here to do thera justice. As ' a thing of beauty is a joy for ever,' so brilliant actions, though we have heard of thera from boyhood, seem always to shoAv new lights and to retain unfaded colours. We are sure that there is — ' Some bright reversion in the sky For those who greatly think and bravely die ;' but may we not add that the spirit of every hero still lives ar^d raoves even in this world 1^ ^ On every anniversary of Nelson's death, the Victory is still wreathed Avith laurels. NELSON'S EARLY LIFE. 28& Nelson's career affords another exaraple of a man rising by his own ability and power of wiU. When a boy he often said, ' If God gives me life, I will be renowned ;' and later on he found cause to assert 'that perseverance in the race set before us will generally meet with its reward even in this life,' He carae of gentle parentage, and was well con nected; he needed not, Hke his great adversary. Napoleon, to lay his sword on the table and say, ' That is my ancestor,' nor was he exposed to the deadening influence of wealth and independence, 'My great and good son,' his father observed in after years, 'went into the world without fortune, but with a heart replete with religious virtue,' His mother's maiden name was Suckling, and her grandmother Avas a sister of the great statesman. Sir Robert Walpole. The classic narae Horatio was in the Walpole faraily, and Nelson received it from his cousin and godfather.-' They were all Norfolk people ; in those days of restricted locomotion, marriages were generally made between families of the same county. There is every reason to suppose that Nelson's ambition for naval glory was kindled by the exploits of his relations. One of Sir Robert Walpole's brothers, Galfridus Walpole, was a captain in the navy, and distinguished himself in an action against the French inthe Mediterranean in 1711, in which he lost his arm by a cannon-baU. He became eventually an M.P., and Hved at Greenwich as treasurer of the hospital, ^ Horatio Walpole, who succeeded the weU-knt5wn ' Horace ' in the barony of Walpole, and was created Earl of Orford. 286 EARLY LIFE. Galfridus' brother Horatio became Lord Walpole, and had a son Richard, who was even more celebrated than his uncle in the navy. Lord Walpole's daughter married Captain Maurice Suckling, also a distinguish ed naval officer, whose sister was Lord Nelson's mother. When young Nelson was entering the ser vice. Suckling presented him with the sword of Galfridus, with the injunction that he should never part with it but with life — a direction which we shall find he remembered. Both Nelson and Suckling were sons of clergymen. Many eminent naval men have had a Hke origin — among them Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Berry, Lord Hood, and Lord Bridport, and we observe in most of the great men who have been accustomed to ' see His wonders in the deep,' a constant acknowledgment of their dependence upon Divine Providence. Nelson's health was never very good — five of his brothers had died young — he was subject to attacks of ague, and his voyages soon after he joined the naA'y, first to the arctic regions and then to India, tried his constitution severely.^ But the energy of his spirit was more remarkable than the weakness of his health ; and he was wont to say that ' a radiant orb was suspended before his mind's eye urging him forward to renown.' But he was frequently obliged to retire for a time frora his ordinary duties. When only twenty-three he had lost the use of his limbs to such an extent that he was under treatment at Bath for eleven Aveeks. - It has been said that Nelson never went to sea without being sea-sick. MARRIAGE. 287 He entered the navy when twelve years old, and, when raised to be a lieutenant in 1777, served under Captain Locker on board the Lowestoffe, a post in Avhich he was succeeded by Collingwood. In 1782, he joined the fleet in America, under Sir James Hood. When a captain, in 1787, he married Frances Herbert Nesbit, widow of Doctor Nesbit, of the island of Nevis. The bride was given away by Prince WilHam Henry, the sailor son of George IIL, afterwards WiUiam IV. He now retired for five years to his birthplace, Burn ham Thorpe in Norfolk, of which bis father was rector. In 1793, at the commencement of the French war, he was appointed to the Agamemnon^ which was chiefly manned from those near his father's parish. This ship Avas being fitted out for the Slediterra- nean, where Nelson reraained three years. Before starting he Avrote the folloAving letter to congratulate his friend Locker on his appointraent to be lieutenant- governor of Greenwich Hospital, and it is evident that he paid hira a visit there at this time. ' Chatham, February 21, 1793. ' Mt dear Sir, 'Most truly do I rejoice at your appointraent, and hope you will derive every comfort from it. I am very much disposed to Hke Mr. Fellows^ and have told him so, and that evei-y pro tection of mine he shall certainly have against a AFaste of his stores, &c. ; but that he must be careful ^ A\'hen the vessel was placed in dock, tliree years later, every thing had to be repaired, so greatly had her masts, sails, and hull been cut to pieces by shot. ^ Apparently a purser recommended by Locker. 288 NELSONS SERVICES. that no just cause of complaint can be made against him, for I will not suffer any poor fellow to be lessened of his dues. He seems perfectly to understand me, and I daresay we shall do very well together. Don't be in a hurry about the charts ; I shall see you before we sail. Reraeraber rae to your sons, and believe me, ' Yours most affectionately, 'Horatio Nelson.' We may suppose that he paid this visit to Locker at Greenwich, for his next letter to him, dated Gibraltar, is in still warra er terms. It coramences : ' My dear friend,' says that he has procured a cask of sherry for him, which he hopes is good and will send at the first opportunity, and concludes, ' Your most obliged and affectionate.' Two years later he writes to him, dated frora the 'Agamemnon, Leghorn.' After anticipating peace, and saying that he shall stay in the Mediterranean until auturan or another action, he concludes : ' One hundred and ten days I have been actually engaged at sea and on shore against the eneray ; aud three actions against ships,, two against Bastia in ray ship, four boat actions, and two villages taken, to gether Avith tweh'e sail of vessels burned. I don't know anyone Avho has done raore, and I haA'e had the comfort to be even applauded by my coraraander-in- chief, but never rewarded ; and what is more mortify ing, for services in which I have been slightly wound ed, others have been praised Avho, at the - time, were actually in bed far from the scene of action. But Ave THE 'CAPTAIN' 289 shall, I hope, talk of the whole matter over the firo next winter at Greenwich. ' Your obliged and affectionate,' Horatio Nelson.' Nelson might have added that, in 1794, Avhen under Lord Hood, in command of some shore bat teries, he lost the sight of his right eye from some sand thrown up by a cannon ball. Three years later he distinguished himself on the celebrated Uth of February, in the action against the Spanish fleet. On this occason he commanded as a coraraodore the Captain of seventy-four guns, aud, intercepting a part of the enemy's fieet, en gaged the Santissima-Trinidada, the largest ship afloat, having four decks and one hundred and thirty-six guns. At the same time he had to en gage two three-deckers, and was in a critical posi tion until the Culloden and Blenheim carae to his assistance. Before the end of the battle the Captain was greatly daraaged, and Nelson determined, as a last hope, to board the San Nicholas, an eighty-four gun ship, with which he was engaged. Three large pictures at GreeuAvich enable us to reahse this action. There we see Nelson's ship, the Captain, with its quaint figure-head — a bust of an officer in a cocked hat — and the Spanish ship along side, Avith the more ornamental device of a lion cro-wned. The English sailors in blue and Avhite and marines in scarlet are swarming over into the enemy's ship by her shrouds, and the confused conflict on board is rendered more picturesque by the browu and VOL. II. U 290 BRILLIANT ACTION. red costumes of the Spaniards. Nelson is, of course, a central figure in the strife, in a glearaing attire of white shorts and waistcoat, stockings and shoes, such as we should now associate with a fancy ball. AW this tirae and during the mUSe the lofty stern of the Spanish three-decker, the San Josef (110), is hanging over the other side of the bow of the San Nicholas, crowded with mu.sketeers, who keep up a dropping fire upon the English. While the fighting was hand to hand on board the San Nicholas, the sharpshooters could not well single out their foes from their friends ; but as soon as that was over, and Nelson had received the sword from the dying com mander, the fire from the deck and stern galleries of the San Josef became galling, and the captors began to think they should have to abandon their prize. This did not suit the ardent spirit of Nelson, and he determined to solve the difficulty otherAvise. To scale the lofty and oscillating stern of the San Josef in the face of a numerous, Avell-arraed, and blazing eneray might have seemed to require the activity and lives of cats, but Nelson resolved to make the at tempt. He was not ignorant of the danger, but col lected his men together, placed himself at their head, and saying, 'Victory or Westminster Abbey!' rushed in front of them up the fiery height. Strange to say, no sooner had the English obtained a footing, than the Spaniards, having learned, per haps, a lesson from the San Nicholas, ceased all oppo sition, and the commander came to offer his sword. All this was accomplished within gunshot of twenty- two sail of the Spanish Hne ! One of the old WOUNDED. 291 English sailors Avas so much overjoyed at their success that he begged to be allowed to shake hands with Nelson on the quarter-deck, and, as the Spanish officers carae to deliver up their swords, stood by and ' tucked them under his arm like a bundle of sticks ' in humorous appreciation. For this exploit Nelson Avas made a Knight of the Bath and presented with the freedom of the City of London. In this same year, during the blockade of Cadiz, Nelson was boarded, when in his barge with tAvelve men, by the crew of a Spanish barge containing thirty men. The conflict Avas fought with swords, and was long and doubtful; but at last eighteen of the Spaniards were killed, and the rest wounded. Nel son's life was in this fray twice saved by his cox- SAvain, who parried blows aimed at him. In July, Nelson Avas detached, with seven ships, to attack the town of Santa Cruz, in the Island of Teneriffe, He imraediately saw that it Avould be desirable to land, and this was effected during a dark night. On this occasion he lost his arra by a cannon ball, and would have lost his life, but for his step-son, Lieutenant Nisbet, The landing-party were raet with a heavy fire, in which Nelson and others fell, but the rest pushed on, and he would have bled to death but for Nisbet's thoughtfulness. Nelson becarae insensible when he Avas struck ; but, recovering for a few rainutes, showed that remarkable presence of mind for which he was distinguished, by immediately feeHng about with his left hand for Galfridus' sword, which he managed to grasp before relapsing into unconsciousness. His arm was bound u2 292 HEAVY GALE. up tightly by Nisbet Avith his neck-cloth, and he was carried back to the Theseus in one of the boats, under a heavy, but happily iU-directed fire from the batteries. On reaching the ship his arm was amputated; and, notwithstanding the pain he en dured from an unskilful operation, which led to future suffering, he indited his despatches an hour after wards.' In 1798, Nelson was detached with a squadron from Earl St. Vincent's fleet to seek the French fleet in the Mediterranean. Soon afterwards, in a letter to Lady Nelson, dated, ' Vanguard, St. Peter's Island, off Sardinia Island, May 24th, 1798,' he refers to a storm in which his fleet was much damaged, and attributes his preservation to the mercy of God : — 'I belieA'e firmly it Avas the Almighty's goodness to check my consummate vanity. I hope it has made me a better officer, as I feel it has made me a better man. I kiss Avith all humility the rod. Figure to yourself, on Sunday evening, at sunset, a A'ain man walking in his cabin, with a squadron around him, Avho looked up to their chief to lead them to glory, and in whora their chief placed the firraest reliance that the proudest ships of equal number belonging to France would have ¦ lowered their fiags, and with a very rich prize lying by him. Figure to yourself, on Monday morning, when the sun rose, this proud, conceited man ; his ship dis masted, his fleet dispersed, and himself in such dis- ' Two pictures at Greenwich represent, one the combat between the barges, and the other the latter action with the boat pushing off, in which Nelson is lying, grasping his sword in his left hand. BATTLE OF THE NILE. 293 tress that the meanest frigate out of France would have been an unwelftome guest ! But it has pleased Almighty God to bring us into a safe port.' (Lady Nelson had at this time a good portrait of her husband, Avhich is now at Greenwich ; and when replying to him on July 23rd, 1798, perhaps in answer to the above letter, says, affectionately, that, as she is writing, she is sitting opposite to it, and that it is a good likeness.) Certain considerations and intelligence led to the conclusion that the French armaraent had gone to Alexandria, and there, on the 1st of August, the EngHsh discovered, to their great joy, the tricolour flag flying, and their eneray's ships lying at anchor. The engageraent commenced as the sun sank in the west, and the stars of the calm Eastern sky looked down on a terrible conflict, where Briton and Frank ' Commanded fires of death to hght The darkness of the scenery,' amid roar and tumult of blazing ships and thun dering cannon, such as might almost have aroused the Pharaohs from their long sleep. The numbers in the fight were tolerably equal : the English had fifteen, and the French seventeen ships. The French were in a long single line, and Nelson's plan was first to attack the foremost vessels with his whole fleet. He fixed six ensigns on the masts and rigging of the Vanguard, to show that he would never strike his fiag ; aud led the attack in that ship, which was met with such a tremendous fire that in a few minutes all the men at the first 294 ' L'ORIENT: six deck-guns — sixty men altogether — were shot down. The Bellerophon ran alongside and grappled with the French admiral's ship, L' Orient (one hundred and twenty guns), but was so severely daraaged iu the encounter that, her masts having been shot away, she was glad to cut her cables, and drifted as a help^ less hulk to leeward. Two other ships, the Alexander and Swiftsure, took her place and turned the battle against L' Orient ; but the obstinacy of the strug gle may be conceived from the fact that it continued for another hour. De Brueys, the commander-in- chief, though wounded in head and arm, kept the deck, and received at last a shot Avhich nearly cut hira in two. His men ran to carry him below, but he refused to leave his post, and said he would die where he was — which he did in about a quarter of an hour. > Meanwhile, Nelson had received a Avound of a strange and alarming character. The skin was cut from his forehead, and hung down over his face. He thought at first that he was shot through the head, and that death in battle, which he always expected, had come at last. He accordingly gave several directions, and appointed Hardy to be post-captain of the Vanguard. Great was the joy among his men when they heard that his wound was not fatal. When a cry was raised, soon after nine, of ' Ship on fire !' Nelson, hearing it was about _t' 0»'ie?i«, broke away from the surgeons and ran up to the deck. He was a strange-looking figure on this occasion. His head and eye were swathed in bandages and dropping ' l orient: 295 blood, he had neither coat nor waistcoat, his shirt- " front was open, and. the stump of his right arm un pleasantly conspicuous.^ But Nelson did good service even in this state. He gave directions that every endeavour should be made to save the crew, who were leaving the burning ship. Such boats as Avere serviceable were lowered, and seventy lives were saved. At half-past ten L' Orient blew up, a terrific and splendid sight, the white light of the explosion throwing into bold relief the skeleton of the lofty stern, with its triple line of windows. A French writer says : ' Imraediately after the treraendous ex plosion, the action ceased everywhere, and was suc ceeded by the most perfect silence. The heavens were darkened by clouds of black smoke, which seemed to threaten the destruction of the two fieets.' Presently, crashing down out of the sky, came the masts, spars, and gear of L' Orient, plunging into the water, or falling in burning masses across the ships.^ The battle had been already decided, although firing Avas going on between some of the ships until nearly dawn. The French had fought well ; it is somewhat touching to read that a little boy of ten years old distinguished himself among the defenders of L' Orient. When the ship caught fire, he and his father, Commodore Casablanca, fell into the water, ^ It was his fancy to have his portrait painted when he was in this deplorable condition, and to send it to Lady Parker, by whom it -was given to the Greenwich coUection. ' There is a fine picture of this at Greenwich, painted by George Arnold, A.K A., and presented by the British Institution. 296 REWARDS. and managed to support themselves on some floating spars until the explosion of the ship destroyed them. The fact that the English were not in a state to pursue the French, a few of whose ships escaped, shows how greatly our fleet must have suffered. For a week after this battle the bay was covered with the bodies of the slain, although means were taken to sink them Avith shot, and for some tirae it was feared that in tbat hot climate a pestilence might break out in the British ships. In recognition of this signal A'ictory, Nelson ordered thanksgiving serA'ices to be performed on board all the ships. He was now raised to the peerage, and received a pension of £3,000 a year, rewards which all must adrait were well-earned. The Battle of the Nile showed superior foresight and tactics on the part of the British coraraander. The French endea voured in A'ain to draw Nelson's fleet upon some dangerous shoals, but managed their own ships inju diciously — two of them were at one time firing at one another, and eventually ran aground ! The officers, after the battle, vied with each other in sending their admiral presents. That of Hallowell was the most reraarkable, and, strange to say, the most acceptable. He knew Nelson's character, and perhaps his presentiment, ' For sure such courage length of life denies,' and he sent him a handsome coffin, made from the wood and iron of L' Orient. Nelson prized this melancholy gift so highly that he had it set upright in his cabin, behind his dinner-table ; but the sight of PRESENTIMENT. 297 it, though so pleasant to him, was very distasteful to his friends, and at last his old servant persuaded him, ' with tears and entreaties,' to let it be stowed away beloAv until wanted. 298 CHAPTER XXVI. NELSON AT NAPLES — COPENHAGEN — TRAFALGAR — HIS DEATH AND FUNERAL — VILLENEUVE — LADY HAMILTON — MEMORIALS OF -NELSON AT GREENAVICH. The King of Naples and his family took refuge on bo&.rd Nelson's ship, the Vanguard, when the French and the Neapolitan rebels held his dominions for some months in 1799. As soon as the French retired, the king was reinstated, with the assistance of Nelson, AvUo, he used to say, replaced him on his throne. The sword Avhich was presented to Lord Nelson by the king when he conferred on him the dukedom of Bronte, was that given to the King of Naples by Charles III. on his departure for Spain, obserA'ing, as he gave it : ' With this sword I conquered the kingdom which I now resign to you ; it ought in future to be pos sessed by the first defender of the same, or by him Avho restored it to you, in case it should ever be lost.' The estate of Bronte in Sicily was worth £3,500 a year, but Nelson spent the income on improving it. In 1801, Nelson was appointed to command the San Josef, one hundred and ten guns, which, as we have seen, he took from the Spaniards, and in the same COPENHAGEN. 299 spring was under Sir Hyde Parker in the aS*. George (ninety-eight). He volunteered and was appointed to lead the attack on Copenhagen. For this attack he moved into the Elephant. Pie had eight seventy- four gun ships under him, and fifteen smaller ships, including tAvo fire-ships. He was favoured by the wind and an unusually high tide, and engaged the Danish fieet and eleven fioating batteries, which were supported by other batteries on shore. For some time the contest Avas so doubtful that Sir Hyde Parker ran up a signal to cease firing. Nelson, Avho was pacing the quarter-deck with Captain Foley, said to him : ' Do you know what is shown on board the commander-in-chief? Why, to cease action! Now, d me, if I do ! You know I have only one eye, and have a right to be blind sometimes,' At length the Danish commodore's ship, with which he was engaged, caught fire and blew up. The slaugh ter was immense, the loss in killed and wounded amounting to nine hundred and forty- three on our side and one thousand eight hundred on that of the enemy. As soon as Nelson saw that the block-ships were iu his power, he humanely sent a fiag of truce to the Crown Prince, begging him to come to terras, and save his capital and the surrounded combatants. An armistice was arranged, and Nelson went on shore, where he was in more danger from the in censed populace than he had been in from' the bat teries. An agreement was soon aiTanged, and Nelson warmly applauded the courage shown by the Danes, especially that of one young officer, who attacked the stern of the Elephant with a raft, and, when nearly 300 PENSIONERS' GOSSIP. all his men Avere shot down, continued to fight knee- deep in dead until the truce was announced. Nelson said, ' I have been in a hundred and five engagements, but that of to-day was the most terrible of all.' By some strange oversight, there were no surgeons in the block-ships, and, when the English boarded them, they found hundreds of men bleeding to death. Many of the Greenwich pensioners had served under Nelson, and as, after the King of Naples had rewarded him for his serAdces, he always signed himself Nelson and Bronte, some of these old salts be came confused in their reckonings, and the following characteristic conversation is said to have taken place between a knot of them at the hospital when they read the dispatch, signed Nelson and Bronte, narrating the failure of his attempt to carry off or de stroy some French ships at Boulogne in this year : — ' I say, Ben, do you knoAv who this Bronte is that Nelson has got hold on T ' No,' replied the other, ' I don't. All I can say is that I think he's a d d fool, begging his pardon, for taking a partner ; for, depend upon it, no one will ever do as well as Nelson by himself. You see, in this last business, had he gone in, the boats and chains and all would have come out along with him.' A third pensioner now joined in.the discussion, and at length they came to the conclusion that this Bront6 was some ' soldier officer ' Avho was to make a descent upon the coast, but in reality obstructed Nelson's operations. When peace was concluded Avith France, Lord Nelson, whose health had suffered, went into retire- CADIZ. 301 ment, and lived a country life at his place, Merton, Here he showed hiraself hospitable to his friends aud relations, and kind to the poor ; Lady Hamilton presiding,^ But in 1803 Napoleon caused another war with France, and Nelson was called upon to take command of the fleet in the Mediterranean. The French and Spanish fleets managed to elude him several times, and he was much disappointed in following them, but at length Nelson blockaded them in Cadiz. It was a great object not to allow them now to escape and join another fleet in the Mediterranean. Admiral Villeneuve, who coraraanded the corabined French and Spanish fleets, was uuAvilling, it is said, to risk an engagement with Nelson ; but, as is usually the case before disasters, Avas forced to act by orders from a distance. Some say that he feared that he raight be superseded, and that another admiral. Rosily, Avas on his way to take the command. At the time when he sailed out he knew that some ships had left the English fleet, but Avas unaware that their places had been supplied by others. On the side of the French and Spaniards there were forty-three ships, and on that of the English there were thirty-three. The French ships were crowded with men ; every ' 74 ' had nine hundred men, and the great Trinidada, already mentioned, one thousand six hundred. ' Nelson and his wife separated early in 1801. At this time, when a friend was breakfasting with them in London, Lady Nel son said, 'I am sick of hearing of "dear Lady Hamilton," and am resolved that you shall either give up her or me.' She then rose and left the room, and soon drove from the house, never to return. Nelson settled £1,200 a year upon her. 302 ANTICIPATIONS. While Nelson was waiting in this suspense, and hoping to be able to engage the enemy, he wrote a letter to his friend, Alexander Davison, from the Victory — 'All my brethren look to that day as the finish of our laborious cruize. The event no man can say exactly ; but I must think, or render great injustice to those under me, that, let the battle be when it may, it will never have been surpassed. My shat tered frame, if I survive that day, Avill require rest ; and that is all I shall ask for. If I fall on such a glorious occasion, it shall be my pride to take care that my friends shall not blush for me. These things are in the hands of a Avise and just Providence, and His will be done. I have got some trifle, thank God, to leave to those I hold most dear, and I have taken care not to neglect it. Do not think I am low- spirited on this account, or faucy anything is going to happen to me ; quite the contrarj', My mind is calm, and I have only to think of destroying our inveterate foe !' It was Nelson's plan to keep his ships out of sight as much as possible, so as to induce the French to come out. On the 19th of October, he succeeded. They put to sea, and the fact Avas duly signalled to the English by Captain BlackAvood, who was Avatch ing them in the Euryalus. Their ships formed an imposing sight; and he says, in a letter, that at night their sterns looked like a well-lighted street. The battle was fought on the tAventy-first. The French fleet was draAvn up in the forra of a crescent, and the English sailed down, at right-angles to it. ENGAGEMENT COMMENCED. 303 in two lines. The engagement was commenced at 12.17 by the Royal Sovereign (one hundred guns), coraraanded by Admiral Collingwood, aa'Ho led the leeward line. This ship encountered a tremendous fire from the French, which dismasted her, but she behaved so gallantly as to elicit the applause of both fleets.^ The Victory (one hundred guns), leading the windward squadron, came into action five minutes later than the Royal Sovereign. Nelson intended her to have grappled with the Bucentaure, the ship of Vifleneuve ; but, that vessel forging ahead, he raked her, and poured in a double-shotted broadside, which crushed and disabled her. Then he lashed the Vic tory to the Redoubtable (74) on one side, and on the other to the gigantic Santissima Trinidada. The Spanish commander valiantly directed his men to assist in this unfriendly coupling. The battle now became furious ; cutlasses flashed, the combatants rushed to board, the fighting becarae hand to hand. The English soon shoAved their su periority over the French, but the Spanish held out bravely, and fought to the last.^ Lord Nelson fell at two o'clock, when the conflict and carnage were at their highest. A dense cloud of smoke hung over the scene, and several ships were on fire, partly owing to grenades and other combusti- ' "We are told that Collingwood was in high spirits during the action, and seemed as active as a young man. 2 Three English ships had one hundred guns each. None of the French had more than eighty guns, but one Spanish had one hundred and thirty-six, and twb others one hundred and twelve each. 304 PROGRESS OF THE BATTLE. bles thrown by the French, and partly to the ships being so close that their cannons touched each other's tirabers. From the latter cause the Redoubt able caught fire, and some of the Victory's men were employed in throwing water on it, fearing that the flames might spread to their own vessel. The shouting of the combatants could be heard amid the roar of the cannon and the rattle of the musketry ; the decks were slippery with blood, and death in its most terrible forms was to be seen on all sides. Mr. Scott, Lord Nelson's secretary, standing near him, was cut in two by a cannon-ball, and the halves of his body were at once thrown overboard. The French and Spaniards adopted a mode of fighting which seemed to us unfair ; but the weaker side is always tempted to use mean expedients. They not only threw fireballs, but manned the round tops of their masts with sharp-shooters. Captain Hardy, at tAVO o'clock, was walking up and down the stern of the quarter-deck with Nelson (who had just been ex pressing his admu-ation at CoUingwood's behaviour), and, seeing the bullets fall soraewhat thickly around thera, suggested to hira, as others had before, that it would be better for hira to forego wearing the con spicuous orders on his coat. But Nelson repHed, firmly, ' No ! in honour I gained them, in honour I will die in thera !' intimating that he wore them to inspirit his men and discourage the enemy. Somewhat later, as the bullets continued to rain thickly about them. Hardy again repeated his advice about the decorations. Nelson replied that he Avould remove them ' when he had time.' We find, from an CONTEMPT OF DANGER. 305 inspection of the rehcs at GreeuAvich, that the orders he wore were four stars of silver lace sewn to the breast of his coat. As Lord Nelson would never have been guilty of such indecorum, or exhibition of fear, as to change his coat on the quarter-deck, what he meant to say was that when he could be spared to go beloAvhe would put on another. But the reply was, no doubt, partly evasive, and showed no alacrity to profit by prudent counsels. As he continued to pace a few yards up and down the stern of the quarter-deck, consulting with Hardy, and just as he turned facing the enemy, he was struck by a bullet, and fell. When Hardy turned in one or two paces, he saw his commander lying on the deck. Two sailors ran up and raised hira. Hardj' took his hand anxiously, and said, ' I hope, my lord, you are not badly wounded 1' Lord Nelson replied, ' Yes, my back is broken. Hardy. They have caught me at last.' No doubt the stars which shone on Nelson's breast formed a mark for the sharp-shooters. The ball came from the mizen-top of the Redoubtable^ — a dis tance of about fifteen yards — and seemed the more cruel as Nelson had ordered his raen to cease firing upon her, thinking she had struck. It entered the front part of the left epaulette, and, passing betAveen it and the stars, broke the first and secoud ribs, and, 1 Both the Redoubtable and Trinidada sank before the end of the action. We read in the Antiquary of August, 1884, that a report has been received from Gibraltar that a diver has found, at the bottom of the sea, a hundred cannons and two anchors, sup posed to be relics of the battle of Trafalgar. VOL. II. s: 306 DEATH OF NELSON. going downwards through the left lung, fractured the vertebrae of the spine. When extracted, some of the cloth of the coat and fringe of the epaulette were found adhering to it. The death of Nelson has been represented in an eff'ectiA'e picture, in which we see him lying on the deck, surrounded by a multitude of sympathising and admiring sailors. But the reality Avas very different. "Such was the turraoil of the fight, that it Avas scarcely seen at first that Nelson had fallen. He said, ' Cover my face with my handkerchief ; don't say a word about me.' In this way he was carried below. As soon as what had happened was known, a shout of triuraph burst forth frora the Spanish ship. The raelancholy scene which followed, devoid of all dramatic attraction, is well depicted among the historical paintings in Greenwich hall. Here we see Nelson lying in a narrow bed in a cockpit, dimly lighted with lanterns, tAA'o or three attendants are at his side, and his face is almost as white as the pillow and sheets beside it.^ The rolling of the ship in the rising gale raust have raade his sufferings still more severe. But his mind was remarkably clear, and intent upon the affairs around hira : ' the ruling pas sion was strong in death.' As he was being carried below, he noticed that the tiller ropes were not tight enough, and directed that tackles should be put to 1 At the foot of the bed, in one of the pictures, hes a waistcoat, stained with blood. This is, no doubt, the white waistcoat pre served at Greenwich, from which the stains seem not to have been entirely washed. The coat has thin gilt buttons, with an anchor on them. DEATH OF NELSON. 307 them. When the surgeon came to examine his wound, he said, 'Itis of no use — ^better attend to others.' Beattie, however, probed the wound, and Nelson saw by his countenance that it was raortal. ' Tell Hardy to come to me.' We may form some idea of the critical state of things when we find that Hardy did not come uutil an hour had elapsed. All that could be done for Nelson in the meantime was to alleviate his great thirst with lemonade. He lived between two and three hours, from ivcae to tirae nearly suffocated by the effusion of blood on his lungs, and in such pain in the back that he told Beattie he wished he Avas dead, and added, ' What would become of poor Lady Hamilton if she kuew my situation V But during all this agony he was giA'ing orders and receiving reports. When Hardy was able to come, he said, ' I hope your lordship will live to enjoy your triuraph.' ' Never, Hardy,' he replied, ' I am dying ; bring the fieet to anchor.' As Hardy was leaving. Nelson called him back and said, ' Do not throw me over board. Take care of ray dear Lady Hamilton. Kiss me. Hardy. Now I am satisfied. Thank God I've done my duty.' Hardy was then obliged to leave him, and never saw him more. Just before he expired he heard that the Trinidada had struck, and his djdng eyes seeraed to brighten. ' I could have wished to live to enjoy this,' he said, 'but God's will be done.' After this he said to the chaplain, 'I have not beeu a great sinner. Reraember that I leave Lady x2 808 HOMEWARD BOUND. Hamilton and my daughter Horatia as a legacy to my country.' His last words Avere scarcely articulate, ' Thank God I've done my duty.'^ Nelson's body Avas preserved in spirits, and brought home on board the shattered Victory, his raen being unwilling that he should be carried in any other ship. When they arriA'ed off Dover the body was placed in a coffin, and when they reached the Downs many came to view the small and fragile form which so great a soul had lately occupied. At the Nore on the 23rd the yacht Chatham met the Victory and received the corpse, and many a tear stole down the rugged cheeks of the sailors as they watched the reraains of their dear commander being lowered over the side. Lord Nelson was liberal towards seamen, and they had a great affection for him. When one of the Victory's men during the battle of Trafalgar Avas having his arm amputated, he said, ' Well, ,this by some Avould be considered a misfortune, but I shall be proud of it, as I shall resemble more our brave commander-in-chief.' In the Chatham the inner coffin^ was inserted in a more magnificent receptacle, and placed on the deck covered with an ensign. As the yacht proceeded up the river bearing her precious freight, the vessels loAvered their flags, the forts fiLred minute guns, the 1 The account above given seems to be justified by a comparison of the different reports of Lord Nelson's last hours. There are some slight discrepancies in the evidence of those present, as there generally is in such times of confusion. ' The inner coffin was made of the mast of the French ship L' Orient. LYING-IN-STATE. 309 bells tolled, or rang muffled peals. In the evening the body was received at GreenAvich and placed in a private apartment untU the arrangements in the Painted Hall should be completed. The preparations for the lying-in-state were on a considerable scale, but seem small Avhen compared with those made afterAvards at Chelsea Hospital in honour of Nelson's great compeer the Duke of Wel lington. Still, the scene Avas raost impressive. A heavy black curtain hung in festoons over the entrance, and the floor and Avails were coA-ered with black cloth, round which ran a belt of white satin. The Avhole was dimly illumined by two-light branches affixed in a double roAv along each side. At the upper end of the chamber was an elevated crescent dais surraounted by a black canopy festooned with gold and ornamented with a plume of triumph and with Lord Nelson's coronet, escutcheon and motto Palmani qui meruit ferat. AboA'e this shone out in large letters ' Trafalgar,' surrounded by a wreath of gold. On the dais lay the coffin, covered with a black velvet pall lined Avith white satin, which was turned up at the foot. Ten magnificent banners drooped around it, and on each side stood rows of lights. Upon the coffin was placed Lord Nelson's coronet, while at the foot was a stand shoAving his sword, helmet, and other accoutrements. It sounds rather strange to hear that at the head of the coffin sat as chief mourner, in an elbow chair, the chaplain of the Victory, attired in his cassock, ahd having omitted, in token of woe, the hair powder he usually wore. Ten other mourners were ranged five 310 FUNEREAL POMP. on each side, but did not proceed so far as this, wear ing full powder and bag-wigs. This exhibition continued for three days, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. On the latter day a brig arrived off GreenAvich and brought alongside the quay forty-six seamen and fourteen marines belong ing to the Victory. They were loudly cheered by an assembled crowd, and were adraitted to a private Adew of the lying-in-state. After this the doors were closed, and the imraense raultitude of people, extend ing, we are told, frora London to Greenwich, were obliged to return Avithout seeing the object of their pilgriraage. About fifteen thousand persons had viewed the lying-in-state. On Wednesday, the Sth of January, the heralds and naval officers who were to take part in the procession met at the Admiralty and proceeded to Greenwich, where they assembled at ten in the apartraents of Lord Hood, the governor. On the arrival of the Lord Mayor and city corapanies in state a line of guards was forraed across the grass plots between the houses of the governor and lieu tenant-governor, and the north gate opening to the river. Another line Avas forraed frora the above line to the painted haU. The body was carried from the saloon through the great hall out at the eastern portal and round the Charlotte ward to the north gate. At half-past twelve the procession commenced. Fifes and drums went in front playing the dead march in Saitl ; then came five hundred pensioners, then eight trumpeters sounding the one hundred and fourth Psalm. SeA'eral other bands of trumpeters- FUNEREAL POMP. 311 followed at intervals between various banners and standards, that immediately in front of the coffin being borne by Captain Hardy. Admiral Sir Peter Parker, bart., was the chief mourner, and was supported by Admirals Lord Hood aud Lord Radstock. Six vice- adrairals brought up the rear with a magnificent em blematical banner representing Britannia seated under a cypress-tree, weeping over the shield of the hero, Avith the British lion lying at her feet. There were four mourning barges, and the banners Avere set up iu them. The body having been placed on board the state barge, the mourners and attendants era barked. The large nuraber of barges with flags half-mast high, and the deep line of raarines and sol diers which reddened the whole of the long hospital terrace, made the scene one of melancholy magnifi cence. The procession roAved sloAvly up the river firing minute guns. The cannons boomed as they passed the Tower, and not only the shores, but the decks and rigging of the ships on either side Avere covered with thousands of spectators. There was a strong head-wind, but at half-past three they landed at WhitehaU Stairs, and the body was received under a canopy and reached the Adrai ralty about four. The grand procession to St. Paul's took place the next day, and was attended by the Prince of Wales and aU the royal Princes. The funeral car, which was an elaborate Avork of art partly in the form of a man of war, was presented to Green wich Hospital, and arrived there on the Sunday after the funeral, drawn by six of the king's black horses with postilions in the royal Hvery, and escorted by a 312 FRENCH ACCOUNT. detachment of the Royal Westminster Volunteers. It was received at noon on the green by the governor, Lord Hood, and Avas deposited in the painted hall, where for some years it was exhibited. The French ' Moniteur ' on this occasion went be yond the misrepresentation usual in accounts of battles. It actually announced that a great Adctory had been gained by the French and Spanish fleets. It gives a strange account of the battle, saying among other things that two ships, a French and a Spanish, board ed the English Temeraire, the men rushed on with a shout, the EngUsh fell back, and the French pulled doAvn the flag, but were so anxious to bear the glorious tidings to their own ship that they jumped overboard, and the English ship made her escape ! Admiral VilleneuA'e, we are next informed, boarded the Victory, and flcAV to the quarter-deck ' carrying, with the usual generosity of a Frenchman, a brace of pistols in his hands, as he knew Adrairal Nelson had lost his arm and could not use his sword.' He offered oue to Nelson, they fought and at the second fire Nelson fell and was carried below. Fifteen English ships of the line struck to them, but a dreadful storm coming on the commander-in-chief Villeneuve and a Spanish admiral were unable to return to their ships, and remained on board the Victory. ' Thirteen French and Spanish ships got safe into Cadiz, the other twenty have no doubt gone to some other port and will be soon heard of Our loss was trifling, that of the English iraraense. We have, however, to laraent the absence of Adrairal Villeneuve, whose ardour carried hira beyond the bounds of prudence.' • VILLENEUVE. 313 Trafalgar sounded the death-knell of the three admirals in command. Villeneuve, who had done good service for the French in the West Indies, and had been second in comraand at the battle of the Nile, did not haul down his flag until his ship, the Bucentaure, Avas entirely dismantled and surround ed by four hostile ships. After the battle he remained in England until April, and on being set free was summoned to appear before a court-martial in Paris. He stopped at Rennes on his road, wrote to the Minister of Marine, aud shortly afterwards was found there, in the Hotel de la Patrie, where he was stay ing, stabbed six times in the heart. A raeraoir, published by his secretary, states that four military men, disguised as civilians, came to the hotel the night before the morning on which he had died, and that no weapon Avas found near him. But a letter to his wife was lying on the table which seemed to favour the report that he coraraitted suicide. Pie said in it that ' anathematised by the emperor, re pulsed by his minister who was my friend, charged Avith the immense responsibility of the disaster attri buted to me, I feel that I ought to die,' No doubt the French admirals had much cause to be dispirited at their constant defeats, Villeneuve was only forty- three years of age, four years younger than Nelson, The enthusiasm of the English pubhc may be con jectured from the tone of the periodicals of the time. In the ' Naval Chronicle ' for Noveraber 1805, we find the following proposal made by a correspondent : — ' Let a pubUc subscription be raised and the araount applied to the erection of a Naval PiUar in one of the 314 LADY HAMILTON. most conspicuous parts of the shores of the British Channel, Let the pillar be large and splendid, and on its top let an everlasting lamp be lighted to serve both by night and day as a friendly pharos to guide the mariner to safety; to remind him how Nelson fought and died to inspire a kindred flame of glory in his bosom ; and to tell to distant nations, which pour wealth into our island, how Britain venerates the memory of heroes ! The very sight of such a pillar, when known to have been erected in commemoration of the victory of Trafalgar, where Nelson bled and conquered, would strike a terror into our eneraies, and appal them in the dread hour of battle,' Just before the engagement Lord Nelson went down into his cabin and wrote a reraarkable letter, coraraending to the care of his country Lady Harail ton and his ' adopted daughter, Horatia Nelson Thompson,' for services rendered to the state by the former on two occasions. Lady Hamilton had an income as widow of Sir William in addition to such small amounts as Nelson could give, and the interest of £4,000 he had settled on Horatia.' This appeal, therefore, did not iraply that he feared she raight be left destitute, but that he hoped the governraent Avould g-ive her sorae hand sorae allowance. But, had her services been as great as Nelson represented thera, the English people would not have liked the humiliation of thus diraraing their victory. A French writer observes that, ' to the 'Nelson had only a small landed estate of one hundred and seventy acres round his house at Merton. LADY HAMILTON. 315 honour of the king and people of England, no notice Avas taken of this request.' What other course could indeed have been pursued in a case in which morality and economy were so delightfully corabined ? It is due to the memory of Lord Nelson to remark that his relations with Lady Harailton Avere the result not of any general moral laxity on his part, but of an irresistible and almost supernatural fascination which she exercised over him. Her influence had in a less degree been felt by other noble minds, and in duced the learned Sir William Hamilton, who must have known what she was, to go so far as to make her an offer of marriage. Nelson appeared to be spell-bound by her ; he called her his guardian angel, and hung up her portrait in his cabin.^ We all know that sailors, living an artificial Hfe at sea, apart frora female society, are prone to see wondrous beauties in Avomen on shore; but Miss Lyon Avas a favourite study of Roraney, the painter, and, though there Avas doubtless some idealisra in his rosy portraits of her, we must still conclude that she was very lovely. The girl must have had talent as well as beauty to have obtained such results, to have risen from the 1 There is, in the Army and Navy Club, a miniature of Lady Hamilton which was hanging in Nelson's cabin at the time of his death. In this she has light curly hair, but a longer and less cherubic face than in Romney's portraits. The hangings of Lord Nelson's hammock on board the Victory are preserved at Greenwich. They are of Avhite figured silk, beautifully embroidered with sprays of roses, evidently a lady's work. 316 MERTON. position of a housemaid,^ and something lower, to that of the wife of an ambassador. After her husband's death she resided with Nelson at Merton Place, aud received his numerous visitors. Among them was Dr. Walcot, the celebrated Peter Pindar. One night, when this humorist was going to bed, rather the better for potations, he set fire to a nightcap Lord Nelson had lent him. To excuse himself he brought • it down next morning, Avith a paper pinned to it con taining the foUoAving lines : — ' Take your nightcap again, my good lord, I desire. For I wish not to keep it a minute ; "What belongs to a Nelson, where'er there is fire Is sure to be instantly in it.' Lady Hamilton had now become a somewhat full blown rose ; but she retained her power oA'er Nelson, and charmed hira Avith her harp and song. She was a woman of great aptitude, and equally good in the saddle, in the dance, and on the stage, so successful indeed Avas she in acting that, when Nelson saw her, in sorae dramatic performance, he rapturously ex claimed, ' Mrs, Siddons is a fool to her !' It is a little amusiug to find hira correcting her in spelhng, telling her that accept and except are different Avords, and that she should not say that she ' excepts the invita tion,' But she was not the only person who slipped ' She began life as a nursery-rnaid in a doctor's house at Hawarden, and thence obtained a place in a tradesman's family in St. James's Market. Afterwards she was housemaid to a ' lady of quality.' After having been exhibited by the quack, Aaron Graham, in the ' celestial bed,' she was taken up by Romney, who idolized her. MELANCHOLY RESULTS. 317 in spelling, and she could, when the theme inspired her, write as good poetry as most ladies of the day. In a letter -written to a friend about 1798, she says, 'That Polyphemus should have been Nelson's; but he is rich in great and noble deeds, which t'other, poor devil ! is not. So let dirty wretches get pelf, to comfort thera ; A'ictory belongs to Nelson, Not but what I think money necessary for comforts, and I hope our, your, and ray Nelson Avill get a little for all Master 0, I send you some of my bad verses on my soul's idol,' Three stanzas are subjoined, the last beiug — ' If from thine Emma's breast her heart "Were stolen or flown aAvay, "Where, where should she engrave, my love, Each tender word you say ?' But when Nelson died, his Cinderella found that her slipper Avas lost. Her palace, her summer friends, who had flattered and feasted there during her pros- .perity, vanished as in dreams. Left desolate and despised, she tried to become interesting by sitting in a conspicuous place when Braham sang the 'Death of Nelson,' ' 'Twas in Trafalgar Bay,' and being car ried out fainting. On the first occasion sorae Avere affected by this, but when she repeated the perforra ance two or three tiraes, they began to laugh, and finally the manager laid in a stock of restoratives. Having thus failed, she next sought desperately to retain her position by making a show of wealth — a course by which she was soon many thousands in debt. The presents she received from Nelson were sold by pubUc auction, and in 1813 she was arrested. 318 NELSON'S MEN. and lived with her daughter Avithin the rules of the Kiug's Bench. Ten years after Nelson's death, when scarcely fifty, she ended her life rauch in the same position as that in which she had commenced it, dying at Calais in such poA'erty that she was buried by subscription. Soon after Trafalgar, Greenwich Hospital abound ed Avith Nelson's officers and crew.^ Sir Thomas Hardy was governor. Dr. Beattie was physician, and Rivers and Allen, Lord Nelson's servants, were both officers. Beattie, who had attended Nelson when dying, wore the fatal bullet set as a brooch — a melan choly ornament. There is a good portrait of Sir Thomas Hardy in the Painted Hall, I have heard him called a ' farmer- like ' man, and his stalwart form must have been a great contrast to Nelson, with his slight frame and almost feminine features —indeed it is said that there were persons who, seeing Nelson much with the Hamiltons in London, thought he Avas sorae foreigner Avhom Sir William had brought over in his employ ment, Allen came from Lord Nelson's native village in Nor folk and Avas his confidential servant. He had great influence with his raaster, and induced hira to reraove ' Owing to the increase of wounded men, five per cent on prize money, admiralty droits, aud bounty bills was ordered in 1806 to be paid to the Chatham Chest and Greenwich out-pensioners. (The out-pensions first commenced iu 1763.) Sir R. Keats, Avriting as late as 1831 against the remission of the sixpences from merchant seamen, says : ' The pensioners are now generally so much wounded that the hospital is more like an infirmary.' NELSON'S MEN. 319 from his room the coffin which gaA'e him so much pleasure. In after years at Greenwich he used con stantly to raaintain that if he had been Avith his master when the action coraraenced (he was away in a prize) he Avould have saved his life. On being asked what he Avould have done, his reply was, ' I Avould not have allowed him to wear his dress uniform,' Rivers was Nelson's cabin-boy. In the heat of the action his leg was carried off, and as he was being conveyed below he called out cheerily, ' Here I go, my lord,' It Avas characteristic of Nelson's kindliness that when he was dying he said to Hardy, ' Take care of the' boy Rivers,' Nelson's Avishes were so far considered that Rivers Avas made a lieutenant in Greenwich Hospital, and Allen became a pensioner. The latter was employed in sweeping the passages. He did not mess with the rest of the pensioners in the halls, but, having made friends with the cook, was accustomed to receive meat from him, which was the raore acceptable as he had a wife and faraily. The grant of this indulgence carae to the ears of the lieutenant-governor. Sir John Brenton, through his wife, and Sir John, being a strict disciplinarian, suramarily dismissed him. One day after this Sir Thomas Hardy was walking in the grounds, when he observed Allen without his pen sioner's costume, ' Have you left the hospital V he inquired. ' What are you doing now, Allen V 'Nothing, unfortunately. Sir Thomas,' he replied, sadly. ' Sir John Brenton has disraissed me.' After some explanation Sir Thoraas, who had a 320 NELSON'S MEN. great partiality for those who had been with Nelson, asked hira, ' Would you like a place in the Painted Hall V ' No, thank you. Sir Thoraas,' he returned, ' I'm not equal to it, I'm no scholar.' Brought up in a country village he had no education, aud the duties in the Painted HaU were to answer questions and explain the pictures. ' Well,' said Sir Thomas, brightly, ' keep yourself under my lee and I'll see what we can do for you.' ' Thank you kindly. Sir Thomas,' replied Allen, much comforted. ' I never knew anyone who could get to windward of you,' Shortly afterwards Allen was made ' pewterer,' a coramissioned officer with £70 a year, his duties be ing to count OA'er the pewters daily. All these Nelson's men Avere much inquired after by the A'isitors "svho came to GreenAvich, and one rauch in request Avas the sailor who ran up the celebrated signal ' England expects every raan to do his duty.' But he was a raost ignorant and disagreeable raan, and raade the other pensioners uncomfortable by his abusiA'e language. It appears that Nelson's first order was to signal, 'Nelson expects every man to do his duty;' but upon an officer suggesting 'England,' and observing that it could be run up Avith one flag. Nel son replied, ' Yes, that is better.'^ 1 Over the museum at Greenwich there is a good model of the battle of Trafalgar. It is about twenty feet square, and the little ships, six inches long, are seen some sinking and disabled, others gallantly firing into each other. 321 CHAPTER XXVII. LORD COLLINGWOOD^HIS UNREMITTING SERVICE — KINDLY NATURE — LETTERS TO HIS DAUGHTERS. It is refreshing to turn from Lord Nelson's domes tic delinquencies to contemplate the character and the relations of his great companion in arras. Lord Collingwood. There is also soraething of relief after being dazzled by the brilliant and roraan tic to rest the eye upon the philosophic and unambitious. These two great men were associat ed in commands, as Hawke and Hardy had been, and seem both to be raised by the esteem each entertained for the other's worth. Nelson wrote to him as 'My dear CoU,' and the other repHed, 'My dear friend.' In 1786 Nelson writes to Locker, ' What an amiable good man ColHngwood is ! Had it not been for him this station ' (the West Indies) ' would have been the most disagreeable I ever saw.' Collingwood, writing to Nelson in 1792, says after inquiring for Mrs. Nelson, ' My regard for you, my respect and veneration for your character I hope and believe will never be lessened.' These are valuable testimonies. VOL. II. ^ 322 COLLINGWOOD'S Lord CoUingwood's life, though active and glorious, was not, altogether happy. Having, like Diocletian, tried ruling men and planting cabbages, he agreed with him that the latter was the more pleasant occupation. Confinement and toil brought on a disease of which he eventually died. He was over whelmed with correspondence, with business connect ed with international affairs, with the manage ment of the fleet, and his own ship, containing some eight hundred men, might be corapared to a sraall town. Constantly on sea, pent up Avithin a narrow circuit, he Hved generally without fresh meat or vegetables, and sometimes, as he says, 'with scarcely a clean shirt.' His relaxation and delight Avas to forget for a moment his noisy surroundings, and — fancying himself again in his home near Morpeth — to see his modest mansion rising among the trees, to Avatch the operations of Scott his gardener, to picture his wife superintending her little household, invest her with all kinds of virtues, and think his daughters (he had no son) were growing up models for their sex. His sense of the duty he owed his country was not less than that of his great compeer, but the hardships and restrictions of a sea life, which, he observes, ' is not natural to man,' did not lead his mind astray after forbidden fruit, but only made his distant wife and family more dear to his heart.^ Gardening was his favourite hobby, and during his 1 Nelson had no family. Some have said, perhaps untruly, that his wife did not sympathise in his ambition. The government gave her an annuity of £2,000 a year, and she eventually died at Exmouth. EARLY LIFE. 323 short and rare holidays at home he assisted in the manual work himself. But he was very seldom in England, and, as travelling Avas not then easy or expeditious, sometimes left it without seeing his family. Though of gentle birth, Collingwood rose by his own exertions, aud in his early life had his share of dangers and difficulties. Being sent to the West Indies in the spring of 1780, he lost in four months from the effect of the climate one hundred and eighty out of the two hundred men on board his ship. Some of the transports sank, all the men being dead. From this ' scene,' as he well calls it, he was relieved in the following August, and, being appointed in December to the Pelican, was wrecked next August in a hurricane, and, reaching shore on a raft, remained exposed on a sandy island, with little or no food, for ten days. But Providence watched over him, and he Avas preserved to fight under Howe on the glorious 1st of June, 1794. The night before this battle he spent in watching and preparing for the succeeding day, ' and many a blqss- ing did I send forth to ray Sarah ' (his wife), ' lest I should never bless her more.' The next day was Sunday, and, when the action comraenced at ten o'clock, Collingwood was still full of horae thoughts : . ' I observed,' he writes, to the admiral (Earl HoAve), 'that about that tirae our wives were going to church, but that I thought the peal we should ring about the Frenchmen's ears would outdo the parish bells. Six He paid great attention to the health of his men, of whom he had generally eight hundred, and, although he was onoe more than a year and a half without going into port, he never had more than six on the sick hst. 326 NELSON AND COLLINGWOOD. then rising to look through his telescope for the enemy. The last letter Nelson ever wrote was to ' dear Coll.,' from on board the Victory, on the morn ing of the Battle of Trafalgar. ' What a beautiful day !' he concludes. ' Will you be tempted out of your ship.' Before the answer arrived, the signal was made that the enemy were coming out of Cadiz. , Lord Collingwood was more proud and less grand in his views than Nelson. When the latter was entering the Battle of Trafalgar, with his stars shin ing on his breast, the former was saying to his captain, ' You had better put on silk stockings, as I have ; for, if one should get a shot in the leg, they would be so rauch the raore manageable for the surgeon.' So also, after the action, he did not follow the orders given by Nelson to ' anchor ;' he thought that, with a gale bloAviug, the fleet would be in peril on a lee shore, and he preferred losing the prizes to running the risk of a disaster. During the engagement, his ship was in the hottest fire, but he was hiraself so collected that his serA'aut — who carae in the middle of the action to ask a ques tion — Avas surprised and delighted to find him able to attend to small, indifferent matters, as if nothing was going on. The death of Nelson thrcAV a dark cloud for Collingwood over the victory of Trafalgar. Writing imraediately afterAvards to Lord Radstock, he con cludes his account of the battle : ' Oh ! had Nelson lived, how complete had been my VH^LUNHUVE. 327 happiness — how perfect my joy! Now, whatever I have felt. like pleasure has been so mixed with bitterness and woe that I cannot exult in our success.'' Lord ColHngwood speaks favourably of the van quished Admiral Villeneuve, and seems not to have been so prejudiced against the French as Nelson and most Englishmen Avere. He writes : — 'Admiral Villeneuve is a well-bred raan, and, I beHeve, a A'ery good officer. He has nothing iu his manners of the offensive vapouring and boasting Avhich are, perhaps, too often attributed to French men.' Again, on Deceraber the 20th, he writes to Lady Collingwood : ' Villeneuve's ship had a great deal of money in it (£600,000), but it all weut to the bottom. Let others solicit pensions — I am an Englishman, and will never ask for raoney as a faA'our ' — (his whole incorae, includ ing pay, Avas only £1,100 a year). After hoping his daughters were improved, and would not give them- seh'es foolish airs, he says : ' I ara out of all patience with Bounce ' (his dog). ' The consequential airs he gives hiraself since he becarae a Right Honourable dog are insufferable. He considers it beneath his dignity to play with common dogs, and carries the insolence of rank to an extreme ; but he is a dog that does it.' ' In a previous letter to the king, he said of Nelson : ' He had all the qualities that adorn the human heart, and a head which, by the quickness of its perception and depth of penetration, qualified him for the highest offices in his profession.' 328 REWARDS. In 1806 he writes to Mr. Blackett, his father-in-law : ' 1 hardly know how I shall be able to support the dignity to which his majesty has been pleased to raise me. Let others plead for pensions, I can be rich without money by endeavouring to be superior to everything poor. I would have my services to my country unstained by any interested motive, and old Scott and I can go on in our cabbage-garden without much greater expense than forraerly. 'But I have had a great destruction of my furniture and stock ; I have hardly a chair that has not a shot in it, and many have lost both legs and arms, without hope of pension. My wine broke in moving, and my pigs were slain in battle; these are heavy losses Avhere they cannot be replaced.' Lord Collingwood now occupied a proud position. The glory of fhe conqueror — of one who changes the course of nations and marks the destiny of the world — is admitted by all humanity. The statesman or politician will always have a large party to deny his success, the thoughts of the poet or philosopher require the starap of tirae, and are not fully valued until after the thinker is dead ; but no one questions the clairas of the hero. Those Avho share the victory are loud in praise aud gratitude, and the vanquished are not inclined to disparage the abilities of the victor. If anything could add to his renown, it would be such a character for personal courage as that which CollingAvood deservedly enjoyed. To all this fame, and to a title conferred, we may add some material advantages. A pension Avas bestowed of £2,000, which, Avith a landed property of equal amount be- thoughts of home. 329 queathed to him by a relation, placed him in comfort able eircum stances. But, gratifying as aU this must have been, he was never destined to reahse the wish and hope of his Hfe, to spend his decHning years at home with his wife and daughters. After Trafalgar, he Avas em ployed in blockading the euemy, and there, in his cabin on the roUing wave, his mind stiU fondly re verted to his Httle garden in England. ' Tell rae,' he writes to his wife, ' how do the trees I planted thrive ? Is there shade under the three oaks for a summer seat ! Do the poplars grow V He never forgot his wife's birthday and Avedding- day. There is a letter from him to her on her birth day in 1806, in which he says : ' Though no day passes in which you have not my blessing, and prayers for your happiness, this day, which gave to the world such an excellent pattern of Avorth and • goodness, will always be celebrated by me as a happy one, and I hope you will live many years to receive my congratulations.' After Trafalgar, editors were anxious to publish biographical notices of Lord Collingwood, and wrote to him for particulars of his career. In reference to this, he writes humorously to Lady Collingwood : ' The editors of the " Naval Chronicle " have writ ten to me for the history of my life and progress, for which they are pleased to say the world is very im patient. Now this rather embarrasses me, for I never could bear the trumpeter of his own praise ; so to get rid of it I have employed to write a history of me. For my birth and parentage he has selected 330 PORTRAIT. two or three chapters of " Bamfylde Moore Carew ;" for my service in the West Indies and on the Spanish main he has good assistance in the " History of the Buccaneers ;" and for my shipwreck he has copied a great deal out of " Robinson Crusoe ;" all which, with a few anecdotes from the " Lives of the Admirals," a little distorted, Avill make a very respectable piece of biography.' In 1808, he sent a picture of himself, drawn by a Sicilian artist, and it seems Lady Collingwood did not much appreciate the work of art. He writes, July 28th, 1808 : ' I ara soiTy to find my picture was not an agreeable surprise ; I did not say anything to you about it, because I would always guard you as much as I could against disappointment. The painter Avas reckoned the raost erainent in Sicily ; but you expected to find me a smooth-chinned, clear-com- plexioned gentleman, such as I was when I left home, dressed iu the newest taste, and like the fine people who live gay lives ashore. Alas ! it is far otherwise Avith me. The painter was thought to haA-e flattered me much ; that lump under my chin Avas but loose skin, from which the flesh has shrunk away ; the redness of my face was not, I assure you, the effect of wine, but of burning suns and boisterous Avinds ; and my eyes, which were once dark and bright, are now faded and dim. That the counten ance is stern will not be Avondered at when it is con sidered how many sad and anxious hours and how many heartaches I have had.' That CoUingwood's melancholy appearance Avas the result of the life he led, we may conclude from ADVICE TO LADIES. 331 such an observation as the following in one of his letters, written this year ' off Toulon ' : ' I have been long at sea, have little to eat, and scarcely a clean shirt, and often do I say, " Happy lowly clown !" Yet with all this sea-Avork, never getting fresh beef nor a vegetable, I have not oue sick man in my ship.' Writing to a friend about the same time, he says: ' Since 1793, I have been ouly one year on shore.' The most interesting letters of ColHngwood are those written to his daughters. They might have been worthy of More for the excellent advice they give, and are a bright contrast to the worldly epistles of Chesterfield. He hopes that his daughters will not be made ' fine ladies,' and directs that they should not read novels, but history, travels, and Shakes peare. ' When they read,' they should use the natural tone of voice as if they were speaking. ' To inspire them with a love of everything that is honourable and virtuous, though iu rags, and with conterapt for A'anity in erabroidery is the way to make them the darlings of my heart.' Writing to one of his daughters on February 5th, 1809, he says : ' Never forget for one moment that you are a gentlewoman ; and all your words and all your actions should mark you gentle. I never knew your mother — your dear, good mother — say a harsh or a hasty thing to any person in my life. Endeavour to imitate her. I am quick and hasty in my temper, my sensibility is touched sometimes Avith a trifle, and my expression of it is sudden as gun powder ; but, my darhng, it is a misfortune which. 332 REFLECTIONS. not having been sufficiently restrained in youth, has caused me much pain.' In this year he destroyed a squadron of the eneray aud took possession for the English of the Ionian Islands. He writes to his daughter from the ' Ville de Paris, Minorca, April 17th ' — ' No person ever did a kind, a benevolent, a humane, or charitable action without feeling a consciousness that it was good : it creates a pleasure in the mind that nothing else can produce, and this pleasure is the greater from the act Avhich causes it to be veiled from the eye of the world. It is the delight such as angels feel Avhen they Avipe away the tear from affliction or warm the heart with joy. On the other hand, no person ever did or said an ill-natured, an unkind, or mischievous thing who did not at the very instant feel that he had done wrong.' On June 17th he writes to his wife frora the 'Ville de Paris, off Toulon '- — ' I am writing you a letter, my love, because there is nothing I so much delight in as a Uttle coraraunica- tion with her on whora ray heart for ever dwells . . . I never hear from your world, and cannot tell whether anything from ours ever reaches you . . . Tough as I have been, I cannot last much longer. I have seen all the ships and men out two or three times. Bounce and I seem to be the only personages who stand our ground. Many about me are yielding to the fatigue and confinement.' Lord Collingwood used his pen no less than his sword. He was constantly at his Avriting-table, and it was supposed, strange as it seems in DEATH. 333 the case of a naval officer, that a sedentary Hfe and a long-continued bending position laid the seeds of the disease of which he died. He at length begged earnestly to be recaUed, but the government would not dispense with the services of such a careful and efficient officer, until finally he became utterly incapacitated. Then he was com pelled to resign, and was on his way home when death ended his eventful career. The last scene in his life of glory and exile took place, not unsuitably, on" board the Ville de Paris — the grand old flag-ship which Lord Rodney had taken from the Comte de Grasse, He died on the 7th of March, 1810, and his reraains, having been transferred from the Ville de Paris to the Nereus, were brought to Sheerness by Captain P, Heywood, where they were transferred to the commissioners' yacht, and landed, on April 26th, at Greenwich, The body lay in state in the painted hall for some days, and was thence carried in mournful state to St, Paul's and laid beside that of Nelson, his old friend and companion-in-arras. After the destruction at Trafalgar, the Rochefort fleet was the only one remaining to the French, A battle was fought with it off St. Domingo by Sir John Duckworth in 1806. He had seven ships of the line against five, two frigates, and a corvette belonging to the enemy, and only the smaller ships effected their escape. In this action. Captain Keats, of the Superb, greatly distinguished himself; and the Hon*''"- Captain Stopford, who forced two of the French ships to strike their colours, was wounded on 334 GOVERNORS OF GREENWICH. thi? occasion. Keats became Governor of Green wich Hospital, after holding coraraand on the Scheldt and off Cadiz, Stopford had, as a young midshipman, been in the thick of the great conflicts fought by Rodney in 1782, , The ship which he was in had her foremast and maintopmast shot away. He was also in the action of the 28th and 29th of May and the 1st of June, 1794, under Lord HoAve, and received praise from the admiral for the ' gallant way in which he brought his ship up to the assistance of the Marlborough, which he took in tow and rescued when lying dis masted and exposed to the fire of the surrounding enemy. After having been successful in taking many privateers from the French, he served for some time under Nelson, but had not the good fortune to be at Trafalgar, as his ship had been despatched for proA'isions, In 1809 Stopford was second in command to Adrairal Garabier, when he attacked and destroyed the French shipping under the batteries in Aix Roads, He received the thanks of Parliament and next year was appointed governor of the Cape, Afterwards he Avas coraraander-in-chief in the Mediterranean, and received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament for his brilliant success at Acre and along the coast of Syria, Before he left the Mediterranean he Avas appointed. May 1841, governor of Greenwich Hospital and presented with the freedom of the City of London, About 1806 he was elected M,P, for Ipswich, In recognition of his services he received Orders from GOVERNORS OF GREENWICH. 835 the Sultan, the Emperors of Russia and Austria, and the King of Prussia,' The present governor, Sir Lewis Tobias Jones, G.C.B., is a veteran well worthy of the distinguished position he holds. The office is now an honorary reward for merit. Sir Lewis, who was born in 1799, was present at the capture of Acre aud Lagos, in the operations at Sebastopol and iu the Black Sea, and has received wounds in the service of his country. He is an officer of the Legion of Honour and of the Medjidie, and has four medals, ^ One of the old hospital men spoke to me with great reverence of Sir R. Stopford : ' Oh, sir, he was a great man — he never would dine by daylight, winter or summer !' (This reminds me of a butler of one of the former canons of Bristol, who said enthusiastically of his master, ' He was a perfect gentleman — he never would have less than four bottles of wine on his table even Avhen alone.') 336 CHAPTER XXVIIL GREENWICH FAIR — DISORDERLY SCENES — EXHIBITIONS — 'THE DEVIL AT GREENWICH FAIR ' — ITS SUPPRESSION. Greenwich Fair seems to have been always notorious for its riotous and disreputable character. It was held on the 12th, 13th, and 14th of May and the llth, 12th, and 13th of October, but also in the Easter and Whitsuntide holidays there was a considerable amount of rough merry-making in the park. The May gather ing became the most celebrated. The disorderly proceedings which took place — partly caused by the proxiraity to the eastern end of London — led some wags to give the festival the name of Horn Fair, and to calling the landing-place frora Loudon, Cuckold's Point, A skit was published on the subject about 1705, entitled a ' Frolick to Horn Fair '' The conceit is that on October 18th all ladies dissatisfied with their husbands resort to Greenwich Fair to find more congenial partners. The river-scene near Billingsgate is such as was coramon at the fair-time, the place resounds with the 1 Dated 1700 in the British Museum, but evidently not earlier, and probably a little later, than 1705. ' HORN fair: 337 wrangUng of watermen and cries of ' Greenwich ! Greenwich Ho !' and the banks are covered with the Avives of the good citizens of Loudon, On reaching Cuckold's Point on the other side they find at the inn a number of husbands armed with shovel, spade, or pickaxe, and Avith horned helmets on their heads, who march on to Horn Fair, levelling the way as they go that their wives may follow after them vrithout soiling their shoes or petticoats. This traditional observance is said to have descended frora the tirae of merry King John, Avho, having corae to huut at Greenwich, as he often did, saw a railler's wife there Avho raightily pleased him; The lady, it is said, did uot at once reject the king's advances, but made an appointment with him, and raanaged to give her husband such information that he came in and found them together. Pretending to be in a great fury and not to know the king, the miller caught the gay culprit in his arms aud swore that he would throAv him into the mill-dara and ' grind his head off.' The king, in great alarra, confessed his royalty, and said that if he was let go he would give him all the land he could see iu one direction. The miller thereupon became more tranquil, made him vow to perform his promise-, and then civilly let him go and went about his business. Afterwards the miller deraanded the land, and the king told him he should have it on paying this acknowledgment : that he should once a year, on the 18th of October, walk to the furthest bounds of his estate with a pair of bucks'-horns on his head, accompanied by his family. To this the miller consented, and being told to look downwards, as the 338 GREENWICH FAIR. king had nothing to dispose of towards London, he looked as far as Charlton Hill, and all -the land between that and the Point becarae his. It is difficult to say what foundation there was for this story beyond King John's known weakness for such escapades. The date of the coraraencement of Greenwich Fair is uncertain, but we suppose from the above account that there was sorae periodical gathering here at the beginning of the eighteenth century.' It seeras to have been at first partly, if not principally, a cattle fair, but a brisk trade was always carried on in other goods, especially shoes, pattens, breeches, and baubles of all kinds. ' There was much furraenty to be sold but few to buy, aud abundance of beggars but few to relieve them,' We read of many theatrical and other shows at GreeuAvich Fair, aud may form some idea of it, in the earlier tiraes, from the picture of the neighbouring Southwark Fair painted by Hogarth in 1733, Here we see theatricals, turablers perforraing on ropes, and ' Royal Waxworks ' at which ' the whole court of France,' is to be seen, Araong the crowd are a prize fighter, a quack doctor recoraraendiug his nostrums, a black boy blowing a trumpet, and another with a monkey and bag-pipes. Pickpockets are doing a brisk business among the gaping rustics, some of whora are looking in wonderment at a horse trained to pick a handkerchief out of a clown's pocket. The rabble, that of the London mob, made the 1 Mr. "Walford, who gives interesting details in the 'Antiquary' for August, 1884, considers we have no proof that the fair existed before the middle of the eighteenth century at the earliest. VICISSITUDES OF THE FAIR. 339 laws on these occasions. Hardly any of the upper classes were present, except a few in disguise. In the ' Romance of a Day in Greenwich Park,' published in 1760, we find a fanciful young man, wishing to see the Greenwich sports, thinks it necessary to dress up in a light-brown corduroy frock, a Avhite dimity waistcoat, a laced hat, and white stockings, to look like a 'Jemray prentice' or journeyman from a counter. On his arrival he joins a group to hunt the hand kerchief, run or roll down the hill, and enjoys as much dancing and kissing as he can desire. He meets an enterprising young lady there, also disguised, the daughter of a rich merchant who had come to live in the ' delicious fresh air of Blackheath.' All fairs originated in holy days, and so we find that this Greenwich orgy Avas held near the church and commenced somewhat inappropriately with a sermon. ' The fair seems to stand bounded between God and the dcA'il, for the church stands at one eud, and a music-house at t'other. 'Tis a sanctuary for ill man ners, a protection of all rudeness, a revelling of young libertines, a looking-glass of confusion hurtful to good manner, and hateful to all good men.' The fair was afterwards raoved further from the church,' and old men now living who remember it, generally speak of it as having extended from the north-west gate of the park. ' Richardson's ' stood on a spot now railed in by the Gloucester Arms. The booths went down a street along the park, now closed and partly covered by St. Mary's Church, aud reached to Friary Lane, in which holy thoroughfare the recrea- 1 At the last it returned to the vicinity of the church. 840 SENSATIONS. tion of swinging was largely patronised. In 1834 we find exhibiting here troops of equestrians, — a German ox with six legs, a lively seal, and a learned dog who could ' shuffie and cut.' Some of the old pensioners did not neglect to turn a penny on these occasions. Armed with telescopes, they beckoned the visitors up the Observatory Hill, and there for a consideration showed them the skele tons and rags of clothes hanging from the gibbets along the river.' The revellers must have seen some grim humour in this, unless they learned the lesson which the Egyptians taught when they passed round the skeleton at their banquets. A terrible spectacle was witnessed at the fair in 1839. WombweU's menagerie was among the at tractions, and a girl, Helen Blight, gave a hazardous performance in one of the cages as the ' Lion Queen.' One of the tigers appeared out of temper, and she struck it with her whip, whereupon, with a temfic roar, the animal sprang upon her, seized her hj the throat and killed her before assistance could be pro cured. A grotesque satire on the riotous character of this fair is to be found in a little pamphlet published in 1841, entitied, ' The Devil at Greenwich Fair.' The revelry here described is supposed to take place on Easter-Monday. The black gentleman proceeded in tlie steamer accompanied by a raotley crowd of ' linen- drapers' assistants with their heads propped up Avith stiff collars in order to make thera look if possible like gentlemen ;, clerks from the public offices, a ' Some were hanging there half-a-century ago. DIABOLIC AMUSEMENTS 841 second-rate sort of gentlemen, not quite so precise in the arrangement of their neckcloths and collars, in asmuch as they wore no false fronts but had really good shirts on ; there Avere merchants' clerks, post- office clerks, and almost every species of clerk that can be mentioned in alraost every species of Taglioni, pilot-coat, bearskin coat, and other articles of costurae that characterise " Marquis of Waterfords," and indeed there were a few individuals whose rank was really aristocratic, but these, of course, affected in their attire to be persons of inferior degree.' The devil, having arriA'ed and tricked a thimble- rigger, went into Richardson's booth, Avhere they much enjoyed a dramatic piece called, ' The Demon of the Washing-tub, or the Murderous Washerwo man.' During this performance the devil managed to become acquainted with a decently-dressed damsel who sat next to him, and who was the picture of innocence and good-nature. She told him in conversation that she had lately come from the country — reared in a rural A'illage — and that her relations brought her down to GreenAvich Fair, but she had lost them in the crowd. The devil made himself very agreeable to her, and they walked together towards the park. Meanwhile a felloAv- demon -Dissiraulation,' after trying a donkey-ride and being kicked off, went in to see the Avild beast show. The modest, inoffensive girl began to shed tears when the devil made love to her, and deplored her hard fate in losing her friends. ' When I heard her go on in this way, I tried stUl more vigorously to talk 842 LIGHT COMPANY. her into such a state of mind that I might accomplish her ruin. Well, by degrees I wound myself deeply into her confidence, so I thought, and seemed to have such an ascendancy over her that she would yield to anything I proposed. I got her to drink two glasses of Avine, which made her quite comraunicative and open-hearted, after that I easily persuaded her to go upon that steep hill, from the top of which folks are so fond of rolling. While standing looking about with a vacant stare of wonder, as any other country girl would look on seeing such outrageous frolics, I caught hold of her in my claws, and away I started down the steep, thinking that after such a romp as that she Avould be fit for anything. Well, we got to the bottom at last, and when she recovered her legs she only laughed, and did not at all seera fiustered : — ' " You'll do now, my dear," said I. ' " Oh, yes, sir," said she, with a polite curtsey, which quite astonished me, " very well indeed, and now I Avish you a good day \' and with that she ran away and was out of sight before I could say " Jack Robinson." ' " There's a screw loose," said I to myself, instinc tively clapping ray hands in my pockets : and as true as I stand here I found them quite empty. Fifty sovereigns and a roll of banknotes which I manu factured this morning, that dissembling wanton had abstracted from me !' But, notwithstanding this account of the devil ry at Greenwich, the booths Avere now closed at eleven and the fair was on its decline. In 1772 Lord Dartmouth, as lord of the manor, had BOOTHS. 343 ordered the fair to be discontinued, except for cattle, and forbade the erection of booths or stalls. Such prohibitions are not easily enforced in the face of an East- end mob, and they seem to have been practical ly disregarded. In 1831 the Princess Sophia, who Avas ranger, and a good-natured, easy person, ordered the park to be thrown open for the fair ; but in 1838 notices were posted that the magistrates would not allow the fair to be held, Avith the result that it was confined to the open space by the street leading from Greenwich to Creek Bridge. The raain char acteristics of it seem to have been retained, and the road between Greenwich and London Avas thronged with people, resembling the journey to the Derby without its aristocratic features. Gingerbread stalls were standing, swings were going, the grand fun of rolling down the Observatory Hill continued, and 'kiss-in-the-ring' and ' thread-the-needle' Avereinfull force. Richardson's theatre, conjurors aud rope- dancers seem to have been there in 1841. There were, moreover, some twenty dancing booths with such attractiA'e names as ' The Royal Standard,' ' The Lady of the Village,' ' The Moonrakers,' and so forth. Above all rose the gigantic 'Crown and Anchor,' a vast tent three hundred and twenty feet long and sixty Avide. Seats were ranged around, and the centre was boarded for dancing, but a large space was set apart for refreshments. A great crowd of some two thousand persons were here assembled, and there. seemed no difficulty in obtaining or refus ing partners. The band consisted of stringed instru ments and clarionets, and in cold weather there was 344 ROADSIDE SCENES an iraraense fire in the centre.' This establishment is that from which the sketch by ' Boz ' was taken, and where he saw 'the ladies, in the height of in nocent arauseraent, dancing in the gentleraen's hats, and the gentlemen promenading " the gay and festive scene" in the ladies' bonnets, or ornamented with false noses, and low-crowned tinder-box-looking hats, playing children's drums, and accompanied by ladies on the penny trumpet,' The episodes at night on the road back to toAvn, the travellers in A'arious stages of intoxication, and the Aveary revellers, male and female, dropping doAvn frora exhaustion, might have formed scenes Avorthy of the band of Comus, The numbers present in 1840 were at the lowest estimate thirty thousand, but according to some five hundred thousand. The fair was finally suppressed in 1856, 1 What httle smoke there Avas went up through a hole in the canvas. 345 CHAPTER XXIX, THE PRINCESS SOPHIA MATILDA — POND — AIRY — FIRE AT THE HOS PITAL — HOSTELRIES — FISH DINNERS — RETROSPECT. In the reign of George IIL, GreeuAvich was much connected with the royal family. His sons were in structed at the Pagoda, a house still standing, about half-a-raile south of Chesterfield Walk, Thither also the unfortunate Queen Caroline often resorted iu fine weather. She liA'ed in the castellated building called Montagu' House, which stood on the south-west verge of the park. Nothing now reraains of this building but the gateway. It is said that the king had it deraolished, because it reminded him of his Avife, and that the first unpleasantness between George and CaroHne was caused by Lady Douglas caUing upon her at Greenwich, and, on being refused admit tance, spreading malicious rumours about a little boy that lived with her at Montagu House, The Ranger's Lodge (Lord Chesterfield's former house) was successively tenanted by the Duchess of Brunswick and the Princess Sophia Matilda, The princess was the eldest chUd of the Duke of Glouces- > The Duke of Montagu lived there, and afterwards his son-in- law, the third Duke of Buccleuch. He Avas governor of the Prince of "Wales (George IV.) and the Duke of York. 346 PRINCESS SOPHIA. ter (George III.'s brother), by the Countess of Walde- grave. As the king did not approve of the marriage, she was privately baptised. Miss Burney describes the Princess Sophia in 1797, ' A very gentle tap at the door, and a " May I come inf from a soft voice, while the lock was turned, and a youthful and very lovely feraale put in her head, ' The Princess Augusta iramediately rose, and said, " Oh ! yes," and held out her two hands to her ; turn ing at the same time to me, and saying, " Princess Sophia." ' I found it was the Duke of Gloucester's daughter. She is very fat, with A'ery fine eyes, a bright, eveu dazzling bloom, fine teeth, a beautiful skin, and a look of extrerae modesty and sweetness, ' She courtesied to me so distinguishingly that I Avas almost confused by her condescension, fearing she might iraagine, frora finding rae seated with the. Princess Augusta, and in such close conference, that I was somebody, ' " You look so fine and so grand," cried she, ex amining the princess's attire, which was very superb in silver and diamonds, " that I ara alraost afraid to come near you !" ' Her OAvn dress was perfectly simple, though, re markably elegant, ' " Oh ! I hate rayself when so fine," cried Princess Augusta, " I cannot bear it ; but there is no help — the people at the play always expect it," ' Then they conversed a little while, both stand ing ; and the Princess Augusta said, " Give my love PRINCESS SOPHIA. 347 to the Duke, and I hope I shall see hira by-aud-by, and to WilHam," ' And this, which was not a positive request that she Avould prolong her visit, was understood ; and the lovely cousin made her courtesy and retired, ' To me again she made another, so gravely low, that I really blushed to receive it, from added fear of being mistaken,' After the Princess Sophia became ranger of Green wich Park, she for many years resided alternately in Anson Street and at the Ranger's Lodge, where she had beautiful gardens, ' Her heart Avas larger than her purse,' She was most liberal to the local charities, and frequently patronized concerts for desirable objects,' She died on the 29th of November, 1844 — a sad event for Greenwich, She was seventy-one years of age, and had taken a drive in her carriage the day before. She spent a restless night; her raedical attendant was sumraoned, and after taking a seda tive draught, she was thought so much better that he left her; but before he could return she became worse, and ' died without a sigh,' A large crowd assembled outside the Ranger's Lodge on the day of her funeral. The Royal Standard wave.d half-raast high OA'er the hospital, observatory, and parish church, and a long procession of inhabitants of Greenwich 1 We cannot omit to mention in connection with Greenwich a charitable enterprise that the late vicar of Greenwich, Canon Miller, inaugurated by the collections on Hospital Sunday, which are made now not only in England and America, but also in the colonies. Nearly a million and a half has been collected for the hospitals in this country. .348 ADMIRALS AND ASTRONOMERS. accompanied the hearse to the Pa(ldington Station. Prince Albert was present at the obsequies at Windsor. The views of sorae with regard to the modes of life conducive to longevity may undergo a change from considering the experience of the astronomers- royal. These men generally passed the day in studious and sedentary occupations, and the night in scanning the skies, and scarcely one of them fell short of the age allotted by the psalmist. If we omit the case of Dr. Bliss, Avho was only in office for two years, we shall find that six lives spanned the time from the first foundation of the obserA'atory in 1675 to the year 1881. Flamsteed lived to be seventy- three, Halley eighty-six, Bradley seventy, Maskelyne seventy-nine, Pond sixty-nine. Airy is still alive, at eighty-four. Meanwhile, from 1708 to 1865,' there have been ' When the hospital for in-pensioners was disestabhshed. A list of governors up to the disestabhshment is subjoined : — 1708.— Captain Sir "W. Gifford, Bart., M.P. 1714. — Admiral the Hon. Matthew Aylmer. 1720, — Admiral Sir John Jennings. 1744. — Captain Sir John Balchen. 1745. — Captain Lord Archibald Hamilton. 1753. — Admiral Isaac To-wnsend. 1765. — Admiral Sir George B. Rodney (Lord Eodney). 1771. — Admiral Francis Holbourne. 1771. — Admiral Sir Charles Hardy. 1780. — Adjiiral Sir Hugh Palliser. 1796.— Admiral "Viscount Hood. 1816. — Admiral Sir John Colpoys. 1821. — Admiral Sm Richard G. Keats. 1834.— Admiral Sir Thomas M. Hardy, Bart. 1839.— Admiral the Hon. Charles E. Fleming. 1840. — Admiral the Hon. Sir R. Stopford. 1847.— Admiral Sir Charles Adam. 1853. — Admir.\l Sir James A. Gordon. POND. 349' eighteen governors— all sailors, who had lived what we call healthy lives in the fine sea air. In all active occupations, and especially in the navy, accidents frequently happen, and we must adrait that in former times the food on board ship Avas not of the most wholesorae kind. But, after raaking every allowance, the difference between the nuraber of governors and astronoraers is somcAvhat remarkable. Pond was inspired with a Ioa'o of astronoray in his early years. When a young man, he visited the coasts ofthe Mediterranean and the interior of Egypt,. carrying with him, at considerable expense, valuable instruments, in the hope that a clearer atmosphere would assist him in observing the fixed stars. His health necessitated his return, but he was able to communicate to Dr. Maskelyne, shortly before that astronomer's death, sorae corrections of errors in the declination of sorae of the fixed stars in the Green wich Observations.'' This induced Maskelyne to re coraraend him as his successor, in which he Avas seconded by Sir Joseph Banks. Many bulky volumes were filled with his observations, and by his suggestions the mural circle at Greenwich Avas greatly improved. His transit instrument was used until 1851, and still hangs on the wall of the observa tory. He invented an improved mode of observing, and thus produced a more perfect catalogue of the fixed stars than had previously been known. Arago, The hospital was disestablished in 1865, the last pensioners left in 1869. » An account of which was pubhshed in the Philosophical Transactions for 1836. 350 ASTRONOMERS Biot, and Bessel all bore testimony to the merit of his method. He Avas always nuAvilling to appear in print, but Avas induced to contribute to Rees' Ency- clopEedia. Sir Humphry Davy speaks of the great sacrifices he made of health and raoney in prosecuting his favourite study. Pond increased the number of assistants here from one to six. According to his desire, he was buried at Lee, in the same vault in which Halley was laid. It is a remarkable circumstance that the ex-astro- noraer-royal is still alive. Sir George Biddell Airy, K.CB,, retired two years since, aud still resides at Greenwich, near Chesterfield Walk, Notwithstand ing his advanced age, he is actively engaged in researches on the Lunar Theory. He Avas senior wrangler at Cambridge, and afterwards, when appointed to the observatory there, introduced im- proA'eraents in the form of the calculation and pub lication of observations which have been since used at Greenwich and other observatories. Among the new instruments he introduced at Greenwich, the most remarkable Avas his large equatorial. At his sugges tion, the magnetic and meteorologic observatory was erected here ; he invented a glass prism for more clear ly observing celestial bodies, and a systend for correct ing the disturbance of the magnet in iron ships, both of Avhich have proA'ed most valuable. He advocated the adoption of the narrow gauge for railways aud the establishraent of a deciraal coinage. The present astronoraer-royal is Mr. W. H. Christie, who is the editor of a periodical entitled ' The Ob servatory,' aud the author of a manual of Eleraentary CHANGE IN RECKONING. 851 Astronomy. He has directed special attention to solar photography, and has introduced at GreenAyich a new form of spectroscope for determining the col ours and brightness of stars. There are two principal instruments now eraployed at the observatory, one a meridian telescope, and the other for taking general observations in any part of the heavens. The latter is suspended on most elabor ate machinery, and stands in a wooden building, the top of which is removable. Their size is consider able, the diameter being twelve inches and three- quarters, but there are larger instruments in priA'ate observatories, and one of twenty-eight inches should be provided. Every Englishman is farailiar with ' Greenwich time,' America is about to adopt it, with a certain addition of hours, and France Avill probably folloAv suit. Towards the end of Pond's supervision (1833), a good means was devised, which is still used, for letting sailors and others know the correct tirae, A ball was raised half-way up a pole on the observatory at five minutes to one, and hoisted to the top three minutes later. There is a large clock-dial outside the obser vatory marked with twenty-four hours. This was the old Roman mode of reckoning, long continued in Italy ; but there the day began at sunset, whereas the astronomical day always began at noon. As there are great difficulties in the way of inducing business men to adopt the twenty-four hours day from noon, the clock at Greenwich has been altered this year, 1885, so as to begin at midnight. The amount of automatic work done in the ob- 352 DISASTROUS FIRES. servatory is characteristic of the age in which we live. If Cardinal Beaufort could have stepped out of the fifteenth century into this establishraent, he would have thought what he saw more necromantic than the sorceries which he suspected the fair Eleanor of here practising. The Standard Solar Clock moves by galvanism, and of its own accord constantly trans mits the correct time to the General Post Office, At one the ball rises of itself up the pole, while in other places pencils, held by no huraan fingers, are busy day and night recording every breeze as it blows, and every shower as it descends,' A great fire took place in the hospital in 1779, It was said to have originated over the chapel, in the tailors' rpora, and, as this adjoined a charaber where the records were kept, many of thera were destroyed. The spectacle was appalling. The Thames and shipping Avere Ht by the fiames, and nothing was left of the chapel but the walls. Another confiagration occurred in October, 1811, This comraenced in the apartraent of the assistant- surgeon, where there was no grate, and the fire on the hearth caught the beams beneath. Nothing could exceed the terror of the unfortunate patients in the infirmary, whose cries and groans rent the air ; but they Avere all safely carried out just before the lead began to pour from the roof. The whole of the infirmary Avas a furnace, with the exception of the east wing, and the iron bedsteads became red-hot. 1 An interesting aocount of the observatory was published in the Graphic for August 8th, 1885, written by Mr. J. E. Power, one of Mr. Christie's assistants. TAVERNS 853 Three lives were lost on these occasions — a pen sioner was burned in his bed, a carpenter fell in Avith one of the roofs, and a woman threw herself from the attic-storey of the north-east Aving, which there Avas no probability of the fire reaching. The Painted Hall was uninjured. GreeuAvich, which, as we have seen, has a long and interesting history, is associated in the minds of many with nothing higher than luxurious fish dinners. But CA'en these are dignified by traditionary custom, and come down from the days of the palace. Persons visiting the court on business or pleasure were accustomed to stop and refresh theraselves and their servants at one of the taverns, with Avhich the toAvn was liberally supplied. We read of several of these old establishments, the principal being the ' Ship,' the ' Swan,' and the ' Feathers.' The first notice we have of the ' Ship ' is in 1634, when some of the Lancashire witches Avere in durance there. Mr, Bale is in possession of a brass money token issued by this tavern in Charles I,'s reign, on Avhich a ship in full sail is represented, Avith the legend, ' Ship Tavern, 1640,' The guests about this time may have been diverted and puzzled by an elaborate Avork of art suspended here ; for Ave find among the Bodleian MSS, at Oxford, a sketch raade in 1670 of a ' Scotcheon hangs in the greate Chamber of the " Ship " at Greenew"'',' beneath which was a Latin record (dated 1641) of the pedigree of a Portuguese nobleman, naraed Antonius Almada. VOL. II, AA 354 TAVERNS AND INNS The ' Ship ' then stood nearer' the hospital, and on lower ground, Avith stairs to it frora the water, con venient for visitors. In the middle of the eighteenth century, we read of the ' King's Arms,' the ' Golden Anchor,' and ' Red Lion,' , In 1752, the ' Swan,' Spring Garden, East Lane, a tavern mentioned in 1527, raade up twenty beds, had a room large enough to dine one hundred people, and possessed ' a delightful garden,' But the ' Greyhound ' seems to have been then the chief house, and was on the main thoroughfare, Avhich there turned southwards from the church. This inn had stabling for forty horses, and the landlord advertised in 1765 that 'Whitebait is dressed here in the highest perfection all the season,' and on July 30th, 1766, 'The grand melon feast will be at the above house to-morrow.' There seems also to have been a ball and supper here after the annual cricket- raatch, the arrangeraent being that the losers should pay for the entertainraent. Frora an incidental notice of a trick played on a landlord here in 1768, we learn soraething of the raanner in which parties were wont to be regaled here at that time. A man dressed Hke a porter called in great haste, pretending he came frora Mr. Wilkes, a merchant in London. The letter he brought stated that Mr. Wilkes and eleven friends intended to dine at the inn, and Avished to have a small turtle, some geese, and several other things ready by four o'clock. The dinner Avas prepared, but no Mr. ' It stood, until forty years ago, close to the north-west block of the hospital, where now there is grass. FISH DINNERS 355 Wilkes came ; and the order was found to be a hoax. At the comraenceraent of this century, the ' Crown and Sceptre ' was the principal hotel, but it is now a Conservative club. The ' Ship ' took its place, and is now the most important hotel in Green wich. From its position, the river at times enters its cellars, and it Avas on one occasion insulated. The Conservative ministerial dinners take place at this hotel, the Liberal at the 'Trafalgar,' a com paratively modern house. Both establishments, in accordance with the comraercial spirit of the tiraes, bel6ng to the sarae corapany, Mr, Gladstone tried to abolish this tirae-honoured banquet, which was for some years omitted, but Lord Beaconsfield revived it, and it is still observed. We have already observed that the Marquis of Exeter in the days of Henry VIII, had a fish dinner at Richmond, He seems to have been a fanciful epicurean, and we cannot find Avhen dinners entirely of fish became fashionable — if, indeed, there was not always, as there is uoav, sorae addition of meat made to' the meal. There can be little doubt but that the ministerial din ners at Greenwich originated in the banquets given at the palace to the Council during their sittings. We have no record of these festivals, but may form sorae idea of their character from accounts extant of the ' Starre-chamber Dyetts of her Majesty's Council' during the latter years of Elizabeth's reign,' • Accounts of these dinners for the years 1591, 1597, 1599, and 1604 are in the possession of the Rev. F. Hopkinson, F.S.A., at Malvern "Wehs, who has kindly allowed me to inspect them, AA 2 356 FISH DINNERS Tliese dinners soraetiraes coramenced with 'sweet butter,'' but generally with oysters, and in most of them there Avas a trifling addition of meat to an ' intolerable amount ' of fish — many of thera Avere on fast days. There was a great sirailarity in the fare, one day differing frora another in only two or three items. The following will serve as a specimen — it was for St, Valentine's day, February, 1591, and, as that was apparently not a fast day, we shall have a prototype of our present Greenwich dinners : — Sweet butter, old ling, green fish, salt salraon, great pikes, small pikes, great carps, smaller carps, great breara, tench, perch, great roasting eels (spitch- cock?), knobberds, barbies, salt eels, fiounders, trout, crayfish, gurnets, whitings, larapurns, fresh salraon, smelts, rochets, roach, plaice, shrimps, bream, stock fish, herrings,^ and cod fish. Meat was represented by a * chyne,' The sweet courses following all this fish only coraprised herbs, cream, apple tarts, barberries, oranges, and lemons.'' The small addition of white meat on the fast days was probably for those who had dispensations or enjoyed easy consciences, ' A joint of A'eal ' is often entered, and braAvn, neats' tongues and marroAV-bones were considered delicacies. All these choice pro visions Avere washed down with sack, white wine, claret, and rauskadyne. The hall was made corafort able Avith rushes, and strewn Avith herbs and fioAvers, 1 Fresh butter, or perhaps almond butter — a curd flavoured with almonds. ^ Fresh herrings and ' blot ' herrihgs are mentioned. = The cost of this dinner was £16 18s., a considerable amount, equal to ten times that sum at the present day. FISH DINNERS. 357 Glasses, Avhite cups, and . trenchers were provided, and even scents were not forgotten. The table linen had been sprinkled with sweet powder, rose-water was never absent, and other perfumes exhaled sweet odours,^ We wUl noAV give, by Avay of contrast, the memt of a modern ministerial dinner at Greenwich Mr. Bale conceived the good idea of printing that for 1878 iu the old form as follows : — YE BILLE OF YE FARE. ye soupe. Soupe made from ye turtle, and also soupe made from ye greene fatte of ye same. YE fyshe. Ye flounders curyously cooked, and salmonne servyd inne lyke mannere ; ryssoles of ye whyting ; ye eles skynned and stewed inne ye riche wyne of Oporto ; ye omelette of crabbe inne ye style as servyd to ye Guardes of ye Blue Seale ; ye troute from ye river Spey, grylled with ye sauce of Tartar ; salmonne inne coUopes, with ye sacue in ye Cyprus fashonne ; ye whytebaite be-frizzled and alsoe be-deviUed. fleshe and fowle. Sweatbreades, with ye mushrooms added thereunto ; ye haunche of ye royale bucke, with haricotte beanes servyd therewith ; ye antient hamme from ye citye of Yorke, grylled inne wyne of Champagne ; ye grouse from ye Northe Countree ; hogge bacon and younge beanes. YE SWEETES. Apprycottes flavoured with noyau ; pudynges iced, after ye Nesselrode mannere ; lyttel cakes made with cheese, from Parma 1 There were generally about twenty persons at these dinners. The archbishop (Whitgift), the Lord Treasurer (Burghley), Lord Buckhurst (the celebrated statesman and writer), the Lord Chancellor, and the Attorney and Solicitor-General seem never to have been absent on these festive occasions. :358 RETROSPECT. inne Italy ; ye ices flavoured with oranges and strawberres ; divers fruytes, which are your deserts, and ye wynes of Cham pagne and manie outlandysh countrees. Ye dynner will be servj'd after the mannere of ye Russian people. Ye guestes are bidden to eate after ye Hungarie mannere. Forty covers were laid for this banquet, and among those present were the Earl of Beaconsfield, Duke of Northumberland, Lord Chancellor, Duke of Richmond and Gordon, and the Marquis of Salisbury. Parties about to dine at Greenwich generally note the time of high tide, for then the air and view are most agreeable. Saturday is a favourite day, and then the ships sailing from London add life to the scene. Sailors still cling to the old superstition against sailing on Friday, but on Saturday there are many ships passing down to wait for the next tide, and leave the river on the propitious Sunday. The reader will have observed that Greenwich -was always more or less connected with the navy. Humphrey built here a water palace, and Henry VIIL, who may be said to have founded the cele brity of the place, was much attracted to it by his love of ships. Here Elizabeth Avelcomed Drake, and Charles IL, -who commenced the re-building of the palace, was. actuated by his naval proclivities. It was not therefore so much a new departure as a development when Williara aud Mary completed the palatial structure, and devoted it to the accommoda tion of disabled searaen. After the battle of Trafalgar, the pensioners in Greenwich Hospital gradually increased in number until in 1814 the maximum of two thousand seven MEMORIES 359' hundred and ten was reached. From 1819 a decrea,se took place until, in 1865, there were only one thou sand four hundred. The great naval wars were then OA'er, and it became easier to obtain out-pensions. Moreover, there was a monastic character about the hospital which was distasteful to many, and, although iu the earlier times, the being housed, fed, aud clothed gratuitously was deemed a great boon, it was not afterwards thought sufficient, and in days of higher civilization some employraent or arauseraent Avas felt to be indispensable. Thus Greenwich Hospital came to be disestablished ' by the suffrages of th& very men for whose benefit it was originally founded.' The traditional character of the place still remains. The four great blocks of the hospital form quarters- fbr two hundred and seventy students (among whom at present is Prince George of Wales) preparing for the officers' naval examinations under the able super intendence of Vice-admiral Luard. They can here study a collection of models of ships from the earliest period, and specimens of every kind of artillery. The ' Queen's House,' with some additional buildings, has been devoted to a naval school for sons of sea men. Nine handred are here accommodated — re markably healthy and good-looking boys. It is very pretty to see them marching to the hospital chapel on Sunday, headed by their brass band and pompous little drum-major.^ The romance of the navy is no more, and Trafalgar > Captain Burney is governor, and Mr. Estcott head-master of thia excellent establishment. The boys, who are sons of men- of-war's men (orphans being given a preference), are here trained for the navy. 360 ADIEUX. was the last grand battle of the giants of the deep. We no longer see those wondrous fabrics towering above the waters, with tier above tier of cannons, surraounted by pyraraids of canvas. A naval en gagement was then an exhibition of high art, for nice calculations had to be made of wind, tide, and tackle, as well as of the power and raoveraents of the enemy. But now all this beauty and study is gone. The masts and - spars, with their elaborate rigging, to understand the nomenclature of which required special education, are now being viewed as obstructive en cumbrances. We have something useful, but not ornaraental. The low-lying ironclad, with its steam aud ponderous guns — a real floating volcano — is ingeniously contrived to inflict the greatest daraage with the least danger to the crew. Boarding, with all its exciteraent and gallantry, is a dreara of the past, for near approach can scarcely be A'entured on ; or, if attempted, is only with a view to wholesale destruction by rams and torpedoes. But can we iraagine the sailor feeling the old affection for his ship, towards one of these masses of iron ma chinery % In these dull days, Avhich have not wit nessed a sea-fight, nor seen any naval commander, save one, inscribe his name upon the roll of our nobility, we can little realize the enthusiasm of the eighteenth century, when England in many a hard- fought battle and with the loss of the bravest of her sons, was gradually rising in the'scale of nations and acquiring the Empire of the Seas. INDEX. The numbers without a prefix refer to the first volume. Absentees, ii. 30 Acre, II. 384 Adrian, Pope, 161 ^Imar, 6 Au-y, Sir G., ii. 350 Albans, St., 73, 85 Albany, Duke of (Scotland), 149, 166 Albany, Dlrke of, n. 20:3 Albert, Prince, ii. .348 Alexandria, ii. 293 Aless, Pastor, 266 Alfridis, St., 16, 24 Alford, Roger, 294 Allen (The Actor), ii. 23, Z-'. AUen, II. 318 Alphege, St., Church of, 88, II. 282 Alva, Duke of, 336 Amadis, 90 Amurath, 48 Andreas, Bernard, 132 Andronicus, 50 Angus, Earl of, 166, 271, 27--1 Anjou, Duke of, 329 Anne of Denmark, ii. 10 Arabella, Lady, ii. II Arago, II. 350 Armag-nac, Earl of, 82 Armoury, ii. 4 VOL. II. Arsenius, 47 Arthur, Prince, 124, 234 Artichoke Tavern, ii. 280 Ascough, Sir G., ii. 46 Ashton, 307 Atterbury, Bishop, ii. 283 Audley, Lord, 121 Audley, Lord Chancellor, 266,281,205 Augusta, Princess, ii. 346 Aylmer, Lord, ii. 66, 111, 228 Baba, Coga, ii. 127 Babiug-ton, 339, ii. 48 Bacon, Sir F., 316 Baddlesmere, 21 Baker, Sir T., 305 Baillie, ii. 241 Bajazet, 51 Balchen, Sir J., ii. 158 Baldwin, 46 BaU, John, 28 Banks, Sir J., ii. 218, 349 Bard, Francis de, 152 Bastia, ii. 237 Bath, 10, II. 166 Baxter, Ed., 319 Beaconsfield, Lord, ii. 857 Beale, 339 Bears, Master of the, ii. 3.'! BB 362 INDEX. Beauchamp, Sir J., 86 Beaufort, Ed. (Duke of Somerset), 99 Beaufort, Cardinal, 71,81, 8.3, 85 -Beaulieu, 226 Beaton, Cardinal, 284 Beattie, Dr., ii. 318 BedyU, 307 Beer, ii. 252 Bele, Dr., 152, 154 Bellay, Dr., 182, 216, 252 Bellamont, Lord, ii. 118, 124 'BellePoule,'The, 11.199 Belleisle, ii. 191 BeUeisle, Marshal, ii. 278 Benedict xiii., 75 Berkeley, Lord, ii. 68 BUlingsgate, 226 Black Prince, 27, 30 Blackett, Mr., ii. 328 Blackwood, Captain, ii. 302 Blake, ir. 45 Bland, John, 304 Bliss, Dr., II. 348 Blount, Colonel, ii. 38 Blount, Ehzabeth, 101 Bodleian Library, 86 Bohun, 22, 60 Boleyn, Anne, 145 Boleyn, Lady E., 191 Boleyn, Sir T. ("Wiltshire) 232, -rA Boleyn Family, 195 Bolingbroke, Lord, ii. 132, 135, 139 Bolton, Duke of, ii. 208 Books, 110 Boreman, ii. 63 Boscawen, Admiral, ii. 177 Boucicaut, 52, 56 Boulogne, 287 Boys, Lt. Gov. ii. 195 Boys School, ii. 251 Bower, Lieutenant, ii. 273 Brabant, Duke of, 75 Bradley, ii. 209 Brahe, Tycho, ii. 107 Brandon, Sir C, 142, 147, 149, 167 Brandon, Sir W., 130 Brazen-faced Walk, ii. 280 Brest, II. 325 Brenton, Sir J., il. 319 Brian (or Bryan), Sir F., 137 'Bridge,' II. 278 Bridgman, Bishop, ii. 36 Bridport, Lord, ii. 262, 269 Brigandine, 95 Bristol, Lord, ii. 22, 25 BrontS, II. 298 Brown, Sir A., 279 Bruncker, Lord, ii. 94 Brunswick, Duchess of, ii. 345 Bryan, F., 192 Buckden, 249 Buckingham, Duke of (Stafford), 162 Buckingham ("ViUiers), ii. 20, 22, 25, 111 Buonaparte, Napoleon, ii. 236 Burgundy, Duke of, 76, 84 Burgundy, Duchess of, 107, 114 Burleigh, 338, 356 Burney, Miss, ii. 346 Burnt Heath, 100 Bury St. Edmunds, 68, 84 Byng, Admiral, ii. 178 Cade, Dr., ii. 277 Cadiz, II. 291, 301 Csesar, Sir J., ii. 2 Campeggio, 157, 207, 214, 217 Calendar, ii. 166 Camperdown, ii. 274 Canute, 13 Canvey Island, ii. 88 Capello, C, 253 Capua, Archbishop of, 169 Cappoquin, ii. 93 Carew, Sir G., 351 Oai-ew, B. M., ii. 330 Caroline, Queen, ii. 345 Carpenter, General, ii. 146 INDEX. 363 Carr (Lord Rochester), ii. 7 Oarrack, A large, 552 Carter, Admiral, ii. 80 Cassihs, Lord, 285 Castle, Greenwich, 330, ii. 8 Catherine, 124, 126 Catherine's death, 238 Caves, 96, ii. 278 CecU, Secretary, 294, 296 Cecil, E., 362 Celts, 57, 69 Chaplains, n. 256 Chapuys, 230, 237, 260 Charles the Fu-st, II. 20 Charles the Second, ii. 50 Charles the Fifth, Emperor, 161-167, 211 Charles the Sixth, 54 Charlotte, Queen, ii. 205 Chatham Chest, 335, ii. 271, 318 Chelsea CoUege, ii. 74, 96 Cherbourg, ii. 206 Chesterfield, Lord, ii. 162, 331, 345, 850 Chesterfield WaUs, ii. 350 Chouans, ii. 260 Christ Church College, 225, 240 Christina, Queen, ii. 42 Clanricarde, 274 Clarence, Duke of, 86 Cleveland, Duchess of, ii. 150 Cleves, Anne of, 280 Cleves, Duke of, 276 Clock, Greenwich, ii. 361 Coats, Yellow, ii. 242 Cobham, Eleanor, 77, 79, 81 ; II. 352 Coffin, Nelson's, ii. 296 Coldharbour, 107 Cole, Peter, ii. 68 Colepeper, Lord, ii. 74 Colet, Dean, 144 Collingwood, ii. 303, 321 Colpoys, Sir John, ii. 270, 273 Colson, II. 173 Colville, Lord, ii. 218 Compeigne, ii. 206 Compton, 190, 201 Conde, Prince de, ii. 207 Conflans, Marquis, ii. 190 Constance, 64 Constantinople, 62 Cook, Captam, ii. 212, 215, 266 ' Cook's Inlet,' ii. 221 ' Cooper's Hill,' ii. 70 Copenhagen, ii. 299 Corbridge, ii. 145 Courtenay, Peter de, 45 Cranmer, 206, 228, 259, 267, 28.3, 302 Crome, Dr., 222 Croinwell, 228, 221 CromweU, Oliver, ii. 54 Crypt, 311 Cromer Hill, ii. 276 Crosses, Holy, 20 Culhford, Captain, ii. 124 Culmore Castle, ii. 114 Dartmouth, Lord, ii. 112, 342 Davis, MoU, ii. 143 Davison, 336, 340, 342 Deane, General, ii. 46 Decembris, C, 73 Defender of the Faith, 166 Deinanyanus, 178 Denham, Sir J., ii. 68 Denmark, King of, 162 Denmark, Prince George of, II. 115 Denmark, House of, ii. 23 Deptford, 23, ii. 275 Derby, Earl of, ii. 105 Derrham, 288 Derwentwater, Earl of, II. 143, 151 Derwentwater Estates, II. 154, 241 Devonshire, Earl of, 307, 309 Diana Stone, 96 Diego, 240 Dilston HaU, ii. 144 Dinners, 188 364 INDEX. Directorsof Greenwich Hospital, II. 244 ' Discovery,' The, ii. 221, 227 Divelswater, ii. 152 DoUond, II. 108 Domingo, St., ii. 333 Dominique, ii. 200 D'Orvilliers, Admiral,ii. 199,202 D'Ouarty, 173 Douglas, Lady, ii. 345 Douglas, Sir C, ii. 232 Drake, Sir F., 332, 352, ii. 286 Dress, Court, 185 Duckworth, Sir T., ii. 262, 333 Dudley, Duke of Northumber land, 291, 296, 302 Dudley, Lord R., 315 Dudley, Sir H., 306 ' Duke Humphrey ' Coffee Palace, 312 (note) Duncan, Lord, ii. 273 Dundas, General, ii. 237 Dunstan, St., 10, II Duguay-Trouin, ii. 168 Dutch Prisoners, ii. 73 East India Company, ii. 271 Edric, 5, 14 Edward I., 20, 23 Edward IL, 21, 23 Edmnnd, King, 13 Egmont, Lord, ii. 266 ' Elephant,' The, ii. 299 Ehzabeth of York, 117, 125 EUzabeth, Birth of, 259 Ehzabeth's College, 360 Ehzabeth's Tomb, ii. 283 Ellison, Capt., ii. 239, 263 Elston, 243, 303 Elstrudis, 18 Eltham, 21, 61 Emma, Queen, 14 Erasmus,, 196 Erskine, Lord, ii. 258 Escott, Mr., II. 67 Essex, Earl of, 351 Etheh-ed, 3, 5, 12 Eustatia, Island of, ii. 230 Evelyn, ii. 72, 86, 129 Evertzen, ii. 58 Exeter, Marquis of, 178, 186, 232, 259, 354 Exeter, Duke of, 68 Fair, ii. 336 Fairfax, ii. 38 Falconbridge, 106 Falkland, Lord, ii. 34 Fahnouth, Lord, ii. 63 Fasting, 331, ii. 29 Fastolf, Sir J., 98 Fernando, 147, 232 Ferrers, 290 Fieldmg, Sir T., ii, 264 Fires at Greenwich, ii. 352 Fitzwater, Lady, 190 Fisher, Bishop, 213 Flags, II. 29 Flamock, 192 Flamsteed, ii. 91, 141 Flannock, 121 Flavia Csesariensis, 1 Fleet, Henry VIH.'s, 227 Flower de Luce Tavern, ii. 69 Foley, Captain, ii. 299 Fools, 132 Forest, 241, 246, 2-50 Fourstones, ii. 144 Fowler, W., ii. 12 Fox, 199 Francis I., 139, 166, 169, 179, 183 French Church, ii. 277 Friar's Lane, 311, ii. 339 Friars, 111 Fubbs' Yacht, II. 205 Gallery Tilt-Yard, 198 Gambier, Lord, ii. 334 \ Gardens, 225 Gardiner, 199, 223, 229 Gardner, Admiral, ii. 270 Garrerd, H., 319, 320 INDEX. 365 Gaunt, John of, 34, 68 Gay, II. 164 Geese, Greenwich, ii. 279 ' George I., ii. 135, 150, 155 George IL, ii. 164 George III., ii. 203, 220, II. 274, 345 George, St., 76, 127, 174 George, Order of, 179 Germaine, Lord G., ii. 232 Ghent, Abbey of, 67 Ghent, Abbot of, 18, 20 Gibraltar, ii. 156, 160; ii. 229 Gifford, Sir W., ii. 130 Globe Theatre, ii. 1, 3.'! Gloucester, Duke of, 23, 43, 66, 76, 94, ii. 346 Goche, M., 98 Godby, Mrs., ii. 248 Godolphin, Lord, ii. 86, 88 Golden Legend, 12 Goldsmith, Oliver, ii. 181 Gouffier, 169 Governors, List of, ii. 348 Grasse, Comte de, ii. 232, 230, 333 Greatrex, ii. 92 Greenwich, Earl of, ii. 130 Gregory, Pope, 65, ii. 166 Grey, Lady J., 294 Grey, Lady M., 321 Greyhound Tavern, ii. 363 Griffith, II. 40 GuUdford, 235 Gumbleton, Mrs., ii. 235 Haimo, 19 Hales, Sir. R., 36 Hales, Ed., ii. 38 Hall, 193 HaUey, ii. 99, 103 HalloweU, Captain, ii. 296 Ham House, ii. 78 HamUton, Lady, ii. 301, 314 Hamilton, Lord A., ii. 161 Hamilton, Sir W., ii. 316, 318 Hampden, ii. 40 Hampton Court, ii. 68, 75 Hardy, Sir C, ii. 159, 198, 202, 208, 229, 2^'i4 Hardy, Sir T., ii. 34 Hardy, Captain, ii. 304, 308, 318 Harbord, Eev. J. B., ii. 131 Harman, Captain, ii. 57 Harrison, Sir Ed., ii. 120 Hastiludia, 130 I-Iawke, Lord, ii. 179, 190, 206, 208, 264 321 Hawks, 19 Hendrick, Hans, ii. 130 Henrietta Maria, ii. 21, 25 Henry IV., 23, 55, 60 Henry VII.'s Chapel, ii. 208 Henry VIII.'s Funeral, 242 Herbert, Lady, 190 Hertford, Marquis, ii. 39 Hever, 193, 196 Highwaymen, ii. 280 Hinnes, 307 Hoche, General, ii. 260 Hogarth, ii. 338 Hogge, E., 328 Holbein, ii. 28 Holbourne, Admiral, ii. 198 Hompesch, Baron, ii. 281 Hood, Lord, ii. 230, 234, 274, 28!) Horn Fair, ii. 337 Home, E., 96 Horrox, ii. 95, 211 Howard, Catherine, 282 Howard, Ehzabeth, 248 Howard, Lord, of Effingham, 341 Howard, Lord W., 271, 273 Howe, Lord, ii. 269, 323 HoweU, J. II. 22 Huguenots, 317 Hunter, W., ii. 265 Huntingdonshire, ii. 243 ' Hurt Books,' 335 Heywood, Captain P., ii. 3 !.'i Ibbetson, Mr., ii. 249 366 INDEX. Iden, Mr., 99 Indians, ii. 177, 184 Infanta, The, ii. 22 Inojosa, II. 24 Inworth, 37 ' Irene,' ii. 173 Ireton, Lord, ii. 47 Isabella, Queen, 21 Italian Mask, 141 -Jacqueline, 76, 77 James IV., 148 Jervis, J., ii. 186, 263 Jewels, 186 John King, ii. 337 Jones, Inigo, ii. 23 Jones, Sir G., ii. 85 Jones, Sir L. T., ii. 335 Jennings, Sir J., ii. 66, 156,228 Keats, Sir R., ii. 262, 318, 333 Kemp, A., .309 Kempenfelt, ii. 237 Xempthorne, Admiral, ii. 66 Kenilworth, 80, 94 Kent, Maid of, 249 Keppel, Admiral, ii. 199, 266 Kerwan, 243 Keys, 322 Kidd, Captain, ii. 117 Kimbolton, Lord, ii. 89 Kingston, Sir A., 307 Kingston, Sir W., 150, 229, 268 Kirkcaldy, Sir J., 286 Knyvett, C, 163 La Hogue, ii. 115 Lake, Secretary, ii. 7, 34, 36 Lambarde,.12, 93, 359, 329 Lanzum, Count, ii. 76 Latimer, 123, 224, 248 Laud,'n. S3, 41 Laurence, 246 Lawson, ii. 62 Leake, Sir J., ii. 112 Lee, near Greenwich, ii. 350 Lee, Mr., ii. 244 Lee, Dr., 233 Leicester, Earl of, 318, 330, 337 LUly, II. 63 Leslie, Norman, 286 L'Etendieres, ii. 191 Libels, II. 28 Library, 171 Linacre, 183 Livingstone, Colonel, ii. 118 Livius, Titus, 72 Locker, E. H., ii. 265 Locker, Lieut.-Governor, II. 266, 287 Lombards, 36, 163 London, 60 Londonderry, ii. 113 Long, E., 275 Long House, 177 Lonsdale, Earl of, ii. 147 L'Orient, ii. 294 Louis XL, 106 Louis XIV., II. 78 Louisa, Princess, ii. 205 Louisburg, ii. 183, 198, 273 Lucente PiUor, ii. 3 Lumley, Lady, 366 Lumley, Lord, 349 ' Luxemburg,' The, ii. 195 Lydgate, 71 Lyon, E., 36 Lyst, 246, 261 Macartney House, ii. 188 Macclesfield, Lord, ii. 209 Mackaness, Mr., ii. 255 Madagascar, ii. 121 ' Madre de Dios,' 362 Manor House, 276 Manslaughter, ii. 31 Mar, Earl of, ii. 143 Mariborough, Duke of, ii. 98, 106, 132 Malta, Knight of, ii. 67 Margaret, Queen, 84 Margaret of Savoy, 129 Margaret of Scots, 149, 166,271 Martin V., 67 INDEX. 367 Martinengo, 316 Martinique, ii. 193 Mary, Queen, 147, 174, 176, 183 Mary of Scots, 338 Mary Tudor, 146, 147 ' Marry Land,' ii. 89 ' Masque of Beauty,' The, ii. 3 Maundy, 329 MaximUian, 129 May Trees, 136 Mazarin, Cardinal, ii. 42 Maze HiU, 16 ' Mechlin,' Hoy, ii. 68 Mendoza, 211 Mile End, 37, 39 MiUs, 20 Mince-Pie House, ii. 86 Minnes, Sir J., ii. 89 Minorca, ii. 116, 179 Mirefleur, 90 Mocha Fleet, ii. 121 Monaco, ii. 206 Monk, II. 64 Monson, Sir T., ii. 6 Monson, W., ii. 13 Montagu, Sir Ed., 296 Montagu, Dukes of, ii. 163, 346 Montagu House, ii. 346 Montagu Walk, ii. 163, 173 Montcalm, li. 178 Moore, Jonas, ii. 97, 106 Moore, Sir J., ii. 96 Morden, Sir J., 275 More, 170, 228, 236, 282, 301 Morpeth, ii. 146, 322 Mortimer, 92, 96 Morton, Cardinal, 121 MuUms, D., II. 127 Muryol, Lady, 142 Muskerry, Lord, ii. 53 Myre, L. de, ii. 29 Naples, King of, ii. 298 Nautical Almanac, ii. 314 Nelson, ii. 237, 264, 301, 308, 314, 321 Nelson, Lady, ii. 293, 301, 321 Netherlands, 336 New York, ii. 118 New Zealand, ii. 220 Newburgh, Lord, ii. 34 Newfoundland, ii. 196 Newton, Su- 1., ii. 94, 98, 100 Newton, Sir J., 32, 40 Nile, Battle of the, ii. 293 Nisbet, Lieutenant, ii. 291 Nithsdale, ii. 162 NoaiUes, 316 Norfohf, Duke of, 232 Norfolk, Duchess of, 283 Norfolk College, ii. 10 Norreys, 219, 226, 228, 237, 263, 266 Northampton, Lord, n. 6, 8 Northampton, li. 228 Northampton House, ii. 9 Northumberland House, ii. 9 Obdam, ii. 62 Odo, 19 Observants, 239, 303, 314, 355 Observatory, ii. 97 Ogilvy, II. 261 O'Neil, 274 Osbern, 11 Osbolston, II. 129, 269 Organs, ii. 33 Ormond, Duke of, ii. 132, 137 Out-Pensioners, II. 318 Overbury, Sir T., ii. 5 Owhyhee, II. 222 Oxford, 5 Page, SirG., II. 175 Pagoda, The, ii. 345 Palace, The, 313 Palseologus, J., 61 Palseologus, M., 46, 48, 56 PalUser, Sir H., ii. 185, 200, 203, 218, 221 Parker, Archbishop, 270, 329 Parker, Captain, ii. 121 Parker, Sir Hyde, ii. 203, 299 Parker, Sir P., ii. 311 368 INDEX. Parker, Lady, ii. 295 Parker, J., ii. 48 Paronus, ii. 91 Patch, the Fool, 165 Patroclus, ii. 233 Paul's, St., 9, 329 Paul's, St., School, 180 Paulet, Sir A., 243 ' Peachum, PoUv,' ii. 176 Pearson, SirR.," II. 264 Pedro, 143 Pelham, H., ii. 162, 166 Pelham, Lady Catherine, II. 2.51, 162 Penrith Fell, ii. 147 Pepys, II. 53, 67, 87 Peter the Great, ii. 87, 105 Peto, 241, 24.'3, 304 Peyton, Sir T., ii. 38 Philip, II. 294, 309, 351 Philip the Handsome, 128 Physicians, College of, 222 PiUar, Naval, ii. 314 Piro, 275 Pitt, II. 183, 273 Plasters, 222 Plato, 73 Pond, II. 349 Pope, II. 171 Porter, E., ii. 22 Portsmouth, Duchess of, ii. 96 Preston, ll. 147 Prescriptions, 295 Pretender, The, ii. 131 Pretender, Younger, ii. 182 Priscian, 247 Prynne, li. 41 Puckering, Mrs., ii. 42 Puisaye, ii. 261 Quebec, ii. 201, 217 ' Quebec Mercury,' ii. 189 ' Quedagh,' The, ii. 123 ' Queen Charlotte,' The, II. 272, 324 Queenborough, 98 Queen's House, ii. 19, 48, 05 Quiberon, ii. 261 Eadchffe, C, ii. 153 Eadstock, Lord, ii. 311, 326 Ealeigh, 354, ii. 16 Eanger's Lodge, 347, ii. 157 Ravensbourne, The, 22 Eaynscroft, 246 Eecords, ii. 352 Een^, King, 82 Eevenues of Hospital, ii. 269 Eichard IL, 27, 32 Eichard IIL, 103 Richardson's Theatre, II.339, 341 Eichardson, Mr. Henry, ii. 67 Richardson, Mr., ii. 281 Eichraond, Countess of, 119 Eisby and Eich, 249 Elvers, ii. 319 Robespierre, ii. 236 Eobsart, 319 Eochfort, Lord, 173, 265 Eochfort, Lady Jane, 269 Eochester Castle, 32 Eochester, 277 Eodney, Lord, ii. 192, 208, 334 Eogers, Captain, ll. 120 Eoman Eeckoning, ii. 351 Eomney, ii. 316 Eooke, Sir G., ii. 113 Eosily, Admiral, ii. 301 Eutland, Earl of, ii. 33 ' Eoyal George,' The, ii. 238 ' Eoyal London,' The, ii. 88 Eoyal Society, The, II. 87, 101, 210, 220 'Eoyal Sovereign' (the first), 11.81 ' Eoyal Sovereign,' ii. 303 Eubens, ii. 28 Bupert, Prince, ii. 52 EusseU, 128 EusseU, Admiral, II. 80, 83, 112, 118, 132 Sadler, 285 St. John, II. 44 INDEX. 869 Sales at Greenwich, ii. 49 Salter's Hall, ii. 244 Sampson, 233 'San Josef,' The, II. 290 Sandwich, 4 Sandwich, First Earl of, ii. 48, 61, 66, 73 Sandwich, Fourth Earl of, ii. 204, 219, 228, 268 Santa Cruz, ii. 291 Saunders, Sir C, u. 179, 184, 201, 208, 266 Sauch, Jehan dela, 16l Saviour's, St., 84 Savoy Palace, 34 Say, Family of, 21 Saye, Lord, 97 Sayes Court, ii. 71 Scarborough Castle, ii. 200 Scilly, II. 192 Selkirk, A., ii. 120 Seymour, Jones, 270 Seymour, W., ii. 13 Sharp, II. 97 Shene, 67, 89, 225 Shelton, Madge, 263 Shepherd, ii. 41 ' Ship ' Tavern, 311, ii. 37, 353 Shovel, Sir C, ii. 79, 115, 282 Shooter's Hill, 278 Shrewsbury, Duke of, ii. 118 Siddons, Mrs., ii. 316 Sigismund, 52, 65 Silkworms, ii. 26 Simon de Sudbury, 38 Simons, Lt. ii. 272 Simnel, 114 Sixpences, ii. 129 Skeletons, ii. 340 Slawata, W., 358 ' Smart Tickets,' ii. 271 Smith, Commodore T., ii, 235 Smeaton, 263 Smithfield, 39 , Smuggling, ii. 278 Solebay, ii. 66 ' Soleil Eoyal,' ii. 81 VOL. II. Solenthall, ii. 205 Solway Moss, 284 Sombreuil, ii. 261 Somerset, 289, 291 Somers, Lord, ii. 126 Sophia, Princess, ii. 342, 346 ' Sot's Hole,' The, ii. 172 Spanish To-wn, ii. 234 Spenser, Bishop, 43 Spinelh, 177 Stafford, Sir H., 94 Standish, 241 Star-Chamber Dinners, ii. 355 Statues, II. 43 Stayner, R., ii. 48 Stone, London, 96 Stopford, Sir R., ii. 333 Stow, 291 Strachan, Sir J., ii. 264 Straw, Jack, 29, 31 Stubbs, W., 331 Stultefey, Sir L., ii. 16 Suckling, Capt., ii. 286 Suffolk, Duke of (Brandon), 214, 256, 268 SuffoUi, Duke of (Grey), 293, .304 Suffolk, Duchess of, 322 Suffolk, Lady, ii. 164 Surrey, Eari of, 287 Sussex Ordnance, 328 Swan Tavern, ii. 363 Sweating Sickness, 130, 145, 198, 201 Sweyn, 12 Swinton, Sir J., 86 Sydney, ii. 216 Sylva, The, ii. 72 Tahiti, ii. 218 Tasman, Van, ii. 215 Taxis, II. 12 Thames Frozen, 270 Theatres, ii. 32 Theobalds, ii. 40 Thessalonica, 48 Thomond, 274 CC 370 INDEX. Thrum, 12 ThornhUl, Sir W., ii. 106, 140 Thorp, Dr., ii. 103 Timur, 56 Townshend, Ad., ii. 193 To-wnahend, Lord, ii, 266 TraveUing License, 356 Tregion, Mrs., 366 Trenchard, Sir T., 128 ' Trinidada,' The, II. 301, 303, 306, 324 Tobago, II. 230 Torrington, Lord (Herbert), II. 109 Toulon, II. 236 Tourville, De, ii. 80 Trees, ii. 62 Tromp, Van, ii. 45 Trunk Hose, 326 Tuileries, ii. 182 Tumuh, 16 TunstaU, 160, 167 Turenne, 173, 177 Tyler, Wat, 28, 92 Tyndale, 245 Umbrellas, ii. 182 Ushant, ii. 199 Vanbrugh, ii. 86 Vandyke, ii. 28 ' Vanguard,' The, ii. 292, 298 Vaast, St., II. 82 Venus, Transit of, ii. 212, 218 ' Victory,' The Old, ii. 160 ' Ville de Paris,' ii. 233, 236, 333 Villeneuve, Admiral, II. 301, 312, 327 Vincent, St., Lord, ii. 186, 263 Vives, St., 183, 215 Voltaire, ii. 171 Walcot, II. 316 Walpole, Galfridus, II. 176, 285, 291 Walpole, SirE., ii. 160, 166,285 Walsingham, 243 Walsingham, Countess of, 11.I66 Walworth, Sir W., 40 Warbeck, P., 108, 124 Warham, 228 Warren, Sir J., 11. 260 Warwick, Earl of, 103, 124 Washington, G., 11. 177 Watman, W., 11. 222 Weever, 24 WeUington, Duke of, 11. 309 Weston, 263 Whale, A., 11. 69 WiUcokkes, W., 226 WiUes, General, 11. 148. WiUiam IIL, 11. 141, 242 WiUiam IV., 11. 75, 79, 110, 113, 287 WUhams, Sir C, 11. 162 Willoughby, Sir H., 300 Wilton, Convent of, 217 Windsor, 226 Wishart, 286 Witches, Lancashire, II. 35, 37, 363 Witt, De, II. 68 Wolfe. II. 169, 180 Wolsey, 156, 200, 219, 245 WombweU's, 11. 344 Woodville, EUzabeth, 117 Woolwich, 19 ' World,' The, 166, 172 Wren, Sir Christopher, 96, II. 84, 100 Wriothesley, 251, 284 Wyatt, 261, 264 Wyngaerde, 126, 310 York, Duke of (Yorkist), 04, 101 York, Duke of (Stuart) 11. 52, 64 THB END. LONDON ! PRINTED BT DUNOAN .VtAODONALD BLENHEIM HODBK. YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 9002 04078 4986 ¦'Ws^&fea '.¦.»iiisaiSw-,'c -i^l^»;8"^v •-iSS -^-J|3a,!^~=-