"St. Paul's is on fire!" Cyril exclaimed. "See! there are flames bursting through its roof. I think, Captain Watson, if you will put me ashore5 at the Temple, I will make my way to Whitehall, and report myself there. I may be of use."
"I will do that," Captain Watson said. "Then I will row back to the ship again. We must leave a couple of hands on board, in case some of these burning flakes6 should set anything alight. We will land with the rest, and do what we can to help these poor women and children."
"I will stay on board and take command, if you like, Watson," Captain Dave said. "You ought to have some one there, and I have not recovered from yesterday's work, and should be of little use ashore."
"Very well, Dowsett. That will certainly be best; but I think it will be prudent7, before we leave, to run out a kedge with forty or fifty fathoms8 of cable towards the middle of the stream, and then veer9 out the cable on her anchor so as to let her ride thirty fathoms or so farther out. We left six men sluicing10 her side and deck, but it certainly would be prudent to get her out a bit farther. Even here, the heat is as much as we can stand."
As soon as Cyril had landed, he hurried up into Fleet Street. He had just reached Temple Bar when he saw a party of horsemen making their way through the carts. A hearty11 cheer greeted them from the crowd, who hoped that the presence of the King—for it was Charles who rode in front—was a sign that vigorous steps were about to be taken to check the progress of the flames. Beside the King rode the Duke of Albemarle, and following were a number of other gentlemen and officers. Cyril made his way through the crowd to the side of the Duke's horse.
"Ah, Sir Cyril, it is you, is it? I have not seen you since you bearded De Ruyter in the Fan Fan. Yes, you can be of use. We have five hundred sailors and dockyard men behind; they have just arrived from Chatham, and a thousand more have landed below the Bridge to fight the flames on that side. Keep by me now, and, when we decide where to set to work, I will put you under the orders of Captain Warncliffe, who has charge of them."
When they reached the bottom of Fleet Street, the fire was halfway13 down Ludgate Hill, and it was decided14 to begin operations along the bottom of the Fleet Valley. The dockyard men and sailors were brought up, and following them were some carts laden15 with kegs of powder.
"Warncliffe," Lord Albemarle said, as the officer came up at the head of them, "Sir Cyril Shenstone is anxious to help. You know him by repute, and you can trust him in any dangerous business. You had better tell off twenty men under him. You have only to tell him what you want done, and you can rely upon its being done thoroughly16."
The sailors were soon at work along the line of the Fleet Ditch. All carried axes, and with these they chopped down the principal beams of the small houses clustered by the Ditch, and so weakened them that a small charge of powder easily brought them down. In many places they met with fierce opposition17 from the owners, who, still clinging to the faint hope that something might occur to stop the progress of the fire before it reached their abodes19, raised vain protestations against the destruction of their houses. All day the men worked unceasingly, but in vain. Driven by the fierce wind, the flames swept down the opposite slope, leapt over the space strewn with rubbish and beams, and began to climb Fleet Street and Holborn Hill and the dense mass of houses between them.
The fight was renewed higher up. Beer and bread and cheese were obtained from the taverns20, and served out to the workmen, and these kept at their task all night. Towards morning the wind had fallen somewhat. The open spaces of the Temple favoured the defenders21; the houses to east of it were blown up, and, late in the afternoon, the progress of the flames at this spot was checked. As soon as it was felt that there was no longer any fear of its further advance here, the exhausted22 men, who had, for twenty-four hours, laboured, half suffocated23 by the blinding smoke and by the dust made by their own work, threw themselves down on the grass of the Temple Gardens and slept. At midnight they were roused by their officers, and proceeded to assist their comrades, who had been battling with the flames on the other side of Fleet Street. They found that these too had been successful; the flames had swept up to Fetter24 Lane, but the houses on the west side had been demolished25, and although, at one or two points, the fallen beams caught fire, they were speedily extinguished. Halfway up Fetter Lane the houses stood on both sides uninjured, for a large open space round St. Andrew's, Holborn, had aided the defenders in their efforts to check the flames. North of Holborn the fire had spread but little, and that only among the poorer houses in Fleet Valley.
Ascending26 the hill, they found that, while the flames had overleapt the City wall from Ludgate to Newgate in its progress west, the wall had proved an effective barrier from the sharp corner behind Christchurch up to Aldersgate and thence up to Cripplegate, which was the farthest limit reached by the fire to the north. To the east, the City had fared better. By the river, indeed, the destruction was complete as far as the Tower. Mark Lane, however, stood, and north of this the line of destruction swept westward27 to Leaden Hall, a massive structure at the entrance to the street that took its name from it, and proved a bulwark28 against the flames. From this point, the line of devastated29 ground swept round by the eastern end of Throgmorton Street to the northern end of Basinghall Street.
Cyril remained with the sailors for two days longer, during which time they were kept at work beating out the embers of the fire. In this they were aided by a heavy fall of rain, which put an end to all fear of the flames springing up again.
"There can be no need for you to remain longer with us, Sir Cyril," Captain Warncliffe said, at the end of the second day. "I shall have pleasure in reporting to the Duke of Albemarle the good services that you have rendered. Doubtless we shall remain on duty here for some time, for we may have, for aught I know, to aid in the clearing away of some of the ruins; but, at any rate, there can be no occasion for you to stay longer with us."
Cyril afterwards learnt that the sailors and dockyard men were, on the following day, sent back to Chatham. The fire had rendered so great a number of men homeless and without means of subsistence, that there was an abundant force on hand for the clearing away of ruins. Great numbers were employed by the authorities, while many of the merchants and traders engaged parties to clear away the ruins of their dwellings31, in order to get at the cellars below, in which they had, as soon as the danger from fire was perceived, stowed away the main bulk of their goods. As soon as he was released from duty, Cyril made his way to the Tower, and, hiring a boat, was rowed to the Good Venture.
The shipping32 presented a singular appearance, their sides being blistered33, and in many places completely stripped of their paint, while in some cases the spars were scorched34, and the sails burnt away. There was lively satisfaction at his appearance, as he stepped on to the deck of the Good Venture, for, until he did so, he had been unrecognised, so begrimed with smoke and dust was he.
"We have been wondering about you," Captain Dave said, as he shook him by the hand, "but I can scarce say we had become uneasy. We learnt that a large body of seamen35 and others were at work blowing up houses, and as you had gone to offer your services we doubted not that you were employed with them. Truly you must have been having a rough time of it, for not only are you dirtier than any scavenger36, but you look utterly37 worn out and fatigued38."
"It was up-hill work the first twenty-four hours, for we worked unceasingly, and worked hard, too, I can assure you, and that well-nigh smothered39 with smoke and dust. Since then, our work has been more easy, but no less dirty. In the three days I have not had twelve hours' sleep altogether."
"I will get a tub of hot water placed in your cabin," Captain Watson said, "and should advise you, when you get out from it, to turn into your bunk40 at once. No one shall go near you in the morning until you wake of your own accord."
Cyril was, however, down to breakfast.
"Now tell us all about the fire," Nellie said, when they had finished the meal.
"I have nothing to tell you, for I know nothing," Cyril replied. "Our work was simply pulling down and blowing up houses. I had scarce time so much as to look at the fire. However, as I have since been working all round its course, I can tell you exactly how far it spread."
When he brought his story to a conclusion, he said,—
"And now, Captain Dave, what are you thinking of doing?"
"In the first place, I am going ashore to look at the old house. As soon as I can get men, I shall clear the ground, and begin to rebuild it. I have enough laid by to start me again. I should be like a fish out of water with nothing to see to. I have the most valuable part of my stock still on hand here on deck, and if the cellar has proved staunch my loss in goods will be small indeed, for the anchors and chains in the yard will have suffered no damage. But even if the cellar has caved in, and its contents are destroyed, and if, when I have rebuilt my house, I find I have not enough left to replenish41 my stock, I am sure that I can get credit from the rope- and sail-makers, and iron-masters with whom I deal."
"Do not trouble yourself about that, Captain Dave," Cyril said. "You came to my help last time, and it will be my turn this time. I am sure that I shall have no difficulty in getting any monies that may be required from Mr. Goldsworthy, and there is nothing that will give me more pleasure than to see you established again in the place that was the first where I ever felt I had a home."
"I hope that it will not be needed, lad," Captain Dave said, shaking his hand warmly, "but if it should, I will not hesitate to accept your offer in the spirit in which it is made, and thus add one more to the obligations that I am under to you."
Cyril went ashore with Captain Dave and John Wilkes. The wall of the yard was, of course, uninjured, but the gate was burnt down. The store-house, which was of wood, had entirely42 disappeared, and the back wall of the house had fallen over it and the yard. The entrance to the cellar, therefore, could not be seen, and, as yet, the heat from the fallen bricks was too great to attempt to clear them away to get at it.
That night, however, it rained heavily, and in the morning Captain Watson took a party of sailors ashore, and these succeeded in clearing away the rubbish sufficiently43 to get to the entrance of the cellar. The door was covered by an iron plate, and although the wood behind this was charred44 it had not caught fire, and on getting it open it was found that the contents of the cellar were uninjured.
In order to prevent marauders from getting at it before preparations could be made for rebuilding, the rubbish was again thrown in so as to completely conceal45 the entrance. On returning on board there was a consultation46 on the future, held in the cabin. Captain Dave at once said that he and John Wilkes must remain in town to make arrangements for the rebuilding and to watch the performance of the work. Cyril warmly pressed Mrs. Dowsett and Nellie to come down with him to Norfolk until the house was ready to receive them, but both were in favour of remaining in London, and it was settled that, next day, they should go down to Stepney, hire a house and store-room there, and remove thither47 their goods on board the ship, and the contents of the cellar.
There was some little difficulty in getting a house, as so many were seeking for lodgings49, but at last they came upon a widow who was willing to let a house, upon the proviso that she was allowed to retain one room for her own occupation. This being settled, Cyril that evening returned to his lodging48, and the next day rode down to Norfolk. There he remained until the middle of May, when he received a letter from Captain Dave, saying that his house was finished, and that they should move into it in a fortnight, and that they all earnestly hoped he would be present. As he had already been thinking of going up to London for a time, he decided to accept the invitation.
By this time he had made the acquaintance of all the surrounding gentry50, and felt perfectly51 at home at Upmead. He rode frequently into Norwich, and, whenever he did so, paid a visit to Mr. Harvey, whose wife had died in January, never having completely recovered from the shock that she had received in London. Mr. Harvey himself had aged30 much; he still took a great interest in the welfare of the tenants52 of Upmead, and in Cyril's proposals for the improvement of their homes, and was pleased to see how earnestly he had taken up the duties of his new life. He spoke53 occasionally of his son, of whose death he felt convinced.
"I have never been able to obtain any news of him," he often said, "and assuredly I should have heard of him had he been alive.
"It would ease my mind to know the truth," he said, one day. "It troubles me to think that, if alive, he is assuredly pursuing evil courses, and that he will probably end his days on a gallows54. That he will repent55, and turn to better courses, I have now no hope whatever. Unless he be living by roguery, he would, long ere this, have written, professing56 repentance57, even if he did not feel it, and begging for assistance. It troubles me much that I can find out nothing for certain of him."
"Would it be a relief to you to know surely that he was dead?" Cyril asked.
"I would rather know that he was dead than feel, as I do, that if alive, he is going on sinning. One can mourn for the dead as David mourned for Absalom, and trust that their sins may be forgiven them; but, uncertain as I am of his death, I cannot so mourn, since it may be that he still lives."
"Then, sir, I am in a position to set your mind at rest. I have known for a long time that he died of the Plague, but I have kept it from you, thinking that it was best you should still think that he might be living. He fell dead beside me on the very day that I sickened of the Plague, and, indeed, it was from him that I took it."
Mr. Harvey remained silent for a minute or two.
"'Tis better so," he said solemnly. "The sins of youth may be forgiven, but, had he lived, his whole course might have been wicked. How know you that it was he who gave you the Plague?"
"I met him in the street. He was tottering58 in his walk, and, as he came up, he stumbled, and grasped me to save himself. I held him for a moment, and then he slipped from my arms and fell on the pavement, and died."
Mr. Harvey looked keenly at Cyril, and was about to ask a question, but checked himself.
"He is dead," he said. "God rest his soul, and forgive him his sins! Henceforth I shall strive to forget that he ever lived to manhood, and seek to remember him as he was when a child."
Then he held out his hand to Cyril, to signify that he would fain be alone.
On arriving in London, Cyril took up his abode18 at his former lodgings, and the next day at twelve o'clock, the hour appointed in a letter he found awaiting him on his arrival, he arrived in Tower Street, having ridden through the City. An army of workmen, who had come up from all parts of the country, were engaged in rebuilding the town. In the main thoroughfares many of the houses were already finished, and the shops re-opened. In other parts less progress had been made, as the traders were naturally most anxious to resume their business, and most able to pay for speed.
Captain Dave's was one of the first houses completed in Tower Street, but there were many others far advanced in progress. The front differed materially from that of the old house, in which each story had projected beyond the one below it. Inside, however, there was but little change in its appearance, except that the rooms were somewhat more lofty, and that there were no heavy beams across the ceilings. Captain Dave and his family had moved in that morning.
"It does not look quite like the old place," Mrs. Dowsett said, after the first greetings.
"Not quite," Cyril agreed. "The new furniture, of course, gives it a different appearance as yet; but one will soon get accustomed to that, and you will quickly make it home-like again. I see you have the bits of furniture you saved in their old corners."
"Yes; and it will make a great difference when they get all my curiosities up in their places again," Captain Dave put in. "We pulled them down anyhow, and some of them will want glueing up a bit. And so your fighting is over, Cyril?"
"Yes, it looks like it. The Dutch have evidently had enough of it. They asked for peace, and as both parties consented to the King of Sweden being mediator59, and our representatives and those of Holland are now settling affairs at Breda, peace may be considered as finally settled. We have only two small squadrons now afloat; the rest are all snugly60 laid up. I trust that there is no chance of another war between the two nations for years to come."
"I hope not, Cyril. But De Witte is a crafty61 knave62, and is ever in close alliance with Louis. Were it not for French influence the Prince of Orange would soon oust63 him from the head of affairs."
"I should think he would not have any power for mischief64 in the future," Cyril said. "It was he who brought on the last war, and, although it has cost us much, it has cost the Dutch very much more, and the loss of her commerce has well-nigh brought Holland to ruin. Besides, the last victory we won must have lowered their national pride greatly."
"You have not heard the reports that are about, then?"
"No, I have heard no news whatever. It takes a long time for it to travel down to Norwich, and I have seen no one since I came up to town last night."
"Well, there is a report that a Dutch Fleet of eighty sail has put to sea. It may be that 'tis but bravado65 to show that, though they have begged for peace, 'tis not because they are in no condition to fight. I know not how this may be, but it is certain that for the last three days the Naval66 people have been very busy, and that powder is being sent down to Chatham. As for the Fleet, small as it is, it is doubtful whether it would fight, for the men are in a veritable state of mutiny, having received no pay for many months. Moreover, several ships were but yesterday bought by Government, for what purpose it is not known, but it is conjectured67 they are meant for fire-ships."
"I cannot but think that it is, as you say, a mere68 piece of bravado on the part of the Dutch, Captain Dave. They could never be so treacherous69 as to attack us when peace is well-nigh concluded, but, hurt as their pride must be by the defeat we gave them, it is not unnatural70 they should wish to show that they can still put a brave fleet on the seas, and are not driven to make peace because they could not, if need be, continue the war."
"And now I have a piece of news for you. We are going to have a wedding here before long."
"I am right glad to hear it," Cyril said heartily71. "And who is the happy man, Nellie?" he asked, turning towards where she had been standing72 the moment before. But Nellie had fled the moment her father had opened his lips.
"It is Frank Watson," her father said. "A right good lad; and her mother and I are well pleased with her choice."
"I thought that he was very attentive73 the few days we were on board his father's ship," Cyril said. "I am not surprised to hear the news."
"They have been two voyages since then, and while the Good Venture was in the Pool, Master Frank spent most of his time down at Stepney, and it was settled a fortnight since. My old friend Watson is as pleased as I am. And the best part of the business is that Frank is going to give up the sea and become my partner. His father owns the Good Venture, and, being a careful man, has laid by a round sum, and he settled to give him fifteen hundred pounds, which he will put into the business."
"That is a capital plan, Captain Dave. It will be an excellent thing for you to have so young and active a partner."
"Watson has bought the house down at Stepney that we have been living in, and Frank and Nellie are going to settle there, and Watson will make it his headquarters when his ship is in port, and will, I have no doubt, take up his moorings there, when he gives up the sea. The wedding is to be in a fortnight's time, for Watson has set his heart on seeing them spliced74 before he sails again, and I see no reason for delay. You must come to the wedding, of course, Cyril. Indeed, I don't think Nellie would consent to be married if you were not there. The girl has often spoken of you lately. You see, now that she really knows what love is, and has a quiet, happy life to look forward to, she feels more than ever the service you did her, and the escape she had. She told the whole story to Frank before she said yes, when he asked her to be his wife, and, of course, he liked her no less for it, though I think it would go hard with that fellow if he ever met him."
"The fellow died of the Plague, Captain Dave. His last action was to try and revenge himself on me by giving me the infection, for, meeting me in the streets, he threw his arms round me and exclaimed, 'I have given you the Plague!' They were the last words he ever spoke, for he gave a hideous75 laugh, and then dropped down dead. However, he spoke truly, for that night I sickened of it."
"Then your kindness to Nellie well-nigh cost you your life," Mrs. Dowsett said, laying her hand on his shoulder, while the tears stood in her eyes. "And you never told us this before!"
"There was nothing to tell," Cyril replied. "If I had not caught it from him, I should have, doubtless, taken it from someone else, for I was constantly in the way of it, and could hardly have hoped to escape an attack. Now, Captain Dave, let us go downstairs, and see the store."
"John Wilkes and the two boys are at work there," the Captain said, as he went downstairs, "and we open our doors tomorrow. I have hurried on the house as fast as possible, and as no others in my business have yet opened, I look to do a thriving trade at once. Watson will send all his friends here, and as there is scarce a captain who goes in or out of port but knows Frank, I consider that our new partner will greatly extend the business."
Captain Watson and Frank came in at supper-time, and, after spending a pleasant evening, Cyril returned to his lodgings in the Strand76. The next day he was walking near Whitehall when a carriage dashed out at full speed, and, as it came along, he caught sight of the Duke of Albemarle, who looked in a state of strange confusion. His wig77 was awry78, his coat was off, and his face was flushed and excited. As his eye fell on Cyril, he shouted out to the postillions to stop. As they pulled up, he shouted,—
"Jump in, Sir Cyril! Jump in, for your life."
Astonished at this address, Cyril ran to the door, opened it, and jumped in, and the Duke shouted to the postillions to go on.
"What do you think, sir?—what do you think?" roared the Duke. "Those treacherous scoundrels, the Dutch, have appeared with a great Fleet of seventy men-of-war, besides fire-ships, off Sheerness, this morning at daybreak, and have taken the place, and Chatham lies open to them. We have been bamboozled79 and tricked. While the villains80 were pretending they were all for peace, they have been secretly fitting out, and there they are at Sheerness. A mounted messenger brought in the news, but ten minutes ago."
"Have they taken Sheerness, sir?"
"Yes; there were but six guns mounted on the fort, and no preparations made. The ships that were there did nothing. The rascals81 are in mutiny—and small wonder, when they can get no pay; the money voted for them being wasted by the Court. It is enough to drive one wild with vexation, and, had I my will, there are a dozen men, whose names are the foremost in the country, whom I would hang up with my own hands. The wind is from the east, and if they go straight up the Medway they may be there this afternoon, and have the whole of our ships at their mercy. It is enough to make Blake turn in his grave that such an indignity82 should be offered us, though it be but the outcome of treachery on the part of the Dutch, and of gross negligence83 on ours. But if they give us a day or two to prepare, we will, at least, give them something to do before they can carry out their design, and, if one could but rely on the sailors, we might even beat them off; but it is doubtful whether the knaves84 will fight. The forts are unfinished, though the money was voted for them three years since. And all this is not the worst of it, for, after they have taken Chatham, there is naught85 to prevent their coming up to London. We have had plague and we have had fire, and to be bombarded by the Dutchmen would be the crowning blow, and it would be like to bring about another revolution in England."
They posted down to Chatham as fast as the horses could gallop86. The instant the news had arrived, the Duke had sent off a man, on horseback, to order horses to be in readiness to change at each posting station. Not a minute, therefore, was lost. In a little over two hours from the time of leaving Whitehall, they drove into the dockyard.
"Where is Sir Edward Spragge?" the Duke shouted, as he leapt from the carriage.
"He has gone down to the new forts, your Grace," an officer replied.
"Have a gig prepared at once, without the loss of a moment," the Duke said. "What is being done?" he asked another officer, as the first ran off.
"Sir Edward has taken four frigates87 down to the narrow part of the river, sir, and preparations have been made for placing a great chain there. Several of the ships are being towed out into the river, and are to be sunk in the passage."
"Any news of the Dutch having left Sheerness?"
"No, sir; a shallop rowed up at noon, but was chased back again by one of our pinnaces."
"That is better than I had hoped. Come, come, we shall make a fight for it yet," and he strode away towards the landing.
"Shall I accompany you, sir?" Cyril asked.
"Yes. There is nothing for you to do until we see exactly how things stand. I shall use you as my staff officer—that is, if you are willing, Sir Cyril. I have carried you off without asking whether you consented or no; but, knowing your spirit and quickness, I felt sure you would be of use."
"I am at your service altogether," Cyril said, "and am glad indeed that your Grace encountered me, for I should have been truly sorry to have been idle at such a time."
An eight-oared gig was already at the stairs, and they were rowed rapidly down the river. They stopped at Upnor Castle, and found that Major Scott, who was in command there, was hard at work mounting cannon89 and putting the place in a posture90 of defence.
"You will have more men from London by to-morrow night, at the latest," the Duke said, "and powder and shot in abundance was sent off yesterday. We passed a train on our way down, and I told them to push on with all speed. As the Dutch have not moved yet, they cannot be here until the afternoon of to-morrow, and, like enough, will not attack until next day, for they must come slowly, or they will lose some of their ships on the sands. We will try to get up a battery opposite, so as to aid you with a cross fire. I am going down to see Sir Edward Spragge now."
Taking their places in the boat again, they rowed round the horseshoe curve down to Gillingham, and then along to the spot where the frigates were moored91. At the sharp bend lower down here the Duke found the Admiral, and they held a long consultation together. It was agreed that the chain should be placed somewhat higher up, where a lightly-armed battery on either side would afford some assistance, that behind the chain the three ships, the Matthias, the Unity92, and the Charles V., all prizes taken from the Dutch, should be moored, and that the Jonathan and Fort of Honinggen—also a Dutch prize—should be also posted there.
Having arranged this, the Duke was rowed back to Chatham, there to see about getting some of the great ships removed from their moorings off Gillingham, up the river. To his fury, he found that, of all the eighteen hundred men employed in the yard, not more than half a dozen had remained at their work, the rest being, like all the townsmen, occupied in removing their goods in great haste. Even the frigates that were armed had but a third, at most, of their crews on board, so many having deserted93 owing to the backwardness of their pay.
That night, Sir W. Coventry, Sir W. Penn, Lord Brounker, and other officers and officials of the Admiralty, came down from London. Some of these, especially Lord Brounker, had a hot time of it with the Duke, who rated them roundly for the state of things which prevailed, telling the latter that he was the main cause of all the misfortunes that might occur, owing to his having dismantled94 and disarmed95 all the great ships. In spite of the efforts of all these officers, but little could be done, owing to the want of hands, and to the refusal of the dockyard men, and most of the sailors, to do anything. A small battery of sandbags was, however, erected96 opposite Upnor, and a few guns placed in position there.
Several ships were sunk in the channel above Upnor, and a few of those lying off Gillingham were towed up. Little help was sent down from London, for the efforts of the authorities were directed wholly to the defence of the Thames. The train-bands were all under arms, fire-ships were being fitted out and sent down to Gravesend, and batteries erected there and at Tilbury, while several ships were sunk in the channel.
The Dutch remained at Sheerness from the 7th to the 12th, and had it not been for the misconduct of the men, Chatham could have been put into a good state for defence. As it was, but little could be effected; and when, on the 12th, the Dutch Fleet were seen coming up the river, the chances of successful resistance were small.
The fight commenced by a Dutch frigate88, commanded by Captain Brakell, advancing against the chain. Carried up by a strong tide and east wind the ship struck it with such force that it at once gave way. The English frigates, but weakly manned, could offer but slight resistance, and the Jonathan was boarded and captured by Brakell. Following his frigate were a host of fire-ships, which at once grappled with the defenders. The Matthias, Unity, Charles V., and Fort of Honinggen were speedily in flames. The light batteries on the shore were silenced by the guns of the Fleet, which then anchored. The next day, six of their men-of-war, with five fire-ships, advanced, exchanged broadsides, as they went along, with the Royal Oak and presently engaged Upnor. They were received with so hot a fire from the Castle, and from the battery opposite, where Sir Edward Spragge had stationed himself, that, after a time, they gave up the design of ascending to the dockyard, which at that time occupied a position higher up the river than at present.
The tide was beginning to slacken, and they doubtless feared that a number of fire-barges might be launched at them did they venture higher up. On the way back, they launched a fire-ship at the Royal Oak, which was commanded by Captain Douglas. The flames speedily communicated to the ship, and the crew took to the boats and rowed ashore. Captain Douglas refused to leave his vessel97, and perished in the flames. The report given by the six men-of-war decided the Dutch not to attempt anything further against Chatham. On the 14th, they set fire to the hulks, the Loyal London and the Great James, and carried off the hulk of the Royal Charles, after the English had twice tried to destroy her by fire. As this was the ship in which the Duke of Albemarle, then General Monk98, had brought the King over to England from Holland, her capture was considered a special triumph for the Dutch and a special dishonour99 to us.
The Duke of Albemarle had left Chatham before the Dutch came up. As the want of crews prevented his being of any use there, and he saw that Sir Edward Spragge would do all that was possible in defence of the place, he posted back to London, where his presence was urgently required, a complete panic reigning100. Crowds assembled at Whitehall, and insulted the King and his ministers as the cause of the present misfortunes, while at Deptford and Wapping, the sailors and their wives paraded the streets, shouting that the ill-treatment of our sailors had brought these things about, and so hostile were their manifestations102 that the officials of the Admiralty scarce dared show themselves in the streets.
Cyril had remained at Chatham, the Duke having recommended him to Sir Edward Spragge, and he, with some other gentlemen and a few sailors, had manned the battery opposite Upnor.
The great proportion of the Dutch ships were still at the Nore, as it would have been dangerous to have hazarded so great a fleet in the narrow water of the Medway. As it was, two of their men-of-war, on the way back from Chatham, ran ashore, and had to be burnt. They had also six fire-ships burnt, and lost over a hundred and fifty men.
Leaving Admiral Van Ness with part of the Fleet in the mouth of the Thames, De Ruyter sailed first for Harwich, where he attempted to land with sixteen hundred men in boats, supported by the guns of the Fleet. The boats, however, failed to effect a landing, being beaten off, with considerable loss, by the county Militia103; and Ruyter then sailed for Portsmouth, where he also failed. He then went west to Torbay, where he was likewise repulsed104, and then returned to the mouth of the Thames.
On July 23rd, Van Ness, with twenty-five men-of-war, sailed up the Hope, where Sir Edward Spragge had now hoisted105 his flag on board a squadron of eighteen ships, of whom five were frigates and the rest fire-ships. A sharp engagement ensued, but the wind was very light, and the English, by towing their fire-ships, managed to lay them alongside the Dutch fire-ships, and destroyed twelve of these with a loss of only six English ships. But, the wind then rising, Sir Edward retired106 from the Hope to Gravesend, where he was protected by the guns at Tilbury.
The next day, being joined by Sir Joseph Jordan, with a few small ships, he took the offensive, and destroyed the last fire-ship that the Dutch had left, and compelled the men-of-war to retire. Sir Edward followed them with his little squadron, and Van Ness, as he retired down the river, was met by five frigates and fourteen fire-ships from Harwich. These boldly attacked him. Two of the Dutch men-of-war narrowly escaped being burnt, another was forced ashore and greatly damaged, and the whole of the Dutch Fleet was compelled to bear away.
While these events had been happening in the Thames, the negotiations107 at Breda had continued, and, just as the Dutch retreated, the news came that Peace had been signed. The Dutch, on their side, were satisfied with the success with which they had closed the war, while England was, at the moment, unable to continue it, and the King, seeing the intense unpopularity that had been excited against him by the affair at Chatham, was glad to ratify108 the Peace, especially as we thereby109 retained possession of several islands we had taken in the West Indies from the Dutch, and it was manifest that Spain was preparing to join the coalition110 of France and Holland against us.
A Peace concluded under such circumstances was naturally but a short one. When the war was renewed, three years later, the French were in alliance with us, and, after several more desperate battles, in which no great advantages were gained on either side, the Dutch were so exhausted and impoverished111 by the loss of trade, that a final Peace was arranged on terms far more advantageous112 to us than those secured by the Treaty of 1667. The De Wittes, the authors of the previous wars, had both been killed in a popular tumult113. The Prince of Orange was at the head of the State, and the fact that France and Spain were both hostile to Holland had reawakened the feeling of England in favour of the Protestant Republic, and the friendship between the two nations has never since been broken.
Cyril took no part in the last war against the Dutch. He, like the majority of the nation, was opposed to it, and, although willing to give his life in defence of his country when attacked, felt it by no means his duty to do so when we were aiding the designs of France in crushing a brave enemy. Such was in fact the result of the war; for although peace was made on even terms, the wars of Holland with England and the ruin caused to her trade thereby, inflicted114 a blow upon the Republic from which she never recovered. From being the great rival of England, both on the sea and in her foreign commerce, her prosperity and power dwindled115 until she ceased altogether to be a factor in European affairs.
After the Peace of Breda was signed, Cyril went down to Upmead, where, for the next four years, he devoted116 himself to the management of his estate. His friendship with Mr. Harvey grew closer and warmer, until the latter came to consider him in really the light of a son; and when he died, in 1681, it was found that his will was unaltered, and that, with the exception of legacies117 to many of his old employés at his factory, the whole of his property was left to Cyril. The latter received a good offer for the tanyard, and, upon an estate next to his own coming shortly afterwards into the market, he purchased it, and thus the Upmead estates became as extensive as they had been before the time of his ancestor, who had so seriously diminished them during the reign101 of Elizabeth.
His friendship with the family of the Earl of Wisbech had remained unaltered, and he had every year paid them a visit, either at Wisbech or at Sevenoaks. A year after Mr. Harvey's death, he married Dorothy, who had previously118 refused several flattering offers.
Captain Dave and his wife lived to a good old age. The business had largely increased, owing to the energy of their son-in-law, who had, with his wife and children, taken up his abode in the next house to theirs, which had been bought to meet the extension of their business. John Wilkes, at the death of Captain Dave, declined Cyril's pressing offer to make his home with him.
"It would never do, Sir Cyril," he said. "I should be miserable119 out of the sight of ships, and without a place where I could meet seafaring men, and smoke my pipe, and listen to their yarns120."
He therefore remained with Frank Watson, nominally121 in charge of the stores, but doing, in fact, as little as he chose until, long past the allotted122 age of man, he passed quietly away.
The End
The End
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1
alleviation
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| n. 减轻，缓和，解痛物 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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5
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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veer
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| vt.转向，顺时针转，改变；n.转向 | |
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10
sluicing
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| v.冲洗( sluice的现在分词 )；（指水）喷涌而出；漂净；给…安装水闸 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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doffing
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| n.下筒，落纱v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的现在分词 ) | |
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13
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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15
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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18
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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19
abodes
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| 住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留 | |
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taverns
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| n.小旅馆，客栈，酒馆( tavern的名词复数 ) | |
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21
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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22
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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23
suffocated
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| （使某人）窒息而死( suffocate的过去式和过去分词 )； （将某人）闷死； 让人感觉闷热； 憋气 | |
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fetter
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| n./vt.脚镣，束缚 | |
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25
demolished
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| v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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26
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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27
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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28
bulwark
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| n.堡垒，保障，防御 | |
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29
devastated
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| v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的 | |
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30
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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blistered
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| adj.水疮状的，泡状的v.（使）起水泡( blister的过去式和过去分词 )；（使表皮等）涨破，爆裂 | |
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34
scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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35
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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36
scavenger
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| n.以腐尸为食的动物，清扫工 | |
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37
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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38
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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39
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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40
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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41
replenish
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| vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满 | |
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42
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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43
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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44
charred
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| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
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45
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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46
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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47
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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48
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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49
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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50
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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51
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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52
tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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53
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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54
gallows
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| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
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55
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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56
professing
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| 声称( profess的现在分词 )； 宣称； 公开表明； 信奉 | |
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57
repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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58
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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59
mediator
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| n.调解人，中介人 | |
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60
snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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61
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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62
knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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63
oust
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| vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐 | |
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64
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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66
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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67
conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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69
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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70
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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71
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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72
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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74
spliced
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| adj.（针织品）加固的n.叠接v.绞接( splice的过去式和过去分词 )；捻接（两段绳子）；胶接；粘接（胶片、磁带等） | |
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75
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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76
strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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77
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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78
awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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79
bamboozled
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| v.欺骗，使迷惑( bamboozle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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81
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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82
indignity
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| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
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83
negligence
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| n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意 | |
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84
knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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85
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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86
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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87
frigates
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| n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
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88
frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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89
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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90
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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92
unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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93
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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94
dismantled
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| 拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消 | |
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disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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96
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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97
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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98
monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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99
dishonour
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| n./vt.拒付（支票、汇票、票据等）；vt.凌辱，使丢脸；n.不名誉，耻辱，不光彩 | |
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100
reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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101
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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102
manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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103
militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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104
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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105
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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ratify
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| v.批准，认可，追认 | |
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109
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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110
coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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111
impoverished
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| adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化 | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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114
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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115
dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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legacies
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| n.遗产( legacy的名词复数 )；遗留之物；遗留问题；后遗症 | |
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118
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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119
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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yarns
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| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
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121
nominally
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| 在名义上，表面地； 应名儿 | |
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allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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