The English and French fleets lay in Sole Bay, a brave sight, with flags
flying and trumpets sounding from the different ships. Just as day
broke on the 28th of May, numerous sail were seen dotting the horizon.
On they came. There was no doubt that they were the ships of the Dutch
fleet. The Duke of York threw out the signal for action; and the ships
setting sail, some of them cutting their cables in their eagerness,
stood out of the bay. The French, who were on the outside, were nearest
to the Dutch. From the deck of the _Royal James_, no less than
seventy-five large ships were discovered, and forty frigates. The fleet
was commanded, as was well known, by the brave Admirals de Ruyter,
Banquert, and Van Ghent. The French were first attacked by Admiral
Banquert. And now the guns on both sides sent forth their missiles of
death,--round shot and chain shot, the latter cutting to pieces the
rigging and spars of their antagonists.
"See, Wenlock, those Frenchmen fight well," exclaimed Christison. "We
must acquit ourselves in a like gallant way." This was said as the
_Royal James_ was standing into action, approaching a large Dutch ship
called the _Great Holland_. "But see! what are they about? They are
beating a retreat. Two or three of their ships remain in the enemy's
hands. They have no stomach for the fight, that is clear; or, from what
I hear, they are playing the game they have long done. It is the old
story. They wish the Dutch and us to tear ourselves to pieces, and then
they will come in and pick up the fragments."
Meantime, the Duke of York in the _Saint Michael_ was engaged with
Admiral de Ruyter, his ship being so severely handled that he had to
leave her, and hoist his flag on board the _Loyal London_.
"Ah! we have enemies enough coming down upon us," exclaimed Christison,
as the _Royal James_, at the head of the blue squadron, became almost
surrounded by Dutch ships. The _Great Holland_ was the first to lay her
alongside, the Dutchmen, however, in vain endeavouring to board.
Admiral Van Ghent next attacked her with a squadron of fire-ships. The
brave Earl of Sandwich encouraged his men to resist, in spite of the
numerous foes round him. Again and again the Dutchmen from the deck of
the _Great Holland_ attempted to carry the _Royal James_. Each time
they were beaten back. Sometimes the earl put himself at the head of
his men; at others Christison and his son repelling the boarders. All
this time the other Dutch ships kept up a terrific fire on the _Royal
James_. More than once the earl turned his eyes towards the remainder
of the English fleet, but none of the ships seemed prepared to come to
his assistance. The Englishmen were falling thickly; already many
hundreds strewed the deck.
"When a man's destruction has been resolved on, it is easy to bring it
about," observed the earl to his captain, Sir Richard Haddock, who stood
by his side. "However, neither friends nor foes shall say that Edward
Montagu failed in his duty to his country, or ceased to fight till the
last." Saying this, he again cheered his men. Never did a crew fight
with more fierce desperation than did that of the _Royal James_. Even
the wounded refused to quit their guns, till they dropped at their
quarters. A cheer at length arose from their decks. The _Great
Holland_ had been beaten off, and was retiring in a disabled state. De
Ruyter, his person conspicuous on the deck of his ship, still assailed
her however. At length a shot was seen to strike him, and he sank,
apparently slain, to the deck.
For a short time the hard-pressed ship of the gallant admiral enjoyed a
respite; but by this time she was reduced almost to a wreck, while six
hundred of her brave crew lay dead or dying about her decks, with many
of her officers, and several gallant gentlemen who had volunteered on
board. Night was coming on, the constant flashes from the guns,
however, showing the fury with which the fight was continued. Still the
earl refused to retire from the combat. Christison and his son had
hitherto escaped. "I have seen many fierce battles, Wenlock, but never
one like this," said the old officer; "and our fighting is not over
to-day. See here come more foes!" As he spoke, several ships were seen
bearing down upon the _Royal James_, and now, opening their fire, they
surrounded her with smoke. The four hundred survivors of her crew
fought their guns with the same desperation as at first; but in the
midst of the smoke a ship, approaching unperceived, grappled closely
with her. Directly afterwards there was a cry of fire!
Flames were seen bursting forth from the enemy, now, when too late,
known to be a fire-ship. In vain the crew endeavoured to free
themselves from her, but the Dutch sent such showers of shot among them
that many were killed in the attempt. Wenlock had been keeping near his
father, who, for the first time since the commencement of the fight,
acknowledged that they were in desperate circumstances. Scarcely had he
spoken, when Wenlock heard a sharp cry by his side, and turning round,
he saw his father falling to the deck. He lifted him up; but as he
gazed in his countenance, he saw that those eyes which had always looked
at him with affection were glazing in death.
"Father! father! speak to me," said Wenlock; but there was no answer.
He laid him down on the deck. And now on every side the flames were
bursting forth through the ports. Already the fore part of the ship was
a mass of fire. Just then the brave Sir Richard Haddock received a shot
in the thigh. He fell, but again raised himself to his feet: "Lower the
boats, lads!" he shouted. "Ere a few minutes are over, no one will be
able to live on board our stout ship. Where is the earl?"
"He went to his cabin," answered some one.
"Christison, come with me; we must get him into a boat. I fear he is
wounded." Wenlock was obeying his commander, when just at that moment
he felt a severe pang, and was conscious that a missile of some sort had
passed through his side. In spite of his wound, however, he followed
the captain. The earl was seated at the table, with a handkerchief over
his eyes.
"My lord, a boat is in readiness, and we have come to conduct you to
it," said Sir Richard.
"No, friend, no," answered the earl. "I cannot brook some bitter words
spoken to me yesterday by the Duke of York. If my ship is to perish, I
will perish with her."
In vain Sir Richard and Wenlock tried to persuade the brave earl to
listen to reason. Already the crackling sounds of the flames were
heard, and wreaths of smoke came driving into the cabin. Then came a
terrific sound. Wenlock scarcely knew what had happened, when he found
himself plunged into the water. He was a strong swimmer, and struck out
for life. Near him was another man whose features, lighted up by the
flames from the burning ship, he recognised as those of Sir Richard
Haddock. He swam towards him.
"Leave me, Christison," he said; "I am desperately wounded, and cannot
survive this night. You too I saw were wounded, and will have enough to
do to save yourself."
"No, no, sir," answered Wenlock; "I see close to us a spar. It will
support us till some help arrives. I will tow you towards it if you
will float quietly."
Sir Richard did as he was advised, and in a short space of time Wenlock
had placed him on the spar. It was not, however, sufficient to support
both of them.
Another was seen at a little distance. Securing the captain to the
first, Wenlock swam to the other. He had wished to remain by his
captain, but by some means he perceived that they were gradually
receding from each other. In vain he shouted to the ships nearest to
him. The din of battle drowned his voice. First one tall ship, then
another, went down. The whole ocean around seemed covered with
fragments of wrecks and struggling men. Of the latter, one after the
other, however, sunk below the surface. At length he saw several ships
approaching him. Again he shouted. It seemed to him that one was about
to run over him, and courageous as he was, he gave himself up for lost.
Leaving the spar, he swam off, hoping thus to avoid her. She must have
been hotly engaged, for her topmasts and all their rigging were hanging
over the side. As the ship passed by, he caught hold of the rigging,
and drawing himself up, found a firm footing. Though his wound pained
him considerably, he still had sufficient strength to climb on board,
not knowing as he did so whether he was to find himself among friends or
foes.