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The Golden Galleon
By ROBERT LEIGHTON
_Crown 8vo._ _Cloth elegant._ _Illustrated_
Olaf the Glorious
A Historical Story of the Viking Age. 3_s._
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The Golden Galleon
A Narrative of the Adventures of Master Gilbert Oglander in the Great Sea-fight off Flores. 3_s._
"A well-constructed and lively historical romance."--_Spectator._
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The Wreck of the "Golden Fleece"
A Story of a North Sea Fisher Boy. 3_s._
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London: BLACKIE & SON, Limited
A PERILOUS SITUATION]
The Golden Galleon
BEING A NARRATIVE OF THE ADVENTURES OF MASTER GILBERT OGLANDER, AND OF HOW, IN THE YEAR 1591, HE FOUGHT UNDER THE GALLANT SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE IN THE GREAT SEA-FIGHT OFF FLORES, ON BOARD HER MAJESTY'S SHIP _THE REVENGE_
BY ROBERT LEIGHTON
Author of "The Pilots of Pomona" "Olaf the Glorious" "The Thirsty Sword" &c.
_ILLUSTRATED BY WILLIAM RAINEY R.I._
BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY
PREFACE.
In this present amphibious story I have tried to represent some of theconditions of life ashore and afloat in the glorious days of QueenElizabeth; but I must state, to begin with, that the only portion of thenarrative that is actually based upon historical fact is the account ofLord Thomas Howard's expedition against the West Indian treasure-ships.In this part of the story I have closely followed the original report ofthe last fight of _The Revenge_, as it was written by Sir Walter Raleighsome few weeks after the battle.
My friend Commander C. N. Robinson tells me that Sir Richard Grenville'sdisregard of Admiral Howard's instructions was, strictly speaking, abreach of discipline. Whether or not this was the case need not here bediscussed. All that we need remember just now is that Sir Richard wasone of the bravest of the many brave men of his splendid time, and that,undismayed by the almost certain prospect of defeat, he led a forlornhope, plunged into the glorious fray, and fought to the death with aboldness which has never been excelled in all the course of our navalhistory.
Grenville was not a great admiral as Drake and Nelson were great, andthis most memorable action upon which his fame must always rest was notan example of the supremest heroism, simply because his success orfailure involved no high or very noble principle. But the worst that canbe said of his daring exploit is that it was the Balaclava charge of theSpanish war; at its best it was an example, and a very grand example, ofthat British pluck and intrepidity which have ever been thedistinguishing characteristics of our fighting countrymen; and I shallbe glad if, in writing this story, I help in some measure to instil intomy young readers a fuller pride in the navy which has secured forEngland her supremacy upon the seas.