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crammed with the archers。 From time to time a crash of nakers and
blare of trumpets burst from the royal ship； and was answered by
her great neighbors； the Lion on which the Black Prince flew his
flag； the Christopher with the Earl of Suffolk； the Salle du Roi
of Robert of Namur； and the Grace Marie of Sir Thomas Holland。
Farther off lay the White Swan； bearing the arms of Mowbray； the
Palmer of Deal； flying the Black Head of Audley； and the Kentish
man under the Lord Beauchamp。 The rest lay； anchored but ready；
at the mouth of Winchelsea Creek。
The King sat upon a keg in the fore part of his ship； with little
John of Richmond； who was no more than a schoolboy； perched upon
his knee。 Edward was clad in the black velvet jacket which was
his favorite garb； and wore a small brown…beaver hat with a white
plume at the side。 A rich cloak of fur turned up with miniver
drooped from his shoulders。 Behind him were a score of his
knights； brilliant in silks and sarcenets； some seated on an
upturned boat and some swinging their legs from the bulwark。
In front stood John Chandos in a party…colored jupon； one foot
raised upon the anchor…stock； picking at the strings of his guitar
and singing a song which he had learned at Marienburg when last he
helped the Teutonic knights against the heathen。 The King； his
knights； and even the archers in the waist below them； laughed at
the merry lilt and joined lustily in the chorus； while the men of
the neighboring ships leaned over the side to hearken to the deep
chant rolling over the waters。
But there came a sudden interruption to the song。 A sharp； harsh
shout came down from the lookout stationed in the circular top at
the end of the mast。 〃I spy a sail…two sails！〃 he cried。
John Bunce the King's shipman shaded his eyes and stared at the
long fog…bank which shrouded the northern channel。 Chandos； with
his fingers over the strings of his guitar； the King； the knights；
all gazed in the same direction。 Two small dark shapes had burst
forth； and then after some minutes a third。
〃Surely they are the Spaniards？〃 said the King。
〃Nay； sire；〃 the seaman answered； 〃the Spaniards are greater ships
and are painted red。 I know not what these may be。〃
〃But I could hazard a guess！〃 cried Chandos。 〃Surely they are the
three ships with my own men on their way to Brittany。〃
〃You have hit it； John；〃 said the King。 〃But look； I pray you！
What in the name of the Virgin is that？〃
Four brilliant stars of flashing light had shone out from
different points of the cloud…bank。 The neat instant as many tall
ships had swooped forth into the sunshine。 A fierce shout rang
from the King's ship； and was taken up all down the line； until
the whole coast from Dungeness to Winchelsea echoed the warlike
greeting。 The King sprang up with a joyous face。
〃The game is afoot； my friends！〃 said he。 〃Dress； John！ Dress；
Walter！ Quick all of you！ Squires； bring the harness！ Let each
tend to himself； for the time is short。〃
A strange sight it was to see these forty nobles tearing off their
clothes and littering the deck with velvets and satins； whilst the
squire of each； as busy as an ostler before a race； stooped and
pulled and strained and riveted； fastening the bassinets； the
legpieces； the front and the back plates； until the silken
courtier had become the man of steel。 When their work was
finished； there stood a stern group of warriors where the light
dandies had sung and jested round Sir John's guitar。 Below in
orderly silence the archers were mustering under their officers
and taking their allotted stations。 A dozen had swarmed up to
their hazardous post in the little tower in the tops。
〃Bring wine； Nicholas！〃 cried the King。 〃Gentlemen； ere you close
your visors I pray you to take a last rouse with me。 You will be
dry enough； I promise you； before your lips are free once more。
To what shall we drink； John？〃
〃To the men of Spain；〃 said Chandos； his sharp face peering like a
gaunt bird through the gap in his helmet。 〃May their hearts be
stout and their spirits high this day！〃
〃Well said； John！〃 cried the King； and the knights laughed
joyously as they drank。 〃Now； fair sirs； let each to his post！ I
am warden here on the forecastle。 Do you； John； take charge of
the afterguard。 Walter； James； William； Fitzallan； Goldesborough；
Reginald … you will stay with me！ John； you may pick whom you
will and the others will bide with the archers。 Now bear straight
at the center； master…shipman。 Ere yonder sun sets we will bring
a red ship back as a gift to our ladies； or never look upon a
lady's face again。〃
The art of sailing into a wind had not yet been invented； nor was
there any fore…and…aft canvas； save for small headsails with which
a vessel could be turned。 Hence the English fleet had to take a
long slant down channel to meet their enemies； but as the
Spaniards coming before the wind were equally anxious to engage
there was the less delay。 With stately pomp and dignity； the two
great fleets approached。
It chanced that one fine carack had outstripped its consorts and
came sweeping along； all red and gold； with a fringe of twinkling
steel； a good half…mile before the fleet。 Edward looked at her
with a kindling eye； for indeed she was a noble sight with the
blue water creaming under her gilded prow。
〃This is a most worthy and debonair vessel； Master Bunce；〃 said he
to the shipman beside him。 〃I would fain have a tilt with her。 I
pray you to hold us straight that we may bear her down。〃
〃If I hold her straight； then one or other must sink； and it may
be both；〃 the seaman answered。
〃I doubt not that with the help of our Lady we shall do our part；〃
said the King。 〃Hold her straight； master…shipman； as I have told
you。〃
Now the two vessels were within arrow flight； and the bolts from
the crossbowmen pattered upon the English ship。 These short thick
devil's darts were everywhere humming like great wasps through the
air； crashing against the bulwarks； beating upon the deck； ringing
loudly。 on the armor of the knights； or with a soft muffled thud
sinking to the socket in a victim。
The bowmen along either side of the Philippa had stood motionless
waiting for their orders； but now there was a sharp shout from
their leader； and every string twanged together。 The air was full
of their harping； together with the swish of the arrows； the
long…drawn keening of the bowmen and the short deep bark of the
under…officers。 〃Steady； steady！ Loose steady！ Shoot wholly
together！ Twelve score paces！ Ten score！ Now eight！ Shoot
wholly together！〃 Their gruff shouts broke through the high
shrill cry like the deep roar of a wave through the howl of the
wind。
As the two great ships hurtled together the Spaniard turned away a
few points so that the blow should be a glancing one。 None the
less it was terrific。 A dozen men in the tops of the carack were
balancing a huge stone with the intention of dropping it over on
the English deck。 With a scream of horror they saw the mast
cracking beneath them。 Over it went； slowly at first； then
faster； until with a crash it came down