which character he wore the duke's badge*, and received his pay, according to the custom of France, and as “beA. D. seemed his own estate and honour." When the winter 1406. was so far past that it was thought the galleys might put to sea, he repaired to Rouen, that he might pursue his instructions of infesting the English coast. The vessels had hardly begun to fall down the Seine, before, to the great consternation of both soldiers and sailors, an eclipse of the sun began: some said that the sun was wounded, and that it portended a great mortality, some interpreted it as a sign of dreadful weather at sea, and others predicted other evils; but Pero Niño explained to his people the cause of an eclipse, assured them that the sun could neither die nor be wounded, and that that which occurred in the course of nature could not be intended for a token. At Harfleur, his former associate, M. Charles de Sabasil, joined him, and their force was increased by three French ballingers, well manned. The reception which they had met with on the western coast of England, in the preceding year, had not been of a kind to encourage them; and as the English in those parts they thought would be likely to expect and prepared to encounter them, they determined to make for the coast of Suffolkt, hoping to surprise some place upon the Orwell. But when they arrived off the place which they designed to attack, and lay off, meaning to approach in the night and make their attempt at daybreak, a gale rose which drove them out to sea; and after having driven, with great danger, they knew not where, they were glad to put into the Zwijn. The people of Sluys, who were dreading a visit from the English, rejoiced at their arrival; and his French comrades would have made prize of four Portugueze ships, which arrived during their tarriance there, upon the

* El le puso libreas é retenuas á la costumbre de Francia, segund que á su estado é honra cumplia, é dióle oficio de chamberlan en su casa.-p. 120.

Gutierre Diez says that on the coast at this time they met with flying fish:-"Hay alli unos pescados que vuelan sobre el agua; algunos dellos atravasaban volando por encima de las galeras, é aún algunos dellos caian dentro." (p. 141.) Probably he had seen them in the Mediterranean, and confounded time and place in his recollection.

plea that, being allies of England, they were to be con sidered as enemies of France; but the Portugueze appealed to Pero Niño for protection, claiming the benefit of the truce between Castille and Portugal; and upon his interference, the French captain, greatly against his will, left them for that time unmolested. *

Having repaired and refreshed themselves here, they proceeded to Calais. Pero Niño thought to have cut out some vessels which were lying in the harbour; but the town was provided with cannon, which made him keep at a respectful distance, and enter the port of Nieulet, where the French maintained a garrison. On the morrow he put to sea, and stood for the English coast. Presently they descried an English fleet; a council was called, and Pero Niño was for attacking them, the weather being calm. M. Charles, however, represented that the fleet consisted of many ships, and some of them large ones; that they were far from the land, and if the wind should come on, as it seldom failed in that sea, they should find themselves in great danger. But the Spaniard replied, that they ought to take advantage of the calm while it lasted, and do their duty; that the enemy were every day infesting Spain and France; there was now fair opportunity of fighting them; nothing could be worse than to give them reason to say, that the allies were afraid of them, and that if he had thought he were thus to shun the enemy instead of seeking them, never would he have come to France. M. Charles's caution proceeded from no want of courage he took Pero Niño's warmth in good part; and, submitting to his will, declared himself ready to obey his orders.

The first preparation which the Spaniard made for action was to serve an allowance of wine, which was not commonly used in the galleys, or only in small quantities: but then, says the chronicler, it is very necessary, and of great profit, and gives strength and spirit to those who drink it; and this is the wine of which the prophet * Cronica del Conde D. Pero Niño, part ii. c. 37.

speaks when he says that it gladdens the heart of man. Meantime the English hoisted their flags at the poop, and formed in line of battle, the larger ballingers in front, the smaller behind: these vessels are here described as low-built and long, and some of them as using both oars and sails. They had ten large ships to support them; and the Spaniard admired the appearance of the archers and men-at-arms as they were drawn up for action. Pero Niño was provided with viretons dipt in some combustible composition, which were, when kindled, to be discharged from crossbows, in order to set the enemy's sails on fire. With these he had little success, his people not having the same inclination for coming to close quarters that he himself displayed. Nor was he more fortunate in endeavouring to direct what may be called a fire-boat against the English ballingers, by thrusting it towards them with a long pole or yard from the head of his own galley; for the English kept it off with their long spears, and drove it back upon him, so that it proved alike dangerous, or rather alike harmless, to both parties. Presently, as M. Charles had forewarned his eager associate, the wind sprung up; it filled the sails of the English; the French made all speed toward their own shore; and the other Spanish galleys, seeing their danger, waited not for orders to take the same course; only Niño himself and his crew were so intent upon their fire-boat and the interchange of quarrels and arrows which was kept up the while, that the ships were bearing down upon him before he was informed it was time to think of escaping. With more of bravado than of true bravery, he exclaimed that he would either be carried into England, or carry the enemy into France, or die, as it might please God: his men were wise enough to perceive that in this case it was a false honour which would have prevented them from living to fight another day; and, without contradicting him, or losing any time in words, they veered the galley round, and pulled off with all their strength. His angry emotions did not last long when he saw that his own galleys as well

ACTION WITH AN ENGLISH SQUADRON.

37

as the French had forsaken him, and that he was left without support. When, however, ten of the enemy's lighter vessels came up with his galley, and, not venturing to close with it, sought to detain it till more force should come up, one of the French ballingers manœuvred with great skill and courage for its relief, and having got the weather-gage, bore down upon the enemy, passed safely through them, ran against one of the vessels which was pressing upon Niño, so as to carry away her bowsprit and render her unmanageable, and, though not without some injury from the shock, passed on and saved itself, having singly ventured upon what the whole squadron had feared to undertake. Luckily for Pero Niño, the wind lulled as he drew nearer the shore, and he got into Gravelines, flattering himself with the assertion that, if the calm had continued another hour he should have captured that whole fleet, and have had, among his prisoners, the king of England's daughter, who was on board with her suite and her riches, on the way to her marriage with the duke of Bavaria; and, what would have gratified still more the Spaniard's feeling, Arripay himself, who was the admiral.*

Pero Niño had now learned by experience that galleys were as little adapted † for the climate and the tide harbours of the British Channel as camels are for travelling up and down hill. Having coasted along to Crotoy, he waited a month there in vain expectation of such weather as might render it prudent for him to make another expedition to the English coast. Hitherto he had been so little successful in the way of profit, that his comrade, M. Charles, having consumed all his own means, was compelled to part company with him, and

* Cronica del Conde D. Pero Niño, part ii. c. 38.

+ La mar de poniente es muy brava, demás para las galeras. En todas las costas, tambien de Francia, como de Inglaterra, non hay cala nin reparo, por quanto contesce, que tomando la galera buen reparo, asi de mar, como de viento, llegando á la tierra, á poco de rato viene la menguante, é si non se guarda, fallase en seco: conviene que con hora vaya á buscar reparo, ó se meta a la mar larga, que es muy peligrosa para las galeras, porque nunca en ella dura mucho la calma. La galera, si ser pudiere, querria que nunca oviese viento.-P. 164.

*

give up what had proved a luckless pursuit. The French would no longer serve without pay; Niño had no money with which to assist them; so they parted with mutual regret. The Spaniard then, with his own galleys and the few ballingers which he had engaged, proceeded along the coast of Normandy, and fell in with six large and well armed ballingers coming from Harfleur on a cruise against the English. They proposed to join company with him, and on they went towards Bretagne. There they came up with a large fleet of French vessels bound to Brouage † for salt: their new comrades advised Pero Niño to detain these vessels as transports, and, as the opportunity was then in his power, to invite the Breton lords of the adjacent country to join him in an expedition against Jersey, a rich island, where he might gain great honour, and, moreover, levy a large contribution. The traders were willing enough to take their part in an adventure in which plunder was to be gained, and nothing on their part but the expense of a few days' time was risked. The Breton lords were easily persuaded. Pero Niño told them, that as the Spanish fleet had refused to act with him, his own force was not strong enough to make another attempt upon the English coast, where the people were every where prepared for resistance; or even if he had ships and men enough, the season was now too late, but Jersey +

Moreri says, "Il commandoit, en 1405, les forces navales du royaume, et tint des vaisseaux armés sur les côtes de Normandie et de Picardie." This must refer to his adventures with Pero Niño, in all which, however, it is evident that he was acting on his own account, and held no command in the king's service. Monstrelet makes no mention of his naval exploits, but says that he lived for some time, greatly dispirited, in foreign countries, where he conducted himself so discreetly and honourably, that, through the queen and some great lords, he made his peace with the university, and with their approbation returned to the king's household.

Mr. Johnes adds, in a note from Paradin, that during his exile he signalised himself against the Moors, of whom he brought back to France so many prisoners, that he constructed his magnificent castle of Seignelay without the aid of other labourers.

It appears that he was in the action of 1406, against the English fleet; but this must have been as an adventurer-after his separation from Niño, and before his success in the Mediterranean.-Monstrelet, c. 28.

+ La Bachia, in the original; but no doubt Brouage is meant.

In the preceding year, Jersey and the adjacent isles had been seized into the king's hands, upon the arrest of Edward, duke of York, to whom they belonged. Rymer, voce, 387.