A SEA DOG’S STRATAGEM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 99

A SEA DOG’S STRATAGEM.

IN SEARCH OF BEAUTY. In the month of May, in the year of grace 1626, one Captain Quaile, a native of Portsmouth, found himself in command of a barque of 30 tons and mustering a total crew of 54 men. England was then at war with Spain, and the merchants of Plymouth, who had equipped Quaile and his men, trusted that they would return to them in Mexican dollars fivefold the cost of the expedition. 111-success, however, dogged their steps ; no prizes had been taken ; the adventure so far had consisted in aimless sailing to and fro. Merrily as the voyage started, it promised to flicker out in gloom and defeat. An ending without booty must inevitably subject their reputation to the stigma of cowardice or of lack of skill; furthermore, as the journalist of the day quaintly remarks, “their fortunes in England were not great, and if they should return home without-some exploits their estates would be less. Quaile speedily realised the intolerable position. His promise to the merchants and to the crew had :o far proved illusive. Something must be done to justify their confidence. Besides, he was desperately in need of money, while rich galleons were afloat, containing sufficient for the satisfaction of all demands. At the same time, the galleons persistently kept out of the way, or presented so formidable a front, that prudence suggested the wisdom of seeking booty elsewhere. This, however, had not materialised ; a vast expanse of sea alone revealed itself to the enraged mariners. Nevertheless Quaile was a man of -some imagination. If the mountain would not come to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain. What the sea refused to give, a most kindly city might well supply. Quaile’s lieutenant, a man named Frost, was of like character to his captain, and after consultation the two evolved a plan which for sheer impudence is almost unparalleled in the annals of the sea. The crew readily gave consent, clapped hands upon the desperate bargain, and vowed to follow the adventure to the uttermost rather than return like cowards without foreign booty. A prosperous wind soon drove them northward, and in a few days they were abreast of the Spanish town of Gris, which was defended by a small fort. Quaile, however, flying the French flag, entered the harbour at noon and cast anchor immediately in front of the enemy’s guns. The barque, under skilful hands, then presented a somewhat distressed appearance. The only boat they possessed had been lost in a storm, and communication with the shore was only possible by swimming. To transport his men to the land required boats, and Quaile was resolved that the Spaniards should supply them. Accordingly, having a good acquaintance with French, he indicted a letter in that tongue to the officer comanding the fort, stating that he and his crew were French subjects, compelled by the pursuit of some Turkish men-o’-war..to seek the shelter of afriendly

Harbour. Their greatest want was fuel and water. Would the commanding officer kindly supply the same for a generous consideration.

One of the crew, who spoke French Fluently, was selected as the bearer of this specious message. To stimulate the curiosity of the Spaniards, the sailor, instead of swimming, was placed upon an empty hogshead, while- with an oar he attempted to paddle to the land. The ruse succeeded. Before the sailor had covered half the distance a skiff had been manned and the presumably distressed mariner rescued from his uncomfortable conveyance. The letter explained the general position, and the sailor in nerfect French drew a harrowing tale of Turkish pursuit, and of his comities' unfortunate plight. Convinced by his questioning that the story was genuine, the Spanish commander did not hesitate. The newcomers were willing to pay liberally for provisions, and there was no reason why an officer of Spain should not turn an honest penny in the general cause of charity. Under his orders two boats were speedily laden with provisions, and, fully manned, set out for the barque. The officer, suspecting nothing, did not hesitate to assume command. He was courteously received by Captain Quaile. The small ordnance of the ship had been carefully concealed from sight; the whole of the crew, with the exception of five weak and sickly-looking men, were under the hatches. No arms or hostile weapons could be seen, and Quaile had even discarded his pistols and cutlass, i The boats were speedily tied up, and their crews invited aboard. The five men on deck embraced them fervently. Quaile" insisted that all should adjourn to his cabin and partake of such wine as be' had; The officer consented, but, espying. a partially uncovered cannon, demanded to know "what "t did there?" "OhV said Quaile. "it's all the protection we have from danger. Not much use," he added, "against a Turkish man-o'-war." The officer smiled. Quaile toasted him and his men as friends and rescuers. Trie Spaniards, not to be outdone in courtesy, made a like response. In the midst of the drinking Quaile stamped his foot upon the cabin floor The effect was electrical. Before the Spaniards could recover from their surprise they were overpowered by the crew, and made close prisoners. Quaile assured them that they would be treated well if they mads no noise, but otherwise would be killed. They gracefully yielded to necessity. The boats were then emptied of the provisions, and one by one were manned by sailors fully armed. In order not to attract the attention of the fort the men lay lengthways in the skiffs, only the rowers being visible. With as much circumspection as possible the fort was neared, and the boats run aground. The soldiers had been keeping indifferent watch,.and treated the action of the boats as the return of their own men. Suddenly, with a yell . that seemed almost uncanny in its violence, a number of foreign fiends' were upon them. Where they expected to find one or two distressed mariners enjoying the hospitality of their countrymen, they found a number of English sailors armed to the teeth, and presenting an appearance that refused to be trifled with. In sheer amazement they allowed themselves to be made prisoners or incontinently fled. Immediately the barque uncovered her ordnance, and opened fire on the town. Quaile and his men quickly reversed the cannon of the fort, and materially assisted in the work. Trie Spanish inhabitants were thoroughly taken -by surprise, and men, women, and children, abandoning their possessions, hastened to seek the friendly shelter of the neighbouring woods. In a short space of time the town, was deserted and in the possession of the sailors. "It was left naked," writes the journalist before referred to, "and let to new inhabitants." So complete was the surprise that the Spaniards made no effort at resistance..- The policy that had captured the commanding officer had removed the main factor of organisation, and flight alone seemed the proper course to pursue. For eight hours the sailors robbed and pillaged at will. The fort was speedily stripped of its treasures, and the town treated in a similar fashion. Laden with booty, the boats put out again and again for the barque, and Quaile realised with glee that his promises to the merchants could be amply fulfilled. The ordnance of the fort was transferred to the ship, and, with a grim sense of humour, the bell of the local church was carried aboard. The men were in high spirits; not one of their number hal been killed, or even wounded. Each man had secured an ample treasure, sufficient at all events to justify a glorious time ashore. In the flush of success, the men were disposed to linger, but Quaile was wise enough to see that the position could not be maintained. Sooner or later help must come from the surrounding districts ; the advent of a Spanish ship would reverse the position, and turn a perfect victory into a distinct defeat. The men were recalled tc the barque, and arrangements made for immediate departure. Before doing so the Spaniards on board were transferred to the boats, and Quaile courteously expressed the regret he felt at the undue inconvenience to which the officer had been subjected. Nevertheless it was but the fortune of war, and could not be helped. The Spaniard, who by this time had realised the weakness of the attack, was beside himself with rage at trie stratagem into which he had fallen. Kage, however, was unavailing against the buoyant humour of the sailor. With a final touch of irony the barque fired a salute, and, amid the cheers of its men, set sail for England. Thus ended an enterprise so amazing in its effrontery that it almost seems incredible. The facts, however, are related upon the authority oi a pamphlet published in 1626, and entitled "A True Relation of a Brave English Stratagem Practised Lately Upon a Sea, Town in Galicia, One- of the Kingdoms of Spain."- Doubt-

less the writer has made the most of his material, but he sufficiently exemplifies the disdainful spirit in which the average English sailor of the seventeenth century was went to treat his enemy the Spaniard.