Chapter 60

p. 157 _the Royal Sovereign._ In a Navy List of 1684 the _Royal Sovereign_ is classed as one of the ‘Nine First Rate’ vessels. 1545 tons, 100 guns at home, 90 guns abroad, 815 men at home, 710 men abroad. In 1672 her commander was Sir Joseph Jorden. An authority on nautical matters whom I have consulted informs me that less men and fewer guns were carried to relieve the top hamper of the ship in a sea-way. Most vessels then were inclined to be top heavy, and although able to carry all their guns in the narrow seas, yet when going foreign were glad to leave ten behind, well knowing they would soon lose by scurvy or disease numbers of their crew apart from losses in battle. Although these ships were pierced with ports for, say, 100 guns, it did not follow they always carried so many, as a complete broadside could be fired by running the gun carriages across from one side to another before the fight, so she would not be so heavy above and not so liable to roll and spoil the aim of the guns.

p. 159 _Bezolos mano’s, Seignior._ Señor, beso las manos. = Sir, I kiss your hands; the usual Spanish salutation.

p. 165 _brown George._ Coarse black bread; hard biscuit. cf. Urquhart’s _Rabelais_ (1653), Book IV. Author’s prologue: ‘The devil of one musty crust of a Brown George the poor boys had to scour their grinders with.’ And Dryden, _Persius_ (1693), v. 215:—

447

Cubb’d in a cabin, on a matrass laid, On a Brown George with lousy swabbers fed.

p. 165 _Spanish Pay._ Slang for fair words; compliments, and nothing more.