Some would deride Corunna as another Dunkirk, a defeat touted as a triumph. Yet in both cases it was only territory that was lost, the precious trained men saved for another day, and at Corunna their cannon as well, both owing all to Britannia’s mastery of the seas. What followed the death of this hero, Moore, like Wolfe before Quebec, was a full-hearted demand by the British people for support of any kind to the Iberians, resulting in a confused alliance with the Spanish patriots. In token, Portland’s government thought to make the magnanimous gesture of returning to Spain their arms from the Tower of London captured from the Spanish Armada. Wellesley doggedly remained in Iberia, erecting the impregnable defences of the Lines of Torres Vedras at Lisbon to become the bridgehead for his later advances. Eventually he admitted reluctantly that without the navy his victories would have been impossible.
To the many who assisted me in the research for this book I am deeply grateful. My appreciation also goes to my agent Isobel Dixon, my editor at Hodder amp; Stoughton Oliver Johnson, designer Larry Rostant for another stunning cover, and copy editor Hazel Orme. And, as always, my heartfelt thanks to my wife and literary partner, Kathy.
And to those interested in what the future holds for Thomas Kydd, rest assured there are more adventures to come …
Glossary
aviso- small craft employed for fleet communications, not combat
binnacle- wooden case protecting the compass with a light at night
blashy- blustery, rainy weather
bobbery- high jinks
bonne bouche- sweetmeat
braxy- an inflammatory disease of sheep
bumbat- a boat carrying provisions or small merchandise out to ships on speculation
cabal- a clandestine association for purposes not always benign
carcass- a shell of iron containing incendiary materials
cartel- an official agreement covering, for instance, the exchange of prisoners
catching crabs- an oar plied clumsily that catches the water instead of a smooth in and out pull
conjunct- term used in Kydd’s day for amphibious operations
Cortes- a form of legislative assembly in Iberia
Crapaud- French for toad; pejorative term by an Englishman for a Frenchman
dimber- handsome-looking
El Escorial- the historical residence of the King of Spain; also a monastery, basilica, pantheon, etc.
fascines- bundles of twigs and branches bound together to form a quick blocking of a breach
Fencibles- a body of men raised for local maritime defence of the realm
foul-weather jack- sailor who relishes bad weather for its grandeur and spectacle
gibbous moon- when more than half but less than full
Gunter’s scale- a general-purpose ruler in navigation with one side in natural, the other logarithmic lines
hard tack- ‘bread’ that is long-lasting, a form of biscuit as opposed to ‘soft-tommy’ soft baked bread
hulks- vessels condemned from sea employment, used for housing convicts and others
in a bumper- a toast with glasses filled to brimming
Indiaman- a ship employed by the East India Company for trade; usually with rich cargoes
kilderkin- a small cask containing eighteen gallons
larboard- to the left (later ‘port’) as opposed to starboard, to the right
league- three sea miles
lee- to the side downwind
lee shore- if the coast is downwind from a vessel, a dangerous situation if the ship is disabled
Mamelukes- a military body consisting of Circassian slaves employed by various Muslim countries
mandrel- a metal bar or fitment around which a material may be shaped
mirador- a decorated observation tower
missal- a Roman Catholic book containing all the prayers and responses needed to celebrate Mass
mizzen halliards- those lines responsible for raising and lowering sails on the mizzen mast
nob- a person of wealth and social standing
noggin- a unit of liquid measure equal to one quarter of a pint
objets de bizarrerie- a curiosity
offing- to seaward; keeping clear of tricky inshore waters
ostler- one employed to take care of horses at an inn or other establishment
pannier market- country stall market where sale goods are limited to what can be carried on an animal pannier
parole- freedom granted an officer for his word of honour he will not abscond
pavillon- French flag
pelf- riches, lucre
pillion- riding behind
pistol-shot- a distance of twenty-five yards
poltroon- base or cowardly character
poop- the smaller deck raised above the quarterdeck in vessels larger than a frigate
porth- a sheltered, sandy cove where a coasting vessel might informally land or take on cargo
raise the wind- have such an energetic and full-on celebration to be the centre of a vortex of wind
reales- Spanish: twenty
reales- to the peso, about a hundred to a pound sterling
roadstead- offshore anchorage outside a harbour where dues need not be paid
roil- to be in a state of turbulence or agitation
rope-hooky- an affected curl to the fingers about the palm to flaunt one’s deep-sea mariner’s credentials
rummer- a type of glass for drinking rum or whisky
scowbunker- pejorative term for a seaman fit to serve only in a lowly scow
sea cant- jargon of the sea not understandable to the common folk
shabraque- ornamental saddle-cloth distinguishing first-line cavalry
shicer- a shady character bound to trick you
soogee bucket- a receptacle to carry the strong soda-based cleaner for paint or wood aboard ship
sorrel- brownish-orange to light-brown-coloured horse
sottish- inclined to bibulousness, sunk in one’s cups
spout lanthorn- smugglers guide light; a long tube allows the light to be seen only from one precise direction
stingo- strong beer
strut-noddy- a poseur who doesn’t realise what a ridiculous figure he is
surcoat- outer coat or gown over valuable inner garb
tingle- soft copper rectangle still used to apply a temporary patch to a hole in a wooden boat
van- the leading position in a fleet progressing in line ahead
waist- that part of the main-deck between the fore and main hatchways, part-of-ship for new or worn seamen
Make sure you don’t miss the next adventure in Julian Stockwin’s swashbuckling series
A Sea of Gold ( Thomas Kydd 21)