The french saw this armament with sorrow, for they had not a fleet able to cope with it; but a valiant sea-captain, named Primaugay, embarked on board a large ship called La Cordeliere, which the queen of France had lately built at an immense expense. He put to sea, and boldly attacked the english admiral in the great ship called The Regent, when a bloody combat took place. After some time, the Cordeliere set the Regent on fire, which having gained the powder-magazine, she blew up, with all within her.
Primaugay, seeing it impossible to save his ship, as they were grappled together, leapt into the sea, armed as he was, and perished: it was a pity, for he was a bold and enterprising man[49].
These two large ships were burnt; but the rest of the fleet returned in safety to England, to report the unfortunate news to the king, who was much vexed thereat, and not without reason.
FOOTNOTES:
[46] The good king of Navarre—was of so indolent a character that his queen, a woman of high spirit, told him, 'Had you been mademoiselle Catherine, and I don John, we had never lost our realm.' Henault.
[47] Henry VIII. was the dupe of Ferdinand of Arragon. The english forces landed at Guipi-coa, under the command of the marquis of Dorset, but were never joined by the Spaniards to unite in the siege of Bayonne. The English returned, having gained nothing but disgrace, while Ferdinand possessed himself of the kingdom of Navarre.
[48] The lord admiral,—sir Edward Howard. Sir Edward Knivet commanded the Regent.
[49] In Henry's Hist. of England, it is said that both ships took fire, and perished, with all on board, to the number of seventeen hundred men; that the rest of the fleets, consisting of twenty-five sail English, and thirty-nine French, separated in consternation, as if by mutual consent, without further fighting.