Drake. And the batteries, they are pointing the guns on us. Look there Hawkins. You have the weather gage, make for them under all sail; with the command of the wind, you can give a double broadside. Set your ship on fire, and run her aboard the Admiral. In the confusion take to your boats and pull for the Minion. We shall pepper away, and get to sea. On the blue water our legs will be too long for them, should they dare to follow us. Goodbye, God bless you, Hawkins, should we not meet again, (they shake hands). No surrender. Victory or death. (Exeunt Drake, Hampton, and Bolton.) (Scene changes.)
Scene IV.—THE BATTLE OF SAN JUAN DE ULLOA.
The harbour filled with burning ships. The Jesus is aboard the Spanish Admiral, both in flames, yet still fighting broadside to broadside. Three hundred Spaniards attempting to board the Minion from a hulk are being repulsed. The Jesus and the Minion in font. The Spanish fleet at the back. Deck of the Jesus.
Hawkins. Blaze away, my sea-dogs, stick to the Admiral. Don’t let him out clear. Hurrah! upon bows and guns. (He turns towards the Minion.) See! They are on the deck of the Minion. Hurrah for Hampton! Stick to them gallant tars. Pike, axe, and cutlass, follow me. (He rushes at their head through the pinnace on to the deck of the Minion, shouts and cheers as they clamber over the bulwarks). Hah! Minion to the rescue! Down with the traitors! Down with the villains, Hah! the axe of Moone! Great Winter, hurl them overboard with a run. Brave men, strong men, hurrah for merry England, the day is ours, God gives us the victory; Hurrah! Hurrah! (with great eagerness). Look to the deck of the Jesus, Hampton. How well our men behave. Fire upon the Admiral, ply shot and shaft. (They shoot) Hah! The long bow of England against the world. These are the scorpions that sting our foes. My gallant fellows have done their work, they are both blazing. It’s all up there, keep the Spaniards in confusion and let our men get away. (They are crowding into their pinnace and leaping overboard). Boats and spars for those that are in the water. (Men run about with spars).
Hampton. Out with the sweeps and try to crawl ahead, we shall fall in with a cap-full of wind, once clear of the vibration of the guns.
Hawkins. Now serve out the ale. (Leaning exhausted against the main-mast, he calls to his cupbearer for Ale). Samuel, fill me a cup of ale, for my very soul is exhausted, but I thank God for this deliverance, (his cupbearer hands him a silver goblet, he comes forward and poises it in the air). Here’s to our Noble Queen and her heroic Tars! (He quaffs the Ale and lays down the goblet, which a cannon shot dashes to pieces the moment his hand quits it, Captain Hampton rushing forward to assist him).
Hampton. Are you hurt, General? That was a narrow escape, but we are accustomed to such chances.
Hawkins. It was the will of God, Hampton—a warning voice to give him the glory. There is no such thing as chance. He has not done with me yet. (Look, he looks around.) But we are all right now. Avast rowing, let us have a view of the battle-field. Heavens! what a wreck, they are utterly disabled. (The harbour is strewn with wreck. The Spanish fleet is blazing; some driven ashore, some sunk, the masts and flags appearing above water).
Hampton. The Jesus is burned to the water-mark, but she has done her work. She has set fire to the Admiral, the flame has spread. They are all either destroyed by fire, shot to pieces, or driven ashore. It is truly marvellous how so small a force should destroy a powerful fleet like that. You ought to have taken Drake’s advice to seize them with all their arms, ships, treasure, and batteries of the place; then we should have been masters of Spain and the Ocean.
Hawkins. Let us be satisfied. You see I was hampered with the Treaty, and our undetermined, perhaps divided Government.