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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)