us_.

CHAPTER IX

THE ENGLISH SEA-DOGS

(1545-1580)

The daring English sailors who roved the waters to prey on Spanish
vessels were given the name of Sea-Dogs because they often used to hunt
together like a pack of hounds. Their Norse forefathers were often
called sea-wolves; and sometimes there was not so very much difference
between the two. War to the knife was the rule at sea when Spaniards
and Englishmen met, even in time of peace (that is, of peace between
the sovereigns of Spain and England, for there was no such thing as
real peace at sea or in any oversea possession). Spain was bound to
keep Englishmen out of the New World. Englishmen were bound to get in.
Of course the Sea-Dogs preyed on other people too, and other peoples'
own Sea-Dogs preyed on English vessels when they could; for it was a
very rough-and-tumble age at sea, with each nation's seamen fighting
for their own hand. But Spanish greed and Spanish cruelty soon made
Spain the one great enemy of all the English Sea-Dogs.

[Illustration: DRAKE]

Sea-Dogs were not brought up on any bed of roses. They were rough, and
their lives were rougher. They were no gentler with Spaniards than
Spaniards were with them when both were fighting. But, except by way
of revenge, and then very seldom, they never practised such fiendish
cruelty as the Spaniards practised the whole time. "Captain John
Smith, sometime Governor of Virginia and Admiral of New England" (whom
the Indian girl Pocahontas saved from death) did not write _The
Seaman's Grammar_ till after most of Queen Elizabeth's Sea-Dogs were
dead. But he was a big boy before Drake died; so one of his
_Directions for the Takying of a Prize_ may well be quoted here to show
that there was a Sea-Dog code of honour which would pass muster among
the rules of war today. What's more, the Sea-Dogs kept it. "Always
have as much care to their wounded as to your own; and if there be
either young women or aged men, use them nobly."

Some of the other _Directions_ show that Smith knew how to fight like a
lion as well as how to treat his captives well. "Out with all your
sails! A steadie man at the helm! Give him (the enemy) chace! Hail
him with trumpets! Whence is your ship? Of Spain!--whence is yours?
Of England! Be yare at the helm! Edge in with him! Give him a volley
of small shot, also your prow and broadside as before! With all your
great and small shot charge him! Make fast your grap