n the coast of Spain, were great ports of
call for the Navy as well as great ports of trade for the Mercantile
Marine. So, what with music, dance, and song in these homes of the
South, there was no end to the flirtations between the Spanish ladies
and the British tars in the piping times of peace.

Farewell, and adieu to you, gay Spanish ladies,
Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain!
For we've received orders for to sail for old England,
But we hope in a short time to see you again.

We'll rant and we'll roar like true British heroes,
We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas,
Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England;
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues.

Then we hove our ship to, with the wind at sou'-west, boys,
We hove our ship to, for to strike soundings clear;
We got soundings in ninety-five fathom, and boldly
Up the channel of old England our course we did steer.

The first we made it was called the Deadman,
Next, Ramshead off Plymouth, Start, Portland, and Wight;
We passed by Beechy, by Fairleigh, and Dungeness,
And hove our ship to, off the South Foreland light.

Then a signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor,
All in the downs, that night for to sleep;
Then stand by your stoppers, let go your shank-painters,
Haul all your clew-garnets, stick out tacks and sheets.
--_Old Song._

BOOK III

THE AGE OF STEAM AND STEEL

PART I

A CENTURY OF CHANGE

(1814-1914)

CHAPTER XX

A CENTURY OF BRITISH-FRENCH-AMERICAN PEACE

(1815-1914)

Germany made 1914 a year of blood; but let us remember it as also being
the hundredth year of peace between the British, Americans, and French,
those three great peoples who will, we hope, go on as friends
henceforward, leading the world ever closer to the glorious goal of
true democracy: that happier time when every boy and girl shall have at
least the chance to learn the sacred trust of all self-government, and
when most men and women shall have learnt this lesson well enough to
use their votes for what is really best.

CHAPTER XXI

A CENTURY OF MINOR BRITISH WARS

(1815-1914)

During the hundred and nine years between Trafalgar and the Great War
against the Germans the Royal Navy had no more fights for life or
death. But it never ceased to protect the Empire it had done so much
to make. It took part in many wars; it prevented many others; i