tination was the West Indies, where it
was to attack the colonies of Spain, while we were to capture and
destroy her fleets on her coasts. This work, however, was not to
commence for the present. We having reached the roadstead of Cadiz,
found there a Dutch fleet. No sooner was the red-cross seen flying from
our mastheads, than the Dutch admiral lowered his flag.

"The Hollanders have learned a lesson they are not in a hurry to
forget," observed the admiral, as he walked the deck, while we came to
an anchor.

A French squadron paid our flag the same respect, while on shore the
admiral was treated with every possible consideration by the Spanish
authorities, as well as by the officials of all nations.

While here we received information that many more vessels had been
captured by the Barbary States. The Pope and Grand Duke of Tuscany also
had given offence to the Commonwealth, by allowing Prince Rupert to sell
his prizes in their ports.

Those combative monks, the Knights of Malta, also sworn foes to those
they chose to call heretics, had captured several English merchantmen,
while the Duke of Guise was threatening Naples, which State, then in
alliance with England, it was deemed important to protect.

We had work enough thus cut out for us, and as soon as provisions had
been obtained we sailed, and passing through the Straits of Gibraltar
without molestation, we directed our course for Naples.

We there found that the Duke of Guise had taken his departure, but in
what direction we could not discover. We therefore steered northward
along the coast of Italy until we came off Leghorn. Dropping anchor,
the admiral sent an envoy to the Duke of Tuscany, demanding redress to
the owners of such vessels as had been sold by the corsair princes.

The Duke hesitated, declaring that he must refer the matter to the Pope
of Rome, at which the admiral, smiling scornfully, observed that "it was
not the Pope's business, and that he would presently have to look out
for himself."

We had just before received intelligence of the alarm our appearance had
caused in Rome. Monks had been walking in procession, many persons had
been burying their treasures, and the wealthy had fled from the city,
believing that ere long it would be pillaged by the English.

The Grand Duke, not wishing to have Leghorn battered down, yielded to
the demands of our admiral, who then despatched the envoy to the Pope.
In vain that priestly potentate e