r it; the King of France also was in continual anxiety on the
same account, and urged by these forebodings he sent dispatches in
different vessels so that the fleet might avoid the threatened danger.
One of the dispatch boats met it on the open sea, and gave it notice of
the enemy's armada being over against Cadiz, upon which warning the
commander called a council of war in the ship _Capitana_ to consider
and fix upon the port which they ought to make for. At this meeting
various views were expressed, for the French held that the fleet would
be more secure in the ports of France, and especially in that of
Rochelle. Of the same opinion were many of the Spaniards, who were
looking not to the interests of individuals, but to the public good.

"And yet there were also seen the ill-consequences that might arise
from the treasure not being conveyed to its proper destination and the
possibility of the Most Christian King's finding some pretext which
would endanger its safety."

Which is to say that if "His Most Christian Majesty," Louis XIV of
France, who was safe-guarding the treasure, should once entice it into
one of his own ports, he was likely to keep it there. And so the
courteous Spanish captains and the equally polite French captains eyed
one another suspiciously in the cabin of the galleon and held council
until it was decided to seek refuge in Vigo Bay on the coast of
Gallicia, thereby both dodging the English and remaining at a
sufficient distance from France to spoil any designs which might be
prompted by the greed of "His Most Christian Majesty."

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[Illustration: The Royal Sovereign, one of Admiral Sir George Rooke's
line-of-battle ships, engaged at Vigo Bay.]

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Without mishap, the treasure fleet and the convoy anchored in the
sheltered, narrow stretch of Vigo harbor, and preparations for standing
off an English attack were begun at once. The forts were manned, the
militia called out, and a great chain boom stretched across the
entrance of the inner roadstead. This was all very well in its way,
but so incredible a comedy of blundering, stupid delay ensued that
although for one whole month the galleons lay unmolested, the treasure
was not unloaded and carried to safety ashore. In a letter from
Brussels, printed in the _London Postman_ of November 10, 1702, the
gra