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FIFTY-TWO STORIES
OF
THE BRITISH NAVY,
FROM DAMME TO TRAFALGAR.
EDITED BY
ALFRED H. MILES.
SEVENTH THOUSAND.
LONDON:
HUTCHINSON & CO.,
34, PATERNOSTER ROW.
PRINTED BY
HAZELL, WATSON, AND VINEY, LD.,
LONDON AND AYLESBURY.
PREFATORY.
This volume contains Fifty-two Stories of the BritishNavy from Damme to Trafalgar. These storiesare arranged chronologically, and, without pretending tobe a complete history of the British Navy, provide fifty-twoconsecutive links of the chain which for a thousandyears has bound the sovereignty of the seas to theBritish throne.
In preparing this series many historical and biographicalworks have been laid under contribution. Of these Dr.Campbell's "Lives of the British Admirals and NavalHistory," Southey's "Life of Nelson," Giffard's "Deedsof Naval Daring," Creasy's "Fifteen Decisive Battles ofthe World," Green's "History of the English People,"Hakluyt's "Voyages," and Sir Walter Raleigh's proseepic "The Truth of the Fight about the Isles of Azores"are the most important.
When a story has been adequately told once thereis little to be gained by re-telling it in other words; hencethe "Story of the Revenge" is given from Sir WalterRaleigh's account with but slight abbreviation, and the[6]"Story of the Spanish Armada" from Sir EdwardCreasy's book with but similar abridgment. Many ofthe stories taken from Dr. Campbell's work and thatof Robert Southey have been subject to the sametreatment, and the Editor believes they have, for presentpurposes, gained by condensation.
The Editor desires to acknowledge his indebtednessto his friend, Mr. A. J. Pattle, who collaborated withhim in the editorship of his "Fifty-two Stories ofthe Indian Mutiny," published in 1895 with so muchsuccess, and who has rendered valuable service in theproduction of this work.
He also desires to acknowledge the courtesy of Messrs.Cassell and Co., whereby he is enabled to use the engravingwhich forms the frontispiece of this volume,from "The Story of the Sea" published by them.
Stories of the sea are always welcome to Britishboys and girls, and the Editor has no fear for thereception of this collection.