PAGE 11
The Spanish-English Lady
by
Ricaredo then asked him what was his daughter’s name? He answered, Isabella.
With this Ricaredo was confirmed in that which before he suspected, which was that he who recounted this unto him was his beloved Isabella’s father; and without giving him any tidings of her, he told him that very willingly he would carry him and his wife to London, where happily they might hear some news of that which they so much desired. He made them presently go aboard his own ship, leaving mariners and soldiers sufficient in that of Portugal.
That night they hoisted sail and set themselves to get off from the coast of Spain; and for that in the ship wherein were the freed captives there were likewise twenty Turks, whom Ricaredo had also set at liberty, for to show that more out of his own noble disposition and generous mind he had dealt so graciously with them, than enforced by that love which he bare to the Christians, he entreated the Spaniards at their parting that upon the first occasion that should offer itself they should set the Turks at liberty, wherein they should show themselves thankful unto him.
The wind, which gave good tokens of being large and prosperous, began to be very much calmer, which calm did stir up a great tempest of fear in the mariners and soldiers, who blamed Ricaredo and his bounty, not sticking to tell him that they whom he had freed might give advice of these happenings in Spain, and that if happily they should have their galleons lying there in the haven, they might put forth to sea in search of them, and so put them to a narrow strait and in danger of losing, together with their lives, all that treasure which they had got.
Ricaredo knew very well that they had reason on their side, but over-coming all of them with good words, he made them quiet; but that which did most quiet them was the wind, which returned again to refresh itself in such sort, that having as fair a gale as could blow in the sky, they clapped on all their sails, and without having need to strike any one of them, or but in the least manner to restrain them, within nine days they came within sight of London; and when they were returned home thus victorious, there were thirty wanting of those that went that voyage.
Ricaredo would not enter the river with tokens of joy, by reason of the death of his General, and therefore mixed his joyful with sorrowful signs, one while the trumpets sounding loud and shrill, and another while low and hoarse; one while the drums did beat lively and the fifes go merrily, and another while dead and softly, answering each other with mournful and lamentable notes. On one of the cages of the ship hung the contrary way a flag embroidered with half-moons, and on another a long streamer of black taffeta, whose points did touch the water.
In conclusion, with these and the like contrary extremes, they entered the London river with their own ship, because the other drew so much water that the river could not bear her, and therefore lay at anchor in the sea.
These such contrary signs and tokens held a world of people in suspense, who beheld them from each side of the shore. They knew very well by some arms and coats in their colours that that lesser ship was the admiral wherein the Lord of Lansac went; but they could not guess how that other ship should come to be changed for that great vast ship which lay at sea. But they were quickly put out of this doubt by Ricaredo’s leaping out of his boat on shore in rich and resplendent arms like a soldier; who afoot, without staying for any other company, attended only with the innumerable vulgar that followed him, he went directly to the Court, where the Queen being in a gallery, stood expecting the news should be brought her of her ships.