By Right of Conquest | Page 2

of the Flemings,
the silks and satins of Italy, the produce of the East, which passed first through the hands
of the Venetian and Genoese merchants, and the wines of France and Spain were the
chief articles of commerce. Thus the freight for a vessel of eighty tons was a heavy
venture, and none but merchants of wealth and position would think of employing larger
ships. In this respect the Spaniards and the Italian Republics were far ahead of us, and the
commerce of England was a small thing, indeed, in comparison with that of Flanders.
In Plymouth, however, the Swan was regarded as a goodly ship; and Master Diggory
Beggs was heartily congratulated, by his acquaintances, when the news came that the
Swan was sailing up the Sound, having safely returned from a voyage to Genoa.
As soon as the anchor was dropped and the sails were furled, the captain, Reuben

Hawkshaw, a cousin of Master Beggs, took his place in the boat, accompanied by his son
Roger, a lad of sixteen, and was rowed by two sailors to the landing place. They were
delayed for a few minutes there by the number of Reuben's acquaintances, who thronged
round to shake him by the hand; but as soon as he had freed himself of these, he strode up
the narrow street from the quays to the house of Master Diggory.
Reuben Hawkshaw was a tall, powerfully built man, weatherbeaten and tanned from his
many comings and goings upon the sea; with a voice that could be heard in the loudest
storm, and a fierce look--but, as his men knew, gentle and kind at heart, though very
daring; and having, as it seemed, no fear of danger either from man or tempest.
Roger was large boned and loosely jointed, and was likely some day to fill out into as big
a man as his father, who stood over six-feet-two without his shoes.
Reuben was wont to complain that he, himself, was too big for shipboard.
"If a crew were men wholly of my size," he would say, "a ship would be able to carry but
a scant crew; for, lie they as close as they would, there would not be room for a full
complement below."
For indeed, in those days space was precious, and on board a ship men were packed
well-nigh as close as they could lie; having small thought of comfort, and being well
content if there was room to turn, without angering those lying next on either side.
The merchant, who was so stout and portly that he offered a strong contrast to his cousin,
rose from his desk as the latter entered.
"I am glad, indeed, to see you back, Cousin Reuben; and trust that all has fared well with
you."
"Indifferent well, Cousin Diggory. We have a good stock of Italian goods on board; but
as, of course, these took up but a small portion of her hold, I put into Cadiz on my way
back. There I filled up with three-score barrels of Spanish wine, which will, I warrant me,
return good profit on the price I paid for them."
"And you have met with no accidents or adventures, Reuben?"
"Not more than is useful. We had a fight with some Moorish pirates, who coveted the
goods with which, as they doubtless guessed, we were laden; but we beat them off stoutly,
with a loss of only six men killed among us. We had bad weather coming up the Portugal
Coast, and had two men washed overboard; and we had another stabbed in a drunken
brawl in the street. And besides these there are, of course, many who were wounded in
the fight with the Moors and in drunken frays ashore; but all are doing well, and the loss
of a little blood will not harm them, so our voyage may be termed an easy and pleasant
one.
"That is well," the merchant said, in a tone of satisfaction. "We cannot expect a voyage
like this to pass without accident.

"And how are you, Roger?" he asked, turning to the boy, who was standing near the door
with his cap in his hand, until it should please his elders to address him.
"I am well, I thank you, Master Diggory. It is seldom that anything ails with me. I trust
that Mistress Mercy and my cousins are well."
"You had best go upstairs, and see them for yourself, Roger. Your father and I have
weighty matters to talk over, and would fain be alone."
Roger was glad to escape from the merchant's counting house and, bowing to his cousin,
went off with a quiet step; which, after he had closed the door behind him, was changed
into a rapid bound as he ascended the stairs.