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The duke of Medina Sidonia and the count de Cabra commanded the third battalion, with the troops of their respective houses. They were accompanied by other commanders of note with their forces. The rear-guard was brought up by the senior commander and knights of Alcantara, followed by the Andalusian chivalry from Xeres, Ecija, and Carmona.
For while the distracted Sidonia was getting his fleet into the 'eagle formation, so suitable for galleys whose only fighting men were soldiers, the English fleet was stealing the weather gage, his one remaining natural advantage.
This calmed every one, except the jealous Wedig, who, having drunk deeply, cried out still louder than before, "Let me go. I will give my life for the beautiful Sidonia. I will avenge the insolence of this peasant knave!"
He now learned that the Armada had taken captive four Dutch men-of-war and many English ships; that, after the Spaniards had been followed from Calais roads by the enemy's fleet, there had been an action, which the English had attempted in vain to avoid; off Newcastle; that Medina Sidonia had charged upon them so vigorously, as to sink twenty of their ships, and to capture twenty-six others, good and sound; that the others, to escape perdition, had fled, after suffering great damage, and had then gone to pieces, all hands perishing; that the Armada had taken a port in Scotland, where it was very comfortably established; that the flag-ship of Lord-admiral Howard, of Drake; and of that "distinguished mariner Hawkins," had all been sunk in action, and that no soul had been saved except Drake, who had escaped in a cock-boat.
They speak Arabic; but I have heard M. de Sidonia say they have also a language of their own. 'I wonder he did not visit them. 'The plague raged at Aleppo when we were there, and the Ansarey were doubly rigid in their exclusion of all strangers from their country. 'And this Ansarey at Damascus, have you ever seen anything of him since?
When the modest Clara beheld all this, and how Sidonia danced up and down on the plank, while the water splashed over her robe, she called to her "Dear Lady Sidonia, come hither: I have somewhat to tell thee." But she answered tartly "Dear Lady Clara, keep it then: I am too young to be told everything." And she danced up and down on the plank as before.
I have no doubt he has by this time relieved his mind in some mad work which will amuse us all very much, and will return again to Dresden quite cool. I delight in Sidonia he is my especial favourite. After some little time the companions re-entered the carriage. The public drive was now full of sparkling equipages.
But fifteen years ago, when we first met, friend Darkush, you did not say nay to M. de Sidonia. It was the plague alone that stopped us. 'The snow on the mountain is not the same snow as fifteen years ago, Effendi. All things change! 'Let us talk, then, of scammony. The Ansarey have friends in other lands, but if they will not listen to them, many kind words will be lost.
When Sidonia heard this, hope sprang up within her heart, and she resolved to bear her destiny calmly. How they went on meantime at Wolgast Item, of the Diet at Wollin, and what happened there.
The poor abbess heard of all this through Anna Apenborg, and thereupon bethought herself of a little embassy likewise. So she bid Anna take all sorts of good pastry, and a new kettle, and greet the Lady Sidonia from her "Could the dear sister give her anything for the rheumatism?" She heard the sheriff was quite cured, and all the doctor's salves and plasters were only making her worse.
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