IS THE SEA. 



manner, his arms and leg's being- severally tied to the sterns of four galleys, which were rowed 

 in four different directions, thus quartering him. 



Monson was afterwards removed to the castle of Lisbon, from which an attempt on 

 his part to escape was frustrated by the treachery of an English interpreter there, whom he 

 had been forced to employ. Fortunately, the letter which he had entrusted to a page, who 

 was to have conveyed it in his boots to Lord Burleigh, became so saturated and obliterated 

 by rain, that nothing could be made of it, and the whole matter was allowed to pass. Not 

 so, however, after he had helped a Portuguese to escape, who had been condemned to death. 

 The latter, aided by Monson 's skill, managed to pass the sentinels disguised as a soldier, and 

 then lowering himself by a rope, effected his plans. The flight having been discovered, 

 Monson was accused of having assisted him, and was taken before the judge. " But neither 

 threats nor promises of liberty could induce him to confess. He pleaded that he was a 

 prisoner of war, that he was subject to the law of honour and arms, and that it was lawful 

 for him to seek his freedom : he urged the improbability of holding such intercourse as was 

 imputed to him with one whose language he did not understand ; and he concluded by 

 cautioning them to be wary what violence they offered him, as he had friends in England, 

 and was of a nation that could and would revenge his wrongs.'" The latter argument probably 

 it was that carried the day ; but until released no doubt by exchange he was closely guarded. 



In 1593, Monson again joined Cumberland, and considering the fidelity which he had 

 always shown to that admiral, the latter seems to have treated him very badly. In the 

 course of their voyage, a dozen Spanish hulks laden with powder were taken, half of which 

 were left to Monson to haul over, while his admiral put to sea with the rest. Monson had 

 with him only about fifty men. What was his surprise towards night to find that Cumberland 

 had released the hulks which he had taken, and that they were crowding on all sail to join 

 their consorts in his charge, with hostile intent, which it would be madness on his part 

 to attempt to frustrate. He barely escaped ; when the enemy boarded him on one side of 

 his vessel, he leaped into the long boat on the other side, receiving a wound which remained 

 all his days. Southey certainly puts it mildly when he says, "The conduct of the Earl 

 of Cumberland in this affair admits of no reasonable or satisfactory explanations," for it 

 looks far more like downright treachery. A couple of years afterwards, the Earl very plainly 

 declared his colours by first inducing him to join him in his voyage, and then superseding him. 

 Monson could not brook this, and returned, after some adventures, to England, where we soon 

 find him with the Earl of Essex, in the expedition to Cadiz. At that most remarkable siege, 

 he was in the thick of the fight ashore with Essex, where he received a shot through 

 his scarf and breeches ; another shot took away the handle and pommel of his sword, while 

 he remained uninjured. But his principal services were in connection with the destruction 

 of the fleet, which meant a loss of six or seven millions sterling to Spain. "The King 

 of Spain," says Monson, " never received so great an overthrow, and so great an indignity 

 at our hands as this ; for our attempt was at his own home, in his own ports, that he thought 

 as safe as his chamber, where we took and destroyed his ships of war, burnt and consumed 

 the wealth of his merchants, sacked his city, ransomed his subjects, and entered his country 

 without impeachment." Monson was knighted for his conduct at this siege. 



The abundant " pluck " possessed by Monson is illustrated in the following example. 



