KING’S RANSOM
KING’S RANSOM
A Novel Of Intrigue During The Age Of Piracy
By
William Speir
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
Text Copyright © 2015 William Speir
All rights reserved.
Published 2015 by Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, LLC
www.progressiverisingphoenix.com
ISBN: 978-1-944277-53-6
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Printed in the U.S.A.
Title page illustration: the “One-Eyed Jack” flag of the King’s Ransom by William Speir
Maps of The West Indies, Cat Island, Cartagena, St. Augustine, and San Juan Illustrations by: Mag. Robert Altbauer, Cartographer and Illustrator, Salzburg, Austria (http://www.fantasy-map.net).
Cover Artwork: “The Fire” by Rado Javor (a naval engagement fought on 23 October 1702 in Vigo Bay in northern Spain between England, a Spanish treasure fleet from America, and French ships-of-the-line). Used by permission of the artist, © Copyright 2008-2013 Rado Javor.
Cover design by William Speir
Visit: http://www.williamspeir.com
Formatting by Polgarus Studio
Visit: http://www.polgarusstudio.com
To Dad, without whom I never would have acquired my love for history.
Acknowledgments
Deepest gratitude goes to my wife Lee Anne for putting up with the process I go through while writing. Every day I love her more. I am also grateful for my family, without whom here would be no words worth writing.
Special thanks goes to my sister, Linda Speir, for her valuable edits and suggestions.
Additional thanks go to Leo Bush, Raine Carter, Donna Cash, George Cash, Nancy Clark, Jennifer L. Cook, Jan Eldritch, Catherine Helms, Joe Hoeddinghaus, Ellen D. Hosafros, Hunter S. Jones, Zame Kahn, Daniel Kaplan, James Kirkland, Kieran McMullen, James I. McNabb, Jim Newman, Charlie Philippin, and Jessica Veter for helping to make the earlier drafts better.
And finally, a huge thanks to the judges of the 2014 Royal Palm Literary Awards, who believed that King’s Ransom was deserving of a Second Place Award in the Pre-Published Historical Fiction category.
Table of Contents
Make Your Course West-Southwest
A Crisis In The House Of Bourbon
Escape From Normandy
Harry hated France, he hated the French fleet, and he hated that his frigate was anchored less than three miles off the coast of that hated country. France was the enemy, no matter what peace treaties had been signed, and Harry kept his crew and his warship ready in case they had to fight their way past the patrolling French squadrons to return home – to return to England.
Harry looked over the starboard quarterdeck railing toward the village lights in the distance with a sense of loathing. The autumn air was chilly in the English Channel, which separated the French mainland from the island nation of England. The quarter moon was rising late, bathing the deck of Harry’s ship in a pale blue light. The moonlight provided the only light onboard the warship, which was anchored with none of the lanterns lit so the frigate would be harder to see. Harry knew that the moonlight could make the outline of the ship visible, which added to the discomfort he felt at being so close to the French coastline.
Harry turned away from the railing. Glancing down at the weather deck below, he saw the gun crews resting next to their cannons – ready to jump into action should the need arise. “You are to avoid engaging the French unless you find yourself with no other options to protect your ship, your crew, and your mission,” his orders had stated. He thought about this as he walked over to the quartermaster, who stood nearby at his post next to the ship’s wheel. England and France seemed to be constantly at war, and Harry knew that England wasn’t prepared for another war so soon after the last one had ended.
Harry’s ship, the HMS Winchelsea, was a 34-gun 5th Rate frigate of the English Navy. Its squadron was currently on patrol in the English Channel, but the Winchelsea’s orders were to move as close as possible to the coast of Normandy and wait to be met by a mysterious