Al Stewart

Today we honor two vastly different English gentlemen: the well-read modern troubadour Al Stewart and the Elizabethan naval commander Richard Grenville.

In 1976, Stewart released his song "Lord Grenville", which somewhat fictionalized the final days of Grenville's life in addition to touching on the specifics.

Though the accounts of Grenville's exploits and inevitable demise are somewhat speculated upon, depending on the source, the following is the version from Al Stewart's own website:

Sir Richard Grenville (1542-1591)

English Naval commander. He was sent with a fleet of 13 ships to intercept a Spanish treasure ship in the Azores. On August 31 they received news that 53 Spanish ships were headed out to meet the treasure ship. Other ships in the fleet weighed anchor and headed out to sea.

Grenville's ship, the Revenge, was delayed and cut off. The ship was becalmed in the lee of a large galleon. After a hand to hand battle lasting 15 hours, involving 15 ships and 5000 men, the Revenge was captured. Grenville was carried aboard the Spanish flagship, where he died a few days later. The exploit is commemorated in a poem by Tennyson titled "The Revenge".

The following excerpt from Cornwall Calling offers a few more details:

On August 31st 1591 the Revenge with about a hundred men fought a battle against some fifty Spanish ships. Battle ceased as darkness fell, and the next day the Spaniards were surprised to see the Revenge still floating. Its mast and sails were gone, its holds were flooded. Grenville ordered his chief gunner to sink the Revenge to stop it falling into enemy hands, but the survivors wanted him to surrender.

Grenville agreed provided the Spanish would grant them full honours of war, and return them to England immediately. The Spanish commander agreed and the battle ended. The Revenge was captured, and Grenville, mortally wounded, was taken on board the Spanish Admiral's ship San Pablo, where he died a few days afterwards. Shortly afterwards an enormous storm sank the Revenge and 14 Spanish ships.



"Lord Grenville" from Year of the Cat (1976)