Page:The Cornwall coast.djvu/205

THE SCILLY ISLANDS 199 last refuge of the fugitive Charles II. before his escape to France. In the meantime the Governor, Sir John Grenville, had fortified the isles and held them for the King ; they became a centre of active privateering. The Royalist garrison did not limit themselves to attacking Parliamentary vessels ; they molested Dutch shipping as well ; so that the Admiral, Van Tromp, made an attack on them, but without result. It is said that he parleyed with Grenville, trying to induce that gallant soldier to yield Scilly into Dutch hands ; but Grenville was too loyal an Englishman for such treachery — he would rather the Parliament took the isles than that they should become Dutch. It was with no disgrace that he was forced to yield, at last, to such worthy opponents as Blake and Sir George Ascue. In the days of our French wars, a century since, the islands were garrisoned, and became a port of supply for British ships, as well as a rendezvous for vessels waiting convoy. A great deal of smuggling was done here, and it has been said some wrecking ; but, here as elsewhere in Cornwall, the lights that were thought to be exposed with such wicked intent w^ere often merely meant as signals to those who were watch- ing for an opportunity to run a cargo. There was little need indeed at Scilly for any artificial increase of wrecks ; Nature did her part far too well in this particular, from the disaster to Sir Cloudesley Shovel to that of the Minnehaha in the present year. A small detachment of Royal Artillery and some engineers are stationed here. Beyond this, the islands are practically defenceless, except for the protection of their rough seas, fierce inter- channel currents, and the off -lying deadly fangs of rock.