five galleys from the Mediterranean under Polain,' ]3aron de la (-arde, and Strozzi, Prior of Capua. Second iu command under D'Anuebaut was -Vice-Admiral de 5[oily de la Meilleraye. Polain's own galley was the largest and strongest built up to that time, and was remarkable as having five slaves to each oar. Previous galleys had never bad more than four. This combined fleet was directed to take station so as to prevent English supplies from being thrown into 13ouh,gne, which Francis purposed to besiege by land. In the meantime, English cruisers and priwteers captured many richly laden vessels; and wine and fish bocainc drugs in the markets ,,f London. H,,linshed, quoting Stowe, also mentions that the English fleet under Lord Lisle looked into the mouth of the qe'ine where the French fleet lay, and exchanged some shot with it, so inducing the galleys to come out; but that, it beginning to blow, both parties drew off, the galleys because they made very bad weather of it, and Iord Lisle because he had not sufficient sea room among the shoals. The latter returned to Portsmouth. I)'Amml)aut, while waiting for Polain, had collected from between 5Iontreuil and Bayonne all the nmrchanhnen and pri- vateers which he could lay hands upon, and had got together au enormous fleet, which, when Lord Lisle saw it in June, numbered two htmdred sail without the galleys. Du Bcllay says that when it sailed it consisted of one hundred and fifty large ships, fifty vessels of smaller burden, and twenty-five galleys: and although some modern French writers admit only forty-eight ships, fifty smaller craft, and twenty-five galleys, they do not appear to be able to give any good authority for their figures. Francis, not being yet ready to begin the siege of Boulogue, ordered this large force to attack Portsmouth. The English fleet at anchor at or off Portsmouth included only sixty sail, apart from small craft.- The various divisions of the French fleet sailed simultaneously from Le Hvre, Houfleur, Harfieur, aud other ports iu the estuaL of the Seine, on Ju!y 6th. Francis I. had gone to Le HAvre to xvatch them lint to sea, aud had intended to give a grand banquet ou board the figsbip Caraquon, 800 tons, while some of the other ships were moving out. Owing to the negligence of the cooks, the

This di.qtinguished seaman's real name was Antuine Escalin. For s.me unknnwn 

reaaon, he was nicknamed Pt,lain (young horse)t,r Le P, mlin. He was born abtut 14:,q o[' po,,r and hmnble parents at L. Garde, in l)auphin& lie gained his rank of captain in an infantry regiment, and always was known as Captain P,,lain, even when

he ired attained the highest commands. (Lite by Richer, and by Turpin.)