Nelson & His World

That seamen have not yet conquered their fear of witches, may be inferred from the horse-shoe which is generally nailed on the front of the fore-mast, heel downwards, to prevent them from coming over the bows, and to counteract the malice of those which ride upon the shrouds of the storm-tossed vessel. Even the portion of the Victory's mast which now supports the bust of Nelson in the proud and regal Castle of Windsor, still retains this powerful witchifuge...

“... Speaking of the virtue of cauls," said I, in an inquiring tone, to the captain, "I have heard it mentioned that a horse-shoe, when nailed to the mast of a vessel, is also a capital preventive of danger ; perhaps you can tell me if I am right." "Yes," answered Broderip, " a horse-shoe—that is, if it has been pretty well worn—is not a bad thing to sail with. Some commanders, indeed, prefer it to a caul, though I cannot say I am of that way of thinking. It is not to be depended on—it is not to be depended on, sir. Nelson—our immortal Nelson—always sailed with a horse-shoe on board ; but such an article, do you see, did little good for him in the long run. It may help one through a bit of a stiff breeze in foul weather, when your vessel is riding off and on a lee shore with breakers ahead; but there is one thing certain: it cannot ward off a shower of bullets—can do nothing against a well-aimed rifle fired from the shrouds of a French seventy-four. Nelson, as I say, had a horse shoe nailed to the mast of the Victory when he fell; and you may see it to this day, if you please, in one of the state-rooms of Windsor Castle, still nailed to a lump of the mast. It has been taken under the patronage of royalty, as one may say; still, after all, commend me to a good caul. It is worth all the horseshoes in the world..."