'Tis bloody bodkins and blossoming bodices as Magnus chases his lady from Elizabeth's England to Philip's Spain and back again. Red-headed (and blooded) dashes in full sail through a plot against the Queen, torture under the Inquisition and in the galleys, piratical raids of the Spanish Main under Drake and hairbreadth sea chases. Accompanied by a delightful trio, Tim, the old sea dog, Father Diago, a highly virile priest, and Ben Absedik, the wily Moor, Magnus successfully completes all his derring-do to wind up in the best tradition -- knighted by the Queen. He wisely foregoes the skinnier elegance of his erstwhile lady for a healthy specimen of English barmaid. This is for the easily satisfied historical fan with a preference for tobacco and galleons of gore.