Chapter 27

Of whose surprise, when as the trumpe of fameHad blowen the blast, the subiect euer giuenTo blesse the fate of so diuine a dame,For this so strange escape did morne and euen,With praises magnifie the King of heau’n,Imploring still his gratious hands for helpes,Against the danger of that dragon’s whelpes.137.That day was held diuine, and all the nightConsum’d in pæans to th’Olympian king,Then crown’d they cups of wine, and with delightAt sumptuous feasts did sit, while belles did ring,And sweet voic’d minstrels round about did sing,Whose suppers sauour wrapt in clouds on high,The friendly winds blew vp into the skie.138.And as the siluer moone in calmest night,When she in shining coach the skies doth scale,As golden starres, that in the heau’ns shine bright,When gentle Auster blowes a pleasing gale,Do glad the shepheards in the lowly vaile:So many thousand flames, that glaz’d the skies,Did at that time glad all true English eies.139.But most of all, that plentious peopled towne,Elizae’sbest belou’d, faire London hight,Her mistresse rare escape with ioy did crowne,Whose loftie towers thrust vp themselues in sight,And ioy’d to glitter in the golden light,Affrighting sore sad night’s black drowzie dame,With splendor of huge fires refulgent flame.140.An. Reg. 29.Drake’svoyage to East Cales. Out of the second part of the second volume of Nauigations, p. 121.Hakluit.This ioy once past t’auenge that villanie,Which Rome did by this bloodie plot pretend,AgainstElizae’ssacred maiestie,The aged sea-god’s backe,Drakedid ascend,And towards the foes wing’d with reuenge did wend,Mongst whom his name had been the gastly bug,T’affright yong infants at the mother’s dug.141.His fleet transferr’d, with prosperous gale did sweepeThrough parted wanes of Thetis waterie skie,Vnto the shores of the Castilian deepe,In whose proud billowes he did wafting lie,Vntill for truth he heard by his espie,Of that prepare, that in Cales harbor lay,For Spaine’s Armada gainst th’appointed day.142.Then gaue he order for the nauall fight,And in the euening tide, when setting sunLeaues steepe Olympus to the darkesome night,The pine-plough’d seas with black clouds ouerrun,To giue the onset valiantDrakebegun:Hurling forth burning flames with hidious rore,Of brazen cannon on th’Iberian shore.143.And as, when Boreas in a tempest raues,Leaping with wings of lightning from the skie,Makes clouds to crack and cuffes the swelling waues,Who from the storme of his fierce furie flie,In roling billowes on the bankes fast by;So wrapt in clouds of smoake and lightning pale,With dreadfull fight,Drakedid his foes assaile.144.Six gallies thwart the towne at first did standThe violent onset, which the English gaue;But had they with strong oares and readie hand,Not made swift speed themselues and fleet to saue,They with the same had perisht in the waue;ForDrakewith fire in hand without delay,Had burnt their ships and sunke them in the sea.145.But loe a richer prize, he soone had wonne,Which did repay that losse with trebble gaine,Three barkes, of which each bore a thousand tunne,And in the deepe such compasse did containe,Seeming like floting mountaines on the maine,With cannons wounding shot he did intombe,With all their men in Thetis watrie wombe.146.Nor yet could this his noble heart suffice,But with more conquest to renowne his name,Thirtie eight ships his valour did surprise,Of which most part with fire he did enflame,The rest he kept for trophies of his fame,Which in the sight of Cales that loftie towne,He brought away in triumph and renowne.147.And as a bellowing bull, that doth disdaine,Amongst an heard of cattell grazing by,That any other bull in all the plaine,Should proudly beare his curled head on high,But makes him basely yeeld, or fainting flie:So did greatDrake, as lord of all the deepe,His foes on th’ocean in subiection keepe.148.And when of all greatPhilip’snauall might,On the seas wildernesse none durst appeare,Draketo prouoke his heartlesse foes to fight,With his whole fleet vnto the shore did beare,Where three strong holds by him assaulted were,With that faire castle of Cape Sacre hight,All which did fall beneath his nauall might.149.From thence to seas with his triumphant sailesHe did returne, wafting vpon the wauesBefore hight Lisbone, neere to easterne Cales,Where of th’Iberians he the combate craues,Though none amongst them durst interrupt his braues,But fled into the ports and harbours by,Where out of danger they might hidden lie.150.Yet thence he rouz’d them, while that heartlesse knight,The marques of Saint Cruz lay wafting byIn his swift sayling gallies, in whose sightDrakeburnt and spoil’d his ships and made them flie,Who to his care for helpe did seeme to crie:Yet durst he not come forth in their defence,But suffredDraketo lead them captiue thence.151.A hundred ships with furniture full fraughtFor Spaine’s Armada, that world-wondred fleet,He did dispoile, and some away he broughtAs signes of victorie, which as most meetHe did subiect at faireElizae’sfeet;The praise of which with humble zeale and loue,She offred vp to heau’n as due to Ioue.152.Such humble thoughts in such a noble mind,Do beat downe pride in chiefe felicitie:And such a noble mind in kingly kind,With best aduice, doth teach true maiestie,To shew it selfe in milde humilitie,Such humble thoughts, such noble minde had she,Which in her heart, heart-searching Ioue did see.153.For which in spight of her death-threatning foes,As high as heau’n, he did exalt her name,And did his blacke death-darting hand opposeAgainst her brauing foes, that proudly cameWith all their power gainst such a royall dame,Whose mightie fleete, fifteene yeares worke of wonder,Now launcht into the seas began to thunder.154.An. Reg. 30. 1588.For now loue’s helm’d-deckt sonne, the god of warre,Rouz’d from his rest with cannons dreadfull rore,Leapt on the earth from out his iron carre,Shooke his strong lance, steept in black blood and gore,Whose brazen feet did thunder on the shore,The noise of which that from the earth did bound,Made all the world to tremble at the sound.155.And vp from darkesome lymboe’s dismall stage,Ore Stygian bridge from Plutoe’s emperie,Came night’s blacke brood, Disorder, Ruine, Rage,Rape, Discord, Dread, Despaire, Impietie,Horror, swift Vengeance, Murder, Crueltie,All which together on th’Iberian strand,With Spaine’s great host troopt vp did ready stand.156.Fame downe descending from her siluer bower,On dukeMedinae’shuge black barke did stand,The generall of all the Spanish power,Whence looking round ore seas, and sea-sieg’d land,Holding her siluer trumpet in her hand,The same she sounded loud, whose echo shrill,With sound thereof the wide world’s round did fill.157.Then all th’Iberian kings stout men of warre,Renown’d for those replendent armes they bore,Marching beneath his ensignes heard from farre,Who vowing England spoil’d of all her store,Should stoope her pride, and them outface no more;Made swift repaire in concourse and thick crow’d,To Spaine’s black fleet t’effect what they had vow’d.158.Ferdinando Cortez.The sun-burnt Spaniards from that Indian shore,Subdu’d byFerdinandoe’sbloodie hand,Where Perue’s streames casts vp her golden ore,And Zenewe’s waues bring to the slimie strand,Pure graines of gold amongst the ruddie sand,Like Cadmus bone-bred brood came thicke in swarmes,As newly borne from top to toe in armes.159.The captiu’d nations of the Castile king,Luxurious Naples and proud Lombardie,Their troopes in faire refulgent armes did bring,And those of Portugale and Scicilie,With slick-hair’d youth of wanton Italie,T’auenge faire England’s foule supposed wrong,To Spaine’s Armada in thicke troopes did throng.160.Readie t’imbarke vpon the shores they stood,Like flowers in spring, that beautifie the plaine,Or like May flies orewhelmed by the flood,As infinite, as leaues or drops of raine,Powr’d from the heau’ns vpon the liquid maine,That with their weight, dame Terrae’s aged backeBeneath the sway of horse and foot did cracke.161.And as blacke swarmes of ants with loaden thies,Hauing vpon the flowrie spring made pray,In number numberlesse with fresh supplies,Climbes some steepe hillock, and through all the dayBy thousands in thick flockes do fill the way;So Spaine’s great host from trampled shores did wend,In thronging troopes, their mountaine ships t’ascend.162.And such a blustring as against the shore,When as the swelling seas the welkin braues,Or storme-driuen billowes on the bankes do rore,Or such a noise as in earth’s hollow cauesWe often heare, when stormie Boreas raues:Such clamorous noise out of the tumult sprong,When they from shores vnto their ships did throng.163.Hous’d in their fleet, their ankors vp they weigh’d,Hoisted their top-masts with their sailes on high,The misens then with winged winds displaidBefore their hollow keeles, that low did lieWithin the deepe, made parted billowes flie;Their huge big bulks made Neptune’s back to bow,And waues to swell vpon his waterie brow.164.Their towring heads, the heau’ns blacke clouds did kisse,Borne by the winde-driuen stormie waues on high,Their hollow bosomes in the deepe abysseAmongst the surges of the fish-full skie,Like mightie rockes from sight did hidden lie,Whose brasse-arm’d sides such compasse did containe,They seem’d to couer acres on the maine.165.Whoso had seene them on the gulphie flood,He would haue thought some Delos now againe,Some towne, some citie, or some desert wood,Or some new vnkowne world from shores of SpaineLauncht off to seas, had wandred on the maine,Peopled with those, that like quicke sprites in skie,By little hold-fast all about could flie.166.Musket shot could not pierce them.Emanuel Van-Metran, in his 15 booke of his historie.Each barke, whose bulke was proofe against the woundOf common shot, besides those buls of brasse,Whose bellowing rore did equall thunders sound,Of such great thicknesse and high building was,That like large towers they on the deepe did passe;For scarce could brazen cannons banefull thunder,With battering bullet beat their sides asunder.167.Their vpper deckes, all trim’d and garnisht outWith sterne designes for bloodie warre at hand,With crimson fights were armed all about,And on the hatche many a goodly bandDeckt in braue armes, together thicke did stand,Whose plume-deckt heads themselues aloft did show,And seem’d to dance, with windes wau’d to and fro.168.With glittering shields their bosomes they did bar,Each one well brandishing his fatall blade,And from their bright habiliments of war,Such blazing shine, as in the gloomie shade,We often see by Phœbus beames displaid,A splendor vp into the aire did throw,And glittered on the glistning waues below.169.Their top sailes, sprit sailes, and their misens all,Their crooked sternes, and tackle euery whereAdorned were with pennons tragicall,Which in their silken reds did pictur’d beareThe sad ostents of death and dismall feare,Who while their keeles through seas did cut their way,In wanton wauing with the winde did play.170.The clangor of shrill trumpes triumphant soundAnd clattering horror of their clashing armes,Vpon the bordering shores did so redound,That euen the deepe of their intended harmesOn England’s coasts did sound out thicke alarmes,Which strooke a terror to the heart of himWho then did border about Neptune’s brim.171.So great a fleet, since that same god so old,Grim-bearded Neptune bore the sea-gods name,The golden eye of heau’n did nere behold,Nor Agamemnon’s thousand ships, that cameTo sacke proud Troy, and all her towers enflame,Nor that Eoan monarche’s fleet, that scar’dThe sonnes of Tyre, with this might be compar’d172.But while this mightie fleet did proudly boastHer matchlesse might on Neptune’s high command,BraueParma, lord of all th’Iberian host,Both of the horse and foot, that came by land,Did troope them vp vpon the Belgicke strand,To whom th’assistants of the Castile king,Their seuerall troopes of men did daily bring.173.Beneath the bird of Ioue the prince of ayre,Which th’house of Austria in their ensignes bore,The proud Burgundian marcht in armour faire,Th’Italian, Germaine, Dutch, and many moreOf other lands and language, who beforeHad often been renown’d in many a fight,For their high valour, and approued might.174.Such, and so mightie bands of famous men,Adorn’d in richest armes of purest gold,Vpon those coasts before had neuer been,Nor any Belgian euer did beholdSuch martiall troopes vpon that trampled mold,So skill’d in habit of all fights in warre,And for fights true direction past compare.175.Both horse and foot of Spaine’s impetuous might,And of the auxil’arie bands, that cameAs mercenaries for the bloodie fight,Distinguisht vnder guides of speciall name,Whom hope of spoile did to this warre inflame,Drew towards the shores of Neptune there to meetAnd ioyne their forces with the nauall fleet.176.Which being titled long before in Spaine,The fleet Inuincible by all consents,In all her pride now floted on the maine,Readie prepar’d t’effect those blacke euents,Presag’d before by proud Spaine’s sad ostents;Who by report through all the world had wonThe name of conquest ere the fight begun.177.The threatfull subiects of the Castile king,In this huge fleet did such firme hope repose,That all their sun-burnt brats they taught to sing,Triumph and conquest, which they did supposeTheir very threats would purchase gainst their foes,Who like braue lords, their valour to renowne,Did cast the dice for faireElizae’scrowne.178.Much like the vanting French, whenIohnof FranceIn Poyctiers battell with his mightie host,Not pondering in his mind warres doubtfull chance,The gotten victorie did vainely boast,Before that either part had won or lost,Where braue princeEdwardwith his troope so small,Renown’d his sword withIohnof France’ his fall.179.Euen so this brauing fleet, whose dreaded name,Ineuitable ruine did foretell,Thought, that the faireEliza, who did frameHer life in happie daies of peace to dwell,Vnfurnisht was such forces to repell,And therefore sent as from kingPhilip’shand,A sterne inscription with this proud command:180.This was sent written in Latin.“With auxil’arie bands she should no moreVphold the Belgian gainst kingPhilip’sfrowne,All Spanish prizes back againe restore,Build vp religious houses beaten downe,And vnto Rome subiect her selfe and crowne;All which to do, if that she did withstand,Her imminent blacke end was now at hand.”181.The noble queene, who in her royall handDid beare the state and stay of Britanie,In deepe contempt of such a basse command,With spirit of princely magnanimitie,Did briefely answere this proud ambasie:For in prouerbiall words her answere was,“Ist hæc ad Græceas fient mandata Kalendas.”182.An answere worthie, for the grace it bore,The virgin spring of oldPlantagenet,Who from the foes to shield her natiue shore,Her subiects hearts for fight on fire did set,And their bold stomackes did with courage whet,Who fir’d with loue of theirElizae’sgood,In her defence did thirst to spend their blood.183.For when for certaine, fame th’intended harmesOf Spaine’s blacke fleet to England’s shores did bring,How gladly did her people flocke to armes,And when the trumpe warre’s scathfull song did sing,About their eares how pleasing did it ring?Whose hearts with furie fed, to battell giuen,With braue conceits did leape as high as heau’n.184.All townes did ring with sudden cri’d alarmes,Whence with loud clamour to the marine shore,The armed people clustred in thicke swarmes,Where red-ey’d Eris warre’s blacke ensigne bore,And mongst their troops did sprinkle blood and gore;Stirring them vp with eager minds to wadeThrough seas of blood, the aduerse fleet t’inuade.185.And as the golden swarmes of black-backt bees,Their thighes full loaden from the flowrie field,With humming noise flie to the hollow trees,Where they with busie paine fit shelter build,Their treasure and themselues from harme to shield;So thicke in armes, th’alarum once begun,Vnto their ships with shouting they did run:186.Where with their mutuall strengths they did assay,To haleElizae’sfleet from off the shore,Some pumpt, some cleans’d, some drew the stockes away,Some hoist the top-masts, some great burthens bore,The nauie’s want with furniture to store:And with their vtmost diligence all wrought,Till to perfection they their worke had brought.187.Which from the shores, once launcht into the maine,Not all the world a fairer fleet could show:For though in hugenesse, that black fleet of SpaineDid farre surpasse; yet was it farre more slowIn nimble stirrage wafting to and fro:For England’s fleet through seas swift passage wonWith gentle gale, though th’ocean smooth did run.188.To shun their foes, each like a nimble hindeIn Neptune’s forrest, on the watrie greene,Haue skipt from waue to waue, and with the winde,When they list turne againe; they haue been seeneLike raging lions in their heate of spleene,Flie on the Castile fleet to bring them vnder,And with fell rore to teare their sides in sunder.189.All readie furnisht wafting to and fro,Ouer the narrow seas deepe sandie beds,They 'bout the coasts themselues did daily show,In th’huffing winds wauing their silken reds,And crimson crosses on their loftie heads:Those ancient badges, through the world renown’d,Which with high conquest fortune oft hath crown’d.190.Their braue demeanor did so much delightThe people, that beheld them on the maine,That many more all readie for the fight,Did make repaire, t’oppugne the fleet of Spaine;Then all that royall nauie could containe:Such feruent loue vnto their soueraigne’s name,With fierie courage did their hearts enflame.191.Those stout sea-searchers of the stormie flood,The sonnes of Nereus broad sea-sayling race,And the braue offspring of Prometheus brood,That with loud thunder-claps their foe-men chace,Who inElizae’sroyall fleet had place,Made solemne vowes, backe to returne no more,Except with conquest to their natiue shore.192.Now Earle of Nottingham.Mongst whom the noblest obiect of them all,That in the fleete did hold supreamest swayWent honor’dHoward, as chiefe admirall,Who by his stout demeanor did assay,With courage bold to lead them on the way,And euery heart did fill with hautie spirit,By glorious deeds immortall fame to merit.193.Vpon th’Eolian gods supportfull wings,With chearefull shouts, they parted from the shore,While heau’n and earth and all the ocean ringsWith sounds, which on her wings loud echo bore,Of trumpets, drums, shrill fifes and cannons rore,To which the people’s shouts on shores fast by,Reecho’d in the rockes with loud replie.194.While they aboord at sea, so heere at homeT’auert all harmes, all subiects did prepare,In mightie tumult to the murmuring drumme,The multitude did make repaire from farre,To trie their valour in th’approching warreThirsting to meete their foes on equall ground,All hoping in their fall to be renown’d.195.With ornaments of warre, the earth did flow,Glazing the skies with armes resplendent light,And euery place in aire, shot vp did showThe blood-red crosse, which did conduct to fightMany faire bands, all men of powerfull might;For both of horse and foot, from euery shiere,Thicke squadrons daily did in field appeare.196.Th’appointed place of generall meeting wasIn Essex, on the coast at Tilburie,To which the people in such troopes did passe,That with their traine the shores they multiplieLike Palamedes birds that forme the Y,When cloud-like in thicke flockes their flight they takeOre Thracian woods, to Strymon’s seuen-fold lake.197.There pight they downe their tents t’oppose all harmes,Set vp the royall standards all about,The faire supporters ofElizae’sarmes,The rampant lion, and the dragon stout,And th’ensigne of Saint George, which many a routOf Mars his noble race with conquering handHath famous made, in many a forren land.198.Vnder whose colours like a leauie wood,The host in seuerall bands digested allInrankt about with shot and pike-men stood,As firme for battell, as a brazen wall,Who to the workes of death did thirst to fall,Inflam’d in heart with burning fire to fightFor England’s virgin, and their countrie’s right.199.Well did each horse-man teach his horse to run,To stoope, to stop, to turne, to breake the field,Well each bold musketier did vse his gun,Each launceer well his weightie launce did wield,Each drew his sword and well addrest his shield,Teaching each other by this braue array,How on their foes they best might giue th’assay.200.The sound of fifes, of drums, and trumpets shrill,And mutuall exhortations for the warre,All fainting hearts with manly sprite did fill,And th’armed horse, that smell the fight from farre,Inraged that the curbing bit should barreTheir forwardnesse, with neighing loud did crieFor present combat gainst the enemie.201.Earle of Leicester.Thus in the field the royall host did stand,None fainting vnder base timiditie,But readie bent to vse their running handAgainst the force of forren enemie,If they should chance t’arriue at Tilburie:Mongst whom greatDudliebore supreamest sway,Against their foes to lead them on the way.202.Rich. Hakluit, andStowin his Annals.And as the daughter of the mightie Ioue,When from the browes of heau’n she takes her flightDowne to those sonnes of Mars, whom she doth loue,In her celestiall armes with glorie dight,To bring them dreadlesse to th’approching fight;So England’s empresse, that vndaunted dame,Vnto the campe in glorious triumph came.203.Like noble Tomyris, that queene of Thrace,Deckt in rich vestiments of shining gold,Vpon a snow-white steed of stately pace,Mounted aloft she sate, with courage bold,And in her hand a martial staffe did hold,Riding from ranke to ranke, and troope to troope,To whom with reuerence all the host did stoope.204.Her comely gesture, and her angel’s face,The lodge of pleasure, and of sweet delight,Did make the souldiers thinke some heauenly graceHad left Olympus, and with powerfull mightHad come from Ioue, to cheare them vp for fight,Her presence did with such high spirit inspireTheir manly brests, and set their hearts on fire.205.

Of whose surprise, when as the trumpe of fame

Had blowen the blast, the subiect euer giuen

To blesse the fate of so diuine a dame,

For this so strange escape did morne and euen,

With praises magnifie the King of heau’n,

Imploring still his gratious hands for helpes,

Against the danger of that dragon’s whelpes.

137.

That day was held diuine, and all the nightConsum’d in pæans to th’Olympian king,Then crown’d they cups of wine, and with delightAt sumptuous feasts did sit, while belles did ring,And sweet voic’d minstrels round about did sing,Whose suppers sauour wrapt in clouds on high,The friendly winds blew vp into the skie.

That day was held diuine, and all the night

Consum’d in pæans to th’Olympian king,

Then crown’d they cups of wine, and with delight

At sumptuous feasts did sit, while belles did ring,

And sweet voic’d minstrels round about did sing,

Whose suppers sauour wrapt in clouds on high,

The friendly winds blew vp into the skie.

138.

And as the siluer moone in calmest night,When she in shining coach the skies doth scale,As golden starres, that in the heau’ns shine bright,When gentle Auster blowes a pleasing gale,Do glad the shepheards in the lowly vaile:So many thousand flames, that glaz’d the skies,Did at that time glad all true English eies.

And as the siluer moone in calmest night,

When she in shining coach the skies doth scale,

As golden starres, that in the heau’ns shine bright,

When gentle Auster blowes a pleasing gale,

Do glad the shepheards in the lowly vaile:

So many thousand flames, that glaz’d the skies,

Did at that time glad all true English eies.

139.

But most of all, that plentious peopled towne,Elizae’sbest belou’d, faire London hight,Her mistresse rare escape with ioy did crowne,Whose loftie towers thrust vp themselues in sight,And ioy’d to glitter in the golden light,Affrighting sore sad night’s black drowzie dame,With splendor of huge fires refulgent flame.

But most of all, that plentious peopled towne,

Elizae’sbest belou’d, faire London hight,

Her mistresse rare escape with ioy did crowne,

Whose loftie towers thrust vp themselues in sight,

And ioy’d to glitter in the golden light,

Affrighting sore sad night’s black drowzie dame,

With splendor of huge fires refulgent flame.

140.

An. Reg. 29.Drake’svoyage to East Cales. Out of the second part of the second volume of Nauigations, p. 121.Hakluit.

This ioy once past t’auenge that villanie,Which Rome did by this bloodie plot pretend,AgainstElizae’ssacred maiestie,The aged sea-god’s backe,Drakedid ascend,And towards the foes wing’d with reuenge did wend,Mongst whom his name had been the gastly bug,T’affright yong infants at the mother’s dug.

This ioy once past t’auenge that villanie,

Which Rome did by this bloodie plot pretend,

AgainstElizae’ssacred maiestie,

The aged sea-god’s backe,Drakedid ascend,

And towards the foes wing’d with reuenge did wend,

Mongst whom his name had been the gastly bug,

T’affright yong infants at the mother’s dug.

141.

His fleet transferr’d, with prosperous gale did sweepeThrough parted wanes of Thetis waterie skie,Vnto the shores of the Castilian deepe,In whose proud billowes he did wafting lie,Vntill for truth he heard by his espie,Of that prepare, that in Cales harbor lay,For Spaine’s Armada gainst th’appointed day.

His fleet transferr’d, with prosperous gale did sweepe

Through parted wanes of Thetis waterie skie,

Vnto the shores of the Castilian deepe,

In whose proud billowes he did wafting lie,

Vntill for truth he heard by his espie,

Of that prepare, that in Cales harbor lay,

For Spaine’s Armada gainst th’appointed day.

142.

Then gaue he order for the nauall fight,And in the euening tide, when setting sunLeaues steepe Olympus to the darkesome night,The pine-plough’d seas with black clouds ouerrun,To giue the onset valiantDrakebegun:Hurling forth burning flames with hidious rore,Of brazen cannon on th’Iberian shore.

Then gaue he order for the nauall fight,

And in the euening tide, when setting sun

Leaues steepe Olympus to the darkesome night,

The pine-plough’d seas with black clouds ouerrun,

To giue the onset valiantDrakebegun:

Hurling forth burning flames with hidious rore,

Of brazen cannon on th’Iberian shore.

143.

And as, when Boreas in a tempest raues,Leaping with wings of lightning from the skie,Makes clouds to crack and cuffes the swelling waues,Who from the storme of his fierce furie flie,In roling billowes on the bankes fast by;So wrapt in clouds of smoake and lightning pale,With dreadfull fight,Drakedid his foes assaile.

And as, when Boreas in a tempest raues,

Leaping with wings of lightning from the skie,

Makes clouds to crack and cuffes the swelling waues,

Who from the storme of his fierce furie flie,

In roling billowes on the bankes fast by;

So wrapt in clouds of smoake and lightning pale,

With dreadfull fight,Drakedid his foes assaile.

144.

Six gallies thwart the towne at first did standThe violent onset, which the English gaue;But had they with strong oares and readie hand,Not made swift speed themselues and fleet to saue,They with the same had perisht in the waue;ForDrakewith fire in hand without delay,Had burnt their ships and sunke them in the sea.

Six gallies thwart the towne at first did stand

The violent onset, which the English gaue;

But had they with strong oares and readie hand,

Not made swift speed themselues and fleet to saue,

They with the same had perisht in the waue;

ForDrakewith fire in hand without delay,

Had burnt their ships and sunke them in the sea.

145.

But loe a richer prize, he soone had wonne,Which did repay that losse with trebble gaine,Three barkes, of which each bore a thousand tunne,And in the deepe such compasse did containe,Seeming like floting mountaines on the maine,With cannons wounding shot he did intombe,With all their men in Thetis watrie wombe.

But loe a richer prize, he soone had wonne,

Which did repay that losse with trebble gaine,

Three barkes, of which each bore a thousand tunne,

And in the deepe such compasse did containe,

Seeming like floting mountaines on the maine,

With cannons wounding shot he did intombe,

With all their men in Thetis watrie wombe.

146.

Nor yet could this his noble heart suffice,But with more conquest to renowne his name,Thirtie eight ships his valour did surprise,Of which most part with fire he did enflame,The rest he kept for trophies of his fame,Which in the sight of Cales that loftie towne,He brought away in triumph and renowne.

Nor yet could this his noble heart suffice,

But with more conquest to renowne his name,

Thirtie eight ships his valour did surprise,

Of which most part with fire he did enflame,

The rest he kept for trophies of his fame,

Which in the sight of Cales that loftie towne,

He brought away in triumph and renowne.

147.

And as a bellowing bull, that doth disdaine,Amongst an heard of cattell grazing by,That any other bull in all the plaine,Should proudly beare his curled head on high,But makes him basely yeeld, or fainting flie:So did greatDrake, as lord of all the deepe,His foes on th’ocean in subiection keepe.

And as a bellowing bull, that doth disdaine,

Amongst an heard of cattell grazing by,

That any other bull in all the plaine,

Should proudly beare his curled head on high,

But makes him basely yeeld, or fainting flie:

So did greatDrake, as lord of all the deepe,

His foes on th’ocean in subiection keepe.

148.

And when of all greatPhilip’snauall might,On the seas wildernesse none durst appeare,Draketo prouoke his heartlesse foes to fight,With his whole fleet vnto the shore did beare,Where three strong holds by him assaulted were,With that faire castle of Cape Sacre hight,All which did fall beneath his nauall might.

And when of all greatPhilip’snauall might,

On the seas wildernesse none durst appeare,

Draketo prouoke his heartlesse foes to fight,

With his whole fleet vnto the shore did beare,

Where three strong holds by him assaulted were,

With that faire castle of Cape Sacre hight,

All which did fall beneath his nauall might.

149.

From thence to seas with his triumphant sailesHe did returne, wafting vpon the wauesBefore hight Lisbone, neere to easterne Cales,Where of th’Iberians he the combate craues,Though none amongst them durst interrupt his braues,But fled into the ports and harbours by,Where out of danger they might hidden lie.

From thence to seas with his triumphant sailes

He did returne, wafting vpon the waues

Before hight Lisbone, neere to easterne Cales,

Where of th’Iberians he the combate craues,

Though none amongst them durst interrupt his braues,

But fled into the ports and harbours by,

Where out of danger they might hidden lie.

150.

Yet thence he rouz’d them, while that heartlesse knight,The marques of Saint Cruz lay wafting byIn his swift sayling gallies, in whose sightDrakeburnt and spoil’d his ships and made them flie,Who to his care for helpe did seeme to crie:Yet durst he not come forth in their defence,But suffredDraketo lead them captiue thence.

Yet thence he rouz’d them, while that heartlesse knight,

The marques of Saint Cruz lay wafting by

In his swift sayling gallies, in whose sight

Drakeburnt and spoil’d his ships and made them flie,

Who to his care for helpe did seeme to crie:

Yet durst he not come forth in their defence,

But suffredDraketo lead them captiue thence.

151.

A hundred ships with furniture full fraughtFor Spaine’s Armada, that world-wondred fleet,He did dispoile, and some away he broughtAs signes of victorie, which as most meetHe did subiect at faireElizae’sfeet;The praise of which with humble zeale and loue,She offred vp to heau’n as due to Ioue.

A hundred ships with furniture full fraught

For Spaine’s Armada, that world-wondred fleet,

He did dispoile, and some away he brought

As signes of victorie, which as most meet

He did subiect at faireElizae’sfeet;

The praise of which with humble zeale and loue,

She offred vp to heau’n as due to Ioue.

152.

Such humble thoughts in such a noble mind,Do beat downe pride in chiefe felicitie:And such a noble mind in kingly kind,With best aduice, doth teach true maiestie,To shew it selfe in milde humilitie,Such humble thoughts, such noble minde had she,Which in her heart, heart-searching Ioue did see.

Such humble thoughts in such a noble mind,

Do beat downe pride in chiefe felicitie:

And such a noble mind in kingly kind,

With best aduice, doth teach true maiestie,

To shew it selfe in milde humilitie,

Such humble thoughts, such noble minde had she,

Which in her heart, heart-searching Ioue did see.

153.

For which in spight of her death-threatning foes,As high as heau’n, he did exalt her name,And did his blacke death-darting hand opposeAgainst her brauing foes, that proudly cameWith all their power gainst such a royall dame,Whose mightie fleete, fifteene yeares worke of wonder,Now launcht into the seas began to thunder.

For which in spight of her death-threatning foes,

As high as heau’n, he did exalt her name,

And did his blacke death-darting hand oppose

Against her brauing foes, that proudly came

With all their power gainst such a royall dame,

Whose mightie fleete, fifteene yeares worke of wonder,

Now launcht into the seas began to thunder.

154.

An. Reg. 30. 1588.

For now loue’s helm’d-deckt sonne, the god of warre,Rouz’d from his rest with cannons dreadfull rore,Leapt on the earth from out his iron carre,Shooke his strong lance, steept in black blood and gore,Whose brazen feet did thunder on the shore,The noise of which that from the earth did bound,Made all the world to tremble at the sound.

For now loue’s helm’d-deckt sonne, the god of warre,

Rouz’d from his rest with cannons dreadfull rore,

Leapt on the earth from out his iron carre,

Shooke his strong lance, steept in black blood and gore,

Whose brazen feet did thunder on the shore,

The noise of which that from the earth did bound,

Made all the world to tremble at the sound.

155.

And vp from darkesome lymboe’s dismall stage,Ore Stygian bridge from Plutoe’s emperie,Came night’s blacke brood, Disorder, Ruine, Rage,Rape, Discord, Dread, Despaire, Impietie,Horror, swift Vengeance, Murder, Crueltie,All which together on th’Iberian strand,With Spaine’s great host troopt vp did ready stand.

And vp from darkesome lymboe’s dismall stage,

Ore Stygian bridge from Plutoe’s emperie,

Came night’s blacke brood, Disorder, Ruine, Rage,

Rape, Discord, Dread, Despaire, Impietie,

Horror, swift Vengeance, Murder, Crueltie,

All which together on th’Iberian strand,

With Spaine’s great host troopt vp did ready stand.

156.

Fame downe descending from her siluer bower,On dukeMedinae’shuge black barke did stand,The generall of all the Spanish power,Whence looking round ore seas, and sea-sieg’d land,Holding her siluer trumpet in her hand,The same she sounded loud, whose echo shrill,With sound thereof the wide world’s round did fill.

Fame downe descending from her siluer bower,

On dukeMedinae’shuge black barke did stand,

The generall of all the Spanish power,

Whence looking round ore seas, and sea-sieg’d land,

Holding her siluer trumpet in her hand,

The same she sounded loud, whose echo shrill,

With sound thereof the wide world’s round did fill.

157.

Then all th’Iberian kings stout men of warre,Renown’d for those replendent armes they bore,Marching beneath his ensignes heard from farre,Who vowing England spoil’d of all her store,Should stoope her pride, and them outface no more;Made swift repaire in concourse and thick crow’d,To Spaine’s black fleet t’effect what they had vow’d.

Then all th’Iberian kings stout men of warre,

Renown’d for those replendent armes they bore,

Marching beneath his ensignes heard from farre,

Who vowing England spoil’d of all her store,

Should stoope her pride, and them outface no more;

Made swift repaire in concourse and thick crow’d,

To Spaine’s black fleet t’effect what they had vow’d.

158.

Ferdinando Cortez.

The sun-burnt Spaniards from that Indian shore,Subdu’d byFerdinandoe’sbloodie hand,Where Perue’s streames casts vp her golden ore,And Zenewe’s waues bring to the slimie strand,Pure graines of gold amongst the ruddie sand,Like Cadmus bone-bred brood came thicke in swarmes,As newly borne from top to toe in armes.

The sun-burnt Spaniards from that Indian shore,

Subdu’d byFerdinandoe’sbloodie hand,

Where Perue’s streames casts vp her golden ore,

And Zenewe’s waues bring to the slimie strand,

Pure graines of gold amongst the ruddie sand,

Like Cadmus bone-bred brood came thicke in swarmes,

As newly borne from top to toe in armes.

159.

The captiu’d nations of the Castile king,Luxurious Naples and proud Lombardie,Their troopes in faire refulgent armes did bring,And those of Portugale and Scicilie,With slick-hair’d youth of wanton Italie,T’auenge faire England’s foule supposed wrong,To Spaine’s Armada in thicke troopes did throng.

The captiu’d nations of the Castile king,

Luxurious Naples and proud Lombardie,

Their troopes in faire refulgent armes did bring,

And those of Portugale and Scicilie,

With slick-hair’d youth of wanton Italie,

T’auenge faire England’s foule supposed wrong,

To Spaine’s Armada in thicke troopes did throng.

160.

Readie t’imbarke vpon the shores they stood,Like flowers in spring, that beautifie the plaine,Or like May flies orewhelmed by the flood,As infinite, as leaues or drops of raine,Powr’d from the heau’ns vpon the liquid maine,That with their weight, dame Terrae’s aged backeBeneath the sway of horse and foot did cracke.

Readie t’imbarke vpon the shores they stood,

Like flowers in spring, that beautifie the plaine,

Or like May flies orewhelmed by the flood,

As infinite, as leaues or drops of raine,

Powr’d from the heau’ns vpon the liquid maine,

That with their weight, dame Terrae’s aged backe

Beneath the sway of horse and foot did cracke.

161.

And as blacke swarmes of ants with loaden thies,Hauing vpon the flowrie spring made pray,In number numberlesse with fresh supplies,Climbes some steepe hillock, and through all the dayBy thousands in thick flockes do fill the way;So Spaine’s great host from trampled shores did wend,In thronging troopes, their mountaine ships t’ascend.

And as blacke swarmes of ants with loaden thies,

Hauing vpon the flowrie spring made pray,

In number numberlesse with fresh supplies,

Climbes some steepe hillock, and through all the day

By thousands in thick flockes do fill the way;

So Spaine’s great host from trampled shores did wend,

In thronging troopes, their mountaine ships t’ascend.

162.

And such a blustring as against the shore,When as the swelling seas the welkin braues,Or storme-driuen billowes on the bankes do rore,Or such a noise as in earth’s hollow cauesWe often heare, when stormie Boreas raues:Such clamorous noise out of the tumult sprong,When they from shores vnto their ships did throng.

And such a blustring as against the shore,

When as the swelling seas the welkin braues,

Or storme-driuen billowes on the bankes do rore,

Or such a noise as in earth’s hollow caues

We often heare, when stormie Boreas raues:

Such clamorous noise out of the tumult sprong,

When they from shores vnto their ships did throng.

163.

Hous’d in their fleet, their ankors vp they weigh’d,Hoisted their top-masts with their sailes on high,The misens then with winged winds displaidBefore their hollow keeles, that low did lieWithin the deepe, made parted billowes flie;Their huge big bulks made Neptune’s back to bow,And waues to swell vpon his waterie brow.

Hous’d in their fleet, their ankors vp they weigh’d,

Hoisted their top-masts with their sailes on high,

The misens then with winged winds displaid

Before their hollow keeles, that low did lie

Within the deepe, made parted billowes flie;

Their huge big bulks made Neptune’s back to bow,

And waues to swell vpon his waterie brow.

164.

Their towring heads, the heau’ns blacke clouds did kisse,Borne by the winde-driuen stormie waues on high,Their hollow bosomes in the deepe abysseAmongst the surges of the fish-full skie,Like mightie rockes from sight did hidden lie,Whose brasse-arm’d sides such compasse did containe,They seem’d to couer acres on the maine.

Their towring heads, the heau’ns blacke clouds did kisse,

Borne by the winde-driuen stormie waues on high,

Their hollow bosomes in the deepe abysse

Amongst the surges of the fish-full skie,

Like mightie rockes from sight did hidden lie,

Whose brasse-arm’d sides such compasse did containe,

They seem’d to couer acres on the maine.

165.

Whoso had seene them on the gulphie flood,He would haue thought some Delos now againe,Some towne, some citie, or some desert wood,Or some new vnkowne world from shores of SpaineLauncht off to seas, had wandred on the maine,Peopled with those, that like quicke sprites in skie,By little hold-fast all about could flie.

Whoso had seene them on the gulphie flood,

He would haue thought some Delos now againe,

Some towne, some citie, or some desert wood,

Or some new vnkowne world from shores of Spaine

Launcht off to seas, had wandred on the maine,

Peopled with those, that like quicke sprites in skie,

By little hold-fast all about could flie.

166.

Musket shot could not pierce them.Emanuel Van-Metran, in his 15 booke of his historie.

Each barke, whose bulke was proofe against the woundOf common shot, besides those buls of brasse,Whose bellowing rore did equall thunders sound,Of such great thicknesse and high building was,That like large towers they on the deepe did passe;For scarce could brazen cannons banefull thunder,With battering bullet beat their sides asunder.

Each barke, whose bulke was proofe against the wound

Of common shot, besides those buls of brasse,

Whose bellowing rore did equall thunders sound,

Of such great thicknesse and high building was,

That like large towers they on the deepe did passe;

For scarce could brazen cannons banefull thunder,

With battering bullet beat their sides asunder.

167.

Their vpper deckes, all trim’d and garnisht outWith sterne designes for bloodie warre at hand,With crimson fights were armed all about,And on the hatche many a goodly bandDeckt in braue armes, together thicke did stand,Whose plume-deckt heads themselues aloft did show,And seem’d to dance, with windes wau’d to and fro.

Their vpper deckes, all trim’d and garnisht out

With sterne designes for bloodie warre at hand,

With crimson fights were armed all about,

And on the hatche many a goodly band

Deckt in braue armes, together thicke did stand,

Whose plume-deckt heads themselues aloft did show,

And seem’d to dance, with windes wau’d to and fro.

168.

With glittering shields their bosomes they did bar,Each one well brandishing his fatall blade,And from their bright habiliments of war,Such blazing shine, as in the gloomie shade,We often see by Phœbus beames displaid,A splendor vp into the aire did throw,And glittered on the glistning waues below.

With glittering shields their bosomes they did bar,

Each one well brandishing his fatall blade,

And from their bright habiliments of war,

Such blazing shine, as in the gloomie shade,

We often see by Phœbus beames displaid,

A splendor vp into the aire did throw,

And glittered on the glistning waues below.

169.

Their top sailes, sprit sailes, and their misens all,Their crooked sternes, and tackle euery whereAdorned were with pennons tragicall,Which in their silken reds did pictur’d beareThe sad ostents of death and dismall feare,Who while their keeles through seas did cut their way,In wanton wauing with the winde did play.

Their top sailes, sprit sailes, and their misens all,

Their crooked sternes, and tackle euery where

Adorned were with pennons tragicall,

Which in their silken reds did pictur’d beare

The sad ostents of death and dismall feare,

Who while their keeles through seas did cut their way,

In wanton wauing with the winde did play.

170.

The clangor of shrill trumpes triumphant soundAnd clattering horror of their clashing armes,Vpon the bordering shores did so redound,That euen the deepe of their intended harmesOn England’s coasts did sound out thicke alarmes,Which strooke a terror to the heart of himWho then did border about Neptune’s brim.

The clangor of shrill trumpes triumphant sound

And clattering horror of their clashing armes,

Vpon the bordering shores did so redound,

That euen the deepe of their intended harmes

On England’s coasts did sound out thicke alarmes,

Which strooke a terror to the heart of him

Who then did border about Neptune’s brim.

171.

So great a fleet, since that same god so old,Grim-bearded Neptune bore the sea-gods name,The golden eye of heau’n did nere behold,Nor Agamemnon’s thousand ships, that cameTo sacke proud Troy, and all her towers enflame,Nor that Eoan monarche’s fleet, that scar’dThe sonnes of Tyre, with this might be compar’d

So great a fleet, since that same god so old,

Grim-bearded Neptune bore the sea-gods name,

The golden eye of heau’n did nere behold,

Nor Agamemnon’s thousand ships, that came

To sacke proud Troy, and all her towers enflame,

Nor that Eoan monarche’s fleet, that scar’d

The sonnes of Tyre, with this might be compar’d

172.

But while this mightie fleet did proudly boastHer matchlesse might on Neptune’s high command,BraueParma, lord of all th’Iberian host,Both of the horse and foot, that came by land,Did troope them vp vpon the Belgicke strand,To whom th’assistants of the Castile king,Their seuerall troopes of men did daily bring.

But while this mightie fleet did proudly boast

Her matchlesse might on Neptune’s high command,

BraueParma, lord of all th’Iberian host,

Both of the horse and foot, that came by land,

Did troope them vp vpon the Belgicke strand,

To whom th’assistants of the Castile king,

Their seuerall troopes of men did daily bring.

173.

Beneath the bird of Ioue the prince of ayre,Which th’house of Austria in their ensignes bore,The proud Burgundian marcht in armour faire,Th’Italian, Germaine, Dutch, and many moreOf other lands and language, who beforeHad often been renown’d in many a fight,For their high valour, and approued might.

Beneath the bird of Ioue the prince of ayre,

Which th’house of Austria in their ensignes bore,

The proud Burgundian marcht in armour faire,

Th’Italian, Germaine, Dutch, and many more

Of other lands and language, who before

Had often been renown’d in many a fight,

For their high valour, and approued might.

174.

Such, and so mightie bands of famous men,Adorn’d in richest armes of purest gold,Vpon those coasts before had neuer been,Nor any Belgian euer did beholdSuch martiall troopes vpon that trampled mold,So skill’d in habit of all fights in warre,And for fights true direction past compare.

Such, and so mightie bands of famous men,

Adorn’d in richest armes of purest gold,

Vpon those coasts before had neuer been,

Nor any Belgian euer did behold

Such martiall troopes vpon that trampled mold,

So skill’d in habit of all fights in warre,

And for fights true direction past compare.

175.

Both horse and foot of Spaine’s impetuous might,And of the auxil’arie bands, that cameAs mercenaries for the bloodie fight,Distinguisht vnder guides of speciall name,Whom hope of spoile did to this warre inflame,Drew towards the shores of Neptune there to meetAnd ioyne their forces with the nauall fleet.

Both horse and foot of Spaine’s impetuous might,

And of the auxil’arie bands, that came

As mercenaries for the bloodie fight,

Distinguisht vnder guides of speciall name,

Whom hope of spoile did to this warre inflame,

Drew towards the shores of Neptune there to meet

And ioyne their forces with the nauall fleet.

176.

Which being titled long before in Spaine,The fleet Inuincible by all consents,In all her pride now floted on the maine,Readie prepar’d t’effect those blacke euents,Presag’d before by proud Spaine’s sad ostents;Who by report through all the world had wonThe name of conquest ere the fight begun.

Which being titled long before in Spaine,

The fleet Inuincible by all consents,

In all her pride now floted on the maine,

Readie prepar’d t’effect those blacke euents,

Presag’d before by proud Spaine’s sad ostents;

Who by report through all the world had won

The name of conquest ere the fight begun.

177.

The threatfull subiects of the Castile king,In this huge fleet did such firme hope repose,That all their sun-burnt brats they taught to sing,Triumph and conquest, which they did supposeTheir very threats would purchase gainst their foes,Who like braue lords, their valour to renowne,Did cast the dice for faireElizae’scrowne.

The threatfull subiects of the Castile king,

In this huge fleet did such firme hope repose,

That all their sun-burnt brats they taught to sing,

Triumph and conquest, which they did suppose

Their very threats would purchase gainst their foes,

Who like braue lords, their valour to renowne,

Did cast the dice for faireElizae’scrowne.

178.

Much like the vanting French, whenIohnof FranceIn Poyctiers battell with his mightie host,Not pondering in his mind warres doubtfull chance,The gotten victorie did vainely boast,Before that either part had won or lost,Where braue princeEdwardwith his troope so small,Renown’d his sword withIohnof France’ his fall.

Much like the vanting French, whenIohnof France

In Poyctiers battell with his mightie host,

Not pondering in his mind warres doubtfull chance,

The gotten victorie did vainely boast,

Before that either part had won or lost,

Where braue princeEdwardwith his troope so small,

Renown’d his sword withIohnof France’ his fall.

179.

Euen so this brauing fleet, whose dreaded name,Ineuitable ruine did foretell,Thought, that the faireEliza, who did frameHer life in happie daies of peace to dwell,Vnfurnisht was such forces to repell,And therefore sent as from kingPhilip’shand,A sterne inscription with this proud command:

Euen so this brauing fleet, whose dreaded name,

Ineuitable ruine did foretell,

Thought, that the faireEliza, who did frame

Her life in happie daies of peace to dwell,

Vnfurnisht was such forces to repell,

And therefore sent as from kingPhilip’shand,

A sterne inscription with this proud command:

180.

This was sent written in Latin.

“With auxil’arie bands she should no moreVphold the Belgian gainst kingPhilip’sfrowne,All Spanish prizes back againe restore,Build vp religious houses beaten downe,And vnto Rome subiect her selfe and crowne;All which to do, if that she did withstand,Her imminent blacke end was now at hand.”

“With auxil’arie bands she should no more

Vphold the Belgian gainst kingPhilip’sfrowne,

All Spanish prizes back againe restore,

Build vp religious houses beaten downe,

And vnto Rome subiect her selfe and crowne;

All which to do, if that she did withstand,

Her imminent blacke end was now at hand.”

181.

The noble queene, who in her royall handDid beare the state and stay of Britanie,In deepe contempt of such a basse command,With spirit of princely magnanimitie,Did briefely answere this proud ambasie:For in prouerbiall words her answere was,“Ist hæc ad Græceas fient mandata Kalendas.”

The noble queene, who in her royall hand

Did beare the state and stay of Britanie,

In deepe contempt of such a basse command,

With spirit of princely magnanimitie,

Did briefely answere this proud ambasie:

For in prouerbiall words her answere was,

“Ist hæc ad Græceas fient mandata Kalendas.”

182.

An answere worthie, for the grace it bore,The virgin spring of oldPlantagenet,Who from the foes to shield her natiue shore,Her subiects hearts for fight on fire did set,And their bold stomackes did with courage whet,Who fir’d with loue of theirElizae’sgood,In her defence did thirst to spend their blood.

An answere worthie, for the grace it bore,

The virgin spring of oldPlantagenet,

Who from the foes to shield her natiue shore,

Her subiects hearts for fight on fire did set,

And their bold stomackes did with courage whet,

Who fir’d with loue of theirElizae’sgood,

In her defence did thirst to spend their blood.

183.

For when for certaine, fame th’intended harmesOf Spaine’s blacke fleet to England’s shores did bring,How gladly did her people flocke to armes,And when the trumpe warre’s scathfull song did sing,About their eares how pleasing did it ring?Whose hearts with furie fed, to battell giuen,With braue conceits did leape as high as heau’n.

For when for certaine, fame th’intended harmes

Of Spaine’s blacke fleet to England’s shores did bring,

How gladly did her people flocke to armes,

And when the trumpe warre’s scathfull song did sing,

About their eares how pleasing did it ring?

Whose hearts with furie fed, to battell giuen,

With braue conceits did leape as high as heau’n.

184.

All townes did ring with sudden cri’d alarmes,Whence with loud clamour to the marine shore,The armed people clustred in thicke swarmes,Where red-ey’d Eris warre’s blacke ensigne bore,And mongst their troops did sprinkle blood and gore;Stirring them vp with eager minds to wadeThrough seas of blood, the aduerse fleet t’inuade.

All townes did ring with sudden cri’d alarmes,

Whence with loud clamour to the marine shore,

The armed people clustred in thicke swarmes,

Where red-ey’d Eris warre’s blacke ensigne bore,

And mongst their troops did sprinkle blood and gore;

Stirring them vp with eager minds to wade

Through seas of blood, the aduerse fleet t’inuade.

185.

And as the golden swarmes of black-backt bees,Their thighes full loaden from the flowrie field,With humming noise flie to the hollow trees,Where they with busie paine fit shelter build,Their treasure and themselues from harme to shield;So thicke in armes, th’alarum once begun,Vnto their ships with shouting they did run:

And as the golden swarmes of black-backt bees,

Their thighes full loaden from the flowrie field,

With humming noise flie to the hollow trees,

Where they with busie paine fit shelter build,

Their treasure and themselues from harme to shield;

So thicke in armes, th’alarum once begun,

Vnto their ships with shouting they did run:

186.

Where with their mutuall strengths they did assay,To haleElizae’sfleet from off the shore,Some pumpt, some cleans’d, some drew the stockes away,Some hoist the top-masts, some great burthens bore,The nauie’s want with furniture to store:And with their vtmost diligence all wrought,Till to perfection they their worke had brought.

Where with their mutuall strengths they did assay,

To haleElizae’sfleet from off the shore,

Some pumpt, some cleans’d, some drew the stockes away,

Some hoist the top-masts, some great burthens bore,

The nauie’s want with furniture to store:

And with their vtmost diligence all wrought,

Till to perfection they their worke had brought.

187.

Which from the shores, once launcht into the maine,Not all the world a fairer fleet could show:For though in hugenesse, that black fleet of SpaineDid farre surpasse; yet was it farre more slowIn nimble stirrage wafting to and fro:For England’s fleet through seas swift passage wonWith gentle gale, though th’ocean smooth did run.

Which from the shores, once launcht into the maine,

Not all the world a fairer fleet could show:

For though in hugenesse, that black fleet of Spaine

Did farre surpasse; yet was it farre more slow

In nimble stirrage wafting to and fro:

For England’s fleet through seas swift passage won

With gentle gale, though th’ocean smooth did run.

188.

To shun their foes, each like a nimble hindeIn Neptune’s forrest, on the watrie greene,Haue skipt from waue to waue, and with the winde,When they list turne againe; they haue been seeneLike raging lions in their heate of spleene,Flie on the Castile fleet to bring them vnder,And with fell rore to teare their sides in sunder.

To shun their foes, each like a nimble hinde

In Neptune’s forrest, on the watrie greene,

Haue skipt from waue to waue, and with the winde,

When they list turne againe; they haue been seene

Like raging lions in their heate of spleene,

Flie on the Castile fleet to bring them vnder,

And with fell rore to teare their sides in sunder.

189.

All readie furnisht wafting to and fro,Ouer the narrow seas deepe sandie beds,They 'bout the coasts themselues did daily show,In th’huffing winds wauing their silken reds,And crimson crosses on their loftie heads:Those ancient badges, through the world renown’d,Which with high conquest fortune oft hath crown’d.

All readie furnisht wafting to and fro,

Ouer the narrow seas deepe sandie beds,

They 'bout the coasts themselues did daily show,

In th’huffing winds wauing their silken reds,

And crimson crosses on their loftie heads:

Those ancient badges, through the world renown’d,

Which with high conquest fortune oft hath crown’d.

190.

Their braue demeanor did so much delightThe people, that beheld them on the maine,That many more all readie for the fight,Did make repaire, t’oppugne the fleet of Spaine;Then all that royall nauie could containe:Such feruent loue vnto their soueraigne’s name,With fierie courage did their hearts enflame.

Their braue demeanor did so much delight

The people, that beheld them on the maine,

That many more all readie for the fight,

Did make repaire, t’oppugne the fleet of Spaine;

Then all that royall nauie could containe:

Such feruent loue vnto their soueraigne’s name,

With fierie courage did their hearts enflame.

191.

Those stout sea-searchers of the stormie flood,The sonnes of Nereus broad sea-sayling race,And the braue offspring of Prometheus brood,That with loud thunder-claps their foe-men chace,Who inElizae’sroyall fleet had place,Made solemne vowes, backe to returne no more,Except with conquest to their natiue shore.

Those stout sea-searchers of the stormie flood,

The sonnes of Nereus broad sea-sayling race,

And the braue offspring of Prometheus brood,

That with loud thunder-claps their foe-men chace,

Who inElizae’sroyall fleet had place,

Made solemne vowes, backe to returne no more,

Except with conquest to their natiue shore.

192.

Now Earle of Nottingham.

Mongst whom the noblest obiect of them all,That in the fleete did hold supreamest swayWent honor’dHoward, as chiefe admirall,Who by his stout demeanor did assay,With courage bold to lead them on the way,And euery heart did fill with hautie spirit,By glorious deeds immortall fame to merit.

Mongst whom the noblest obiect of them all,

That in the fleete did hold supreamest sway

Went honor’dHoward, as chiefe admirall,

Who by his stout demeanor did assay,

With courage bold to lead them on the way,

And euery heart did fill with hautie spirit,

By glorious deeds immortall fame to merit.

193.

Vpon th’Eolian gods supportfull wings,With chearefull shouts, they parted from the shore,While heau’n and earth and all the ocean ringsWith sounds, which on her wings loud echo bore,Of trumpets, drums, shrill fifes and cannons rore,To which the people’s shouts on shores fast by,Reecho’d in the rockes with loud replie.

Vpon th’Eolian gods supportfull wings,

With chearefull shouts, they parted from the shore,

While heau’n and earth and all the ocean rings

With sounds, which on her wings loud echo bore,

Of trumpets, drums, shrill fifes and cannons rore,

To which the people’s shouts on shores fast by,

Reecho’d in the rockes with loud replie.

194.

While they aboord at sea, so heere at homeT’auert all harmes, all subiects did prepare,In mightie tumult to the murmuring drumme,The multitude did make repaire from farre,To trie their valour in th’approching warreThirsting to meete their foes on equall ground,All hoping in their fall to be renown’d.

While they aboord at sea, so heere at home

T’auert all harmes, all subiects did prepare,

In mightie tumult to the murmuring drumme,

The multitude did make repaire from farre,

To trie their valour in th’approching warre

Thirsting to meete their foes on equall ground,

All hoping in their fall to be renown’d.

195.

With ornaments of warre, the earth did flow,Glazing the skies with armes resplendent light,And euery place in aire, shot vp did showThe blood-red crosse, which did conduct to fightMany faire bands, all men of powerfull might;For both of horse and foot, from euery shiere,Thicke squadrons daily did in field appeare.

With ornaments of warre, the earth did flow,

Glazing the skies with armes resplendent light,

And euery place in aire, shot vp did show

The blood-red crosse, which did conduct to fight

Many faire bands, all men of powerfull might;

For both of horse and foot, from euery shiere,

Thicke squadrons daily did in field appeare.

196.

Th’appointed place of generall meeting wasIn Essex, on the coast at Tilburie,To which the people in such troopes did passe,That with their traine the shores they multiplieLike Palamedes birds that forme the Y,When cloud-like in thicke flockes their flight they takeOre Thracian woods, to Strymon’s seuen-fold lake.

Th’appointed place of generall meeting was

In Essex, on the coast at Tilburie,

To which the people in such troopes did passe,

That with their traine the shores they multiplie

Like Palamedes birds that forme the Y,

When cloud-like in thicke flockes their flight they take

Ore Thracian woods, to Strymon’s seuen-fold lake.

197.

There pight they downe their tents t’oppose all harmes,Set vp the royall standards all about,The faire supporters ofElizae’sarmes,The rampant lion, and the dragon stout,And th’ensigne of Saint George, which many a routOf Mars his noble race with conquering handHath famous made, in many a forren land.

There pight they downe their tents t’oppose all harmes,

Set vp the royall standards all about,

The faire supporters ofElizae’sarmes,

The rampant lion, and the dragon stout,

And th’ensigne of Saint George, which many a rout

Of Mars his noble race with conquering hand

Hath famous made, in many a forren land.

198.

Vnder whose colours like a leauie wood,The host in seuerall bands digested allInrankt about with shot and pike-men stood,As firme for battell, as a brazen wall,Who to the workes of death did thirst to fall,Inflam’d in heart with burning fire to fightFor England’s virgin, and their countrie’s right.

Vnder whose colours like a leauie wood,

The host in seuerall bands digested all

Inrankt about with shot and pike-men stood,

As firme for battell, as a brazen wall,

Who to the workes of death did thirst to fall,

Inflam’d in heart with burning fire to fight

For England’s virgin, and their countrie’s right.

199.

Well did each horse-man teach his horse to run,To stoope, to stop, to turne, to breake the field,Well each bold musketier did vse his gun,Each launceer well his weightie launce did wield,Each drew his sword and well addrest his shield,Teaching each other by this braue array,How on their foes they best might giue th’assay.

Well did each horse-man teach his horse to run,

To stoope, to stop, to turne, to breake the field,

Well each bold musketier did vse his gun,

Each launceer well his weightie launce did wield,

Each drew his sword and well addrest his shield,

Teaching each other by this braue array,

How on their foes they best might giue th’assay.

200.

The sound of fifes, of drums, and trumpets shrill,And mutuall exhortations for the warre,All fainting hearts with manly sprite did fill,And th’armed horse, that smell the fight from farre,Inraged that the curbing bit should barreTheir forwardnesse, with neighing loud did crieFor present combat gainst the enemie.

The sound of fifes, of drums, and trumpets shrill,

And mutuall exhortations for the warre,

All fainting hearts with manly sprite did fill,

And th’armed horse, that smell the fight from farre,

Inraged that the curbing bit should barre

Their forwardnesse, with neighing loud did crie

For present combat gainst the enemie.

201.

Earle of Leicester.

Thus in the field the royall host did stand,None fainting vnder base timiditie,But readie bent to vse their running handAgainst the force of forren enemie,If they should chance t’arriue at Tilburie:Mongst whom greatDudliebore supreamest sway,Against their foes to lead them on the way.

Thus in the field the royall host did stand,

None fainting vnder base timiditie,

But readie bent to vse their running hand

Against the force of forren enemie,

If they should chance t’arriue at Tilburie:

Mongst whom greatDudliebore supreamest sway,

Against their foes to lead them on the way.

202.

Rich. Hakluit, andStowin his Annals.

And as the daughter of the mightie Ioue,When from the browes of heau’n she takes her flightDowne to those sonnes of Mars, whom she doth loue,In her celestiall armes with glorie dight,To bring them dreadlesse to th’approching fight;So England’s empresse, that vndaunted dame,Vnto the campe in glorious triumph came.

And as the daughter of the mightie Ioue,

When from the browes of heau’n she takes her flight

Downe to those sonnes of Mars, whom she doth loue,

In her celestiall armes with glorie dight,

To bring them dreadlesse to th’approching fight;

So England’s empresse, that vndaunted dame,

Vnto the campe in glorious triumph came.

203.

Like noble Tomyris, that queene of Thrace,Deckt in rich vestiments of shining gold,Vpon a snow-white steed of stately pace,Mounted aloft she sate, with courage bold,And in her hand a martial staffe did hold,Riding from ranke to ranke, and troope to troope,To whom with reuerence all the host did stoope.

Like noble Tomyris, that queene of Thrace,

Deckt in rich vestiments of shining gold,

Vpon a snow-white steed of stately pace,

Mounted aloft she sate, with courage bold,

And in her hand a martial staffe did hold,

Riding from ranke to ranke, and troope to troope,

To whom with reuerence all the host did stoope.

204.

Her comely gesture, and her angel’s face,The lodge of pleasure, and of sweet delight,Did make the souldiers thinke some heauenly graceHad left Olympus, and with powerfull mightHad come from Ioue, to cheare them vp for fight,Her presence did with such high spirit inspireTheir manly brests, and set their hearts on fire.

Her comely gesture, and her angel’s face,

The lodge of pleasure, and of sweet delight,

Did make the souldiers thinke some heauenly grace

Had left Olympus, and with powerfull might

Had come from Ioue, to cheare them vp for fight,

Her presence did with such high spirit inspire

Their manly brests, and set their hearts on fire.

205.

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