Chapter 28

And asBunduca, that bold Britaine dame,When ore this land proud Rome did tyrannize,Her Britaine’s heart with courage to enflame,Amidst their troopes all arm’d in seemely wise,Did Pallas-like a pythie speech deuise:So our faire queene, bold spirit to infuseThrough all the host, these princely words did vse:206.“Captaines and souldiers, men of worthie fame,And most admitted to our princely loue,Thinke, what it is, to win a souldier’s name,And fight the battels of the mightie Ioue,With safe protection from his power aboue,Faint thoughts from your stout hearts be farre expell’d,And feare of foes with courage bold be quell’d.207.If that the foe dare set his foot on land,We with the best all danger will out dare,And step by step with you in person stand,To be a partner with you, in that share,Which God shall giue vs, be it foule or faire:Then by my side like loyall subiects stand,And Ioue assist vs with his powerfull hand.”208.This said from ranke to ranke, she rode about,Enabling their endeuours for the fight,And with sweet words from their bold brests blew outAll fainting spirit, and did their hearts exciteWith ready hands, to vse their vtmost might:Which royall gesture of so faire a queene,Would haue inspir’d a coward’s heart with spleene.209.Thus hauing chear’d the common soulderie,The cloudie euen began to shut vp day:Wherefore she backe return’d from Tilburie,And towards that martiall field did take her way,Where as that other royall armie lay,In which did march the nobles of the land,In rich array, each with his seuerall band.210.Troopt vp there were in that same strong-arm’d host,Fortie three thousand perfect in the frameOf euery fight, who of that time may boast,And craue inscription in the booke of fame,T’haue been the guard of so diuine a dame,Who for her person only chosen were,Martiall’d byHunsdonthat true hearted peere.211.M. Thomas Flemming.But while the noble queene her selfe appli’dT’oppugne the foe, that should her state assaile,Loe, from the Groyne the blacke fleet was descri’d,Who now befriended with a gentle gale,For England’s rockie bounds did make full saile,Of whom hight captaineFlemmingfirst had sight,And fled before them with industrious flight.212.At Plimmouth port where th’English fleet did lie,He with full saile came in, and cri’d amaine:“Weigh vp your ankors, hoise your sailes on high;For likeOrtigian Deloson the maine,Behold, th’Iberian fleet from shores of SpaineComes hard at hand, and threatens our decay;Then arme, aboord with speed, make no delay.”213.This said, confusedly the souldiers ranTo ships from shore, earth flew about their feet,Then weigh’d they vp their ankors, and each manPut to his helping hand, to bring their fleetInto the seas, the aduerse foes to meet,And though the froward winds did them withstand,They warped out their ships by force of hand.214.Then might they see from farre vpon the maine,Like a blacke wood approching more and more,Their foe-men’s tragicke fleet, which in disdaineWith sound of trumpets, drums, and cannons rore,Came proudly thundring by the rockie shore,And with amazement th’English to affright,Their souldiers with loud shouts the heau’ns did smite.215.Stowin his Ann. p. 1249.They sayling came in order for the fight,In such a forme on Thetis siluer brest,As bright-cheekt Cinthia shewes in darkest night,When stretching out her hornes into the east,She shewes but halfe her face, and hides the rest,Which made a crescent moone vpon the maine,Whose hornes eight miles in compasse did containe.216.The royall English fleet, which did beholdThe martiall order of their nauall traine,Came sayling forward, and with courage bold,For England’s queene did waue their fleet amaine,Who in contempt soone waued them againe,Whereby defiance with vndaunted pride,By cannons cuffe was giuen from either side.217.Then bloodie Ennyon thundring out aloud,Made each one thirst in fight his foe t’offend,And as fierce fire wrapt vp in dampish cloud,With violent force the sides thereof doth rend,And with pale lightning thunder downe doth send;So England’s warlike fleet wing’d with swift gale,Broke through the waues th’Iberians to assaile.218.The first fight before Plimmouth.The drums did beat, the trumpets shrill did sound,Each aduerse force began the furious fight;Then in the aire the fierce claps did redoundOf cannons hidious rore, and with affright,Fire flashing leapt about and maz’d their sight;And thus in furie did the fight beginWith darknesse, horror, death and dreadfull din.219.The seas did boile, the buxome aire did swell,A cloake of clouds did ouercast the skie,The echoing rockes the fight farre off did tell,The bullets thicke as haile from clouds on high,From either side in gloomie smoake did flie,And pale-fac’d death vnseene of all the throng,Aboue their heads in thicke fumes houering hung.220.The fight grew fell, and of disaster hapsIn each blacke barke reports loud trumpet sings,While heau’n records the cannons roring claps,And the darke aire with grumbling murmuringsOf whistling bullets, borne on fiery wings,Whose horrid thunder drown’d the volleies hotAnd lesser noise of many a thousand shot.221.Oft did the English with the winde and weather,Charge on their foe-men’s ships with hot assay,Who for their safegard bound round vp together,Pluckt in their hornes and in a roundell lay,While on their sides the cannon still did play,Not daring fight, except to rescue those,That beaten were by their bold Britaine foes.222.LordThomas Howardnow Earle of Suffolke.Both the boldHowardsand lordSheffieldhight,WithHawkins,Frobisher, and famousDrake,BraueBarker,Crosse, andSouthwellthat stout knight,There, where the foes the fight most hot did make,Through danger, dread and death their way did take,And gainst their foes did fierie vengeance spit,Which did their barks great bulkes in sunder split.223.They brake into the midst of Spaine’s blacke fleet,Opposing dreadfull death to win renowne,As when in skies the earth-bred brothers meet,When Boreas flying about with stormie frowne,Doth cuff the clouds, and brings his brothers downe;For with high spirit, heau’n did their hearts inspire,T’assaile the foes and burne their fleet with fire.224.RenownedHoward, England’s admirall,Longing to see the Castile king’s disgrace,Their stoutest hearts with terror did appall,Who meeting with his foe-men face to face,Vnto his furie made them all giue place,Breaking so farre into the fleet alone,That from the aduerse foes he scarce was knowne.225.Wherein the midst of danger vncontrol’d,Vpon the vpper decke he stood on high,From whence, when as from far he did beholdOne of his captaines, who did wafting lieWithout the danger of the enemie,Out of a cloud of smoake he loud did call,Aboue his head wauing his sword withall.226.M.George Fenner, This was in the second fight before Portland.Rich. Hak.in the end of his 1. volume.“OGeorge,” quoth he, “why dost thou shun the presse?Report renownes thy name for valiancie:Then leaue me not alone in this distresse;But with vndaunted spirit follow meTo gaine the palme of glorious victorie;So shall that hope, which I conceiue of thee,In this daie’s bloodie fight not frustrate bee.”227.The captaine heard, and like a stormie puffe,That stoopes from clouds and beats the billowes vnder,He brake into the fight with cannons cuffe,And came in height of spirit importing wonderIn clouds of smoake, in fierie flames and thunder,With whom did many others giue th’assay,And through Spaine’s fleet did furrow vp their way.228.The foes turn’d head, and made a violent stand,Both parts stood bent each other to confound;The cannons thicke discharg’d on either handWrapt clouds in clouds of smoake, which did abound,And hurl’d their horrid thunder forth to wound;But fortune on the foes in fight did frowne,And in her ballance, Spaine’s hard lot sunke downe.229.With fruits of death the fruitlesse waues did flow,The seas did blush with blood, the ayrie skieDid swell with grones, and wandring to and fro,In clouds of smoake the grudging soules did flieOf slaughtred bodies, that did floting lieAbout the ocean, seeking for their tombesIn hollow rockes and monsters hungrie wombes.230.This happened in the third conflict before the Ile of Wight. It was fired by a shot.And in the fight, t’increase the foe-men’s harmes,A ruddie flame from th’English fleet did flie,Which swiftly seased in his spoilefull armesThe stout viceadmirall of th’enemie,Who proudly bore her loftie head on high,And with the violence of his shamefull flashes,Did quickly burne her vpper workes to ashes.231.A golden bonfire on the siluer wauesDid flote about, whose flame did reach the skies,While the poore Spaniard and his captiue slaues,Seeing their tragicke fall before their eies,Amidst the fire in vaine shriekt out shrill cries;For th’horrid fire all mercilesse did choakeThe scorched wretches with infestiue smoake.232.Many tall ships, that did in greatnesse passeThe greatest of our fleet, did fall in fight,Mongst whom, that faire galeon surprised was,In which renownedValdes, that stout knight,With other captaines of approued might,Did yeeld themselues and all their golden treasureTo nobleDrake, to be at his good pleasure.233.Three famous conflicts, in three seuerall daies,Elizae’shardie captaines did maintaine,And by their valour won eternall praise,Oft turning into flight the fleet of Spaine,With dreadfull fire, and cannon’s deadly bane,Who now t’effect what they did vainely boastHouer’d twixt Calice and the English coast.234.There cast they ankor, and conuei’d with speedSwift notice to the prince of Parma hight,Who thither should repaire, as was decreed,And while each aduerse fleet stood hot in fight,For England he should passe with all his might,For which intent he had prepar’d before,Foure hundred ships vpon the Belgicke shore.235.But nobleSeimerin the foe-men’s sight,WithIustinof Nassau, that Belgian bold,And worthieWinter, that vndaunted knight,With their tall ships on th’ocean vncontrol’d,About the Belgicke strand strong gard did hold,Whose proud afront the foes did daunt so sore,That not a ship durst launch from off the shore.236.Allenwas made Cardinall for that purpose.Yet the stout prince of Parma fondly ledWith hope, thatAllen, that false fugitiue,Sent from proudSixtusto adorne his headWith faireElizae’scrowne, in vaine did striueWith all his power, his purpose to atchieue;And vnto Dunkirk came with all his force,To put in practise his intended course.237.Meane time the fleet, that did expect his aide,Before French Calice did at ankor lie,And now the chearefull day began to vade,And Vulcan’s louely Venus mounting high,Appear’d for euening starre in easterne skie,Whereby both aduerse fleets did cease from fight,And rendred place vnto th’approching night.238.But when soft sleepe, the carelesse thoughts did bindOf others, that secure in cabbins lay,Each English leader in his labouring mindDid fashion counsels, how to giue th’assay,And driue from thence their foe-men’s fleet away,Who there did purpose by the shore to lie,That from the prince they might haue fresh supplie.239.Amongst themselues our captaines did agree,That eight small ships with artificiall fire,Amidst the Spanish fleet should driuen beeIn dead of night, to execute their ireVpon the foes, that did sweet sleepe desire:Which dreadfull stratagem against the foe,StoutYongand valiantProwsedid vndergoe.240.The time came on, the drowzie night did frowne,Who clasping th’earth’s wide bounds with sable wings,Vpon the seas did powre grim darknesse downe,While sleepe, that vnto care sweet comfort brings,In quiet slumber, husht all watchfull things;And then the ships all fir’d for the euent,Amongst the foes with winde and tide were sent.241.Through foggie clouds of night’s Cymmerian blacke,A glimmering light the watch did first espie,Which drifting fast vpon the sea-god’s backe,And to the Spanish fleete approching nigh,Burst out in flames into the darkesome skie,Glazing the heau’ns and chasing gloomie night,From off the seas with admirable light.242.A sudden puffe with force of powder driuen,Oft blew vp sulphuric flames, in aire on high,From whence, as if that starres did drop from heau’n,The liuely sparkes on wings of winde did flie,Threatning confusion to the enemie;Who startled from their sleepe, shriekt out th’alarmeTo euery ship, to shun such dismall harme.243.Th’Iberians drown’d before in sweet repose,With feare affrighted from their naked rest,Their eye-lids wanting weight one winke to close,Beheld the fire on Neptune’s burning brest,Which trembling horror in their hearts imprest;For floting towards them with fearefull flashes,It threatned sore to burne their ships to ashes.244.Then with disorder euery one did cutTheir blacke pitch’d cables, hoysing sailes with speed,And from the shore to the maine seas did put,In hope from present danger to be freed,That did such terror in their bosomes breed,While on the waues the burning ships bright light,Did make a sun-shine in the midst of night.245.Who being disperst amongst their nauie came,And like fire-spitting monsters on the maine,In sable clouds of smoake and threatning flame,Did fiercely bellow out their deadly bane;Which horror th’English nauie did maintaine,Discharging all their thundring shot togetherVpon th’Iberian foes with winde and weather.246.The horrid noise amaz’d the silent night,Repowring downe blacke darknesse from the skie,Through which th’affrighted Spaniard with blind flight,His friends from foes not able to descrie,Vpon the darkesome waues did scattered flie;In which disturbance driuen with winde and weather,Spaine’s chiefe galiasse fell foule vpon another.247.Which all vnable to escape with flight,The startled fleet did leaue alone forlorne,Keeping aloofe at sea, all that sad night;But when from th’east the opall-coloured morneWith golden light the ocean did adorne,The English fleet Spaine’s great galliasse did spie,Which cast vpon a sandie shoale did lie.248.Whom captainePrestonvaliantly did bord,Sent from the fleet in his long boat well man’d,Which with an hundred hardie men was stor’d,Who to the face of death oppos’d did stand,About the ship vsing their readie hand,Gainst whoso assault at first th’Iberian foes,With proud resistance did themselues oppose.249.ForHugo de Moncada, valiant manWith noble courage did the fight maintaine,Till through his wounded forehead’s hardned pan,A fatall shot with bullets deadly bane,Made open passage to the liuely braine,Who being slaine, to shun the slaughtering sword,Most of the residue leapt ouer bord.250.Thus great kingPhilip’smountaine-like galliasse,In which three hundred slaues lug’d at the oare,And twice two hundred armed men did passe,Was soone despoil’d of all her golden storeBy a small band of men on Calice shore,Which fiftie thousand duckets did containe,Of the rich treasure of the king of Spaine.251.Meane time the blacke fleet floting on the maine,The night before disperst with foule affright,In hope her former purpose to obtaine,Return’d againe from base inglorious flight,Arang’d in order for the nauall fight,Which in diuided squadrons th’English fleet,With hot incounter furiously did meet.252.This conflict being the fourth and last, was before Greueling.Who bound vp round together in a ring,Lay close in their defence against their foe;But as the southerne blasts in budding spring,When Auster’s swelling cheekes do ouerflowIn handfuls thicke the blossomes downe to blow;So thicke and dreadfully did slaughter flieFrom th’English fleet amongst the enemie.253.Then had th’Iberians dread, their pride did bow,Their foes by valour brake their nauall round,And as a torrent from an hil’s steepe brow,Clad in fresh showers and thunder’s fearefull sound,Beares all before it in the plaine land ground;So did they beat from off their natiue bounds,Spain’s mighty fleet with cannons scathful wounds.254.And where the skirmish was propos’d most hot,Their valiantDrakedid breake into the fight,And though his ship were pierc’d with wounding shotTwice twentie times; yet with vndaunted mightHe horriblie did plie their sudden fright,And with wide wounds the hollow keeles did batterOf three tall ships betwixt the winde and water.255.Then in despaire with hands and weeping eies,To heau’n the wretches prai’d for their escape,And to some saint of heau’n with open cries,Each one in blind deuotion prayers did shape;But all in vaine, the gulfie flood did gape,And in the deepe of his deuouring wombe,Both men and ships did suddenly intombe.256.The rest all daunted with such vncouth sight,From spoile to saue their fleet no time did spare,But hoysing saile betooke themselues to flight,Cursing sterne fate, that brought their fleet so farre,To be despoil’d in such successelesse warre;And after all their boasting backe recoile,With emptie hands vnto their natiue soyle.257.They heartlesse fled, but in their hastie flight,Two great galeons of captiu’d Portugale,The huge SaintPhilip, and SaintMatthewhight,GreatSeymerand stoutWinterdid so gallWith wounding cuffe of cannons fierie ball,That on the Belgian coast by friends forsaken,They with their captaines by their foes were taken.258.Meane time the English with full saile did plieThe manage of the foes inglorious flight,And as high stomack’d hounds, that with full criePursue the fearefull game, do take delightTo pinch the haunch behind with eager bite;So didElizae’sfleet pursue the foesWith shouts of men, and bullets banefull blowes.259.They all array’d in warre’s vermillion,Did chace them to those seas of stormes and thunder,Ouer whose waues in heau’ns pauillion,Amongst those many golden workes of wonder,A dragon keepes two wrathfull beares asunder,And there they left them, in those seas to drowne,Returning backe with conquest and renowne.260.They gone, the wretched foes in wofull caseHelplesse, perceiuing by sterne fortune’s doome,Their action ended in extreame disgrace,And in fame’s stead, for which they forth did come,Finding but wounds to cure when they came home,Did curse the ordinance of mightie Ioue,Gainst whom with their huge strength in vaine they stroue.261.But while at sea, all were to labour giuen,Securely rigging vp their crazed ships,Al-seeing Ioue did worke their banes in heau’n;For in an instant from his heau’nly lips,From pole to pole a winged message skips,And posting round about the earth’s great ball,From th’house of stormes th’Eolian slaues did call.262.Then furious Auster, Ioue’s command once giuen;With Eurus, Zephirus, and Boreas ruffe,Stoopt from the cloudie corners of the heau’nVpon those seas, and with a violent puffe,The tumbling billowes all on heapes did cuffe;And raving gainst the rockes with hidious rore,Wrapt waues in waues, and hurl’d them on the shore.263.Meane while night’s curtaines steept in Stygian blacke,The crystall battlements of heau’n did hide;Then Ioue did thunder, and the heau’ns did cracke,Pale lightning leapt about on euery side,The clouds inconstant flood-gates opened wide,And nought, but mists, haile, raine, dark stormes and thunder,Did fall from heau’n vpon the salt seas vnder.264.The white froth-foaming flood began to raue,And enter combate with the fleet of Spaine,Hurring it head-long on the mountaine-waue,Now from the shores into the roring maine,And now from thence vnto the shores againe,While all the stoutest sea-men quake and quiuer.Lest winde-driuen waues their ships in sunder shiuer.265.“Heere strike, strike, sirs, the top mast:” one doth crie,Another saies: “Vale misene and sprit saile:”And heere a third bids: “Let the maine sheate flie:”All fall to worke themselves from death to baile,Some cut the saile-cloaths, some againe do haileThe saile yards downe, while others pumpe with paine,Sending the seas into the seas againe.266.Heere one vp lifted on a mountaine steepe,By dreadfull flashing of heau’ns lightning bright,With pallid feare lookes downe vpon the deepeInto a pit, as deepe and blacke in sight,As Tartarus the lothsome brood of night,In whose wide gulfie mouth he thinkes to drowne,Seeing the ship all topsie turning downe:267.Another heere in sandie shoale doth lie,With mountaine waues on all sides walled round,And seemes from hell to see the loftie skie,Looking, when wallowing waues with windie bound,In that deepe pit the vessell would confound,Till with the lustie waue, the mounting shipFrom thence to heau’n doth in a moment skip.268.The poore sad sailers beaten out of breathWith toilesome paine, and with long watching worne,Through feare, the feeble consort of cold death,Not knowing, alas, which way themselues to turne,With wofull cries their fatall fall did mourne,And cast their eyes to heau’n, where, what was seene,Was blacke as hell, as if no heau’n had been.269.Heere the greene billowes bounding gainst a ship,Vncaukes the keele, and with continuall waste,Washing the pitch away, the seames vnrip,While th’angrie tempest, with a boistrous blast,Beares the false stem away, springs the maine mast,And breaking downe the decke, doth passage winFor the next surging sea to enter in.270.Then all amaz’d shriekes out confused cries,While the seas rote doth ring their dolefull knell,Some call to heau’n for helpe with weeping eies,Some moane themselues, some bid their friends farewell,Some idols-like in horrors senselesse dwell,Heere in sad silence one his faint heart showes,Another there doth thus his feare disclose:271.“Thrice happie they, whose hap it was in fightAgainst the foes to fall, when others stood:Ye conquering English, causers of our flight,Why were your swords not bath’d in my deare blood;And why did I not perish in the flood?Where braueMoncadadi’d with many more,Whose bodies now do swim about the shore.”272.This said, a waue, that neuer brake asunder,But mounting vp, as if with loftie frowneIt view’d the working of the waters vnder,Came like a ruin’d mountaine falling downe,And with his weight the wretched ship did drowne,Which sinking, in the gulfe, did seeke her graueAnd neuer more appear’d aboue the waue.273.

And asBunduca, that bold Britaine dame,

When ore this land proud Rome did tyrannize,

Her Britaine’s heart with courage to enflame,

Amidst their troopes all arm’d in seemely wise,

Did Pallas-like a pythie speech deuise:

So our faire queene, bold spirit to infuse

Through all the host, these princely words did vse:

206.

“Captaines and souldiers, men of worthie fame,And most admitted to our princely loue,Thinke, what it is, to win a souldier’s name,And fight the battels of the mightie Ioue,With safe protection from his power aboue,Faint thoughts from your stout hearts be farre expell’d,And feare of foes with courage bold be quell’d.

“Captaines and souldiers, men of worthie fame,

And most admitted to our princely loue,

Thinke, what it is, to win a souldier’s name,

And fight the battels of the mightie Ioue,

With safe protection from his power aboue,

Faint thoughts from your stout hearts be farre expell’d,

And feare of foes with courage bold be quell’d.

207.

If that the foe dare set his foot on land,We with the best all danger will out dare,And step by step with you in person stand,To be a partner with you, in that share,Which God shall giue vs, be it foule or faire:Then by my side like loyall subiects stand,And Ioue assist vs with his powerfull hand.”

If that the foe dare set his foot on land,

We with the best all danger will out dare,

And step by step with you in person stand,

To be a partner with you, in that share,

Which God shall giue vs, be it foule or faire:

Then by my side like loyall subiects stand,

And Ioue assist vs with his powerfull hand.”

208.

This said from ranke to ranke, she rode about,Enabling their endeuours for the fight,And with sweet words from their bold brests blew outAll fainting spirit, and did their hearts exciteWith ready hands, to vse their vtmost might:Which royall gesture of so faire a queene,Would haue inspir’d a coward’s heart with spleene.

This said from ranke to ranke, she rode about,

Enabling their endeuours for the fight,

And with sweet words from their bold brests blew out

All fainting spirit, and did their hearts excite

With ready hands, to vse their vtmost might:

Which royall gesture of so faire a queene,

Would haue inspir’d a coward’s heart with spleene.

209.

Thus hauing chear’d the common soulderie,The cloudie euen began to shut vp day:Wherefore she backe return’d from Tilburie,And towards that martiall field did take her way,Where as that other royall armie lay,In which did march the nobles of the land,In rich array, each with his seuerall band.

Thus hauing chear’d the common soulderie,

The cloudie euen began to shut vp day:

Wherefore she backe return’d from Tilburie,

And towards that martiall field did take her way,

Where as that other royall armie lay,

In which did march the nobles of the land,

In rich array, each with his seuerall band.

210.

Troopt vp there were in that same strong-arm’d host,Fortie three thousand perfect in the frameOf euery fight, who of that time may boast,And craue inscription in the booke of fame,T’haue been the guard of so diuine a dame,Who for her person only chosen were,Martiall’d byHunsdonthat true hearted peere.

Troopt vp there were in that same strong-arm’d host,

Fortie three thousand perfect in the frame

Of euery fight, who of that time may boast,

And craue inscription in the booke of fame,

T’haue been the guard of so diuine a dame,

Who for her person only chosen were,

Martiall’d byHunsdonthat true hearted peere.

211.

M. Thomas Flemming.

But while the noble queene her selfe appli’dT’oppugne the foe, that should her state assaile,Loe, from the Groyne the blacke fleet was descri’d,Who now befriended with a gentle gale,For England’s rockie bounds did make full saile,Of whom hight captaineFlemmingfirst had sight,And fled before them with industrious flight.

But while the noble queene her selfe appli’d

T’oppugne the foe, that should her state assaile,

Loe, from the Groyne the blacke fleet was descri’d,

Who now befriended with a gentle gale,

For England’s rockie bounds did make full saile,

Of whom hight captaineFlemmingfirst had sight,

And fled before them with industrious flight.

212.

At Plimmouth port where th’English fleet did lie,He with full saile came in, and cri’d amaine:“Weigh vp your ankors, hoise your sailes on high;For likeOrtigian Deloson the maine,Behold, th’Iberian fleet from shores of SpaineComes hard at hand, and threatens our decay;Then arme, aboord with speed, make no delay.”

At Plimmouth port where th’English fleet did lie,

He with full saile came in, and cri’d amaine:

“Weigh vp your ankors, hoise your sailes on high;

For likeOrtigian Deloson the maine,

Behold, th’Iberian fleet from shores of Spaine

Comes hard at hand, and threatens our decay;

Then arme, aboord with speed, make no delay.”

213.

This said, confusedly the souldiers ranTo ships from shore, earth flew about their feet,Then weigh’d they vp their ankors, and each manPut to his helping hand, to bring their fleetInto the seas, the aduerse foes to meet,And though the froward winds did them withstand,They warped out their ships by force of hand.

This said, confusedly the souldiers ran

To ships from shore, earth flew about their feet,

Then weigh’d they vp their ankors, and each man

Put to his helping hand, to bring their fleet

Into the seas, the aduerse foes to meet,

And though the froward winds did them withstand,

They warped out their ships by force of hand.

214.

Then might they see from farre vpon the maine,Like a blacke wood approching more and more,Their foe-men’s tragicke fleet, which in disdaineWith sound of trumpets, drums, and cannons rore,Came proudly thundring by the rockie shore,And with amazement th’English to affright,Their souldiers with loud shouts the heau’ns did smite.

Then might they see from farre vpon the maine,

Like a blacke wood approching more and more,

Their foe-men’s tragicke fleet, which in disdaine

With sound of trumpets, drums, and cannons rore,

Came proudly thundring by the rockie shore,

And with amazement th’English to affright,

Their souldiers with loud shouts the heau’ns did smite.

215.

Stowin his Ann. p. 1249.

They sayling came in order for the fight,In such a forme on Thetis siluer brest,As bright-cheekt Cinthia shewes in darkest night,When stretching out her hornes into the east,She shewes but halfe her face, and hides the rest,Which made a crescent moone vpon the maine,Whose hornes eight miles in compasse did containe.

They sayling came in order for the fight,

In such a forme on Thetis siluer brest,

As bright-cheekt Cinthia shewes in darkest night,

When stretching out her hornes into the east,

She shewes but halfe her face, and hides the rest,

Which made a crescent moone vpon the maine,

Whose hornes eight miles in compasse did containe.

216.

The royall English fleet, which did beholdThe martiall order of their nauall traine,Came sayling forward, and with courage bold,For England’s queene did waue their fleet amaine,Who in contempt soone waued them againe,Whereby defiance with vndaunted pride,By cannons cuffe was giuen from either side.

The royall English fleet, which did behold

The martiall order of their nauall traine,

Came sayling forward, and with courage bold,

For England’s queene did waue their fleet amaine,

Who in contempt soone waued them againe,

Whereby defiance with vndaunted pride,

By cannons cuffe was giuen from either side.

217.

Then bloodie Ennyon thundring out aloud,Made each one thirst in fight his foe t’offend,And as fierce fire wrapt vp in dampish cloud,With violent force the sides thereof doth rend,And with pale lightning thunder downe doth send;So England’s warlike fleet wing’d with swift gale,Broke through the waues th’Iberians to assaile.

Then bloodie Ennyon thundring out aloud,

Made each one thirst in fight his foe t’offend,

And as fierce fire wrapt vp in dampish cloud,

With violent force the sides thereof doth rend,

And with pale lightning thunder downe doth send;

So England’s warlike fleet wing’d with swift gale,

Broke through the waues th’Iberians to assaile.

218.

The first fight before Plimmouth.

The drums did beat, the trumpets shrill did sound,Each aduerse force began the furious fight;Then in the aire the fierce claps did redoundOf cannons hidious rore, and with affright,Fire flashing leapt about and maz’d their sight;And thus in furie did the fight beginWith darknesse, horror, death and dreadfull din.

The drums did beat, the trumpets shrill did sound,

Each aduerse force began the furious fight;

Then in the aire the fierce claps did redound

Of cannons hidious rore, and with affright,

Fire flashing leapt about and maz’d their sight;

And thus in furie did the fight begin

With darknesse, horror, death and dreadfull din.

219.

The seas did boile, the buxome aire did swell,A cloake of clouds did ouercast the skie,The echoing rockes the fight farre off did tell,The bullets thicke as haile from clouds on high,From either side in gloomie smoake did flie,And pale-fac’d death vnseene of all the throng,Aboue their heads in thicke fumes houering hung.

The seas did boile, the buxome aire did swell,

A cloake of clouds did ouercast the skie,

The echoing rockes the fight farre off did tell,

The bullets thicke as haile from clouds on high,

From either side in gloomie smoake did flie,

And pale-fac’d death vnseene of all the throng,

Aboue their heads in thicke fumes houering hung.

220.

The fight grew fell, and of disaster hapsIn each blacke barke reports loud trumpet sings,While heau’n records the cannons roring claps,And the darke aire with grumbling murmuringsOf whistling bullets, borne on fiery wings,Whose horrid thunder drown’d the volleies hotAnd lesser noise of many a thousand shot.

The fight grew fell, and of disaster haps

In each blacke barke reports loud trumpet sings,

While heau’n records the cannons roring claps,

And the darke aire with grumbling murmurings

Of whistling bullets, borne on fiery wings,

Whose horrid thunder drown’d the volleies hot

And lesser noise of many a thousand shot.

221.

Oft did the English with the winde and weather,Charge on their foe-men’s ships with hot assay,Who for their safegard bound round vp together,Pluckt in their hornes and in a roundell lay,While on their sides the cannon still did play,Not daring fight, except to rescue those,That beaten were by their bold Britaine foes.

Oft did the English with the winde and weather,

Charge on their foe-men’s ships with hot assay,

Who for their safegard bound round vp together,

Pluckt in their hornes and in a roundell lay,

While on their sides the cannon still did play,

Not daring fight, except to rescue those,

That beaten were by their bold Britaine foes.

222.

LordThomas Howardnow Earle of Suffolke.

Both the boldHowardsand lordSheffieldhight,WithHawkins,Frobisher, and famousDrake,BraueBarker,Crosse, andSouthwellthat stout knight,There, where the foes the fight most hot did make,Through danger, dread and death their way did take,And gainst their foes did fierie vengeance spit,Which did their barks great bulkes in sunder split.

Both the boldHowardsand lordSheffieldhight,

WithHawkins,Frobisher, and famousDrake,

BraueBarker,Crosse, andSouthwellthat stout knight,

There, where the foes the fight most hot did make,

Through danger, dread and death their way did take,

And gainst their foes did fierie vengeance spit,

Which did their barks great bulkes in sunder split.

223.

They brake into the midst of Spaine’s blacke fleet,Opposing dreadfull death to win renowne,As when in skies the earth-bred brothers meet,When Boreas flying about with stormie frowne,Doth cuff the clouds, and brings his brothers downe;For with high spirit, heau’n did their hearts inspire,T’assaile the foes and burne their fleet with fire.

They brake into the midst of Spaine’s blacke fleet,

Opposing dreadfull death to win renowne,

As when in skies the earth-bred brothers meet,

When Boreas flying about with stormie frowne,

Doth cuff the clouds, and brings his brothers downe;

For with high spirit, heau’n did their hearts inspire,

T’assaile the foes and burne their fleet with fire.

224.

RenownedHoward, England’s admirall,Longing to see the Castile king’s disgrace,Their stoutest hearts with terror did appall,Who meeting with his foe-men face to face,Vnto his furie made them all giue place,Breaking so farre into the fleet alone,That from the aduerse foes he scarce was knowne.

RenownedHoward, England’s admirall,

Longing to see the Castile king’s disgrace,

Their stoutest hearts with terror did appall,

Who meeting with his foe-men face to face,

Vnto his furie made them all giue place,

Breaking so farre into the fleet alone,

That from the aduerse foes he scarce was knowne.

225.

Wherein the midst of danger vncontrol’d,Vpon the vpper decke he stood on high,From whence, when as from far he did beholdOne of his captaines, who did wafting lieWithout the danger of the enemie,Out of a cloud of smoake he loud did call,Aboue his head wauing his sword withall.

Wherein the midst of danger vncontrol’d,

Vpon the vpper decke he stood on high,

From whence, when as from far he did behold

One of his captaines, who did wafting lie

Without the danger of the enemie,

Out of a cloud of smoake he loud did call,

Aboue his head wauing his sword withall.

226.

M.George Fenner, This was in the second fight before Portland.Rich. Hak.in the end of his 1. volume.

“OGeorge,” quoth he, “why dost thou shun the presse?Report renownes thy name for valiancie:Then leaue me not alone in this distresse;But with vndaunted spirit follow meTo gaine the palme of glorious victorie;So shall that hope, which I conceiue of thee,In this daie’s bloodie fight not frustrate bee.”

“OGeorge,” quoth he, “why dost thou shun the presse?

Report renownes thy name for valiancie:

Then leaue me not alone in this distresse;

But with vndaunted spirit follow me

To gaine the palme of glorious victorie;

So shall that hope, which I conceiue of thee,

In this daie’s bloodie fight not frustrate bee.”

227.

The captaine heard, and like a stormie puffe,That stoopes from clouds and beats the billowes vnder,He brake into the fight with cannons cuffe,And came in height of spirit importing wonderIn clouds of smoake, in fierie flames and thunder,With whom did many others giue th’assay,And through Spaine’s fleet did furrow vp their way.

The captaine heard, and like a stormie puffe,

That stoopes from clouds and beats the billowes vnder,

He brake into the fight with cannons cuffe,

And came in height of spirit importing wonder

In clouds of smoake, in fierie flames and thunder,

With whom did many others giue th’assay,

And through Spaine’s fleet did furrow vp their way.

228.

The foes turn’d head, and made a violent stand,Both parts stood bent each other to confound;The cannons thicke discharg’d on either handWrapt clouds in clouds of smoake, which did abound,And hurl’d their horrid thunder forth to wound;But fortune on the foes in fight did frowne,And in her ballance, Spaine’s hard lot sunke downe.

The foes turn’d head, and made a violent stand,

Both parts stood bent each other to confound;

The cannons thicke discharg’d on either hand

Wrapt clouds in clouds of smoake, which did abound,

And hurl’d their horrid thunder forth to wound;

But fortune on the foes in fight did frowne,

And in her ballance, Spaine’s hard lot sunke downe.

229.

With fruits of death the fruitlesse waues did flow,The seas did blush with blood, the ayrie skieDid swell with grones, and wandring to and fro,In clouds of smoake the grudging soules did flieOf slaughtred bodies, that did floting lieAbout the ocean, seeking for their tombesIn hollow rockes and monsters hungrie wombes.

With fruits of death the fruitlesse waues did flow,

The seas did blush with blood, the ayrie skie

Did swell with grones, and wandring to and fro,

In clouds of smoake the grudging soules did flie

Of slaughtred bodies, that did floting lie

About the ocean, seeking for their tombes

In hollow rockes and monsters hungrie wombes.

230.

This happened in the third conflict before the Ile of Wight. It was fired by a shot.

And in the fight, t’increase the foe-men’s harmes,A ruddie flame from th’English fleet did flie,Which swiftly seased in his spoilefull armesThe stout viceadmirall of th’enemie,Who proudly bore her loftie head on high,And with the violence of his shamefull flashes,Did quickly burne her vpper workes to ashes.

And in the fight, t’increase the foe-men’s harmes,

A ruddie flame from th’English fleet did flie,

Which swiftly seased in his spoilefull armes

The stout viceadmirall of th’enemie,

Who proudly bore her loftie head on high,

And with the violence of his shamefull flashes,

Did quickly burne her vpper workes to ashes.

231.

A golden bonfire on the siluer wauesDid flote about, whose flame did reach the skies,While the poore Spaniard and his captiue slaues,Seeing their tragicke fall before their eies,Amidst the fire in vaine shriekt out shrill cries;For th’horrid fire all mercilesse did choakeThe scorched wretches with infestiue smoake.

A golden bonfire on the siluer waues

Did flote about, whose flame did reach the skies,

While the poore Spaniard and his captiue slaues,

Seeing their tragicke fall before their eies,

Amidst the fire in vaine shriekt out shrill cries;

For th’horrid fire all mercilesse did choake

The scorched wretches with infestiue smoake.

232.

Many tall ships, that did in greatnesse passeThe greatest of our fleet, did fall in fight,Mongst whom, that faire galeon surprised was,In which renownedValdes, that stout knight,With other captaines of approued might,Did yeeld themselues and all their golden treasureTo nobleDrake, to be at his good pleasure.

Many tall ships, that did in greatnesse passe

The greatest of our fleet, did fall in fight,

Mongst whom, that faire galeon surprised was,

In which renownedValdes, that stout knight,

With other captaines of approued might,

Did yeeld themselues and all their golden treasure

To nobleDrake, to be at his good pleasure.

233.

Three famous conflicts, in three seuerall daies,Elizae’shardie captaines did maintaine,And by their valour won eternall praise,Oft turning into flight the fleet of Spaine,With dreadfull fire, and cannon’s deadly bane,Who now t’effect what they did vainely boastHouer’d twixt Calice and the English coast.

Three famous conflicts, in three seuerall daies,

Elizae’shardie captaines did maintaine,

And by their valour won eternall praise,

Oft turning into flight the fleet of Spaine,

With dreadfull fire, and cannon’s deadly bane,

Who now t’effect what they did vainely boast

Houer’d twixt Calice and the English coast.

234.

There cast they ankor, and conuei’d with speedSwift notice to the prince of Parma hight,Who thither should repaire, as was decreed,And while each aduerse fleet stood hot in fight,For England he should passe with all his might,For which intent he had prepar’d before,Foure hundred ships vpon the Belgicke shore.

There cast they ankor, and conuei’d with speed

Swift notice to the prince of Parma hight,

Who thither should repaire, as was decreed,

And while each aduerse fleet stood hot in fight,

For England he should passe with all his might,

For which intent he had prepar’d before,

Foure hundred ships vpon the Belgicke shore.

235.

But nobleSeimerin the foe-men’s sight,WithIustinof Nassau, that Belgian bold,And worthieWinter, that vndaunted knight,With their tall ships on th’ocean vncontrol’d,About the Belgicke strand strong gard did hold,Whose proud afront the foes did daunt so sore,That not a ship durst launch from off the shore.

But nobleSeimerin the foe-men’s sight,

WithIustinof Nassau, that Belgian bold,

And worthieWinter, that vndaunted knight,

With their tall ships on th’ocean vncontrol’d,

About the Belgicke strand strong gard did hold,

Whose proud afront the foes did daunt so sore,

That not a ship durst launch from off the shore.

236.

Allenwas made Cardinall for that purpose.

Yet the stout prince of Parma fondly ledWith hope, thatAllen, that false fugitiue,Sent from proudSixtusto adorne his headWith faireElizae’scrowne, in vaine did striueWith all his power, his purpose to atchieue;And vnto Dunkirk came with all his force,To put in practise his intended course.

Yet the stout prince of Parma fondly led

With hope, thatAllen, that false fugitiue,

Sent from proudSixtusto adorne his head

With faireElizae’scrowne, in vaine did striue

With all his power, his purpose to atchieue;

And vnto Dunkirk came with all his force,

To put in practise his intended course.

237.

Meane time the fleet, that did expect his aide,Before French Calice did at ankor lie,And now the chearefull day began to vade,And Vulcan’s louely Venus mounting high,Appear’d for euening starre in easterne skie,Whereby both aduerse fleets did cease from fight,And rendred place vnto th’approching night.

Meane time the fleet, that did expect his aide,

Before French Calice did at ankor lie,

And now the chearefull day began to vade,

And Vulcan’s louely Venus mounting high,

Appear’d for euening starre in easterne skie,

Whereby both aduerse fleets did cease from fight,

And rendred place vnto th’approching night.

238.

But when soft sleepe, the carelesse thoughts did bindOf others, that secure in cabbins lay,Each English leader in his labouring mindDid fashion counsels, how to giue th’assay,And driue from thence their foe-men’s fleet away,Who there did purpose by the shore to lie,That from the prince they might haue fresh supplie.

But when soft sleepe, the carelesse thoughts did bind

Of others, that secure in cabbins lay,

Each English leader in his labouring mind

Did fashion counsels, how to giue th’assay,

And driue from thence their foe-men’s fleet away,

Who there did purpose by the shore to lie,

That from the prince they might haue fresh supplie.

239.

Amongst themselues our captaines did agree,That eight small ships with artificiall fire,Amidst the Spanish fleet should driuen beeIn dead of night, to execute their ireVpon the foes, that did sweet sleepe desire:Which dreadfull stratagem against the foe,StoutYongand valiantProwsedid vndergoe.

Amongst themselues our captaines did agree,

That eight small ships with artificiall fire,

Amidst the Spanish fleet should driuen bee

In dead of night, to execute their ire

Vpon the foes, that did sweet sleepe desire:

Which dreadfull stratagem against the foe,

StoutYongand valiantProwsedid vndergoe.

240.

The time came on, the drowzie night did frowne,Who clasping th’earth’s wide bounds with sable wings,Vpon the seas did powre grim darknesse downe,While sleepe, that vnto care sweet comfort brings,In quiet slumber, husht all watchfull things;And then the ships all fir’d for the euent,Amongst the foes with winde and tide were sent.

The time came on, the drowzie night did frowne,

Who clasping th’earth’s wide bounds with sable wings,

Vpon the seas did powre grim darknesse downe,

While sleepe, that vnto care sweet comfort brings,

In quiet slumber, husht all watchfull things;

And then the ships all fir’d for the euent,

Amongst the foes with winde and tide were sent.

241.

Through foggie clouds of night’s Cymmerian blacke,A glimmering light the watch did first espie,Which drifting fast vpon the sea-god’s backe,And to the Spanish fleete approching nigh,Burst out in flames into the darkesome skie,Glazing the heau’ns and chasing gloomie night,From off the seas with admirable light.

Through foggie clouds of night’s Cymmerian blacke,

A glimmering light the watch did first espie,

Which drifting fast vpon the sea-god’s backe,

And to the Spanish fleete approching nigh,

Burst out in flames into the darkesome skie,

Glazing the heau’ns and chasing gloomie night,

From off the seas with admirable light.

242.

A sudden puffe with force of powder driuen,Oft blew vp sulphuric flames, in aire on high,From whence, as if that starres did drop from heau’n,The liuely sparkes on wings of winde did flie,Threatning confusion to the enemie;Who startled from their sleepe, shriekt out th’alarmeTo euery ship, to shun such dismall harme.

A sudden puffe with force of powder driuen,

Oft blew vp sulphuric flames, in aire on high,

From whence, as if that starres did drop from heau’n,

The liuely sparkes on wings of winde did flie,

Threatning confusion to the enemie;

Who startled from their sleepe, shriekt out th’alarme

To euery ship, to shun such dismall harme.

243.

Th’Iberians drown’d before in sweet repose,With feare affrighted from their naked rest,Their eye-lids wanting weight one winke to close,Beheld the fire on Neptune’s burning brest,Which trembling horror in their hearts imprest;For floting towards them with fearefull flashes,It threatned sore to burne their ships to ashes.

Th’Iberians drown’d before in sweet repose,

With feare affrighted from their naked rest,

Their eye-lids wanting weight one winke to close,

Beheld the fire on Neptune’s burning brest,

Which trembling horror in their hearts imprest;

For floting towards them with fearefull flashes,

It threatned sore to burne their ships to ashes.

244.

Then with disorder euery one did cutTheir blacke pitch’d cables, hoysing sailes with speed,And from the shore to the maine seas did put,In hope from present danger to be freed,That did such terror in their bosomes breed,While on the waues the burning ships bright light,Did make a sun-shine in the midst of night.

Then with disorder euery one did cut

Their blacke pitch’d cables, hoysing sailes with speed,

And from the shore to the maine seas did put,

In hope from present danger to be freed,

That did such terror in their bosomes breed,

While on the waues the burning ships bright light,

Did make a sun-shine in the midst of night.

245.

Who being disperst amongst their nauie came,And like fire-spitting monsters on the maine,In sable clouds of smoake and threatning flame,Did fiercely bellow out their deadly bane;Which horror th’English nauie did maintaine,Discharging all their thundring shot togetherVpon th’Iberian foes with winde and weather.

Who being disperst amongst their nauie came,

And like fire-spitting monsters on the maine,

In sable clouds of smoake and threatning flame,

Did fiercely bellow out their deadly bane;

Which horror th’English nauie did maintaine,

Discharging all their thundring shot together

Vpon th’Iberian foes with winde and weather.

246.

The horrid noise amaz’d the silent night,Repowring downe blacke darknesse from the skie,Through which th’affrighted Spaniard with blind flight,His friends from foes not able to descrie,Vpon the darkesome waues did scattered flie;In which disturbance driuen with winde and weather,Spaine’s chiefe galiasse fell foule vpon another.

The horrid noise amaz’d the silent night,

Repowring downe blacke darknesse from the skie,

Through which th’affrighted Spaniard with blind flight,

His friends from foes not able to descrie,

Vpon the darkesome waues did scattered flie;

In which disturbance driuen with winde and weather,

Spaine’s chiefe galiasse fell foule vpon another.

247.

Which all vnable to escape with flight,The startled fleet did leaue alone forlorne,Keeping aloofe at sea, all that sad night;But when from th’east the opall-coloured morneWith golden light the ocean did adorne,The English fleet Spaine’s great galliasse did spie,Which cast vpon a sandie shoale did lie.

Which all vnable to escape with flight,

The startled fleet did leaue alone forlorne,

Keeping aloofe at sea, all that sad night;

But when from th’east the opall-coloured morne

With golden light the ocean did adorne,

The English fleet Spaine’s great galliasse did spie,

Which cast vpon a sandie shoale did lie.

248.

Whom captainePrestonvaliantly did bord,Sent from the fleet in his long boat well man’d,Which with an hundred hardie men was stor’d,Who to the face of death oppos’d did stand,About the ship vsing their readie hand,Gainst whoso assault at first th’Iberian foes,With proud resistance did themselues oppose.

Whom captainePrestonvaliantly did bord,

Sent from the fleet in his long boat well man’d,

Which with an hundred hardie men was stor’d,

Who to the face of death oppos’d did stand,

About the ship vsing their readie hand,

Gainst whoso assault at first th’Iberian foes,

With proud resistance did themselues oppose.

249.

ForHugo de Moncada, valiant manWith noble courage did the fight maintaine,Till through his wounded forehead’s hardned pan,A fatall shot with bullets deadly bane,Made open passage to the liuely braine,Who being slaine, to shun the slaughtering sword,Most of the residue leapt ouer bord.

ForHugo de Moncada, valiant man

With noble courage did the fight maintaine,

Till through his wounded forehead’s hardned pan,

A fatall shot with bullets deadly bane,

Made open passage to the liuely braine,

Who being slaine, to shun the slaughtering sword,

Most of the residue leapt ouer bord.

250.

Thus great kingPhilip’smountaine-like galliasse,In which three hundred slaues lug’d at the oare,And twice two hundred armed men did passe,Was soone despoil’d of all her golden storeBy a small band of men on Calice shore,Which fiftie thousand duckets did containe,Of the rich treasure of the king of Spaine.

Thus great kingPhilip’smountaine-like galliasse,

In which three hundred slaues lug’d at the oare,

And twice two hundred armed men did passe,

Was soone despoil’d of all her golden store

By a small band of men on Calice shore,

Which fiftie thousand duckets did containe,

Of the rich treasure of the king of Spaine.

251.

Meane time the blacke fleet floting on the maine,The night before disperst with foule affright,In hope her former purpose to obtaine,Return’d againe from base inglorious flight,Arang’d in order for the nauall fight,Which in diuided squadrons th’English fleet,With hot incounter furiously did meet.

Meane time the blacke fleet floting on the maine,

The night before disperst with foule affright,

In hope her former purpose to obtaine,

Return’d againe from base inglorious flight,

Arang’d in order for the nauall fight,

Which in diuided squadrons th’English fleet,

With hot incounter furiously did meet.

252.

This conflict being the fourth and last, was before Greueling.

Who bound vp round together in a ring,Lay close in their defence against their foe;But as the southerne blasts in budding spring,When Auster’s swelling cheekes do ouerflowIn handfuls thicke the blossomes downe to blow;So thicke and dreadfully did slaughter flieFrom th’English fleet amongst the enemie.

Who bound vp round together in a ring,

Lay close in their defence against their foe;

But as the southerne blasts in budding spring,

When Auster’s swelling cheekes do ouerflow

In handfuls thicke the blossomes downe to blow;

So thicke and dreadfully did slaughter flie

From th’English fleet amongst the enemie.

253.

Then had th’Iberians dread, their pride did bow,Their foes by valour brake their nauall round,And as a torrent from an hil’s steepe brow,Clad in fresh showers and thunder’s fearefull sound,Beares all before it in the plaine land ground;So did they beat from off their natiue bounds,Spain’s mighty fleet with cannons scathful wounds.

Then had th’Iberians dread, their pride did bow,

Their foes by valour brake their nauall round,

And as a torrent from an hil’s steepe brow,

Clad in fresh showers and thunder’s fearefull sound,

Beares all before it in the plaine land ground;

So did they beat from off their natiue bounds,

Spain’s mighty fleet with cannons scathful wounds.

254.

And where the skirmish was propos’d most hot,Their valiantDrakedid breake into the fight,And though his ship were pierc’d with wounding shotTwice twentie times; yet with vndaunted mightHe horriblie did plie their sudden fright,And with wide wounds the hollow keeles did batterOf three tall ships betwixt the winde and water.

And where the skirmish was propos’d most hot,

Their valiantDrakedid breake into the fight,

And though his ship were pierc’d with wounding shot

Twice twentie times; yet with vndaunted might

He horriblie did plie their sudden fright,

And with wide wounds the hollow keeles did batter

Of three tall ships betwixt the winde and water.

255.

Then in despaire with hands and weeping eies,To heau’n the wretches prai’d for their escape,And to some saint of heau’n with open cries,Each one in blind deuotion prayers did shape;But all in vaine, the gulfie flood did gape,And in the deepe of his deuouring wombe,Both men and ships did suddenly intombe.

Then in despaire with hands and weeping eies,

To heau’n the wretches prai’d for their escape,

And to some saint of heau’n with open cries,

Each one in blind deuotion prayers did shape;

But all in vaine, the gulfie flood did gape,

And in the deepe of his deuouring wombe,

Both men and ships did suddenly intombe.

256.

The rest all daunted with such vncouth sight,From spoile to saue their fleet no time did spare,But hoysing saile betooke themselues to flight,Cursing sterne fate, that brought their fleet so farre,To be despoil’d in such successelesse warre;And after all their boasting backe recoile,With emptie hands vnto their natiue soyle.

The rest all daunted with such vncouth sight,

From spoile to saue their fleet no time did spare,

But hoysing saile betooke themselues to flight,

Cursing sterne fate, that brought their fleet so farre,

To be despoil’d in such successelesse warre;

And after all their boasting backe recoile,

With emptie hands vnto their natiue soyle.

257.

They heartlesse fled, but in their hastie flight,Two great galeons of captiu’d Portugale,The huge SaintPhilip, and SaintMatthewhight,GreatSeymerand stoutWinterdid so gallWith wounding cuffe of cannons fierie ball,That on the Belgian coast by friends forsaken,They with their captaines by their foes were taken.

They heartlesse fled, but in their hastie flight,

Two great galeons of captiu’d Portugale,

The huge SaintPhilip, and SaintMatthewhight,

GreatSeymerand stoutWinterdid so gall

With wounding cuffe of cannons fierie ball,

That on the Belgian coast by friends forsaken,

They with their captaines by their foes were taken.

258.

Meane time the English with full saile did plieThe manage of the foes inglorious flight,And as high stomack’d hounds, that with full criePursue the fearefull game, do take delightTo pinch the haunch behind with eager bite;So didElizae’sfleet pursue the foesWith shouts of men, and bullets banefull blowes.

Meane time the English with full saile did plie

The manage of the foes inglorious flight,

And as high stomack’d hounds, that with full crie

Pursue the fearefull game, do take delight

To pinch the haunch behind with eager bite;

So didElizae’sfleet pursue the foes

With shouts of men, and bullets banefull blowes.

259.

They all array’d in warre’s vermillion,Did chace them to those seas of stormes and thunder,Ouer whose waues in heau’ns pauillion,Amongst those many golden workes of wonder,A dragon keepes two wrathfull beares asunder,And there they left them, in those seas to drowne,Returning backe with conquest and renowne.

They all array’d in warre’s vermillion,

Did chace them to those seas of stormes and thunder,

Ouer whose waues in heau’ns pauillion,

Amongst those many golden workes of wonder,

A dragon keepes two wrathfull beares asunder,

And there they left them, in those seas to drowne,

Returning backe with conquest and renowne.

260.

They gone, the wretched foes in wofull caseHelplesse, perceiuing by sterne fortune’s doome,Their action ended in extreame disgrace,And in fame’s stead, for which they forth did come,Finding but wounds to cure when they came home,Did curse the ordinance of mightie Ioue,Gainst whom with their huge strength in vaine they stroue.

They gone, the wretched foes in wofull case

Helplesse, perceiuing by sterne fortune’s doome,

Their action ended in extreame disgrace,

And in fame’s stead, for which they forth did come,

Finding but wounds to cure when they came home,

Did curse the ordinance of mightie Ioue,

Gainst whom with their huge strength in vaine they stroue.

261.

But while at sea, all were to labour giuen,Securely rigging vp their crazed ships,Al-seeing Ioue did worke their banes in heau’n;For in an instant from his heau’nly lips,From pole to pole a winged message skips,And posting round about the earth’s great ball,From th’house of stormes th’Eolian slaues did call.

But while at sea, all were to labour giuen,

Securely rigging vp their crazed ships,

Al-seeing Ioue did worke their banes in heau’n;

For in an instant from his heau’nly lips,

From pole to pole a winged message skips,

And posting round about the earth’s great ball,

From th’house of stormes th’Eolian slaues did call.

262.

Then furious Auster, Ioue’s command once giuen;With Eurus, Zephirus, and Boreas ruffe,Stoopt from the cloudie corners of the heau’nVpon those seas, and with a violent puffe,The tumbling billowes all on heapes did cuffe;And raving gainst the rockes with hidious rore,Wrapt waues in waues, and hurl’d them on the shore.

Then furious Auster, Ioue’s command once giuen;

With Eurus, Zephirus, and Boreas ruffe,

Stoopt from the cloudie corners of the heau’n

Vpon those seas, and with a violent puffe,

The tumbling billowes all on heapes did cuffe;

And raving gainst the rockes with hidious rore,

Wrapt waues in waues, and hurl’d them on the shore.

263.

Meane while night’s curtaines steept in Stygian blacke,The crystall battlements of heau’n did hide;Then Ioue did thunder, and the heau’ns did cracke,Pale lightning leapt about on euery side,The clouds inconstant flood-gates opened wide,And nought, but mists, haile, raine, dark stormes and thunder,Did fall from heau’n vpon the salt seas vnder.

Meane while night’s curtaines steept in Stygian blacke,

The crystall battlements of heau’n did hide;

Then Ioue did thunder, and the heau’ns did cracke,

Pale lightning leapt about on euery side,

The clouds inconstant flood-gates opened wide,

And nought, but mists, haile, raine, dark stormes and thunder,

Did fall from heau’n vpon the salt seas vnder.

264.

The white froth-foaming flood began to raue,And enter combate with the fleet of Spaine,Hurring it head-long on the mountaine-waue,Now from the shores into the roring maine,And now from thence vnto the shores againe,While all the stoutest sea-men quake and quiuer.Lest winde-driuen waues their ships in sunder shiuer.

The white froth-foaming flood began to raue,

And enter combate with the fleet of Spaine,

Hurring it head-long on the mountaine-waue,

Now from the shores into the roring maine,

And now from thence vnto the shores againe,

While all the stoutest sea-men quake and quiuer.

Lest winde-driuen waues their ships in sunder shiuer.

265.

“Heere strike, strike, sirs, the top mast:” one doth crie,Another saies: “Vale misene and sprit saile:”And heere a third bids: “Let the maine sheate flie:”All fall to worke themselves from death to baile,Some cut the saile-cloaths, some againe do haileThe saile yards downe, while others pumpe with paine,Sending the seas into the seas againe.

“Heere strike, strike, sirs, the top mast:” one doth crie,

Another saies: “Vale misene and sprit saile:”

And heere a third bids: “Let the maine sheate flie:”

All fall to worke themselves from death to baile,

Some cut the saile-cloaths, some againe do haile

The saile yards downe, while others pumpe with paine,

Sending the seas into the seas againe.

266.

Heere one vp lifted on a mountaine steepe,By dreadfull flashing of heau’ns lightning bright,With pallid feare lookes downe vpon the deepeInto a pit, as deepe and blacke in sight,As Tartarus the lothsome brood of night,In whose wide gulfie mouth he thinkes to drowne,Seeing the ship all topsie turning downe:

Heere one vp lifted on a mountaine steepe,

By dreadfull flashing of heau’ns lightning bright,

With pallid feare lookes downe vpon the deepe

Into a pit, as deepe and blacke in sight,

As Tartarus the lothsome brood of night,

In whose wide gulfie mouth he thinkes to drowne,

Seeing the ship all topsie turning downe:

267.

Another heere in sandie shoale doth lie,With mountaine waues on all sides walled round,And seemes from hell to see the loftie skie,Looking, when wallowing waues with windie bound,In that deepe pit the vessell would confound,Till with the lustie waue, the mounting shipFrom thence to heau’n doth in a moment skip.

Another heere in sandie shoale doth lie,

With mountaine waues on all sides walled round,

And seemes from hell to see the loftie skie,

Looking, when wallowing waues with windie bound,

In that deepe pit the vessell would confound,

Till with the lustie waue, the mounting ship

From thence to heau’n doth in a moment skip.

268.

The poore sad sailers beaten out of breathWith toilesome paine, and with long watching worne,Through feare, the feeble consort of cold death,Not knowing, alas, which way themselues to turne,With wofull cries their fatall fall did mourne,And cast their eyes to heau’n, where, what was seene,Was blacke as hell, as if no heau’n had been.

The poore sad sailers beaten out of breath

With toilesome paine, and with long watching worne,

Through feare, the feeble consort of cold death,

Not knowing, alas, which way themselues to turne,

With wofull cries their fatall fall did mourne,

And cast their eyes to heau’n, where, what was seene,

Was blacke as hell, as if no heau’n had been.

269.

Heere the greene billowes bounding gainst a ship,Vncaukes the keele, and with continuall waste,Washing the pitch away, the seames vnrip,While th’angrie tempest, with a boistrous blast,Beares the false stem away, springs the maine mast,And breaking downe the decke, doth passage winFor the next surging sea to enter in.

Heere the greene billowes bounding gainst a ship,

Vncaukes the keele, and with continuall waste,

Washing the pitch away, the seames vnrip,

While th’angrie tempest, with a boistrous blast,

Beares the false stem away, springs the maine mast,

And breaking downe the decke, doth passage win

For the next surging sea to enter in.

270.

Then all amaz’d shriekes out confused cries,While the seas rote doth ring their dolefull knell,Some call to heau’n for helpe with weeping eies,Some moane themselues, some bid their friends farewell,Some idols-like in horrors senselesse dwell,Heere in sad silence one his faint heart showes,Another there doth thus his feare disclose:

Then all amaz’d shriekes out confused cries,

While the seas rote doth ring their dolefull knell,

Some call to heau’n for helpe with weeping eies,

Some moane themselues, some bid their friends farewell,

Some idols-like in horrors senselesse dwell,

Heere in sad silence one his faint heart showes,

Another there doth thus his feare disclose:

271.

“Thrice happie they, whose hap it was in fightAgainst the foes to fall, when others stood:Ye conquering English, causers of our flight,Why were your swords not bath’d in my deare blood;And why did I not perish in the flood?Where braueMoncadadi’d with many more,Whose bodies now do swim about the shore.”

“Thrice happie they, whose hap it was in fight

Against the foes to fall, when others stood:

Ye conquering English, causers of our flight,

Why were your swords not bath’d in my deare blood;

And why did I not perish in the flood?

Where braueMoncadadi’d with many more,

Whose bodies now do swim about the shore.”

272.

This said, a waue, that neuer brake asunder,But mounting vp, as if with loftie frowneIt view’d the working of the waters vnder,Came like a ruin’d mountaine falling downe,And with his weight the wretched ship did drowne,Which sinking, in the gulfe, did seeke her graueAnd neuer more appear’d aboue the waue.

This said, a waue, that neuer brake asunder,

But mounting vp, as if with loftie frowne

It view’d the working of the waters vnder,

Came like a ruin’d mountaine falling downe,

And with his weight the wretched ship did drowne,

Which sinking, in the gulfe, did seeke her graue

And neuer more appear’d aboue the waue.

273.

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