Chapter XI: Part V (2)

Many more sonnes of Mars his noble race,
In this daie’s fight great fame with perill wonne,
Yea many high exploits each breathing space,
By many a worthie wight were vndergone;
Mongst whom that deed with resolution done,
By valiant _Williams_, and the Belgian _Skinke_,
Downe to obliuion’s den shall neuer sinke.

118.

[Sidenote: _Anno eodem 28._]

[Sidenote: _H. Archer_, Author.]

For when that well wall’d towne, which Venlo hight,
Was round about begirted by the foe,
Huge spirit and high conceit did so excite
Stout _Williams’_ mightie mind, to vndergoe
Some great attempt, that he full bent to show
Proofe of his valour by some famous act,
With hardie _Skinke_ this wonder did enact:

119.

When grizly night her iron carre had driuen
From her darke mansion house, that hidden lies
In Plutoe’s kingdome, to the top of heau’n,
And with black cloake of clouds muffling the skies,
With sable wings shut vp all wakefull eies,
Obscur’d with darknesse grim they both did go,
To act this stratagem vpon the foe:

120.

Husht were the winds, the aire all silent was,
Sad was the night, in skies appear’d no starre;
Yet through darke horror dreadlesse did they passe,
And listning vnto euery breach of aire,
With stealing steps this dangerous worke did dare,
Whom at the length the dark night’s shadie wing,
Into the foe-men’s campe did closely bring.

121.

Where, when they came, the vtmost watch they found
Vpon the ground all carelessely dispread,
Who tir’d with toile, lay in deepe sleepe fast drown’d,
And as they slept, each one secure of dread,
His weapon had fast fixed at his head,
Mongst whom, like hungrie wolues on flockes vnkept,
Stout _Skinke_ and worthie _Williams_ boldly stept.

122.

Then death triumpht in slaughter of the slaine,
Soules strugling in the pangs of many a wound,
Departs in griefe and makes aire sigh againe,
Swords blusht with blood, grim horror did abound,
A crimson dew stood on the grassie ground;
Disorder, dread, death, noise and darknesse grim,
In blood and gore of slaughtred foes did swim.

123.

[Sidenote: The Prince of Parma.]

By the still watch and two strong courts of gard,
Through death, through blood and armes they boldly went,
Vntill they came, where horriblie they scar’d
The prince himselfe sweet sleeping in his tent,
Whom in their power they long’d to circumuent,
Where many a noble wight fast snoring drown’d,
In deepest sleepe with death they did confound.

124.

But as their swords they in their foes did sheath,
At last, through massacres, through shrikes and cries
Of sad soules groning in the pangs of death,
On euery side the startled foes did rise,
And shrikt out thicke alarmes to shun surprise,
Crying arme, arme, whereby appall’d with feare,
Th’whole host in sudden throngs all gathered were.

125.

Then fled the valiant _Skinke_, blacke death to shun,
But hardie _Williams_ in contention stood
With his great mind, if he more fame t’haue won,
Should stoutly stay, and hazard his owne good,
With slaughtering sword to shed more foe-men’s blood:
Whereby at length in depth of danger drown’d,
By armed foes, he was incircled round.

126.

But by aduantage of the gloomie night
Amongst the foe-men’s troopes, vnknowne he goes,
And cri’d: “Where’s _Williams_? where is _Williams_ hight?”
To whom againe one answer’d amongst the foes,
“Pursue, pursue with speed, before he goes:”
Thus cloudie night this worthie wight did saue,
Who shun’d his foes, and fled his darksome graue.

127.

These were the foster children of that nurse,
England’s Minerua, queene of glorie bright,
Who through the paths of warre their way did force,
In armes to get true honor’s meed by might,
And grace their name with title of true knight:
Which honor’d order only vertue’s meed,
Each one then purchas’d by some glorious deed.

128.

But while these captaines wedded to renowne,
True loyall subiects of a royall queene,
On Belgian shores their soueraigne’s head did crowne,
With conquering wreath of neuer vading greene,
In spight of spight for aye fresh to be seene,
Rome’s raging Python full of furious wrath,
Did once againe belch vp his poisoned froth.

129.

[Sidenote: _Anno eodem 28._]

Foureteene false traytors from darke treason’s den
He vp did call, foule elues of enuious night,
Rebels accurst, monsters abhorr’d of men,
Who for the black fleet now alreadie dight,
To passe th’vnfruitfull deepe with all her might,
Should make fit passage gainst that dreadfull day,
By their sweet prince and countrie’s swift decay.

130.

_Ballard_, first author in this villanie,
Sent from the triple-crowned sonne of night,
To put in practise this their treacherie,
Proud _Babington_ and _Sauage_ did excite,
With vnremorsefull hands of violent might,
To spoile and ruinate their countrie’s good,
And bathe their swords in their deare soueraigne’s blood.

131.

[Sidenote: _Babington_ made choice of the six.]

Six resolute and bloodie minded mates,
Should haue been actors in her tragedie,
Then the graue peeres and honorable states,
Had been the slaughter of their butcherie,
And thou, O, glorie of this emperie!
Thy loftie towers been leuell’d with the plaine,
Thy nauie burnt, and many a thousand slaine.

132.

Such dismall deeds and blacke confusion,
By proud Rome’s twice-seuen sonnes intended were
Against the time of that inuasion,
Report whereof with terror and with feare,
Swift-winged fame about the world did beare;
But high heau’n’s King, who for his seruant chose
Our virgin queene, their drifts did soone disclose.

133.

Their plot bewray’d, each one did seeke t’escape,
Vengeance pursuing them from place to place,
Hight _Babington_ attir’d in rusticke shape,
With walnut-leaues discolouring his face,
Did seeke t’escape sad death and foule disgrace:
And all the rest being clad in strange disguise,
With trembling feare did seeke to shun surprise.

134.

As guiltie homicides, that in dead night
Pursu’d for tragick deeds of dismall death,
To woods and groues disperst, do take their flight,
Whose gloomie shade they trembling stand beneath,
With fainting knees, cold spirit and panting breath,
With feare, expecting at their backes behinde,
The pursuit made at euery puffe of winde:

135.

Euen so these wretched men, whose selfe-doom’d soules,
Now prickt with deepe remorse, did daily looke
To be the spoile and prey of hungrie fowles,
From place to place their couert passage tooke,
Whose hearts the thought of death with horror shooke,
Vntill surpriz’d at length, vntimely death
To end this feare expir’d their fainting breath.

136.

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 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.

139.

But most of all, that plentious peopled towne,
_Elizae’s_ best 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.

[Sidenote: _An. Reg. 29._ _Drake’s_ voyage 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,
Against _Elizae’s_ sacred maiestie,
The aged sea-god’s backe, _Drake_ did 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 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 sun
Leaues steepe Olympus to the darkesome night,
The pine-plough’d seas with black clouds ouerrun,
To giue the onset valiant _Drake_ begun:
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, _Drake_ did his foes assaile.

144.

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;
For _Drake_ with 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 great _Drake_, as lord of all the deepe,
His foes on th’ocean in subiection keepe.

148.

And when of all great _Philip’s_ nauall might,
On the seas wildernesse none durst appeare,
_Drake_ to 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 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 by
In his swift sayling gallies, in whose sight
_Drake_ burnt 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 suffred _Drake_ to lead them captiue thence.

151.

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 faire _Elizae’s_ feet;
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 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.

[Sidenote: _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 duke _Medinae’s_ huge 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.

[Sidenote: _Ferdinando Cortez._]

The sun-burnt Spaniards from that Indian shore,
Subdu’d by _Ferdinandoe’s_ bloodie 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

[Sidenote: Musket shot could not pierce them. _Emanuel Van-Metran_, in his 15 booke of his historie.]

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 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.

169.

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 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 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 boast
Her matchlesse might on Neptune’s high command,
Braue _Parma_, 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 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 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 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 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 suppose
Their very threats would purchase gainst their foes,
Who like braue lords, their valour to renowne,
Did cast the dice for faire _Elizae’s_ crowne.

178.

Much like the vanting French, when _Iohn_ of 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 prince _Edward_ with his troope so small,
Renown’d his sword with _Iohn_ of France’ his fall.

179.

Euen so this brauing fleet, whose dreaded name,
Ineuitable ruine did foretell,
Thought, that the faire _Eliza_, who did frame
Her life in happie daies of peace to dwell,
Vnfurnisht was such forces to repell,
And therefore sent as from king _Philip’s_ hand,
A sterne inscription with this proud command:

180.

[Sidenote: This was sent written in Latin.]

“With auxil’arie bands she should no more
Vphold the Belgian gainst king _Philip’s_ frowne,
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 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 old _Plantagenet_,
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 their _Elizae’s_ good,
In her defence did thirst to spend their blood.

183.

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 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:

186.

Where with their mutuall strengths they did assay,
To hale _Elizae’s_ fleet 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 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 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.

190.

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 in _Elizae’s_ royall fleet had place,
Made solemne vowes, backe to returne no more,
Except with conquest to their natiue shore.

192.

[Sidenote: Now Earle of Nottingham.]

Mongst whom the noblest obiect of them all,
That in the fleete did hold supreamest sway
Went honor’d _Howard_, 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 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 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 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 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 of _Elizae’s_ armes,
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 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.

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 barre
Their forwardnesse, with neighing loud did crie
For present combat gainst the enemie.

201.

[Sidenote: Earle of Leicester.]

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 great _Dudlie_ bore supreamest sway,
Against their foes to lead them on the way.

202.

[Sidenote: _Rich. Hakluit_, and _Stow_ in his Annals.]

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.

204.

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.

And as _Bunduca_, 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.

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 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.

210.

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 by _Hunsdon_ that true hearted peere.

211.

[Sidenote: _M. Thomas Flemming._]

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 captaine _Flemming_ first 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 like _Ortigian Delos_ on 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 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 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.

[Sidenote: _Stow_ in 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 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.

218.

[Sidenote: 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 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.

220.

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.

222.

[Sidenote: Lord _Thomas Howard_ now Earle of Suffolke.]

Both the bold _Howards_ and lord _Sheffield_ hight,
With _Hawkins_, _Frobisher_, and famous _Drake_,
Braue _Barker_, _Crosse_, and _Southwell_ that 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.

Renowned _Howard_, 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 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.

[Sidenote: M. _George Fenner_, This was in the second fight before Portland. _Rich. Hak._ in the end of his 1. volume.]

“O _George_,” 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 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 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 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.

[Sidenote: 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 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 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 passe
The greatest of our fleet, did fall in fight,
Mongst whom, that faire galeon surprised was,
In which renowned _Valdes_, that stout knight,
With other captaines of approued might,
Did yeeld themselues and all their golden treasure
To noble _Drake_, to be at his good pleasure.

233.

Three famous conflicts, in three seuerall daies,
_Elizae’s_ hardie 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 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 noble _Seimer_ in the foe-men’s sight,
With _Iustin_ of Nassau, that Belgian bold,
And worthie _Winter_, 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.

[Sidenote: _Allen_ was made Cardinall for that purpose.]

Yet the stout prince of Parma fondly led
With hope, that _Allen_, that false fugitiue,
Sent from proud _Sixtus_ to adorne his head
With faire _Elizae’s_ crowne, 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.

238.

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 bee
In dead of night, to execute their ire
Vpon the foes, that did sweet sleepe desire:
Which dreadfull stratagem against the foe,
Stout _Yong_ and valiant _Prowse_ did 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’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.

244.

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 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.

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 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 captaine _Preston_ valiantly 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.

For _Hugo 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 king _Philip’s_ mountaine-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.

252.

[Sidenote: 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 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.

254.

And where the skirmish was propos’d most hot,
Their valiant _Drake_ did 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.

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 Saint _Philip_, and Saint _Matthew_ hight,
Great _Seymer_ and stout _Winter_ did 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 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 did _Elizae’s_ fleet 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.

260.

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.

262.

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.

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

268.

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 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:

271.

“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 braue _Moncada_ di’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 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.

Many more ships did perish in the deepe,
Some downe from top of waues to sandie ground,
All rent and torne the angrie surge did sweepe,
Some the winde-turned water whirling round,
In the blacke whirle-poole helplesse did confound,
And some with boystrous billowes bruz’d and battred,
In sunder split, aboue the waues were scattred.

274.

The other ships, that huge of building were,
Whose bulkes the billow could not beat asunder,
And whom the furious storme perforce did beare
Amongst the raging seas, now vp, now vnder,
Though through the waues, they wrought it out with wonder,
Yet many gainst the rockes the surge did beare,
And with the fruitlesse sands some couered were.

275.