Page images
PDF
EPUB

XX.

VICTORIOUS MEN OF EARTH.

This little moral fonnet bath fuch a pointed applica tion to the heroes of the foregoing and following ballads, that I cannot help placing it here, tho' the date of its compofition is of a much later period. It is extracted from "Cupid "and Death, a mafque by J. S. [James Shirley] prefented "Mar. 26. 1653. London printed 1653." 4to.

[ocr errors]

Ictorious men of earth, no more

Proclaim how wide your empires are ;

Though you binde in every shore,

And your triumphs reach as far

As night or day,

[ocr errors]

Yet you proud monarchs muft obey,

And mingle with forgotten ashes, when

Death calls yee to the croud of common men.

Devouring famine, plague and war,

Each able to undo mankind,

Death's fervile emiffaries are;

Nor to these alone confin'd,

He hath at will

More quaint and fubtle wayes to kill; A fmile or kifs, as he will use the art,

Shall have the cunning skill to break a heart.

I

[merged small][ocr errors]

XXI. THE

XXI.

"THE WINNING OF CALES.

The fubject of this ballad is the taking of the city of Cadiz, (called by our failors corruptly Cales) on June 21. 1596, in a defcent made on the coast of Spain, under the command of the lord Howard admiral, and the earl of Effex general.

The valour of Effex was not more diftinguished on this occafion than his generofity: the town was carried fword in hand, but he ftopt the flaughter as foon as poffible, and treated bis prifoners with the greatest humanity and even affability and kindness. The English made a rich plunder in the city, but mift of a much richer, by the refolution, which the duke of Medina the Spanish admiral took, of fetting fire to the fhips, in order to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. It was computed, that the lofs, which the Spaniards Juftained in this enterprize, amounted to twenty millions of ducats. See Hume's Hift.

The earl of Effex knighted on this occafion not fewer than fixty perfons, which gave rife to the following farcafm,

A gentleman of Wales, a knight of Cales
And a laird of the North country;
But a yeoman of Kent with his yearly rent
Will buy them out all three.

The ballad is printed from the Editor's folio MS. and feems to have been composed by fom: person, who was concerned in the expedition. Most of the circumstances related in it will be found fupported by history.

LON

ONG the proud Spaniards had vaunted their conquefts,

Threatning our country with fire and fword,

Often

Often preparing their navy most sumptuous
With as great plenty as Spain could afford.
Dub a dub, dub a dub, thus ftrike their drums,
Tantara, tantara, the Englishman comes.

To the feas haftily went our lord admiral,
With knights couragious and captains full good;
The brave earl of Effex, a profperous general,
With him prepared to pass the salt flood.

Dub a dub, &c.

At Plymouth speedilye, took they ship valiantlye,
Braver fhips never were seen under fayle,

[ocr errors][merged small]

With their fair colours fpread, and ftreamers o'er their head,

Now bragging Spaniard take heed of your tayle. 15 Dub a dub, &c.

Unto Cales cunninglye, came we most speedilye,
Where the kinges navy fecurelye did ride;
Being upon their backs, piercing their butts of facks,
Ere any Spaniards our coming defcry'd.

Dub a dub, &c.

Great was the crying, the running and ryding,
Which at that feason was made in that place;

20

The beacons were fyred, as need then required;
To hyde their great treasure they had little space. 25
Dub a dub, &c.

1

There

There you might fee their fhips, how they were fyred faft,
And how their men drowned themselves in the sea ;
There might you hear them cry, wayle and weep piteously
When they faw no fhift to scape thence away.

Dub a dub, &c.

The great St. Phillip, the pryde of the Spaniards,
Was burnt to the bottom, and funk in the fea;
But the St. Andrew, and eke the St. Matthew,
Wee took in fight manfullye and brought away.
Dub a dub, &c.

The earl of Effex moft valiant and hardye,

30

35

With horsemen and footmen march'd up to the town; The Spanyards, which faw them, were greatly alarmed, Did fly for their fafety, and durft not come down.

Dub a dub, &c.

Now, quoth the noble earl, courage my foldiers all,
Fight and be valiant, the spoil you shall have;
And bè well rewarded all from the great to the small,
But fee the women and children you fave.

Dub a dub, &c.

The Spaniards at that fight, thinking it vain to fight,
Hung out flags of truce and yielded the towne ;
We marched in presentlye, decking the walls on high,
With English colours which purchas'd renowne.

[blocks in formation]

40

45

50

Entering

1

Entering the houses then, of the most richest men,
For gold and treasure we fearched each day ;-
In fòme places wè did find, pyès baking left behind,
Meate at fire rofting and folk run away.

Dub a dub, &c.

55

Full of rych merchandize, every fhop catch'd our eyes,
Damasks and fattens and velvets full fayre ;
Which foldiers mèafured out by the length of their fwords;
Of all commodities each had his share.

Dub a dub, &c.

Thus Cales was taken, and our brave general Marched to the market place, where he did ftand; There many prifoneres fell to our several shares,

60

Many crav'd mercye, and mercye they fonde,

65

Dub a dub, &c.

When our brave general faw they delayed all,
And would not ransome their towne as they said,
With their fair wanscots, their preffes and bedsteds,
Their joint-ftools and tables a fire we made;

And when the town burned all in a flame,
With tara, tantara, away we all came.

70

XXII. THE

« PreviousContinue »