XX.

VICTORIOUS MEN OF EARTH.

This little moral fonnet bath fuch a pointed application to the heroes of the foregoing and following ballads, that I cannot kelp placing it here, tho' the date of its compofition isof 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.” 410.

VIctorious men of earth, no more

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Proclaim how wide your empires are;

Though you binde in every fhore,

And your triumphs reach as far
As night or day,

67 Yet you proud monarchs must obey,

And mingle with forgotten afhes, 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 thefe 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 fkill to break a heart.

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 descent made on the coaft 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 miss'd of a much richer, by the refolution which the Duke of Medina the Spanish admiral took, of fetting fire to the Ships, in order to prevent their falling into the bands of the enemy. It was computed, that the lofs which the Spaniards Juftained from 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 sarcasm,

A gentleman of Wales, a knight of Cales,
And a laird of the North countrys

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 compofed by fome perfon, who was con

cerned

cerned in the expedition. Most of the circumftances related in it will be found fupported by history.

LONG the proud Spaniards had vaunted their con.

quefts,

Threatning our country with fire and fword; Often preparing their navy most sumptuous With as great plenty as Spain could afford. Dub a dub, dub a dub, thus ftrike their drums; 5 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 fhip valiantlye,
Braver ships never were seen under fayle,

10

With their fair colours spread, and streamers o'er their head,

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

Unto Cales cunninglye, came we moft fpeedilye,
Where the kinges navy fecurelye did ride;
Being upon their backs, piercing their butts of facks,
Ere any Spaniards our coming descry'd.
Dub a dub, &c.

20

Great

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

The beacons were fyred, as need then required;

To hyde their great treasure they had little space. 25 Dub a dub, &c.

There you might fee their fhips, how they were fyred faft, And how their men drowned themselves in the fea; There might you hear them cry wayle and weep piteously, When they faw no fhift to fcape thence away. v. 30 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.) 35
Dub a dub, &c.

The Earl of Effex moft valiant and hardye,

With horfemen 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. 40 Dub a dub, &c.

Now, quoth the noble Earl, courage my foldiers all,
Fight and be valiant, the fpoil you fhall have ;^
And be well rewarded all from the great to the fmall;
But fee the women and children you fave, s 45
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 prefentlye, decking the walls on high,
With English colours which purchas'd renowne. 50
Dub a dub, &c.

Entering the houfes 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; [fwords; Which foldiers /mèafur'd, out by the length of their Of all commodities each had his fhare.

Dub a dub, &c.

Thus Cales was taken, and our brave general March'd to the market place, where he did ftand; There many prifoneres fell to our feveral fhares, Many crav'd mercye, and mercye they fonde.

Dub a dub, &c.

When our brave general faw they delayed all,
And would not ransome their towne as they said,
With their fair wanfcots, their presses 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.

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65

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XXII. THE