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

ONG the proud Spaniards had vaunted their conquests,

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 fpeedilye, took they fhip valiantlye,
Braver fhips never were feen under fayle,

10

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 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 theywere fyred faft, And how their men drowned themfelves in the fea; There might you hear them cry,wayle and weep piteously, When they faw no fhift to fcape thence away.

Dub a dub, &c.

30

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 safety, and durft not come down. 40 Dub a dub, &c.

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

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 presentlye, decking the walls on high,
With English colours which purchas'd renowne. 50
Dub a dub, &c.

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, Damalks and fattens and velvets full fayre; [fwords; Whìch 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 stand; There many prifoners 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 faid,
With their fair wanfcots, 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

XXIII. T HE

XXIII.

THE SPANISH LADY's LOVE.

This beautiful old ballad most probably took its rife from one of thofe defcents made on the Spanish coafts in the time of queen Elizabeth; and in all likelihood from that which is celebrated in the foregoing ballad.

It is printed from an ancient black-letter copy, corrected in part by the Editor's folio MS.

LL you hear a Spanish lady,

WIL

How she wooed an English man ?

Garments gay as rich as may be

Decked with jewels she had on.

Of a comely countenance and grace was she,
And by birth and parentage of high degree.

As his prifoner there he kept her,

In his hands her life did lye ;

Cupid's bands did tye them fafter

By the liking of an eye.

In his courteous company was all her joy,

To favour him in any thing fhe was not coy.

5

10

!

But at laft there came commandment

For to fet the ladies free,

With their jewels ftill adorned,

None to do them injury.

Then faid this lady mild, Full woe is me,
O let me fill fuftain this kind captivity!

Gallant captain, fhew fome pity

To a ladye in diftreffe; Leave me not within this city,

For to dye in heavineffe :

Thou haft fet this prefent day my body free,
But
my heart in prifon fill remains with thee.

"How fhould't thou, fair lady, love me, Whom thou knowft thy countrys foe? Thy fair wordes make me fufpect thee:

Serpents lie where flowers grow."

15

20

25

All the harm I wishe to thee, moft courteous knight, • God grant the fame upon my head may fully light. 30

Bleffed be the time and feafon,

That you came on Spanish ground;

If you may our foes be termed,

Gentle foes we have you found:

With our city, you have won our hearts each one, 35 Then to your country bear away, that is your own.

6. Reft