More News from the Fleet

Of English Acts I intend to write,
Help me yée Muses to invite,
Their valour and their courage bold,
In Méeter I will here unfold,
How boldly they did venter
On the Holland Coast to enter,
And do such Warlike brave exploits,
The Dutch were put to flight
And the Ships burn'd down outright
Whilst Town and Harbor is all our own,

The God of War fought on our side,
To quell the Dutch-mans swelling pride;
And they that lately on our Coast,
With open mouth did brag and boast;
Our Land they did divide
To those on their own side,
Imagining all was their own,
In the pit which they did deep,
Themselves may go and fleep,
For the Dutch-men now are all forlorn.

The cowardly Dutch-men must not think
To make the English courage shrink
Though on the rocks and among the waves,
Many valiant hearts have found their graves,
yet honor and renown
(though Neptune séem to frown)
They'l séek through perils on the main,
when the Billows brush the Skye,
and the Ships are tost on high,
The Dutch-men loose, but English gain.

But ile no longer now delay
To tell you the good news to day;
And here now lets admiring stand,
At the action that was took in hand,
on the eighth of August last
our Men and Ships they past
From the Uly unto Schelling Road,
nine hundred Men in all,
and forty fly Boats small,
A small number to go a board.

The valiant Generals, whose cares
Were alwaies great in such affairs,
This great Imployment to commit
To Sr. Robert Holms did think it fit,
that valiant noble heart,
who through fear did never start
Either on Land or on the Seas,
both Sea-men and Souldiers,
besides many Voluntéers,
This expedition did them please.

This valiant Company set sail
Having a swift and prosperous gale,
In the Uly they descryed
Eight score and ten fair Ships there lyed,
which made our Men to smile,
hoping they should beguile
The Dutch-men of their mighty Fléet,
to fulfil their intent,
their Fire'Ships in they sent,
Who made an end of all they méet.

Here God his mercy to us showed;
In that the winde still for us blowed;
That very few escaped the fire;
All things against them did conspire;
The next day we with-drew,
The winde full high it blew,
And forced us into Schelling road,
Where quickly we perceived
Our Enemies were grieved,
By their running to and fro, abroad,

Some Horse and Foot, appear'd in sight,
But by one shot were put to flight;
Such terror in their breasts it struck,
The Cowards durst not turn to look;
Away they run for fear,
Crying, Who a devil's there,
What kill men in their own Country.
But still they Keep on;
And run as they begun,
Not staying to hear the reason why.

Next morning our men in battel array,
March on to finde the Run-away,
Where the chief Town they quickly spy
Where all the people fast did fly;
Poor children and old folk,
Were left to indure the stroke,
But English-men such déeds do scorn,
Amboyna's Laws we sleight,
To kill such as can't fight,
For English-men are better born.

All England now hath cause to rejoyce,
And praise our God with heart and voice
Sea-men's Wives and Swéet-hearts too
May more rejoyce than others do;
Good store of plunder's got,
Their Cabbin's like a sho.
Of rich priz'd plate in Gold Smiths row;
Hold up your aprons Girles,
Here's Jewels, Diamonds, Pearls;
And other precious stones to show.