Book IX, Chapter 50

THe Spanyards long time Care & Coste, inuincible surnam'd,
Was now a flote, whilst Parma to frō Flanders hither aim'd,
Like Fleete, of eightscore Ships & od, the Ocean neuer bore,
So huge, so strong, and so compleate, in euery Strength and Store.
Carikes, Gallions, Argosies, and Galliasses, such
That seem'd so many Castels, and their tops the cloudes to tuch.
These on the Lizardes shewe themselues, & threaten Englands fall:
But theare with Fistie Shippes of ours that Fleete was fought withall.
Howbeit of a greater sorte our Nauie did consist,
But parte kept Dyet in the Porte, that might of health haue miste,
Had Spayns Armada of our wants in Plimmouths Hauen wiste.
The rest had eye on Parma, that from Flanders armour threates:
Meane while Lord Charles our Admiral, and Drake, did worthy Feats:
Whose feareles fiftie Moole-hils bod their trypeld Mountaines bace,
And euen at first (so pleas'd it God) pursewde as if in chace:
By this (for ouer-idle seemd to English hearts the Shore)
Our Gallants did imbarke each-wheare, and made our Forces more
But in such warlike Order then their Shippes at Anker laye,
That we, vnles we them disperse, on bootles labor staye:
Not lacked Pollicie that to that purpose made vs waye.
Ours fyred diuers Shippes, that downe the Currant sent, so skaerd,
That Cables cut, and Ankers lost, the Spanyards badly faerd.
Dispersed thus, we spare not shot, and part of them we sinke,
And part we boord, the rest did flye, not fast enough they thinke.
Well guided little Axes so force tallest Oakes to fall,
So numbrous Heards of stately Hearts, flye Beagles few and smal.
Nine dayes together cha'ste we them, not actious, saue in flight
About Eight thowsands perished by famine, sea, and fight.
For Treasure, Shippes, and Carrages, lost Honor, Prisners tayne,
The Spaniards, hardly scaping hence, scapt not rebukes in Spaine.

Well might thus much (as much it did) cheere England, but much more
Concurrancie from one to all to stop that common Sore.
Euen Chatholiques (that erred name doth please the Papists) waer
As forward in this Quarrell as the formost Armes to bear:
Recusants and Suspects of noote. Of others was caer.
And had not our God-guided Fight on Seas preuailed, yet
The Spaniards, land whereso they could, had with our Armies met.
Our common Courage wisht no lesse, so lightly feard we Foes,
Such hope in God, such hate of them, such hearts to bar[…]er bloes.
Heere flam'd the Cyclops Forges, Mars his Armorie was heere,
Himselfe he sheads in vs, and with our Cause our selues we cheere.
But (which had scar[…]fide our wounds, if wounded, with the Balme
Of her sweete Presence, so applaus'd as in Sea-stormes a Calme)
Her royall-selfe, Elizabeth our Soueraigne lawfull Queene,
In magnanimious Maiestie amidst her Troupes was seene.
Which made vs weepe for ioy: nor was her kindnes lesse to vs.
Thinke nothing letting then that might the common Cause discus,
Wheare Prince and People haue in Loue a Sympathie as thus.

Howbeit Force, nor Policie, but Gods sole Prouidence,
Did cleare fore-bosted Conquest and behighted Thraldome hence.
He in Saneherib his nose did put his hooke, and brought
Him backe againe the way he came, without performing ought:
He fought for vs, Alonely we did shout and Trumpets sound,
When as the Walles of […]rico fell flat vnto the ground.
Yea least (for earst did neuer heere like strong Supplies befall,
Like loyall hearts in euerie one, like warlike mindes in all,
Lesse spaer of Purses, more Fore-sight, and valiant Guides to act,
As shewde our hardie littell Fleet that battell neuer slackt)
Leaste these, I say, might haue been sayd the cause that we subdew'de,
Euen God, to Glorifie himselfe, our gayned Cause pursew'de,
Without our losse of Man, or Mast, or Foe once touching Shore,
Saue such as wrackt, wea[…]e Prisnors, or but landing, liu'd not more:
And as in publique Praiers we did his defence implore,
So being Victors, publiquely, we yeelded thanks therefore.
Her Highnes selfe (good cause she had) in viewe of euerie Eie,
On humbled Knees did giue him thanks that gaue her Victorie.

Remaineth, what she wonne, what Spaine & Rome did lose in fame:
Remaineth, Popes vse Potentates but to retriue their Game.