XXI. VICTORIOUS MEN OF EARTH. This little moral fonnet hath fuch a pointed application 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. V 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; 5 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: IQ Nor to thefe alone confin'd, He hath at will More quaint and fubtle wayes to kill; Q.3 15 XXII. THE XXII. 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 band, but he ftopt the flaughter as foon as poffible, and treated his prifoners with the greatest humanity, and even affability and kindness. The English made a rich plunder in the city, but miffed 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 hands of the enemy. It was computed, that the lofs which the Spaniards fuftained 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 farcafm: A gentleman of Wales, a knight of Cales, The ballad is printed, with fome corrections, from the Editor's folio MS. and feems to have been compofed by fome perfon, perfon, who was concerned in the expedition. Moft of the circumftances related in it will be found fupported by hiftory. L ONG the proud Spaniards had vaunted to con quer us, Threatning our country with fyer and sword; To the seas presentlye went our lord admiral, At Plymouth speedilye, took they ship valiantlye, 5 10 With their fair colours spread, and streamers ore their head, Now bragging Spaniards, take heed of your tayle, 15 Dub a dub, &c. Unto Cales cunninglye, came we most speedilye, 20 Dub a dub, &c. Q4 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 see their ships, how they were fyred fast, And how their men drowned themselves in the fea; There might you hear them cry, wayle and weep piteously, When they faw no shift to scape thence away. Dub a dub, &c. 39 The great St. Phillip, the pryde of the Spaniards, The Earl of Effex most valiant and hardye, With horsemen and footmen march'd up to the town; The Spanyards, which faw them, were greatly alarmed, Did fly for their favegard, and durft not come down. 40 Dub a dub, &c. Now, quoth the noble Earl, courage my foldiers all, The The Spaniards at that fight, thinking it vain to fight, Entering the houses then, of the most richest men, For gold and treasure we fearched eche day; Dub a dub, &c. 55 Full of rich 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 eche had a share. Dub a dub, &c. 60 Thus Cales was taken, and our brave general When our brave general faw they delayed all, And would not ranfome their towne as they said, 70 |