Chapter XII: Part V (3)

Heere fiue at once round set with surging waters,
Sticke fast in quick-sands, sinking more and more,
There fiue againe the furious billow batters,
Being hurried head-long with the south-west blore,
In thousand pieces gainst great Albion’s shore,
Whereby the fruitlesse waues tost to and fro,
With fruits of ship-wracke euery where did flow.

276.

Here one fast holding by the broken shiuers
Of some wrackt ship, to heau’n lifts vp his eies,
There drifting on the mast, one quakes and quiuers,
Another heere his outstretcht armes applies
By slight of swimming on the waues to rise;
But all in vaine, the billowes breake in sunder
Aboue their heads, and beate their bodies vnder.

277.

Heere with sustentiue palmes themselues to saue,
Two crawling vp a cliffe, one backe is borne
By the next surge in seas to seeke his graue,
The other by the billow rent and torne
Vpon the ragged rocke, is left forlorne,
Where in his luke-warme blood he sprawling lies,
And th’haplesse food of hungrie fowles he dies.

278.

The rest, that did the Irish coast obtaine,
And had escap’d the furie of the flood,
By those wilde people wofully were slaine,
The Irish swift of feete, and flesht in blood,
Who thicke vpon the shore together stood
With deadly darts, to strike each foe-man dead;
That 'boue the waue did beare his fainting head.

279.

Great Ioue’s command, perform’d vpon the foes,
Th’Eolian king call’d home his windes againe;
Then ceast the storme; then did the seas disclose
The armes, the painted robes, and spoiles of Spaine,
Which heere and there did flote vpon the maine,
By England, Ireland, Norway, Normandie,
Where Ioue did act their fleet’s blacke tragedie.

280.

For of one hundred thirtie foure faire keele,
But fiftie three did greet their natiue soile,
Of thirtie thousand men arm’d with bright steele,
The greatest number after all their toile,
Did perish in great Neptune’s wrackfull spoile,
And all the prince of Parmae’s mightie bands
Return’d with shame, disgrace and emptie hands.

281.

Thus our _Elizae’s_ boasting enemie,
Who in vaine pride did blacke their tragicke fleet,
And brought ostents of threatning destinie,
In top of all their hope with shame did meet,
And fell beneath the conquering virgin’s feet;
Vnable many yeares to cure againe
The wounds, which in this warre they did sustaine.

282.

[Sidenote: A million of gold, one halfe paid in readie money, the other halfe to be paid when any famous port was taken in England.]

Thus Rome’s proud _Sixtus_, England’s mortall foe,
Who towards the conquest of this emperie,
A million with his blessing did bestow,
And did presage vndoubted victorie
With seeming future searching prophesie,
Nor with his holy blessing, nor his gold
This mightie fleet from falling could vphold.

283.

But while Rome’s _Sixtus_, twixt foule shame and feare,
For such great losse gainst fortune did exclaime,
Fame through the world triumphantly did beare
This glorious act in our _Elizae’s_ name,
Who glorifying not in her foe-men’s shame,
With bounteous grace did vse the victorie
To her proud foes in their captiuitie.

284.

[Sidenote: When many were brought out of Ireland and other parts with halters about their neckes, she sent them into Spaine at her owne charge.]

The baser sort, though made her people’s scorne,
Yet of her bountie she from death did spare,
The better sort as her owne liege-men borne,
All common benefits did freely share,
And tooke the solace of the open aire,
Whom she, though subiects of a mightie foe,
To his disgrace triumphing did not show.

285.

[Sidenote: _An. Reg. 31._]

Vnder a canopie of gold wide spread
In chariot throne, like warre’s triumphant dame,
With crowne imperiall on her princely head,
Borne by two milke-white steeds in state she came
To Paul’s high temple, while with loud exclaime,
The people in her passage all about
From loyall hearts their auies loud did shout.

286.

Where round about the temple’s battlements
Hung th’ensignes of her vanquisht enemie,
As gracefull trophies, and fit ornaments,
T’adorne with state and greater maiestie,
The triumph of her noble victorie,
Which in the people’s sight made pleasing showes,
Who laugh’d to scorne the threatning of her foes.

287.

But she meeke prince dismounting from her throne,
With iuorie-fingered-hands vplifted high,
On humble knees, ascribed vnto none
The honor of this great deed’s dignitie,
But to th’Olympian king’s great deitie,
Who 'boue the rest, that scepter’s states did weeld
Her as his chosen, did from danger sheeld.

288.

O matchlesse prince, though thy pure maiden breast
Retain’d that spirit of magnanimitie,
That only brau’d proud Rome’s world-brauing beast,
Yet didst thou not with vaunting vanitie
Abuse the glorie of thy victorie:
But after all thy high atchieuements wonne,
To heau’ns great King gau’st praise, of what was done.

289.

Which he accepting as an humble show
Of her milde meeknesse, did so glorifie
The fame of this high conquest gainst the foe,
That her great name, since that great victorie,
Yet liues a staine vnto her enemie;
Yea many that beneath his yoke did grone,
Then su’d for succour at her princely throne.

290.

Prince _Don Antonio_, heire suppos’d by right
Of all consents to _Don Sabastian_, slaine
Against the barbarous Moore in bloodie fight,
Exil’d his countrie by the power of Spaine,
Of his hard hap did vnto her complaine,
Imploring aid at her assistant hands,
To free his countrie from Iberian bands.

291.

The noble virgin with remorsefull eyne,
Viewing that wretched state all rent asunder,
To pitie did her princely heart incline,
And to the seas sent those two sonnes of thunder,
That in the world had wrought so many a wonder,
Renowned _Drake_, and _Norrice_, worthie wight,
With _Don Antonio_ to obtaine his right.

292.

[Sidenote: _An. eodem. 31._ Portugale voyage, taken out of the discourse written by _Colonel Anthonie Winkefield_, imployed in the same voyage.]

With many a worthie souldier shipt from shore,
The stormie seas wilde wildernesse they plow’d,
And though the wrinckled waues rouz’d in rough rore,
Began to bandie billowes, waxing proud;
Yet th’English nauie, through tumultuous crowd
Of darksome surges, did swift passage sweepe
Vnto the shores of the Galician deepe.

293.

Where taking land, as bees from cranied rockes
Breake through the clefts, and to increase their store,
About the fields flie euery way in flockes:
So from their ships the souldiers more and more
In mightie tumult multipli’d the shore,
Where vncontrol’d themselues they did conioyne
In martiall troopes, and marched towards the Groyne.

294.

Which to defend from spoile the fainting foes
By need constrain’d, at first forth boldly came,
And in the field our forces did oppose;
But being with furie charg’d by men of fame,
Vnto the towne they backe retir’d with shame,
Whom to the gates the English did pursue,
And with smart stripes did reach them as they flew.

295.

Nor could their strong erected walles withstand
The fierce assaylants, who with nimble sprite
Did scale their bulwarkes, and by force of hand
Did turne th’Iberians into shamefull flight,
Although with most aduantage they did fight,
Of whom fiue hundred on the dust fell dead,
The rest to th’vpper towne amazed fled.

296.

The towne surpris’d, stor’d in the same were found
The sterne designes of _Philip’s_ raging teene;
For euery place with shipping did abound,
Which for another fleet prepar’d had beene,
Intended once againe against our queene;
But by despoiling of this conquered towne,
King _Philip’s_ hopes they in despaire did drowne.

297.

From hence the victors, in _battalia_ led
To th’vpper Groyne by _Norrice_ noble knight,
To which the foes had for their safegard fled,
Did march with speed, and in their foes despight
Before the towne their warlike tents did pight,
Where in strong battery many daies they lay,
And to remoue them none durst giue th’assay.

298.

Yet by the towne six miles from off the coast,
The count _D’Andrada_ with his armie lay,
Betwixt Petrance and the English hoast,
Who boasting with his powers to driue away
The foes from Groyne; yet durst not giue th’assay;
But kept aloofe intrencht within the ground,
With strong built baracadoes fenced round.

299.

Which, when braue _Norrice_ heard, with _Drake’s_ consent
Nine regiments amongst the rest he chose,
And whirlewinde-like with furie forth he went,
Marching with winged pace vpon the foes,
On their owne ground with them to bandie blowes,
On whom hight _Edward Norrice_, lion like,
Gaue the first charge with his sharpe pointed pike.

300.

Which with such furious force he did pursue,
That ouer thrusting downe he fell to ground,
At which aduantage in the foe-men flew,
And in the head the valiant knight did wound,
Whom in extremitie begirted round
By eager foes, his brother with strong hands
Rescu’d from danger, death, or captiue bands.

301.

Then noble _Sidnie_, _Wingfield_, _Middleton_,
Each with his band made in vpon the foes,
Then _Hinder_, _Fulford_, and stout _Erington_,
Stood firme in fight, and in the violent close
Amongst th’Iberians dealt such martiall blowes,
That their chiefe leaders in the field were slaine,
Or wounded, could no more the fight maintaine.

302.

The other fled, and th’English did pursue
With speedie haste, a number fell in chace,
Three miles the dust, with blood they did imbrue,
Some downewards groueling did the ground embrace,
Some vpwards spread, did shew death’s gastly face,
Three miles in compasse on that haplesse soile,
Did flow with fruits of blood, of death, and spoile.

303.

The valiant victors, that did backe returne,
Loaded with golden bootie from the chace,
The fruitfull countrie round about did burne
With wastfull fire, which did in euery place
Townes, towers, woods, groues with hungrie flames embrace,
Whose people did from farre behold the flame
With teare-torne eyes; yet could not helpe the same.

304.

Thus fam’d-grac’d _Norrice_ crown’d with victorie,
Vnto the Groyne returned backe againe,
And with more worth his deed to amplifie,
King _Philip’s_ standard with the armes of Spaine,
Which from his foes in fight he did constraine,
Before him in his march aduanced was,
As with his troopes he towards the Groyne did passe.

305.

Where he not long the voyage did delay
For Portugale in _Don Antonioe’s_ right;
But left the Groyne and lanched off to sea,
Where with that noble earle great _Essex_ hight,
His brother, and stout _Williams_ that bold knight,
He happily did meet, who with full gale
To Portugale together forth did saile.

306.

And in a storme, as people sent from heau’n,
That nation vnto freedome to restore,
They by the tempest gainst Peniche driuen,
Vp to the waste in waters raging sore,
Through death and danger waded to the shore;
Where when they came vpon the marine sands,
In spight of foes they martiall’d vp their bands.

307.

For when the _Conde De Fuentes_ came
With his proud troopes t’afront them in the fight,
The valiant _Deuorax_ in _Elizae’s_ name
Before the castle, and the towne in sight,
Did charge vpon them with such violent might,
That horror spread, through each Iberian troope,
To seruile feare made stoutest hearts to stoope.

308.

None durst abide, with foule retreat all fled,
Free passage to the victors open lay,
Who towards the towne did march, from whence, in dread
Of their approch, the people fled away,
And left the towne vnto their foes for prey,
Whereby the castle taken with the same,
They did possesse in _Don Antonioe’s_ name.

309.

From hence towards Lisbon they did march forthright,
And in the way the noble generall
Did enter Torres Vedras, in despight
Of that vaine boast of the proud cardinall,
Who gaue his faith to them of Portugale
T’oppose him in the field, though with delay,
He kept aloofe, and durst not giue th’assay.

310.

To Lisbon gates, troopt vp in martiall pace
The English went, and in the suburbs pight
_Elizae’s_ ensignes in the foes disgrace,
In hope that _Don Antonio_ would excite
The people to his aide, and in his right
Shake off the bondage which they did sustaine,
Thereby their late-lost freedome to regaine.

311.

But they ignoble kind of dunghill brood,
With female hearts, more cold in valiancie
Then naked Indians, who with losse of blood
Haue often sought in midst of miserie,
To free themselues from seruile slauerie;
When such stout champions in their cause did stand,
Durst not appeare to vse their helping hand.

312.

The sweets of libertie, for which the Iew
Withstood stout _Titus_, mightie _Cæsar’s_ sonne,
The loyall loue, that th’ancient Britaine drew
To those great deeds for _Carataccus_ donne,
When Rome’s _Ostorius_ did this land orerun,
The heartlesse Portugale could not excite,
To hazard fortune gainst the foes in fight.

313.

For many daies the English with renowne,
Gainst death and danger did themselues oppose,
And gaue assault vnto the chiefest towne,
By their high fortitude t’imbolden those,
That liu’d in dread of their insulting foes;
And to performe their promis’d force for fight
Against the foes, in _Don Antonio’s_ right.

314.

Yet at their hands no helpe to this assay
_Elizae’s_ famous captaines could obtaine,
Who wanting power their valour to display,
When the sad prince _Antonio_ all in vaine
The people’s helpe had sought, and none could gaine,
Remou’d their martiall power gainst Lisbon bent,
And towards Cascais vnto their nauie went.

315.

Where valiant _Drake_ with his triumphant fleet,
Came vp the riuer as it was decreed,
And with the armie at Cascais did meet,
Whose meeting to the foes such feare did breed,
That at their first approch, the towne with speed
And castle both without long batterie,
Did stoope their pride to th’English valiancie.

316.

And where the foes that proudly ranged were
Fast by Saint Iulian’s, readie arm’d for fight,
Had broadly misreported, that with feare
Of their approch their foes with foule affright,
Themselues had taken to inglorious flight,
Vndaunted _Norrice_ with his martiall traine,
Did towards Saint Iulian’s backe returne againe.

317.

[Sidenote: In _Colonel Wingfield’s_ discourse, pag. 148, in the second volume of _R. Hak._ Nauigations.]

And valiant _Essex_ this bold challenge sent,
As combatant in his great soueraigne’s name,
To know, who durst of noble borne descent,
Stand forth amongst the rest to fight for fame,
And trie by blowes the cause, for which they came;
Or if that eight to eight, or ten to ten,
Durst tempt their fate in fight like valiant men.

318.

But through th’Iberian armie not a man
Stood forth as combatant in single fight;
For when the generall with his troops began
T’approch their campe, before he came in sight,
They fled away befriended by the night,
Nor stai’d they till they made great Lisbon gate,
Their safe asylum gainst all aduerse fate.

319.

Meane time, that sea-fam’d captaine worthie _Drake_,
Twice fortie martiall ships well man’d for fight,
In seas did sinke, did burne, did spoile and take;
Mongst whom Saint _Iohn de Colerado_ hight,
Third vnto none in building and in might,
He burnt with raging fire of flaming brand,
And sunk her bulke in shoales of swallowing sand.

320.

Thus though the English disappointed were
Of seating _Don Antonio_ in the throne,
Through that base female stomackt nation’s feare,
Whose sad distresse no future time shall moane,
Though vnder tyrant’s yoke their spirits groane;
Yet fame, the prize on which they ment to pray,
In their swift barks with them they brought away.

321.

And being launcht into the sea’s blacke brest,
By stormie puffe of Auster’s blustring blore,
They carried were with violent storme opprest,
'Bout Bayon iles, and towards the sandie shore
With swift winde-swelling sailes their nauie bore,
Where both the generals on the barren strand,
Did with two thousand souldiers put to land.

322.

And as the wealthie fields of ripe-growen corne,
Which ouercharg’d with seed their heads do bow
Are by the reaper downe in handfuls borne,
Who for that meed, which th’owner doth allow,
Still plies his labour with a sweatie brow;
So th’English did with sword and fire despoile
The fruitfull plentie of that pleasant soile.

323.

That strong street-fenced towne, Vigo by name,
In ashie heapes on ground did groueling lie,
And on the swift wings of a golden flame,
The vaile-inriched Borsis mounting high,
With blazing shine did glaze the cloudie skie,
While eight miles compasse Vulcan’s fierie fume
Dame Ceres gifts did in the vales consume.

324.

Thus grac’d with noble conquest and rich spoile,
The valiant victors with their royall fleet,
Did passe the seas vnto their natiue soile,
Where falling prostrate at their soueraigne’s feet,
With glorious prize the virgin they did greet,
The praise of which what they to her had giuen,
She gaue againe vnto the King of heau’n.

325.

[Sidenote: _Huighen van Linschoten_ and many others.]

Vpon the deepes of Neptune’s large command,
Many more high exploits were daily done.
And from the vanquisht foes by force of hand,
Many faire ships of many a hundred tonne
Full fraught with wealthie prize were daily wonne,
For forren pens speake wonder of the fame,
And rich spoiles gotten in _Elizae’s_ name.

326.

[Sidenote: _Anno eodem 31._

Taken out of the discourse written by that excellent enginer _M. Edward Wright_.]

That famous horse-man, launce-fam’d _Clifford_ hight,
The great Heröe noble _Cumberland_,
About th’Azores in his foes despight
Did scoure the seas, and with three ships command
Each famous port vpon that slimie strand:
For those few English, which he did assemble
In three small ships, made all Tercera tremble.

327.

Vpon the walles of Fayall, that strong towne,
Which huge mount Pyco ouerlookes from west,
He by strong hand with England’s crosse did crowne,
And gainst that strand vpon the seas broad brest,
Many great hulkes with blacke rouz’d waues distrest
Of th’Indian fleet, full fraught with prize for Spaine,
He brought to England ore the broad-backt maine.

328.

Yet he alone braue champion euer prest,
For his faire mistresse to defend her right,
Did not triumph on Neptune’s watrie brest;
But many more, all men of famous might,
The vtmost parts of earth and seas did smite
With loud report that England’s bounds did keep,
A virgin, that was ladie of the deepe.

329.

[Sidenote: _Anno Reg. 32._]

Fame-winged _Drake_ and _Hawkins_, that bold knight,
Vpon the coast of Spaine the foes did dare,
When at the Groyne that host lay readie dight
To passe the seas, to dispossesse Nauarre,
Gainst whom th’vnholy league did warre prepare;
But while the royall fleet of our faire queene
Appeer’d at sea, they durst not then be seene.

330.

Nor durst that captaine of the Spanish fleet,
Th’insulting _Don Alonso Bacan_ hight,
_Elizae’s_ ships in equall battell meet;
But if by chance he found the ods in fight,
Then proudly would he vse his vtmost might:
Yet England’s blacke reuenge, alone, at length
Did worke him shame with all his nauall strength.

331.

[Sidenote: _An. Reg. 33._ Taken out of the discourse penned by Sir _Walter Raughley_.]

For famous _Greenuile_ sayling neere to Flores
In the Reuenge of our _Elizae’s_ fleet,
Obscur’d from sight with th’ilands of th’Azores,
Spaine’s great Armada did vntimely meet;
Yet with sharpe welcome their approch did greet,
For rich reuenge he made vpon his foes;
Though he his life in his Reuenge did lose.

332.

Ten thousand men in three and fiftie saile,
Did in his barke alone begirt him round,
And fifteene howers space did neuer saile
With thundring shot his ship’s weake wombe to wound,
Both him, and her in th’ocean to confound,
Whom with twice fiftie men he did oppose,
And did inferre dire slaughter mongst his foes.

333.

[Sidenote: Some say this ship foundred.]

The great San _Philip_, that mount Etna like,
Lay spitting fierie vengeance gainst her foes,
In fight her entertaine did so dislike,
That she her sad mishap did soone disclose,
And fainting made retreate, to shun foule blowes,
While the amaz’d Iberians stroue to saue
Her leaking wombe from sinking in the waue.

334.

Like as a goodly hart begirted round,
With eager hounds, that thirst to see him fall,
Tir’d in the toile, turnes head and stands his ground,
And with fell blowes the dogs do so appall,
That in the end he makes his way through all:
So noble _Greenuile_ round besieg’d in fight,
Brake through their squadrons with admired might.

335.

Saint _Michael_ hight, and _Cyuil’s_ great Ascension,
With th’admirall of the hulkes, three ships of fame,
Each of the which so large was in dimension,
That _Greenuil’s_ ship, that bore Vindicta’s name,
Did seeme a skiffe compar’d vnto the same,
With crosse-barre shot in fight he did so wound,
That wallowing waues their hugenesse did confound.

336.

[Sidenote: In this fight there were fiue ships of great burthen sunke, 1000 men, and many of especiall note slaine.]

Against them all she proudly did enthunder,
Vntill her masts were beaten ouerbord,
Her deckes downe raz’d, her tackle cut asunder,
Vntill her shot and powder, that were stor’d
In her maim’d bulke could scarce one charge afford;
Yea when her sides were euened with the waue
She would not yeeld, but still her foes did braue.

337.

And had not fate inforc’d her noble knight,
To sinke downe senselesse in her hollow wombe,
Euen he alone would haue withstood their might:
But who, alas, can contradict the doome
O wilfull fate, when time prefix’d is come;
From musket’s mouth spit forth with vengefull breath,
A fatall shot did wound the knight to death.

338.

And at his death, to shew his mightie mind,
Being from his ship conuei’d amongst his foes,
Feeling th’approch of his last houre assign’d,
As one not fear’d in all externall showes
To leaue this life, whose end should end his woes,
With manly lookes amidst his enemies
These words he spake, ere death did close his eies:

339.

[Sidenote: This he spake in Spanish, recorded in the 99 chap. of _Iohn Huighen van Linschoten_.]

“In peace of mind I bid the world adew,
For that a souldier’s death I truly die,
And to my royall queene haue paid her due,
Since by my timelesse death I glorifie
My God, and her against her enemie:
Which to my grace, since fame to her shall tell,
With ioy I bid the world and her farewell.”

340.

Thus fame’s faire finger in his manly prime,
With honor’d touch in death did close his eies,
Whose glorie shall outlast the prints of time,
Caru’d in his brow, and like the sunne in skies,
In darkest times each day shall fresh arise;
For to my verse if heauen such grace do giue,
True noble knight, thy name shall euer liue.

341.

[Sidenote: _An. Reg. 34._ Out of M. _R. Hak._ in the last part of his second volume.]

His ghost regardlesse did not passe away
Without reuenge: for where in haplesse fight,
Vnhappie fate did worke his liue’s decay,
There _Frobisher_ and _Borrough_ that bold knight,
To his Iberian foes did worke despight;
For by th’Azores on the stormie maine,
Many a faire price they daily did obtaine.

342.

The Indian barkes at th’ilands they did stop,
For which, that naked people which adore
The king of flames in steepe Olympus top,
With wicked steele their grandames ribs had tore,
To glut their spacious wombes with golden ore,
Whom _Frobisher_ did send with all their treasure,
To be dispos’d at his _Elizae’s_ pleasure.

343.

Meane time, stout _Crosse_ and _Borrough_ valiant knight,
Against that monster of the fleet of Spaine,
The _Madre Dios_, did a noble fight
Before those ilands many houres maintaine,
Whom by plaine strength, at length they did constraine
To stoope her pride, and hazarding the might
Of twice three hundred, boorded her in fight.

344.

Who to inrich their noble enterprize
With a small world of treasure did abound,
Ten smaller ships fraught with her merchandize,
Which sto’d within her spacious bulke were found,
Arriued safe in Thamis siluer sound;
For fifteene hundred tunne she did containe,
And thirtie foot she drew within the maine.

345.

They tooke likewise the Santa Clare in fight,
Which from the Indian east for Spaine was bound,
And on the ilands in their foe-men’s sight,
With flames of hungrie fire they did confound
The Santa Cruze, which did with wealth abound,
Making each creeke and corner of the maine
To know the rule of their _Elizae’s_ raigne.

346.

But should I heere assay to sing of those,
Who to eternifie their soueraigne’s name,
Renown’d their swords with fall of thousand foes,
Had I a brazen trumpe to sound the same,
Which might out-sound th’eternall trumpe of fame,
Yet not an age drawne out in length of daies,
Would me suffice to sing their worthie praise.

347.

[Sidenote: _Huighen van Linschoten._]

[Sidenote: _Iohannes Parmenius Budæus._]

The Belgian author of that large discourse
Of th’Indian trafickes, truly doth explaine
The matchlesse vertue of their nauall force,
And of their high aduentures on the maine,
That Saxons Latin muse in loftie straine
About the world doth sing; yet cruell fate
Vnto his life did adde too short a date.

348.

[Sidenote: _Anno Dom. 1584._ Sir _Humfrey Gilbert_.]

For when braue spirit did _Gilbert’s_ thoughts excite,
To saile the seas to search for worlds vnfound,
This worthie poet with that noble knight
In th’angrie surge, alas, was helplesse drown’d,
And swallow’d vp within the deepe’s blacke sound:
Yet life to _Gilbert_ dead, his verse doth giue,
And his owne name, in his owne verse doth liue.

349.

But leaue we heere those valiant men, that loue
To diue the deepes of Neptune’s high command,
To see the wonders of the mightie Ioue,
And view meane while, with what auspicious hand,
_Eliza_ guides her plentious peopled land,
Whose royall raigne and bountie debonaire,
Time’s time to come shall count past all compare.

350.

While those bold martialists, that for their fame
In skill of warre affaires were so renown’d,
Did by their swords immortalize her name,
So those graue aged fathers, peeres profound,
In depth of iudgement with wit’s laurell crown’d,
In swaying th’empire’s scepter all her daies,
Did guide her steps in the true path of praise.

351.

Like gods in counsell in the state affaires,
They sate in senate skill’d in all things done,
Deeds past and future, carrying by their cares
Through broken sleepes the course of things begun
Striuing in dead of night the time t’outrun,
By good aduice, by plots, and counsels close,
T’oppugne, preuent, and circumuent their foes.

352.

From whom in care of state the royall maid
Did counsell take, as from the mouth of Ioue,
Still rul’d with reason, as in power obey’d,
Not led with false opinions fond selfe-loue,
But by their sound aduice did euer proue,
How she with lawes respect might best command,
Seeing Ioue had put the scepter in her hand.

353.

And with intent, that in her maiden brest
A deepe impression of that pregnant wit
In vse of lawes, by vse might be imprest,
Mongst the graue senate she did often sit,
And her conceit to consultation fit:
All princes that true vertue’s race do run,
The starre-bright light of counsell will not shun.

354.

As the good shepheard with respectiue right
Of his meeke flocke, drownes not the night in sleepe,
Nor spends the compleat day in his delight;
Who distant farre vpon some mountaine steepe,
Yet nere in care them safe from spoile doth keepe:
So her chiefe care, as carelesse how to please
Her owne affect; was care of people’s ease.

355.

Well did she know, that who would guard and keepe
The state and counsell of a realme aright,
Not vtterly dissolu’d in ease and sleepe,
Or led with loose affection of delight,
They must insist in their owne appetite;
But their state-charged thoughts in cares begun,
Through broken sleepes, and easelesse toiles must run.

356.

Yet if she did abstaine from graue affaires,
And found fit time to solace her delay,
With fond delight she did not ease her cares;
But with the ladie muses wont to play,
Or Pallas-like would often spend the day,
In making wits quaint parlie her best sport,
Amidst her virgin troope of stately port.

357.

Mongst whom, if some, yet mindfull of her worth,
With iuorie fingers touch do chance to turne
These luckie leaues, I only picke them forth
To grace Ioue’s wit-bred brood, the thrice three borne
With their great worth, she dead, left now forlorne,
That by their power, whence I this verse deriue,
She may in them, and they in her suruiue.

358.

And yee faire nymphs, that like to angels houer
About the palace of our Britaine king,
That locke the hearts of euery gazing louer
Within your lookes, whence all delight doth spring,
Of this faire queene vouchsafe to heare me sing,
And let her life, to whom she was vnknowne,
A Mirrour be for them to gaze vpon.

359.

It was, alas that now it is not so,
Praise-worthie deem’d amongst diuinest dames,
In learning’s lore their leasure to bestow,
For which the muses to their lasting fames,
In golden verse might eternize their names;
But now seduc’d with each mind-pleasing toy
In learning’s liking, few do place their ioy.

360.

Yet she, that could command all ioyes on earth,
With sweets of iudgement suckt from learning, skill
In all delights, did moderate her mirth,
Nor gaue she swinge vnto her princely will
In any pleasure to affect the fill;
But with true temperance aduis’d aright,
She best did loue the meane in each delight.

361.

In musike’s skill mongst princes past compare
She was esteem’d; and yet for that delight
The precious time she did not wholly square,
And though in daintie dance she goodly dight
Was matchlesse held for her maiestike sprite;
Yet not in dalliance did she go astray,
Ne yet in dance did dallie out the day.

362.

She with the seed of Ioue, the muses nine,
So frequent was in her yeares youthfull prime,
That she of them had learned power diuine
To quell proud loue, if loue at any time
In her pure brest aloft began to clime,
The praise of whom so chaste, and yet so faire,
Enuie’s foule selfe not iustly can impaire.

363.

In learning’s better part her skill was such,
That her sweet tongue could speake distinctiuely
Greeke, Latin, Tuscane, Spanish, French, and Dutch:
For few could come in friendly ambasie
From forren parts to greet her maiestie,
Whom she not answer’d in their natiue tongue,
As if all language on her lips had hung.

364.

Whereby the world did seeme to plead for right
Within her court, where in her princely chaire,
Astrea-like she sate with powerfull might
To right the wrong of those, that in despaire
Of other’s helpe, to her did make repaire,
Who after humble sute backe neuer went
Through her court gates without true mind’s content.

365.

Witnesse great _Burbon_, when that house of Guise
Did counterchecke thee in thy lawfull claime,
In thy defence what prince did then arise,
Or with strong hand, who in fight’s bloodie frame
Did ioyne to wound thy rebell foes with shame?
But England’s queene, who still with fresh supplie
Did send her forces gainst thine enemie:

366.

[Sidenote: _Anno eodem 34._

In _Stow_ anno 32.]

To beare the first brunt in those bloodie broyles,
That noble knight, the famous _Willoughby_,
Did crosse the seas, and through important toyles
Did lead a multitude, whose valiancie
Made France admire our English Britanie,
Whom England’s royall virgin did excite
Vnto that warre t’aduance thee to thy right.

367.

[Sidenote: _An. eodem._]

And then to reinforce thy strength’s decay
World-wondred _Norrice_, Mars his matchlesse sonne,
Did with three thousand souldiers passe the sea,
Who in French Britaine hauing once begunne,
Did not forsake thee, till thy warres were done,
Whom many did in this thy cause insue,
And in thy French dust did their bloods imbrue.

368.

[Sidenote: _An. eodem._ Earle of Essex.]

[Sidenote: Sir _Walter Deuoreux_.]

When noble _Deuoreux_, that heroicke knight,
To shew his loue to armes and cheualrie,
Ingag’d his person in that furious fight
Before that towne, hight Roan in Normandie,
His honor’d brother fighting valiantly;
Who though but yong, yet oft approu’d in fight,
By a small shot was slaine in his owne sight.

369.

[Sidenote: Sir _William Sackuile_.]

And thou braue _Sackuile_, _Buckhurst_ third-borne birth,
Who in these warres didst change thy life for fame,
Although thy bones lie tomb’d in stranger earth,
Yet in thy countrie liues thy noble name
And honor’d friends, that still record the same:
For though blacke death triumph ore humane breath,
Yet vertue’s deeds do liue in spight of death.

370.

Many more valiant men of no meane birth,
Whose names obscur’d, are yet not come to light,
Being slaine, did falling kisse their mother earth,
And with their foreheads trode the ground in fight,
Against vntruth t’aduance great _Burbon’s_ right,
Who by their valour, fighting for renowne,
Did at the length in peace enioy his crowne.

371.

Thus Albion’s mistresse as an angell sent,
The sonnes of men from hel’s blacke prince to saue,
The world’s vsurped rule from Rome did rent,
And from her yoke sweet freedome’s comfort gaue
To those her neighbours, that her helpe did craue,
Restoring princes to their royaltie,
Debas’d by Rome’s insulting tyrannie.

372.

The which when that seuen-headed beast beheld,
Who proudly treads vpon the necks of kings
With indignation his high stomack sweld,
And of the adulterate sect forthwith he wings
Many bald priests t’enact pernicious things,
Those close confessors, that most vse their skill
To worke the weaker sex vnto their will.

373.

[Sidenote: _An. eodem. 34._]

With these the bifront Iesuits, that cloake
Themselues in diuers shapes, did seeke againe,
Against their prince the people to prouoke,
And with pretence of zeale did thinke to traine
Their loyall hearts against their soueraigne:
But these their base attempts tooke no euent,
Seeing prudent Ioue their plots did still preuent.

374.

For at this time, the Irish _Oroick_,
That bloodie traytour to this kingdome’s state,
That with his vtmost diligence did worke
With Rome and Spaine to execute their hate,
Being most secure of his vntimely fate,
Preuented was, in what he did pretend
In his foule treason by a traytor’s end.

375.

For after all his plots at length he came
To proffer seruice to that roiall king,
Now monarch of this ile, and in his name,
All Ireland in subiection he would bring,
If he would shroud him with his soueraigne wing;
But he braue prince, t’whom traitors hatefull beene,
Did send that traitor to our noble queene.

376.

O peerelesse prince, that northerne starre so bright,
Whose shine did guide vs to the port of rest,
When our pure virgin lampe did lose her light,
If from thy sight these ruder times be blest,
But with one kingly glaunce, graunt this request,
As liuing thou didst honour her great name,
So shee being dead, O king, still loue the same.

377.

Persist, persist, to grace her being dead,
Who liuing did to thee all grace proclaime,
Against her name permit no scandall spread;
But quell those black-mouth’d monsters that defame
The Lord’s anointed our _Elizae’s_ name,
So thy great name ’gainst enuie’s biting rage,
May finde like fauour in the world’s last age.

378.

After this rebel’s ruine, in whose life
Rome did such hopefull confidence repose,
Hoping through him to raise some home-bred strife,
Vnable now t’auenge her on her foes,
By honour’d meanes in dealing martiall blowes;
Being senselesse of all princely roialtie
He sought reuenge by basest treacherie.

379.

[Sidenote: _An. Reg. 35._]

Hight _Lopez_ he, that was for physick’s skill,
Highly respected in the prince’s grace,
Corrupted was her loued life to spill,
And had the helpe of heauen not been in place,
The roiall virgin in a moment’s space
In stead of that, which should haue life protected
Had tasted death in poison strong confected.

380.

[Sidenote: He suffered death, _Anno Reg. 36_.]

But that great King of heau’n, whose watchfull eie
Did euer guard her maiden brest from taint
Of timelesse death, the drift did soone descrie,
And made false _Lopez_ in the fact to faint,
Depicturing out his fault in feare’s constraint,
Who wretched traytor, for his blacke deed done,
Blacke death and scandall in the world hath wonne.

381.

Rome’s demi-god that can at his dispose
By power from heau’n dispence with villanie,
Thus did his sanctitie of life disclose,
In plotting by inglorious treacherie,
Basely to act a virgin’s tragedie;
Whose force for fight seem’d both on seas and land,
Too full of death for him to countermand.

382.

Yet once againe with contumelious vaunt,
Inuasion threatned was against this land,
Which did our queene’s great heart so little daunt,
That to her conquering fleet she gaue command,
Which readie rig’d lay on the English strand,
To seeke the foes for fight in their owne home,
Thereby to ease them of their toyle to come.

383.

[Sidenote: The honorable voyage to Cadiz, _Anno Reg. 38_. Set downe in the end of the last part of the second volume of Nauigations of _R. Hakluit_.]

The royall fleet to do the dame’s command,
Rig’d vp to dance on Amphitrite’s greene,
With war-like musike’s sound did launch from land,
To whom, in loue of Albion’s honor’d queene,
Then easefull peace Spaine’s warre more wisht hath beene,
Whose bosomes twice ten thousand men did fill,
Train’d vp to tread the paths of warre with skill.

384.

Two noble peeres stood vp to lead them out,
The one hight _Howard_ he, that with renowne
Gainst Spaine’s blacke fleet successefully had fought,
Who now, though honor’d age his head did crowne
With snow-white haires of siluer like soft downe;
Yet in despight of yeares respect did goe,
As generall of the fleet against the foe.

385.

The other peere, whose heart heauen grac’d with grace
Of goodly gifts, was _Essex_ noble knight,
Whom from his youth treading the honour’d race
Of valiant men, true vertue did excite,
T’affect renowne in warre with chiefe delight,
Who best aboue the best of high command,
In this exploit went generall of the land.

386.

[Sidenote: They did proclaime their intended voyage in Greeke, Latin, French, Spanish, &c. through most parts of Europe.]

These lords, not like the foes, did put in vre,
Their high exploit, who when their blacke fleete came
Did treate of peace, to make vs more secure;
But they each where their purpose to proclaime,
Chose fame for herauld to denounce the same,
Threatning all nations with their dames iust ire,
That should as agents with their foe conspire.

387.

Many more nobles drew their willing swords
In this exploit to trie th’Iberian might:
Braue _Sussex_, _Howard_, _Harbert_, valiant lords,
Lord _Warden_, _Burk_, stout _Veere_ and _Clifford_ hight,
With _Lodowicke_ of Nassau that stranger knight,
_Don Christopher_ young prince of Portugale,
And _Vanderforde_ the Belgian’s generall.

388.

From Plimmouth port in safe transport of these
And many gallants more, two hundred keele
Did with swift winde cut through the wauie seas,
While shee, whose heart th’effects of grace did feele,
Not giuing trust vnto the strength of steele,
While England’s sacred queene, while shee, I say,
For her faire fleete to this effect did pray:

389.

[Sidenote: Recorded by him that wrote this voiage, who carried it with him into Spaine, translated into Latin by D. _Marbecke_.]

“Thou guide of all the world, great king of heauen,
That seest all hearts with thy all-seeing eye,
Thou knowest what cause vs to this warre hath driuen,
No thirst of blood, of wealth, or dignitie,
No malice of reuenge or iniurie;
But to defend thy truth, we lift our armes
And to preuent our foes intended harmes.

390.

Heare then, O king of heau’n, thy hand-maid’s prayer,
Giue full effect vnto our iust desire,
In midst of stormes t’our fleet vouchsafe thy care,
And with thy heau’nly fortitude inspire
Our souldiers hearts, that they may not retire
Vnto their homes without victorious fame,
T’aduance the glorie of thy holy name.”

391.

Thus pray’d _Eliza_, to whose iust request
The God of Hosts aduisefull audience gaue,
Who downe descending from his heau’nly rest,
Did safely lead her ships, as she did craue,
To Cadiz harbor ore the surging waue,
Where to all eyes appear’d his true foresigne,
That gainst th’Iberians they should victors shine.

392.

As that thrice happie bird, the peacefull doue,
When the old world groaning beneath the raigne
Of giants raging rule, was drown’d by Ioue,
Brought heau’nly newes of a new world againe
Vnto the Arke, then floting on the maine:
So now a doue did with her presence greet
_Elizae’s_ Arke, then admirall of the fleet.

393.

[Sidenote: Recorded by the Author then present.]

For loe the fleet riding at seas in sight
Of Cadiz towers, making that towne the marke
Of their desire, the doue did stay her flight
Vpon the maine yard of that stately barke,
Which long before that time was term’d the Arke,
Whose vnexpected presence did professe
Peace to the fleet; but to the foes distresse:

394.

Who from the browes of Cadiz loftie towers
With eyes amaz’d, viewing so many a keele
Floting vpon their seas, and seeing such powers
Of martiall people arm’d in brightest steele,
The cold effects of fainting feare did feele,
Through whose faint brests remembrance now did run
Of ancient wrongs to England’s empresse done.

395.

The fleete descri’d, the citie high did ring
Each where with horrid sound of shrill alarmes,
In euery street Bellona loud did sing
The song of battaile, and the foes in swarmes
Did throng together in the streets to armes,
While fearefull noise of children’s wofull cries,
And women’s shrikes did pierce the echoing skies.

396.

The gates were open set, out rush’t the hoast,
Both horse and foote in armes confused sound,
Who vaunting of their power did vainely boast,
Their fainting foes in battaile to confound,
If their bold feete durst presse the sandie ground,
Not doubting all their fleete, with fire t’inflame,
If from their ships to fight on shore they came.

397.

And in the gulfie mouth of that faire bay,
Where the proud waues doe wash the towne’s white breast,
The Spanish nauie ready anchoring lay,
All mighty ships bound for the Indian east;
But now for fight themselues they soone addrest,
With whom twice ten stout gallies did prepare
’Gainst th’English fleete to trie the chaunce of warre.

398.

The honour’d peeres, great _Essex_, and his mate
Renowned _Howard_, Time’s swan-white hair’d sonne,
Sitting in counsell wisely did debate,
How by their fleete with best aduantage wonne,
Against the foes the fight might be begunne;
For both the castle, forts and towne in sight,
Did threaten danger in the nauall fight.

399.

But through the windowes of heauen’s crystall bowres,
Ioue seeing the foemen’s force so full of dread,
The citie so well fenc’d with loftie towres;
The sea with faire ships fill’d, the field ore spread
With men of armes, that from the towne made head,
Did send to shield _Elizae’s_ fleete from harmes,
His braine-borne childe, th’vnconquered queene of armes.

400.

Who to effect th’Olympian god’s great will,
About the fleete from ship to ship did flie,
And with such courage euery heart did fill,
Inflaming their desires in fight to trie
The valour of the vaunting enemie,
That euery one did thirst to trample downe
The loftie pride of Cadiz towring towne.

401.

[Sidenote: Now Earle of Suffolk.]

The Norfolke noble duke’s vndaunted sonne,
Sterne-visag’d like the grim-fac’d god of war,
As was decreed, the fight at first begun,
Who to the foes like some disastrous star,
Or blazing comet did appeare from far;
Shooting forth fierie beames from his blacke ship,
Which with the mounting waues did forward skip.

402.

Each aduerse force to fight drew forth their powers,
And in a golden morne, when Phœbus drew
From off the battlements of Cadize towers,
The ruddie cheekt Aurorae’s pearlie dew,
The thundring bullets interchanged flew,
And either side a glorious day to win,
With deadly furie did the fight begin.

403.

The guns, astuns with sounds rebounds from shore
The souldier’s eares, and death on mischiefe’s back
Spit from the canon’s mouth with horrid rore
Flies to and fro in clowdes of pitchie black,
And 'mongst the valiant men makes spoilefull wrack,
While either part like lions far’d in fight,
None feeling seruile feare of death’s afright.

404.

Thus when stout _Howard_ had begun the fight
With many more to quell the foemen’s pride,
The noble _Deuoreux_, that vndaunted knight,
Who stood asterne his ship and wishly ei’d,
How deepe the skirmish drew on either side,
Nere stai’d, as was decreed, to second those
In the maine fight, but rusht amongst the foes.

405.

And as we see the sunne sometimes shine cleare
Amidst the skie, then muffle his bright face
In sable clouds, and straight againe appeare,
So famous _Essex_ did applie each place,
Sometimes incircled round with foes embrace
He stood in fight, and sometimes seene of all,
He in the forefront did his foes appall.

406.

Which when graue _Howard_ view’d from farre well dight
In noble armes, himselfe he did betake
Vnto his pinnace with lord _William_ hight,
His honor’d sonne, and with their powers to make
The fight more hot, into the presse they brake,
Where with fresh strength they labour’d to repell
The foes stout pride, twixt whom the fight grew fell.

407.

So long as faire Aurorae’s light did shine,
They equall fought and neither had the best;
But when the feruent sunne began decline
From th’hot meridian point and day decreast,
Feare did inuade each bold Iberian’s brest,
Who through the danger of the darkesome waue
Did flie their foes, themselues from death to saue.

408.

To shun Charybdis iawes, they helplesse fell
In Scyllae’s gulfe; for after all their braues,
Being all too weake the English to repell,
Their ships they left, and leapt into the waues,
In whose soft bosome many found their graues;
And lest ought good might to their foes redound,
They burnt their ships and ran them on the ground.

409.

The gallies fled, the ships with secret fire
Inflam’d, did burst to shew their burning light;
Then from the shore th’Iberians did retire
Close to their walles, who boasting of their might
In equall ground before did wish for fight;
But now beneath their walles scarce made they stand;
For without fight the victors went on land.

410.

All from the ships did cluster to the shore,
Forth marcht the foote, whose hearts emboldned were
With their late fight, and in the front before
Great _Essex_ breath’d exhorts in euery eare
To charge the foes; and not in vaine to beare
The name of first, but first himselfe to show
In euery deed, he first did charge the foe.

411.

With such swift force, as when wilde Neptune raues,
And ore the shore breaking his wonted bounds,
Riding in triumph on his winged waues,
Runnes vnresisted ouer lands and grounds,
And in his way all in his power confounds;
So from the fleet at shore went th’English downe
To charge the foes inranckt before the towne.

412.

The battels ioyn’d; but by their valour’s might,
The valiant English in one hower’s space
Brake through the foe-men’s rankes, who turn’d to flight;
Did turne their backes and gaue the victors place,
Who to the towne pursu’d with speedie chace,
Whose walles th’Iberians flying from the field
Against their foes did long to make their shield.

413.

And being entred with confused cries,
The gates were shut, and in the towne each where,
A diuers noise about with horror flies;
Then in the streets thicke troopes of men appeare,
Some to the gates, some to the walles with feare
Amazed runne, and euery hold about
They stuffe with men, to keepe their foe-men out.

414.

Meane time to triumph in proud Cadiz fall,
Illustrate _Essex_ did approch the towne,
Where scaling ladders laid vnto the wall
Were fill’d with men, who climing for renowne,
Did hazard death from off the walles cast downe:
For from th’assault to force them to retire,
Thicke fell downe darts, huge stones, and dreadfull fire.

415.

The fearefull cries of men on either side,
Rung through the towne, as they the walles did scale,
Not long the bold defendants did abide
Th’assailants by their prowesse did preuaile,
The foes gaue backe, their fainting hearts did faile,
Who left the walles, and through the streets did runne,
With ruthfull tidings how the walles were wonne.

416.

Vpon the battlements, the blood red crosse
Appear’d in sight, and from the walles downe went
The English troopes, and to the gates did passe,
Where th’iron barres in sunder they did rent,
Beate downe the posts, and all the iewses brent,
And passage wide to them without did win,
To whom the houses farre appear’d within.

417.

Then all the host, led by that aged lord,
The sea’s chiefe admirall, rusht through the gate,
And through the towne with fierie shot and sword
Did force their way in euery street and strait,
Euen to the publike market, where of late
The foes had purpos’d in the king’s highstreet,
To make their commons reindeuous to meet.

418.

[Sidenote: Sir _Iohn Wing_.]

There now the battell fresh againe begun,
For making head vnto that place, the foe
To reinforce their strength, in troopes did run,
While others downe from houses tops did throw
Ruine and death on th’English bands below,
Where fighting gainst such ods, they haplesse lost
Braue _Wingfield_ hight, a leader in the host.

419.

On whose dissolued life, such deepe remorse
The English tooke, that all with loud exclaime
Rusht on th’Iberians bold, and did enforce
Their speedie flight, then furie did enflame
The souldiers hearts, and in the bloodie game
Of raging Mars, remorselesse they were all,
To wreake reuenge for worthie _Wingfield’s_ fall.

420.

Like angrie lions rob’d of their deare yong,
The houses round about they now inuade,
The portals, posts and thresholds downe are flung,
The gates and walles of stone so strongly made,
And doores fast barr’d with earth are leuell made,
And all high turrets and strong chambers shake
With th’hot inuading, which the souldiers make.

421.

The inward roomes are fill’d with wofull sounds,
And wailing noise of folke in wretched plight,
The buildings all with larums loud rebounds,
And women with yong infants in affright,
Through chambers wide shunning the souldier’s sight,
Runne heere and there to seeke some couert place,
To hide themselues from angrie Mars his face.

422.

About the parent’s knees, the children swarmes,
Calling in vaine for helpe with pitious cries,
The spouse fast clips her husband in her armes,
In whose sad brest his cold heart fainting dies,
Seeing the armed men before his eies,
Stand with bright swords in thicke tumultuous croud
At th’entrie doores, crying out with clamors loud.

423.

But th’English all, that neuer vse to lift
Their hands against a yeelding enemie
By nature milde, not proud of fortune’s gift,
Did not insult vpon their miserie,
But with milde hand did vse the victorie,
And after fight they all abhorring blood,
Did only tend the spoile of golden good.

424.

Both the braue generals, by a strict command
About the towne, this mercie did proclaime,
That none thenceforth should vse the force of hand,
Nor offer wrong to any virgin dame,
That would sweet beautie keepe from lustfull shame,
Which vnreprou’d edict amongst all men,
Through th’English host inuiolate hath been.

425.

Amongst the captiues not the basest mate
With any sad designe they vexed sore,
The female sex vntoucht inuiolate
Did freely passe with all that golden store
Of chaines, and gemmes which they about them bore,
And all religious folke did find like grace,
Free without ransome to depart the place.

426.

Thrice valiant victors, euer may my rimes
Suruiue on earth, that in their life may liue
This famous conquest to all future times,
That from the best, that for true praise do striue,
All men to you the laurell wreath may giue,
Which that milde mercie, which you then did show,
Doth more deserue then conquest gainst the foe.

427.

After the souldier had return’d from spoile
Loaden with riches of the ransackt towne,
To yeeld fit compensation to the toile
Of each man’s paines, with fauour or renowne,
The generals did each souldier’s merit crowne,
And gaue to many a well deseruing wight
That noble order of true martiall knight.

428.

That noble order, which in antique time
In top of fame’s high tower tooke chiefest place,
To which by vertue valour’s steps did clime;
Was then no base mind’s meed, that nere had grace
T’ensue fame’s feeting in true vertue’s race;
Though now the aged world to dotage growne,
This noble order scarce is truly knowne.

429.

But now to sing the spoile and last decay
Of that faire towne by her owne folke forlorne,
The host all readie to depart away,
Intending first in funerall flames to burne
Her fatall pride, and all her pompe oreturne,
Did in thicke concourse cluster to confound,
Her high top towers and eu’n them with the ground.

430.

In number like the golden flowers in spring,
In forme like furies of the Stygian caue:
The souldiers high on houses tops do fling
Their burning brands, and round do range and raue,
To burie that faire towne in ashie graue,
While hungrie flames borne vp on golden wings,
Flies through the aire, and far their splendor flings.

431.