TO HIS ROYALL HIGHNESSE The DUKE OF YORKE.
On our late Sea-fight.
WARRE, the Supreme Decider of a Cause
Where wrongs are grown too bold, and strong for Lawes;
And where no power of Justice can prevaile,
Lesse then an armed Fleet, and conquering Sayle,
Ingag'd our English Okes (which long had stood
The peacefull shades, and Glories of the Wood,
And whose large ribs afforded harmlesse Beames
For other Buildings, then what float on streames)
In Nobler, and more Hostile shapes to meet,
A farre more numerous but ignobler Fleet.
And, having first appeal'd to Heaven, did fight
Their Countries sufferings with their Princes might.
Both Navies, when they sirst appear'd in view,
Lookt like two Forrests which in Waters grew.
[Page 2]But when their threatning Wings by Windes inspir'd,
Drew neer, they lookt like guarded Castles fir'd.
The Wide-mouth Canons loud Defiance spoke,
Like burning
AEtna's which from Broadsides broke.
Or like
Vesuvius, whose Sulphureous-Breath
Did vomit flames wrapt up in Clouds of Death.
The Engineer, who first found out the skill
Of teaching powder, like the Plague, to kill;
And to the furious Sword, by which Men fall,
Added new waies of Death, the murdring Ball,
Might here his horrid Wit, and Art admire,
By seeing Bullets shot from rankes of Fire.
Destruction manag'd by strict rules, and formes,
And Ruine caught to fly in leaden stormes.
Slaughters for slaughters in straight Lines return'd,
And Ships by Ships in well set order burn'd.
Each Vessel with a steering Pilot sunke,
But where the steerer was Hollandicke drunke.
Never did horror in more various dresse
The severall Fates of dying men expresse.
They, whom their wooden Walls secur'd a while,
Found their Defence chang'd to their funerall pile.
The greedy Ocean in his ravenous Wombe,
Swallow'd a Caper like a flaming Tombe.
Where the inclos'd did by two deaths expire,
At once drown'd by the Sea, and burnt by fire.
[Page 3]Bodies dismembred did the Hatches spred,
Here lay a Legge shot off, there Arme, and Head.
At the last Day 'twould pose a Schoolmans Wit,
How Limbs thus scatter'd should unite, and knit.
The Sea was dreadfull, on whose trembling waves
The living swamme for Life, the dead for Graves.
The Waters which once drown'd a numerous Host,
In waves of blood on the
Arabian coast,
Were not more red, the floating bodies such,
Only
AEgyptians were here turn'd to
Dutch.
Ships, which had oftvyed Travels with the Sun,
Out-sail'd his lines, beyond his Tropicks run,
And measur'd all the distance of the way,
Where East begins, and West shuts up the Day,
From the Worlds adverse Hemispheres did here
To fight the Empire of the Sea appeare.
Opposing Reparation against Stealth,
And Monarchy against a Commonwealth.
The English Courage which with bended Yew
At
Agincourt vast Legions overthrew,
And with their feather'd shafts, sent from a string,
At
Poictiers conquer'd
France, and took their King,
Like Valour of Inheritance, which runnes
From Warlike parents in the brest of sonnes,
Possest our Seamens Hearts, who did farre more
Then their bold Fathers on the land and shore.
[Page 4]There Archers, with their Bowes, maintain'd the fight.
Here Cannons might the greatest Courage fright.
Yet our men, like true Souldiers of the blood,
Outfac'd the danger, and untrembling stood.
Nay with the same Alacritie did fight,
As Bridegrooms feast upon their Marriage night.
Despis'd their Wounds, and for more Wounds did crie,
And call'd it conquest for their Prince to die.
Nor did they owe this Courage to the Vine,
Or take their Inspiration from their Wine.
No
Zealand Liquor brew'd at
Amsterdam,
VVarm'd their cold hearts with Artificiall flame:
Our sober valours beat their drunken, who
Came doubly Arm'd with Guns and Brandee too;
And who compell'd to fight against their will,
Made their Recruits of Courage from the Still.
The Battle of
Lepanto was a Theme
For vulgar Wits, a Sea-fight in a Dreame:
VVhere the
Corinthian and the
Affrick shores
Saw
Christian Boates ingage with
Turkish Oares.
Like children of the Sea, the
Belgicke powers,
United in one strength, here fronted ours.
The Timber of all Nations here did meet
Like all Religions in this
Belgicke Fleet.
The
Duca Oke, and
French, nay
English Wood,
Against our
Oke in Opposition stood
[Page 5]Trees bought of Traytors in rebellious times
Added new Treason to the sellers Crimes,
And falne from their first Loyalty did bring
Sides which bore Armes against their Native King.
Forgetting, like their New-made States aboard,
What Country Trees they were, or who their Lord.
The Clouds above, where Thunders are begot
Heard greater Thunders from our Cannons shot.
And seeing other Clouds put out the light,
Wonder'd to see Noone thus transform'd to Night.
Taking at once from the Speactators Eye
The sight both of the Fighters and the Skie.
This Darknesse, which did from black Lightnings Spring
Made conquest hover with a doubtfull Wing.
Whil'st in this Smoke confusion, feares did rise
How to distinguish Friends from Enemies.
But when the silent Guns left off to play,
And parting Mists once more recall'd the Day,
Bright Victorie came to our Sea-mens view,
Whose work was not to fight now, but pursue,
And chace the theevish-Fleet, or flying rout
Home to their Den from whence they Theeves came out:
Great Providence, whose Justice long did sleep,
On this great day show'd VVonders in the Deep.
It was a day of Judgment, where the guilt
Of English blood at sad
Amboina spilt,
With all the Villanies of
Amsterdam,
(VVhose Piracies did through the Ocean run,
As farre as VVindes blow, or Eyes see the Sun,
And where the States by plunder'd Merchants Wealth
Grew to be High and Mighty Lords in stealth)
For satisfaction, and Revenge did call,
In every sir'd Ship, and sunk Admirall.
Old Thefts committed on the Indian shoares
Here paid their publick Debts, and clear'd their scores.
Mean time, to show the Justice of our Cause,
Who fought with those who broke all Nations Lawes,
The Elements did on our side conspire,
Like Seas in pension, or like listed Fire.
The Starres fought in their Courses, and the Winde
Helpt to assist the Quarrell of Mankind.
O Royall
Charles, whose Territories lie
Both in your Subjects Hearts, and in the Skie!
Since, like your other Subjects kept in pay,
Where you command the Windes, and Seas Obey!
Base
Dutch, whose Linage is the same with Frogs,
Created out of mists, and hatcht from Boggs,
Could you believe the Elements were made,
To serve as Engines to your cousening Trade?
Or that the Waters were at your Command,
Whorobb'd the Fish of Water, Sea of Land?
[Page 7]Whose very Dwellings stand on pilfer'd Ground,
Your Country one great Theft, which Seas once drownd?
Or that the breath of Heaven would be confin'd
To swell your Sailes, and be Piraticke Winde?
How durst you thus all Countries rights invade,
And call your Thefts, and Usurpations Trade?
You might as well Monopolize the Skies,
And claime the Sun-beams, as your Marchandize;
Forbid the Tides to rolle, or winds to blow,
But where your Capers saile, or long Boats row,
As thus bind up the Worlds great Rode in Chaines,
And make the Sea a servant to your Gaines.
And now, Great Prince, whose celebrated Name
Fill'd
France and
Flanders with your early Fame,
Which did deserve the stile of Generall,
Even then when Ladies might you Lady call:
Had the great Prince of Poets, (
Homer,) seen
This Sea-fight you had his
Achilles been,
And held a place among his Warlike Kings,
Whose lasting Quill immortall Battles sings.
Or had
Augustus, when from
Actium fleet
He rode in Triumph through the Roman street,
Leading his Captives through a shining Arch,
Through which Himself did, crown'd with Lawrel, march,
Seen this daies Fight, which
Actium did outdoe,
He had resign'd his Arch, and Bayes to you.
[Page 8]Who by your Conquest set the Waters free,
And sav'd the Ocean from Captivitie.
Cur'd Trade, and Merchants of the
Dutch Disease,
And crown'd your Brother Monarch of the Seas.
Whose new Dominions now will reach as farre
As the
Pole-artick, and
Ant-artick starre.
And your great Actions will as farre be told,
As Menfetch Easterne Spice, or Westerne Gold.
The End.
OXFORD, Printed by HENRY HALL for RIC: DAVIS, 1665.