News from the coast of Spain, Feb. 13 a true relation of a brisk and bloody encounter which happened upon the 13th of February, between the Tyger frigot, Captain Harman, commander, and the Schaherleas of Holland, vice-admiral of young Evertson's squadron, Pasqual DeWit, captain, near Cadize in Spain ... : tune of, Digby's farewell.
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A True Relation of a Brisk and Bloody Encounter which happened upon the 13th. of
February, between the
Tyger Frigot, Captain
Harman Commander; and the
Schaherless of
Holland, Vice-Admiral of Young
Evertson's Squadron, Pasqual
De Wit Captain, near
Cadize in
Spain: Where the said
De Wit, to Vindicate his Honour (being suspected of Cowardise by the
Spaniards, for quiting his Station upon the
Tygers approach) Challenged Captain
Harman to Fight the next day: And having double Man'd his Ship, the Number being 270 Men, came up with the
Tyger, who had but a 180 Men on Board, within a League of
Cadize Bay, within the View of all the Inhabitants. These two Ships being come within half Pistol shot one of another, Fired their Broadsides, where the
Tyger did such Execution, that he Disabled their Adversaries Topmast-Yard, Kill'd and wounded 80 of their men without any considerable Damage to himself: And immediately Laying him Aboard on the Bow, after half an hours Dispute, Entered his Men and made him Yield; Carrying his Prize miserable Shattered and Torn, to the Admiration of all the People: The
Dutch having Lost 140 Men, besides 86 Wounded: And the
English Losing but Nine, and Fifteen wounded, amongst whom the Captain himself was Shot under the Left-Eye by a Musquet Shot, but is in good hopes of Recovery.
Tune of,
Digby's Farewell.
[figure]
COme all you brave Sea-men of Courage so frée,
Come lend your attention and listen to me,
for here is good News that is late come to Town
VVhich is for your Credit, and
Englands Renown,
Of brave Captain
Harman 'tis now I must tell,
VVho near unto
Cadiz behav'd himself well
And taught a
Dutch Captain whose name is
de Wit,
To know he had Valour, and made him submit.
The
Tiger from
Tangier to
Cadiz made way,
VVhereas the
de Wit, the
Dutch Admiral lay,
But soon as the
Dutchman our Frigate espy'd,
They straight into Port with all diligence hi'd;
VVhich caused the
Spaniards about for to say,
He quitted his Station and durst not to stay;
VVhereat the proud
Dutchman did fume and did fret,
And wisht in his heart that they never had met.
Then taking advise of young
Evertson straight,
A Challenge he sent with the
Tiger to fight,
To regain his Honour if so it might be,
The which was accepted immediately,
His Ship with stout Seamen he then double Mann'd,
And thought that our
English was meerly Trappan'd,
But in the conclusion he found it not so,
They paid him his Reckoning before he did go.
Two hundred and seventy Men he had there,
And but half so many the
Tiger did bear,
Of brave
English hearts, and of Courage most frée
That scorn'd to be dounted in any degree:
Then up they did come within half Pistol shot,
Their Broad-sides they fired, and Men went tot'h pot,
VVhil'st all the whole Town did come out to behold,
And sée them Encounter shith Courage most bold.
VVith Broad-sides of Bullets and Shot that was Bar'd
VVe quickly disabled
de Wits Top-mast Yard,
And Fourscore men they had wounded and slain.
VVhich made them to fret but it was but in vain.
Q
[...]
VVe
[...]l bea
[...] in upon
[...]
VVe'l show them such Valour as never was shown,
I'le take their Ship Prize, or I'le venture my own.
Then quickly they Grappled, and then the dispute
VVas desperate and bloody whil'st Cannons were mute,
For half an hours space the hot Service was such,
Our Men remain'd Victors, and conquer'd the
Dutch
And then they submitted themselves to be Prize,
VVhich all the brisk
Spaniards, beheld with their eyes,
And our
English Valour did highly commend,
Since
Harman had forc'd the proud
Dutch for to bend.
The Prize was so shattered and torn in the Fray,
They scarcely could get her safe into the Bay:
For to
Harman's Honour,
de Wit must confess,
He nere was so thumped before I do guess,
'Twill teach him hereafter more humble to be
To yield to his betters in every degrée;
By woeful experience he now can relate,
VVhat 'tis to sell Honour at so dear a rate.
Of
Dutchmen one hundred and forty were slain,
And eighty six wounded, which languish in pain,
Of all our brave
English we lost but just nine,
And therefore we have no great cause to repine,
Besides fiftéen wounded the truth for to tell,
All which through God's merry we hope will do well.
Such Blessings the Lord has for
England in store,
VVe lost not much more then a man to a score.
Brave
Harman who fought where the Battel was hot
VVas struck through the chéek with a chance Musket shot
But yet there is hopes he'l recover again
And live for to win more Renown on the Main;
However his Valour is highly extol'd,
'Mongst our
English VVorthies he shall be enrol'd
VVho fought for true Honour, glad Tydings to bring,
How well he had serv'd both his Countrey and King.
Then cheer up brave Seamen, and
Englishmen bold
You here by this story which here I have told;
No Sea-men nor Souldiers can with us compare,
Although they have odds yet to fight them we dare j
Throughout the whole VVorld a terrour shall prove
If we can continue in union and Love:
And thus you may see by these Lines I have writ,
How stout Captain
Harman did Conquer
De Wit.
Printed for F. Coles, T. Veres, J. Wright & J. Clarke.