XX. VICTORIOUS MEN OF EARTH. This little moral fonnet bath fuch a pointed applica tion 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. 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, Yet you proud monarchs muft obey, And mingle with forgotten ashes, 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; Nor to these alone confin'd, He hath at will More quaint and fubtle wayes to kill; A fmile or kifs, as he will use the art, Shall have the cunning skill to break a heart. I XXI. THE XXI. "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 defcent made on the coast 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 hand, but he ftopt the flaughter as foon as poffible, and treated bis prifoners with the greatest humanity and even affability and kindness. The English made a rich plunder in the city, but mift of a much richer, by the refolution, which the duke of Medina the Spanish admiral took, of fetting fire to the fhips, in order to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. It was computed, that the lofs, which the Spaniards Juftained in 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 from the Editor's folio MS. and feems to have been composed by fom: person, who was concerned in the expedition. Most of the circumstances related in it will be found fupported by history. LON ONG the proud Spaniards had vaunted their conquefts, Threatning our country with fire and fword, Often Often preparing their navy most sumptuous To the feas haftily went our lord admiral, Dub a dub, &c. At Plymouth speedilye, took they ship valiantlye, With their fair colours fpread, and ftreamers o'er their head, Now bragging Spaniard take heed of your tayle. 15 Dub a dub, &c. Unto Cales cunninglye, came we most speedilye, Dub a dub, &c. Great was the crying, the running and ryding, 20 The beacons were fyred, as need then required; 1 There There you might fee their fhips, how they were fyred faft, Dub a dub, &c. The great St. Phillip, the pryde of the Spaniards, The earl of Effex moft valiant and hardye, 30 35 With horsemen and footmen march'd up to the town; The Spanyards, which faw them, were greatly alarmed, Did fly for their fafety, and durft not come down. Dub a dub, &c. Now, quoth the noble earl, courage my foldiers all, Dub a dub, &c. The Spaniards at that fight, thinking it vain to fight, 40 45 50 Entering 1 Entering the houses then, of the most richest men, Dub a dub, &c. 55 Full of rych merchandize, every fhop catch'd our eyes, Dub a dub, &c. Thus Cales was taken, and our brave general Marched to the market place, where he did ftand; There many prifoneres fell to our several shares, 60 Many crav'd mercye, and mercye they fonde, 65 Dub a dub, &c. When our brave general faw they delayed all, And when the town burned all in a flame, 70 XXII. THE |