¶ A new Ballet of the strange and most cruel Whips which the Spaniards had prepared to whip and torment English men and women: which were found and taken at the overthrow of certain of the Spanish Ships in july last passed. 1588.  
To the tune of the valiant Soldier.  

Whips for the women.  
Whips for the men.   

ALL you that list to look and see  
what profit comes from Spain,  
And what the Pope and Spaniards both,  
prepared for our gain.  
Then turn your eyes and bend your ears,  
and you shall hear and see,  
What courteous minds, what gentle hearts  
they bear to thee and me.   

They say they seek for England's good,  
and wish the people well:  
They say they are such holy men,  
all other they excel.  
They brag that they are Catholics,  
and Christ's only Spouse:  
And what so ere they take in hand,  
the holy Pope allows.   

These holy men, these sacred Saints,  
and these that think no ill:  
See how they fought against all right,  
to murder, spoil and kill.  
Our noble Queen and Country first,  
they did prepare to spoil:  
To ruinated our lives and lands,  
with trouble and turmoil.   

And not content by fire and sword  
to take our right away:  
But to torment most cruelly  
our body's night and day.  
Although they meant with murdering hands  
our guiltless blood to spill:  
Before our deaths they did devise  
to whip us first their fill.   

And for that purpose had prepared  
of whips such wondrous store,  
So strangely made, that sure the like  
was never seen before.  
For never was there Horse nor Mule,  
nor dog of currish kind,  
That ever had such whips devised  
by any savage mind.   

One sort of whips they had for men,  
so smarting fierce and fell:  
As like could never be devised  
by any devil in hell.  
The strings whereof with wyerie knots,  
like rowels they did frame,  
That every stroke might tear the flesh  
they laid on with the same.   

And plucked the spreading sinews from  
the hardened bloody bone,  
To prick and pierce each tender vein,  
within the body known.  
And not to leave one crooked rib,  
on any side unseen:  
Nor yet to leave a lump of flesh  
the head and foot between.   

And for our seely women eke,  
their hearts with grief to clog,  
They made such whips wherewith no man  
would seem to strike a dog:  
So strengthened eke with brazen tags,  
and filled so rough, and thin  
That they would force at every lash  
the blood abroad to spin.   

Although their bodies sweet and fair,  
their spoil they meant to make:  
And on them first their filthy lust  
and pleasure for to take.  
Yet afterward such sour sauce  
they should be sure to find,  
That they should curse each springing branch  
that cometh of their kind.   

O Ladies fair what spite were this,  
your gentle hearts to kill:  
To see these devilish tyrants thus  
your children's blood to spill.  
What grief unto the husband dear,  
his loving wife to see  
Tormented so before his face  
with extreme villainy.   

And think you not that they which had  
such dogged minds to make  
Such instruments of tyranny,  
had not like hearts to take  
The greatest vengeance that they might  
upon us every one:  
Yes, yes, be sure, for godly fear  
and mercy they have none.   

Even as in India once they did  
against those people there,  
With cruel Curs in shameful sort  
the men both rent and tear:  
And set the Ladies great with child  
upright against a tree,  
And shoot them through with piercing darts,  
such would their practice be.   

Did not the Romans in this land,  
sometime like practice use,  
Against the Britons bold in heart,  
and wondrously abuse  
The valiant King whom they had caught  
before his Queen and wife,  
And with most extreme tyranny  
dispatched him of his life?   

The good Queen Voadicia,  
and eke her daughters three:  
Did they not first abuse them all  
by lust and lechery:  
And after stripped them naked all,  
and whipped them in such sort:  
That it would grieve each Christian heart  
to hear that just report.   

And if these ruffling mates of Rome  
did Princes thus torment:  
Think you the Romish Spaniards now  
would not show their descent.  
How did they late in Rome rejoice,  
in Italy and Spain:  
What ringing and what Bonfires,  
what Masses sung amain.   

What printed Books were sent about,  
as filled their desire:  
How England was by Spaniards won,  
and London set on fire.  
Be these the men that are so mild,  
whom some so holy call:  
The Lord defend our noble Queen,  
and Country from them all.   
FINIS. T. D.   

Imprinted at London by Thomas Orwin and Thomas Gubbin, and are to be sold in Pater-noster-row, over against the black Raven. 1588.