AN ENCOMIASTCK, OR, elegiac enumeration Of the Noble achievements, and unparalleled SERVICES, done at LAND and SEA, BY THAT TRULY HONOURABLE general, ROBERT BLAKE Esq Late one of his Highness's generals at Sea; who after nine years Indefatigable SERVICE in that high Employment, Exchanged this Earthly TABERNACLE, for an eternal HOUSE, Not made with hands, Blessedly dying in the Lord, in Plymouth Sound, September the seventh, 1657. AGED 59 LONDON, Printed by Tho: Roycroft, 1658. AN encomiastic, OR, elegiac Enumeration of the Noble achievements, and unparalleled SERVICES, done at Land and Sea, by that truly Honourable general. ROBERT BLAKE, Esq REnowned Blake, what Trumpet may be found, That can thy matchless Praises duly sound? Or what seraphic Pen, that can set forth, In fitting measures, thy transcendent Worth? And justly warble forth, in saddest strains, Thy death, and loss thereby the Land sustains? Is that Sidneian spirit, with his dust, Extinct? or for this mournful Subject must heroic Spencer, and that sweet Divine Dubartas, raised be from their resting shrine? Thy signal unexampled Acts to sing; Of which the whole World doth already ring; Which if in order we must needs recount, Our mean unpolished Quill they far surmount, That to thy merit we shall in debt remain, So great a sum not able to attain: Leaving a Richer pen the same to pay, Whilst in the Common stock our Mite we lay. When first Bellona did fair Albion greet With dreadful Larums in the open street, And when that high and Roman-like dispute Of the Militia, did in field recruit Two Armies, twixt the late unhappy King And Parliament, from whence as from a spring, Ran Seas of blood throughout this Isle, which had Drowned all, but that Jehovah it forbade. Commissions of Array are issued out, Which doth disturb the trembling land throughout Blake now stands up without delay or fear, 'Gainst the tyrannic Levies doth appear; And with those noble Patriots of the West, A Captain of stout Foot, himself addressed With their associate Troops to march and face The royal forces, who with nimble pace Quitting the field, to Sherborne do retreat, That ancient Castle, Digby's stately Seat: From thence are forced with tedious March to fly, To the Cornubian Mountains strong and high, And there divided, some away do post, Through swelling Severn, to the Cambrian Coast And fenced hills of Wales, for shelter where Th' old Britains by the Romans chased were. So after many signal proofs shown forth, Of his heroic prowess and true Worth, At Bodmyn, Bristol, and at Launsdown fight, And at Bridgewater (where he first saw Light) Though by just Providence, and heaven's Decree, We were denied a Conquest yet to see, And royal Charles had subjugate the West, And two full Winters, had the same possessed. He now arriveth to the council great, Thereof a Member, to consult and treat, Of State-concernments (where sometimes did vote His grave Progenitors, there to promote The common good) and so with great Applause, 'Mongst other Worthies, he that public cause, Twixt Prince and People then in high Debate, Is called with dint of Sword to vindicate. And speedily on Neptune's Chariot sent, Commander of a valiant Regiment, Raised by stout Popham of Illustrious Rank, And timely landing on the Western Bank. I. lime to relieve, that old Maritime Seat By faithful Celey kept, with hazard great, Near gasping, as beleaguered strongly by A Rhenish Princes Army strong and high, formed of all Nations, who like ravenous Bears, Thirst after English blood, whilst he prepares Himself for Sallies, and through help divine The bold Assailants slays like herds of Swine: Prince Maurice still recruits, still is repeled With loss of thousands, and at last compelled To quit the leaguer with his Princely Train, Not daring fiery lime to face again. II. HE having now paid to Jehovah high, His vows and thanks for this first Victory, In triumph hence doth march, bent to set free, The Neighbouring places that in thraldom be, (Assisted by stout pie from Essex sent, That Peer renowned, in arms so eminent) To that strong Castle founded by King Ine, Of Saxon Race, seated as 'twere on Rhyne, Or rather Eden sweet, a land so blessed, Called vulgarly, The Garden of the West. And herein yet more happy, that brave Blake, His first breath in this fertile soil did take, 'Gainst this strong hold, called Taunton, that fair town (By high-born Stawell kept) he sitteth down, Soon forcing the Besieged to submit To his Conditions: They forthwith do quit A Princely Garrison, stored plenteously With all Provisions, here he worthily Is now ordained governor; but he, As born to high achievements, will not be Embased with rest or sloth, but prudently Foresees approaching storms; for suddenly Great Forces under Wyndham are drawn out, This growing Garrison to quell and rout; Whilst with few men, but by him spirited, And by his Fortitude and wisdom led, With sallies strong, the potent Foe he plies, That with great loss, and greater shame he flies. III. YEt here the royal Party will not rest, But fresh alarms do him still infest, On sudden, lo, a formidable host Commanded by the chieftains, and the most Stout Greenfeild, Goring, Hopton, breathing out, Nought else but fire & sword the camp throughout Here might you hear the Irish Tories thunder, More hideous threats than Cannon, that asunder The Castle seemed to rend: Lo like a flood, Great multitudes have broke the Line, now blood Is like to die fair Tone, or rather make New Rivers in the streets, all lies at stake; Women and Children, nought but ghastly death, Beholding, and half dead, do gasp for breath. Yet here great wonders wrought by those Tauntonian Blades, the overflowing foes Are bravely checked, and stopped at a Bay, And forced to fight at pistol shot, by day And night, from house to house, until the Foe Repulsed, such fury could not undergo: Now are made good the words sometimes he spoke, By inches they their bloody way should make, And yet poor souls, have lost their way at last, As into darkness and confusion cast. And when that Goring sent to him in scorn A tattered drum, (best suiting their forlorn Condition) for exchange of prisoners, he Them kindly treats, and quickly sets them free, And like himself, or like that Greekish Prince, The falling foe with kindness doth convince: This one exchange doth to the other add, Returns the Nuntio with new raiment clad. Yea to their great astonishment, upon Their taking of a neighbouring Garrison, Insulting proudly with great threats and jeers, The church's bells he ring in their ears, And thereby quickly checks their pride and rage, Of their ensuing fall a sad presage. Redoubted Welden loe, that man of Kent, With seasonable succour hither sent, From th' hills appears: the harassed foe again Doth raise his siege, and fairly leaves his slain By thousands to their Mother Earth, to feed The hungry worms, which looked before indeed For other flesh, whilst mercy with strong hands Out of the raging fire, pulls us as brands. IV. THe Kingly forces never rest nor cease, From their implacate Wrath, which doth increase, Still hotly thirsting for the blood of those, Who merely in their own defence arose Fresh Armies now are levied, to pull down The haughty courage of this sturdy Town, By a third sidge more dreadful than the rest, Which kindles flames of valour in the breast Of this stout Hector, made for dangers great, Like that great Greek that did Darius beat. Here Goring chief Commander, vows to lay His bones, and not retreat or march away, Till that proud Castle were reduced, just than When Naseby batrell wavering stood, and when He straightly summoned was by royal call, To aid his King on that day vertical. The gallant governor well knowing all These passages, together he doth call His Captains, cheers his warlike boys, who like Lion's fall on, and with amazement strike The Royalists, whose stout heart will not yield, Till Mastered by a stouter in the field. Here now that joyful sound of Naseby fight Was heard, like sweetest music for delight, After sad thunder-cracks let England sing Still that appealing victory, and bring Fresh laurels to adorn that glorious field, Whilst to th' Almighty we due praises yield. Now noble Fairfax doth victoriously, March to relieve the Western parts, that lie Oppressed; the same at once relieves, and meets Another Conquest in brave Taunton streets, Achieved by Blake, who solemn Thanks ordains, Unto the highest, who for ever reigns. V. ANd now to march forthwith he doth prepare To Dunster, that strong towering castle, where The wasting pestilence of late did rage, Which God was pleased on his approach t' assuage, The foes great obstinacy did him move, To spring a mine: the lofty walls above Mount in the air, some dead, some living are, In those great heaps blown up, the fruits of War, At length dear Blake to thee they did resign, This Castle, by rendition now made thine. Through heaven's fair aspect now, auspicious Peace, Begins to spring, and flagrant arms to cease; To that great Senate, he from bloody fights Returns, there to assert the people's rights, And he that was a warrior stout of late, Doth now consult of arduous things of State; Well hoping in the end the sword to see, Into a pruning hook might turned be. VI. BUt lo, sad Rumours from the British main, Our Fleet revolted is, which doth a train Of troubles new, and great combustions breed; For our great sins, a just vindictive meed: Now this brave Senator must once again, Harness himself, more honour yet to gain For his great merit elected general, And as the first fruits of this public call, Those Princely pirates from Kingsale doth rout, Rupert and Maurice both, two Princes stout; From thence he to th' Herculean straits doth chase These German Exiles, who from place to place Pursued. Within th' Hetrurian seas (which do The world's terrestrial Globe divide in two) Are forced with their winged fleet to fly Unto the Caribean Isles, to lie At mercy of the deep, and on that coast, The greatest part of those great Ships, yea most Of those seduced souls, with Prince Maurice sink, As lead in mighty waters, (sad to think) VII. HE now for Yagus banks doth streer his fleet, And with his thundering squadrons Lisbon greet, Which did the English so much wrong of late, And for it must account unto the State; Mean while those rich Brasilian Ships arrive, Which with nine others, outward bound do strive Him to escapein vain, near all made prize By his successful fleet, who like a wise, As well as gallant Captain, by his care, For this great spoil, a Convoy doth prepare, With this mellifluous Trophy from Brasill, Which with its sweetness did all England fill, In triumph homewards he his course doth bend, Where public service doth him still attend, Yea to his praise, this may recorded be, That as the end of wars is peace, so he (After full reparation by them made To th' English) did restore both peace & trade. VIII. A Famous Island, and of great import To England, startled with the loud report Of his amazing Actions, trembling stands: To this strong Isle begirt with Rocks and Sands, He sails, and Greenvil summons, (that stout Knight Then chief Commander there) the State to right By his surrender, or he must be sure The fury of his valiant arm endure. Whilst Trump then hovering with his Fleet, in vain Solicits with vast sums the same to gain: At length upon Blakes sight he doth retreat, Or rather fly by this Commander great, Now S●illy is reduced to the State, And joy of English Merchants, who of late Could not for fear of this new Dunkirk trade, So rich and high, by warlike plunderings made. Ix.. IMpregnate Dunkirk, once our friend, but now Our foe, if noble, will with homage bow To him, as 'twere once holding in his hands The scales of France and Spain on either Sands, As Umpire, he decides and weighs the town, Freely to Spain, for England's great renown, Though that Ledean marquess did him treat▪ And him carrest in vain with presents great; Yet not without a rich and glorious prize As unto them, so to himself, whose wise And brave couduct, six warlike Ships did seize, No less than Princes style we two of these; Great Neptune with his triple sceptre dread, Princess Maria eke with crowned head, All captive led by this great admiral, Which did the conquered French so much appall. X. NOr can we Jersey Isle in silence pass, So near an hostile Coast that seated was, And by a mighty Monarch then protected, From his black storms, yet was by him subjected; Which France beholding, from her lofty strand, At such portentous acts, doth trembling stand, And seeing Holland since in humble wise Strike to our Flag, her Peace of England buys. XI. HE yet engaged is in more dreadful fights, Which all the World, on every cost affrights, New fires of war betwitx two protestant And neighbour Nations kindled are, which want Not Rome's fomenters, which the British, French, And the Batavian sea's, could hardly quench, That thunder striking, and Dutch admiral, Which Scilly late did court, that Hannibal, With fair pretexts, attempteth to surprise Our royal downs, a sore unto his eyes. Our watchful Scipio, now in the great James, By him made greater, soon appears and tames The Belgic lion, with his roaring whelps, Though three to one, the Lord of Hosts still helps Such as on him in just appeals depend, And to that righteous Judge their cause commend. XII. OUr new made foe hence beaten now we see; Whose fate pursues them humbled more to be, The boundless love of trade, transports on post These famous Merchants to th' Orcadian coast, To force our Caledonian fishes there, Of whose bones, as they bruit, first founded were The walls of Amsterdam, that Magazine On Texel banks, which to their Fleet hath been. He with his Eagle fleet soon them pursues, Their numerous men of war sinks & subdues, The Busses takes, the one his Justice feels, The other tastes his mercy, hence he wheels His winged frigates, when our ancient right He had restored by his unconquered might, And so with shoutings homeward sails, where lo More dismal actions he must undergo. XIII. ANd shall we Portland name, ah Portland fight, Where mortal wound first seized this noble Wight? Yet to his glory, where behold the high And mighty States brought low, he gallantly Triumphing sails through seas of Belgic blood, Though wounded, whilst the Sun eclipsed stood, Through that black storm, & that tempestuous fight Three winters days, (like a continual night) Which lasted, whilst that he the day to gain, Doth in his grisly wounds on deck remain, As in triumphal chair, would not retire For his more speedy cure, but is on fire, And thereby with new courage doth inflame His English Trojans, to their lasting fame, But terror of the foe, who now o'erthrown Post homewards, there this fatal blow to moan: But stay my Muse, here noble Monck we must And gallant Dean, salute with honour just, His brave compeers, whose gallantry shown here, Posterity in leaves of Fame may hear. XIV. ANd after some small interval of rest, Scarce cured, he buckles for the last contest Against the Dutch, though much impaired by His martial hurts, received formerly; Inducing him to say, he was more fit, For some sick hospital, then brave Dewit And valiant Trump to fight, yet he again With mind above his strength, and not in vain Takes Neptune's field, and on the Flemish flood, Relieves brave D●an and Monck, engaged in blood, Whose valiant Acts, and high achievements then In that sharp fight, deserve a golden p●n: The English Standard then by Blake displayed In laureate Essex, finds the foe dismayed. Here now in sight of both the Nations, you Great earthquakes on each shore, might sadly view, Made by those horrid thunders which did quell Their Navy, where their chiefest pillar fell, With whose dear blood the greatest victory Was gained by our Fleet, for that hereby Twixt ancient friends is wrought a lasting peace, For mutual Commerce, and their joys increase: His former wish he now fulfilled doth see, So often by him mentioned, that as he The tragic prologue of this war hath seen, So might a happy period, which hath been Accomplished in his eyes: Let Spain and Rome Hence read with grief and rage their fatal doom. XV. ANd now we see the seat of ghastly war, Removed from home to foreign countries far Unto a wrathful foe inveterate, Whose Character in bloody lines bear Date From Eighty eight; and so unwearied black Ploughs up the Southern seas, his way to make, And in those boisterous floods, to him well known Before proud Cadiz strand, as on his own, One Winter full did ride, which Drake did never, Nor Hawkins, or brave Forbisher endeavour, Nor yet the hardy Dutch, (Whose proper seat And Element, is in the Waters great) Did ere assay; though all the World abroad, And both the Indies, be their common Road. XVI. PRoud Malega, how was thy roaring mouth Muzzled by him the terror of the south, When thy strong mould was seized, thy thundering guns Speekt up, and all the town affrighted runs, Thy warlike fleet, though scaping storms & winds Abroad, no harbour in thy Harbour finds; But are destroyed all in thy smoking Bay, Unto his fiery Engines made a prey. XVII. HOw suddenly doth Vigo now bemoan The like disaster with a howling tone? When Vulcan, Mars, and Neptune all conspire Her Merchants and her men of war by fire And sword to spoil: Whilst he doth leave the Port And Ships, all flaming in prodigious sort. XVIII. YEa Tunis that old pun●ick City quakes, And at great distance strong alarum takes, As though the Roman Legions on their shore, Appeared: the Turks are summoned to restore Our English goods and captives but refuse, And therefore must expect no other news Then Cannon peals, whilst he doth seize their port, And charge the Infidels up to their Fort. Twelve stately ships of war, behold in flames Consuming are, whereby he quickly tames, Their Cham-like spirit by his unconquered power, Whilst raging fires the vessels do devour. The poor Mahometans do trembling fly, From their strong Holds to mountains that were nigh Whence like so many fiends of blackest hue, (With scaring horrid faces) they Might view, In those sulphureous fiery streams below, A new Gehenna, to their greater woe. A day so dark the Ottomanian feared A fall, and th' horned Moon in blood appeared, That old republic, and brave Virgin City, Ne'er ravished yet by Warlike foe, though pity So Romanized, that Virago stout, Which at Lepanto fight the Turks did rout, Fair Venice now with shouts doth gratulate The English African, who now in state From his late Conquest saileth by their shore, Where loudest trumpets sound, where cannons roar (Leading his ransomed ones the Christian slaves From Turkish yoke, rescued as from their graves) As if triumphant Caesar were in fight, Returning now from the Pharsalian sight. He leaving these poor Caitiffs to lament This doleful loss, for more Exploits is bent. XVIII. BUt where was now th' Iberian God, that should Protect those Galleons huge so fraught with gold? That the Peruvian mines exhaust were near, The golden age again seemed to appear: Was Baal journeying then, or else asleep, So great a treasure could no better keep? Or did that Babylonish Prince now hope To be installed fift monarch by the Pope? And build a new Escurial for so high A Majesty? Lo all triumphantly, In streams of Spanish blood near Cadiz sands, Doth flow into those still victorious hands Of him and noble Montague, his dear Colleague, now honoured to convoy and steer This Princely Prize, and treasure so immense Bound for th' Elysian Thames, designed from thence A Present, only for a sovereign meet, A conqueror of Kings, whom now we greet, A greater than that Macedonian Prince, Or any hero, that hath e'er been since; For he did mostly barbarous foes defeat, This the most civil, warlike, truly great, With greatest joy uniting Nations three, By threefold cord, not ever like to be Dissolved, ne'er yet so firm in any age, One Law, one Faith, one blood; which may presage Fair Halcyon days, our British annals may Cromwell the great, well style him from this day, The midland seas, which many years him knew, And Tribute to him paid, bids now adieu, To this European Ajax; ne'er again The like to see, while Sun and Moon remain. XIX. THe Islands falsely called fortunate, Do trembling gaze, at their approaching fate, And where's a Homer now, that fully may His last stupendious act to life portray? A theme as noble, as the Trojan story, Which filled all pens and ages with its glory. He now against this scarlet whore of Rome, As born to execute the written doom, And as inspired (from all fear exempt) The grand Canarian cross he doth attempt, Which had the Indian mines some few days past, Near drained, and now possessed those treasures vast: Twice eight great warlike ships he doth assail, And up unto the Castle▪ walls doth sail, All that great fleet, those mighty Galleons he With golden Argos burneth (sad to see) In those huge Bonfires made a Sacrifice Unto the Bachanalian God: Whose eyes Dim waxed to behold the Ocean wide By those Aetnean fires almost dried, To see such flames and unheard thunders hear That Sancta Cruz, and all the Isle did fear On that black day the world would be dissolved, And in another Chaos be involved. The Dolphins by those flashy clatterings scared, From their own proper Region are debared, And forced to fall into a watery hell, Their sad exile, there to bewail and tell. The frighted foot which from the lined strand, Saw seas of blood, now will no longer stand, But from those fenced walls and bulwarks strong, To lofty Tenariff did run, among The craggy rocks and caves, themselves to hide, Such blasting storms not able to abide. What ailed thee great mountain and proud peek, That shelter for thyself thou now didst seek? Who to thy forlorn fugitives should be A Sanctuary, when they fled to thee. Why didst thou quake, skie-daring mount, so high That into Heaven thou presumest to pry? From the Creation, seeming to be fixed, Above the middle Region, and there mixed Amongst the stars, from fiery Meteors free, Or didst thou fear, that now fulfilled should be That sacred Prophecy? that by the power Of faith removed, the Seas should thee devour? Those Indian silver Mynes, and wealth so vast, For Spanish Croesus hither sent, are fast In durance kept, and like to perish here, Made useless to their Masters, or in fear Of English frigates, that perhaps may seize Those golden heaps, if they appear on seas. XX. HEnce fully fraught with glory, now he steers His course for Sally (where he soon appears) That little Egypt, and most doleful Cell, Which held some of our English Israel In bonds; he maketh there a noble peace, And freely doth the Christian slaves release, Whence gone, he takes another glorious spoil, Still providence on his designs doth smile. XXI. A Little army of Canarian Dons, From th' Indies come, he taketh, now in bonds Attending this great Victor to perform Their Obsequies to him in solemn form, Who, after thousand storms, to which enured He was, and noble wounds by him endured, Of which he languished, now returned in peace To English port, did there alas decease, Yet gloriously, where he did sacrifice, For us his dearest blood, death's greatest prize, When many hundreds he had ta'en of late, Now to a royal chapel brought in State, For his devotion ye'rst to him well known, Amongst the Kings interred, and near to one, That Prince of peace, which joined in Hymen's band The two divided houses of our Land. If now some British Plutarck kindly pressed With love of virtue sparkling in his breast, Should in historic stile limb out this brave And English Aristides, and from grave, Redeem his memory, for his Renown, This one thing more, (his worthy Gests to crown) May added be, the glory of them all, That during those long wars, wherein the fall Of thousands he beheld, as many rise To fortunes high, (true valour's meed and prize) Yet he post poning with heroic zeal, His private interest to the public weal, Himself would not advance by those vast spoils, Still him attending from those bloody broils, (Though millions seized by his conduct so skilled In arms and counsel, the English Coffers filled) Who with his native portion well content, For his dear countries good, was gladly spent. What Marble Pile, what Monument for thee, Great Britain's shield, Spain's scourge, now raised shall be? That may our English Heroes animate, Thy matchless worth (brave Blake) to emulate; And to succeeding times, eternize may Thy name, and thee entitle from this day A Saint devout, for learning Socrates, A Cato just, for valour Hercules. ANd thou great Oliver, thy sword gird on, Ride forth and prosper, Truths great Champion, Against that Romish beast, Jehovah send Such Leaders still, thy high designs t' attend: That so that glorious work advanced so far, Against proud Babel, by a holy war, May under thy conduct yet farther thrive, And to perfection in the end arrive, Yea crowned with this epinition be Great Babylon is fallen, and that by thee. FINIS.