THE HISTORY OF CALES PASSION: Or as some will byname it, The mistaking of CALES presented in Vindication of the Sufferers, to forewarn the future. By G: T: Esq LONDON, Printed by W: Hunt, 1652. To his much Honoured Cousin, Mr JOHN GREAVES. My worthy good Cousin, HAving thus transplanted this little Leane-too, from the calmness of my private Nursery into the bleak and open Champion; and not knowing how much it there may suffer by the stormy Gusts of censure without some extraordinary stake supporting it, I thus betake me to your own good self for protection, and if you please to pass it under the value of your Name, misdoubt not the success, and shall with much cheerfulness intercept all further opportunities of acknowledging myself, Your most Affectionate Cousin, To Love & Honour you, G: T. To the Reader. Be premised, THat the following discourse issues not from any pruriginous desire of being seen upon tl. shopboard, neither is it taken up by retail and upon trust, the fault of many Modern Poems, nor yet rushed into without being consulted, and the second thoughts of such as suffered in it; but the contemplation of an unfortunate journey, discovers here what were the Scruples that all along so sorely wrung our feet, lest After-ages might unhappily wander into the same gravily way; which brief account being porch enough to such a little building, let him now enter and take possession of what is freely presented him by his affectionate Intelligencer. G: T. The History of CALES Passion: OR, The Miss-taking of Cales. SO many and serious are the Lessons that may be read in defeats and deficiencies, and La Nove that great Master both of Pike and Pen, is in his military discourses to direct in the point, that I have here the rather dislected our unfortunate Voyage Anno 1625, so properly bynamed the Cales passion, or the Miss-taking of Cales, and thus discovered it, that posterity might hereafter shun the Rocks upon which we suffered shipwreck: not longer to defer which important admonition, when upon the serious casting up of our old reckonings, much dalliance and dissimulation was still found upon the Spanish tally uncut out; and being hopeless of any reparation or amends, unless it were exacted by the sword: To this end were all our irons presently put into the fire; but who shall consider the Levies, Ammunition, Shipping, and season of employment, will rather reckon the design for a Pillar of smoke then of Marble. Levies I say were made both in City and Country, but of such inferior probability to the work, that some though weak and impotent, were yet taken on merely by conspiracy, and with a let us kill them, that the inheritance may be ours; some again so course and stigmatical, even from the nipper of Bungs to the pricker of Praunces, that Mr. Constable was rather Mr. Scavenger since this farming all the beastly nooks and corners of them both; and than some again (with impropriety enough) were imprested merely for expedition; those employed in it, had their farms to visit, or their oxen to try, and huddling up the number in List, regarded not the persons in poll; such I say were many of those Argonauts which must yet fetch home the Golden Fleece, and that either a bolt or a Shaft might be made of the business, conducted thus into the West with much expectation, where through a lingering Vacancy of several Months, without either requisite Officers or Accommodation, there succeeded much disorder; and at Lorick in Cornwall so flat a mutiny that four of the Delinquents were condemned, and cast Lots for the gallows: by which Punishment with a severe Proclamation backing it, there ensued a temper, their Fury being reduced into the former channel of Obedience; and then in this fair deport at length were they handed over to some of our Redemanded Netherlanders for their better disciplining, an importunate (I had almost said) an impossible circumstance; neither can any trade be perfected without the Tools; if Ammunition be wanting all our doublings are but Dances, and never before did Mars exercise so long upon the Truncheon, never were the postures so long slubbered up by the Plymouth cloak. It was far in September ere the magazines were open, the first of October we took Shipping, and I refer it over, whether the mediate time could reach to more than a Tumultuary Discipline: were they formerly taught by their Provisionall Officers; yet (if approving all these of fit ability) where were the Materials? where arms? the word drilling does well distinguish of what they might attain to, for though some will ignorantly take this at large, it imports no more than variis motibus curfitare, but the Skill of distances, of Motions, but the parcel of a tacticke, and if we should yield them this upon the cudgel, yet where was the Pike, where the Musket that should embolden Tom Tyro? then again they might perhaps borrow some few arms of the Country, and this is the utmost that may be wrested; in answer to which, if we should grant a disjunctive, a single use of their arms, yet is it much inferior to that in gross, and so little did our Musketeers know to fire, advancing, retreating, or to Skirmish in flank, that whereas our Retreit before Cales was furthered by many blinds, and the broken site of the place, had it been to make in Campania, we may presuppose how much we had been puz'led, and even a very dismal catastrophe. As next to which, and still as ominous, the business drawing out so far in length, and full of prejudice to the Counties of Devon and Cornwall, they became remiss in the Guard of their crosseways and passes, whereby many sufficient Men left the service: and with such connivency that Maugre any freshest pursuit, I never heard of any one intercepted. To conclude this point, some as but Lieures Morrionez were dismissed of necessity, othersome had the opportunity to dismiss themselves; and thus had our design both a blow and a counterbuff. Concerning the Navy jointly Engaged, though formidable enough in bulk, even of eighty four sail besides Hollanders, whereof twelve of the Kings, yet through a tedious tract of time, and ere the Members of our employment could be knit into a Body, they began already so to fall from their feet, that when homeward bound, and beating to and again, in the heights of 36 and thirty seven degrees the half, for the Plate Fleet, our flaxen Wings booted little in respect of our Leaden heels, our Ships being indeed far fitter for the * To be trimbed or made clean, of Carina the keel of the ship. kreen than the chase: or what if I should retract in this point, yielding that they were yare enough of sail, and could full sungly Plow up the briny billows, yet how bootless is it to show the teeth, when alas they cannot bite; for thus had we come to Buckle, to dispute it in Fire, our Newcastle Men which were above forty in Number (and I assure myself neither to be last nor least exposed) must have gone more roundly then really to work, since I could never hear that they had either crossebarr shot or langerell. Nay there still were other symptoms enseebling sore our floating Body, the Viures, the Belly Timber being likewise so notorious, that our Newland Fish was become rusty, much of our beer so necessarily staved for stinking, that some were as soon put to Beverage as to Sea, the Husbands of the Fleet being much imprecated for it, and the soldiers often upbraiding their Generallissimo for Sr. James Beverage; our Cheese was such, that, though amongst soldiers and Sea stomachs, it is not yet digested; much of the Butter might have been mistaken for Castle soap, and ere it came at the mouth gave the stomac enough at the Nose; but our victualler being thus shroudly mired, and plunging now as he thinks into fairer way, exclaims here with a troubled Voice: yet what can be objected against the beef, pork, Ling, Pease, Rice, and Poor-john? for the first of which, though I should warrant it in quality, yet dare I be bold both concerning it and our pork, that they failed much in quantity; no Ship▪ Husband or slaughter man but is prone enough to lick his own fingers, a sirloin or a double rib well befits his own Table, than again his Gossip must not lose her longing, so that much being fraudulently decorted, though the prescript pieces were paid, yet there wanted the Pounds: The King's allowance was indeed royal, but our Purviers, Butchers, and Pursers are as many bushes, and extorting every one his lock, leave but a thin fleece; Concerning Rice, I spare not roundly to complain, that for our own Ship, either little was laid in, or much embezel'd, 'tis a neat commodity, and so susceptible of cleanly conveyance, that we were admitted it but thrice during the 9 weeks' voyage; half our proportion of Pease also, as submitting to the like legerdemain, was long detained from us: and then for Ling, our Seamen were of such privity with the hold, that they put the pack upon us, had a double portion; only Poor-john deserves a better Title, and indeed to be Sir John, for this did us Knights service, till by becoming a continual bush in every gap, we had it at length, usque ad nauseam. Fourthly, there is a Time also when Kings go forth to battle; 2 Sam. 11. ●. which the Text specifies to be when the year is expired, and the Scholiast expounds to be the beginning of the year, the springtime; for thus will some derive Lent à Lentando, of its supplying and tempering the Weather from asperity; so likewise April ab ●periendo, as letting out the World again to that activity which the Rigid Winter had so much obstructed. Now whether our Scene of Action were seasonably laid is likewise so Remarkable, that heedless of this wholesome Principle, and thus to time it, nay presumptuously striving, even beyond Xerxes, to shackle the main Ocean with a Ponderous Fleet, and full of ominous necessities; we were commanded Aboard in the beginning of October, but how miserably bandied up and down amongst the billows of a Winter Sea, will ere long be the doleful Subject of my Discourse. I should be doing now with lieutenant Littleworth and his captain also (for there went but a pair of shears between them) and relate how stiffly they will maintain, that writing, Reading, and soldiership comes by Nature, that whatsoever some old Moth-eaten inkhorn Men have delivered, yet both Mart and Mercury may be made of any piece of Timber, without exception; a Court Paradox, and reflecting much also upon our present employment; but enough of the premises (I had almost said the portents) and these being throughly weighed, though like the man in the horn we went boldly and branchingly in at the great end, no marvel though we came out again at the tip both squeezed, and miserable. I come now to the part historical, the Voyage itself; for after a tedious demurrer of near three Months, Sr. Edward Cecil (both admiral of the Fleet and also lieutenant general, and Lord marshal of the Land Forces) came upon the 3 of September to Plymouth; so piecing us up with several requisites, that at the King's descent soon after, Sr. Samuel Argoll, who had been employed with eight and Twenty sail against the Dunkirk, presented him nine of their Ships as prize; and our little Army was with such Approbation drawn into Battalia upon Roober down, that he there gave the Order to several captains, Sr. John Gibson, Sr. Sheffield Clapham, Sr. Henry Sprey, Sr. Thomas Thornax, Sr. William Courtney, and Sr. James Scot, being made so upon the place, but this glimpse of jollity was quickly faded; for though our expedition had hitherto most unnaturally been long and lazy, we were now again full of Court Confidence; and with more haste then good speed, hurried soon after Aboard, falling through Cat-Water into the Sound, and so to Falmouth, where my Lord of Essex in the Swift sure expected us: of his Squadron. October the 9th we weathered the Lysard, there meeting the ann-royal our admiral, with the rest of the Fleet, only the lion our rear-admiral having sprung a leak, was dismissed back to Plymouth, the Saint George (in which Sr. Michael Gear Commanded) supplying the place. Being thus United and running by an East South East wind, the Flagg of counsel was soon after hung out in the admiral's shrowds, Commanding our Sea-Captaines Aboard for Orders; after which again, our own received a letter also from my Lord of Essex, with direction not to be opened, but when accidently dissevered from the Fleet. Upon Wednesday at Night the Wind came more large, but withal so Boisterous, that we were Twenty eight hours in continual Tempest, the different Events whereof, and how cruelly we were Laboured in it, (that I might with some Variety refresh the Reader) is thus discovered in the Poem following. The Tempest. THe general hemisphere was thick, was all In miz'ling ash-colour, when straight a shoal Of ominous Pork-pisces drove through the Fleet, And the fierce ruffian Boreas swore it meet Each sail should strike, owning th' Atlantic maine For his in sovereignty; then issued rain, The Wind grew boisterous, Sea began to roar Like a lugged Monster, to disclose a sour Outrageous Surface; and where other nights The soft Billow shone but Chrisolit's, But floating Spangs and Tapers; now we passed The fellest Pikes, and as an Army vast About us quartered were, our general Ken Was miserably fired: the fretful Brine Upon a Thousand mountains far and near Like Burning Beacons hung; and everywhere So much Combustion, That Benevolent a A Sea nymph so named à placandis finctibus Cymodocè for very anguish rent Her Sea-green hair, nor any b Sea-calues Phocè wild, No Savagest c A Creature living indifferently either at Sea or Land Amphibium, but impelled With horror fled ashore; No Ranting Whale, No Formidable d A Horrible Fish enemy to the Whale so named ab orcadibus insulis Minsheu ork, or other fell e Such Creatures as are Naturally Enemies. Phyontides, but in the thus enraged And crossly tugging Eddies, disengaged; Nor Fought each other more, but shot for dread Into the bottom owse. O who may read What Hideous Bedlamrie, what Worlds of woe When Billow▪ beaten, to the deep below We tumbled were, and then again so soon So high, as if the same f The place where a Ship sails or rides Birth with the moon To have, or Glorious Argo. But observe In Earthquakes how the strongest Buildings swerve, Totter, cast Firebrands, and all their loose Utensils round promiscuously; lo thus Did our poor Fleet so g The Sea term for reeling and swaying up and down. seel on, that throughout The Decks all stowage, with ourselves to boot From side to side in medley flew: and even So was the great ann-royal likewise driven Amid the frantic Waves, to roll and reel, And toss and tumble up her mighty keel, That in the hurly, two of her sonore And Brazen Bandogs, maugre any store Of Pitchy cordage, ominously broke h The Ropes they were towed with, perhaps from Haurio, or else rather named halsers from Halen, in Dutch, to draw. At random out; and but with mutual shock Poising each other, like the viper's young Turned into Paricid's, had split her strong And Masay Ribs. Nor could the rest but mourn As hideous outrages, our Long-Boates torn From their big Hawsers, rudely bandied were By waves and Monsters; for the i Little Vessels attending as Pages upon greater, perhaps so named because better making use of any Wind, and catching it to their advantage. Catches there Some could like Seamews make a shift to live In this Combustion, other some declive And broken ways not brooking, overwrought And sadly swallowed were. Our k We borrow this of the Dutch, where it imports as much as scapha a Ship-Boat, a canowe, but use it improperly for a Horseboat. Prams, distraught, cuffed up and down, and racked by several Seas Both l The Sea-phrase for before and after the mast. fore and aft, were driven to lose and leaze Their lading with the wilder Hypotams. Nay yet more fatal, opening all her seams, The poor long Robert foundered was, gave o'er, Sunk in the wether's stress; and now what more Can m These captains were swallowed in her. Fisher, Hacket, Gerling, but attend While the Sea yields her dead. That I transcend Expense of n A ship is then in her trim, when having all requisites proportionable to her butthen. trim and shipping, lo this storm How grown, yet wrought a further, and the worm Of Conscience startled so, that who whileere With all his canvas out, could snugly bear Up an ill boding course, now springs his o In the Starboard language falls from his course. Luffe; Cries guilty Lord and pardon; coats of buff, High tempered Corslets, are to weak to Ward The worm of Conscience, and how galliard Luxurio lately was, yet now he 'lows His sail close to the Board, now humbly throws Off Livia's hair, and his Corinn'as Ring To leeward over, wisely Husbanding oil to his Lamp, now as the Righteous die, Likewise will he. So horrid was and high This spiritual p The sudden furious Tempests in the Indies are thus named. Furacane, that on his lees, Thoughred Bassianus for a time may Freeze And seem to settle, here he turns again Thick and bemuddered, like the Furious maine Casting up Stones and dirt; his Faeces boil Up now for Vent, making him parbreak vile q I was Informed of one amongst us terrified with the storm, that he Voluntarily confessed himself guilty of parricide. Prodigious sins. This was the storm, thus great, Thus ruthless, double thus, nor to be beat Out but in many an hour; the wethers scorn Thus were we made, thus were we tossed and torn By the mad billows, and though Baal Repose And sleep supinely, or pursue his Foes, Or seriously be talking, nor discern As has been dreamt, yet thus we likewise learn That God is Omnipresent, has his way Even in the Whirlwind, in the furious Sea, In even the toughest Conscience; and how sure A Jonas in the Cradle of secure apostasy be lulled, though even his Bed Of the most curious Thistle down be made, Or that of Silver Swans; yet if the bright r This kind of blaze skipping by night among the Tackling is in French Furolè, coming single it was said to be Castor and a dangerous Omen, when double, Castor and Pollux, the badge of Saint Paul's Ship, Acts the 28. 11 and very auspicious, if there were yet a third light, this was held to be Helen, and more fatal than ever; the first two are now named Saint Nicolas and Saint Hermes. Tyndaridae shall once each other Fight Among the shrouds, and Helen chasing thence Her Nobler Brothers, with malevolence Unkennels all the Winter Winds and billows, Maugre the softest lullabies and pillows; He wakes; and finds his Cradle now at last Far worse than that upon the topling Mast. ANd now after these Passive expressions in Verse, I return again in the following Prose, to relate, that when upon Friday the fourteenth, the wind became more favourable, admitting a search into our scattered condition, we found but Twenty two of the Fleet together; our own Ship (one of the best sailors) being continually employed abroad for their reduction, till Thursday the Twentieth, when we rallied again about the Southern cape, continuing our course till upon the next Saturday we came before Cales, entering the Haven with such Reputation, and Incussion, that the Citizens in a long File, and much affrighted were posting thence into the Continent. The Valiance of our old English, came (as it seems) now fresh again in remembrance, and the flying Opinion was, that had we trooped up immediately to the City Ports, their own fear might have swayed much in their overthrow. For though a pacer often declines the shower which a Galloper may overtake; yet Minutius also, if fitly timing it, knows to win the day, when Fabius with his cunctation proves a loser. Howsoever my Lord Martial, like an experienced Gamester, chose rather to go in upon certainties, and had no doubt good Cards for what he did, though he let not every one see his hand. We came I say into the Haven with a fresh breeze, and all Cam. fol. 807. At Cales action it was about two days after they came into the Haven ere they Landed. serenity, happy omens. My Lord of Essex and his Squadron had the Van, his vice-admiral and rear-admiral followed him, ours was the fourth Ship, where while I stood observing what might issue, the Spaniard, at my Lord's coming within distance, propounded to him in Fire, receiving again the like answer, and still did the swiftsure so bear in amongst them, that in the dispute she was six times shot through; but her opposites, as fearing yet a further engagement, and the general storm, now close to Windward, and coming on amain, chose rather to give way, and defer at lest what now they had but little possibility to divert. Three of their galleys flying to St. Mary-Port, eight other, with about twelve Ships, through a narrow channel to port-royal, when lo Minutius again upon his close Pursuit might have struck a Rich hand, and in all likelihood cheap enough, which the vice-admiral of Naples (a Ship by report of about eight and fifty brass Pieces) must needs acknowledge with me, since by drawing much Water, she ran on ground while she ran away, and was thus sit-fasted for two days together, but here Sr. Thomas Love (held a Leviathan for Marine abilities) haled us with a countermand, enjoining we should cast Anchor; to discourse the birth of which prodigious Remora, we had but one heat to take, neither could it last long, and all our Irons must be in the fire together. Concerning the Ships and galleys, there might be now much haste, yet afterwards as good speed, if they could sail over land, well and good they might take their course, otherwise they were locked up close at port-royal, and our own sure enough. My Lord Martial according to this happy beginning might now rather fix upon some Land Service, and Improve himself by Mastering the island and City, which were indeed to full of diffidence, as by a sudden engagement might be forced to despair, and this again would humble both at his Devotion: these discourses (I say) might perhaps beget this Procrastination, and our being here so jaded with an after Game; for when the fourth day following, Sr. Thomas intended their immediate seizure, advancing up to tow them out, and after him in Triumph, than arrow Channell was become so much obstructed with bottoms purposely sunk in it, that what he could bring back was but a general Imputation, of either palpable Negligence, or Ignorance. Not to dwell upon these merely Water-Works, but now proceed to what was mixed, and partly at Land; five of our Hollanders were this night employed in the battery of Pointall, a strong Obvious Fort with eight brass Pieces, half Cannon and Culverin, beating tightly, and point blank upon the channel: and these were likewise seconded the next morning by as many collier's to as little purpose; well might they Bark and bellow furiously, but it was without biting; nay when our own Squadron next, and the rest of the Fleet successively Vomited their utmost Thunder, yet stood Pointall immovable, and whether it were the toughness of the Pile, or that our Ship Batteries have a more fluid, a more yielding centre, which with an indisposition, a spissitude of the mediate air, might dull and weaken Execution, or some other original to be discussed among the curious critics, Poyntall was directly shot-free, we were but philliping a rock of Marble; yet having at length with our much prejudice Dismounted their Ordinance, even at the heavy loss of Sr. John Bruse, Mr. George Raymond captain of the Great sapphire, some soldiers in our own Ship, as also diverse others, and the dear Rate of above four Thousand great shot, we now this 23 being the Lord's Day, went still more metteldly to work. For my Lord Martial had been formerly taught by his old * Maurice Prince of Orange. martial Master, that to fight such passionate Ambitious Papalins, doth rather damask than Dishonour, we were now I say more Actingly fired; Sr. John Burroughs and his Regiment being employed on shore, to take it by Scalado. The Weather was now fair and calm, and our navy Rode about Pointall in a near semicircle, circumstances admitting such intelligence, and infixing with so much impression, that methinks I still see how such of our Long boats as had Evaded the Tempestuous Bay of Biscay, were now plying amain towards the fatal Fort: and what Pity was it, that Men of such height, and daringnes, should so precipitately run upon their ruin: when not the Celebrated old Roman bravery, but would here have been interposing either with their Panosaids, or other like Defensatives. Methinks I still see how Mr. Bromingham the Duke's captain, who had the point and was to steel it, how and with what gallantry he stood in the prow of his boat, courageously Wav●●ing his Sword about his Head; nor this only, when fair and further off, while all was whist and still, neither Man nor Musquetade stirring; but in the same threatning posture Engaged home amongst their thickest Volleys, even when the Fort like a many headed Hydra, plied him with such a storm of hissing Lead, as what massy Pillar but must needs suffer under it; and though he fell at length like a Glorious star, and was seemingly extinguished, yet will his height and gallantry never be forgotten. Concerning those Engaged with him in the same bottom, one alone of them (to prevent the harquebus of his Active distance) could nimbly spring under the Castle Wall where it had less play; yet there likewise instead of shelter met with his slaughter; the rest were in their mettle so melted down with Death and many Wounds, that we could still see the Boat, like an empty shell, beating upon the fatal strand, but not a man stirring; which being well observed by Sir John Burroughes, and how unhappily spault the point had been through an over-heat, he cautiously declining to the left hand, Landed there the rest without disturbance, and with such approbation, that we of my Lord's Regiment presently huddled after; so piecing with him, and consequently streightning the besieged, that though they were securely Walled, even Eleven paces thick, and with the toughest Stone, yet a Treaty instantly succeeded, and then again as sudden a surrender, whereby we took up our Lodging this Night at the sign of the star; fuller both of quiet and confidence. The next day being all Landed; our design was far higher, neither would we now go less than very Cales itself, to which we must advance upon a surface of uneven and broken ground, even of many little hills and holes, and so presupposing danger, that a forlorn of some small dissevered parties was employed first to discover it, our main gross still following by degrees; by which circuit of Action, as some of our Enemies must needs be further recollected, othersome were still evading by us, and as it were from between our teeth into the Continent; till at length a Reformado of my own Company affectionately biting at such a bait, so tendered it likewise to some commanded men next the Passage, that they quit their post, charging home in hope of booty: the cautious manage whereof had doubtless found responsible satisfaction, but as they fell up entire in a wedge, part of the Calizians fled back to the City, others made as unrecoverably along the pass, so that their purchase was only some few trifling pieces casually fallen from the runaways; however, thus was the City more expeditely surrounded in order to the further threats of War; but alas, we were now at the full of our prosecution, so waning always after, and far from any nearer approaches, that leaving the two colonels Burroughs and Bruce to make head before the town, we were immediately faces about, and marching up the Pass formerly specified, perhaps to seize the Bridge of Swaco, which joins it upwardly with the Continent, perhaps to refresh our troops accommodated so very poorly, that for Eighty men, my land allowance was but Eight little Cheeses, and some few biscuits▪ To proceed, great was the peril, the prejudice that followed it, for having marched like Knights arrant till towards Evening upon the deep sandy stony Causey, we came at length to the house of Bacchus, there taking up our quarters; and who shall consider the plenty of excellent wines, then and there stowed in magazine, or the swinish or disordinate abuse of them, will own this expression to be proper enough; for mine own particular, as not knowing what danger might be lurking under such a precious bait I referred my thirst to the satisfaction of such Oranges and Lemons as the neighbour trees imparted; but for many of the common sort, so palpable was their excess, so wildly hooted out in obstreperous clamours, firings, and like whimsicall distempers, as beat up all the Rules of Discipline before it, seizing our Commanders with extraordinary amazement; neither was there other address now left us but immediately to heaven, which my Lord marshal like a true Christian soldier as presently put in practice, by giving out God bless us for the Word. And what shall I further say, but that this tight and little prayer did by an often repetition, and going continually the round, so strangely stickle for us, as puzzeled both the counsel and courage of our enemies, whereas had they found to time it, and but given us now a Cammisado, we must needs have run a very desperate Fortune. This tedious night of dread and danger being at length weathered out, we were now to retreat again, little dreaming of any reckoning to be paid for our drunken deluge, till we found a body of Spanishhorse attending upon our rear, and exacting it with utmost cruelty, by the slaughter of such as were left behind, either still and stupidly surfet-seized, or else started aside and improvidently raking up and down for plunder: neither did this outrageous cavalry thus give over, but still pursued us, though cautiously, and at such a distance as they might either take or leave at pleasure; till being jealous of such a near malevolent observer, and at length halting upon a neck of land, one way narrowed in by some cumbrous salt-pans, and broken marsh grounds, on the other side by the sea, and a massy steeple-like-building of several stories, we here laid a party of musqueteers in Ambuscado, seeking thus again to repay these bloody Butchers in their own coin: the trap was now I say fitly laid, we still retreating as before, and our enemies likewise insisted, securely jogging on through the narrow neck till very near a costly sulphurous entertainment, when upon a soldiers careless blowing his match aloft within the Tower, they sprung with much affright back again, precipitately spurring away for safety, and by a sudden husbanding this nick of time, evaded to report how greatly little scruples, when irregular and going false, may disappoint mighty projects; howsoever, though we thus failed in the main, yet befell it hence upon the by, that we could now return free from any captious supervisors, and quarter again with our reserve before the town. The next day (our former Brigade being left at the point to answer all alarms) an arrant we had up the pass again, the purport of it to seize a discovery of Long▪ boats for our better accommodation when homeward bound; for now the soldiers began generally to hitch and hummer after their return, looking so often and affectionately towards the Fleet, that in our march back we could evidently see 7. Galleys of S. Mary-Port, now engaging with that good Ship of the Kings the S. Andrew; the weather was fair and calm, the royal vessel all alone, and these creeping out like snakes in sunshine thus propounded to her in a storm of ball and powder, to which our honourable Countryman Sr John Watts (Commander there in chief) made likewise a seasonable replication; for though his opposites fell up to and again, with noise enough vapouring out their Ammunition, even when aloof off, and to little purpose; this old and valiant Seaman, nothing moved with the chaff of their vainglory, continued still in silence, his quu was not yet come; but having in the mean time traversed all his pieces of furthest random conveniently, and by this remissness whetted their Spanish arrogance into danger, he then poured in so sour a broad side upon their bravery, that enough, enough, or (perhaps too much) for market was done already; and they suddenly packed up and home again, with as cold a welcome doubtless as our own was likewise empty at our return before the town: for the belly began here to bark so loud for sustenance, and so with more noise, because the near storehouse of our shipping might relieve us now at pleasure, that hither did we refer ourselves, here did we mediate with the sighs of our soldiers for relief; but this meeting with a deaf ear, and succeeding not, our last refuge was either patience, or to value preposterous and unnatural for very welcome and savoury meat; my own Company being likewise so clear in the point, that a supper of Asinegoes flesh wrought their extraordinary contentation, with a night's rest so free from either inward distempers, or any outward sallies, as better enabled us for our retreat the next morning. That I may decipher which knotty piece, it was conferred necessarily upon my Lord of Essex, Sir Henry poor Viscount Valentia, and Sir Edward Harwood; the first of these was in his very name here so formidable, that Hercules pillars fell at his arrival into a shaking ague, and but for Sir Thomas Loves unhappy interpose, he had no doubt out of the shipping alone returned a considerable victory; the second hamored out his honour in the sad combustions of Ireland, having his former valour there, written still and signally upon his forehead, in the midst whereof the full impression of a rigorous bullet was so deeply infixed, as if Mars had purposely done it to set him fairer off; and never has any war (I except none whatsoever) afforded a more remakeable, a more glorious badge of honour. Concerning Sir Edward Harwood, I dare report him (even upon many years' observation) though sweetly tempered, and without noise in the house, yet so high and active in the field, so far beyond our outside practice, and studied even in the very learned points; and mysteries of his profession, that if perhaps he might have some equals, yet none of his contemporaries outdid him: and to speak much in little, this was the man whom that paragon of parts John late Lord Harrington selected from a world of others to be his bosom friend, and he likewise that having now the rear of all reeres, and disposing his shot in loose and little parties among the broken hills and blinds, did in this posture detain the enemy till our main Grosse was mostly shiped again; but after a long dispute, being now dangerously engaged, and much overpowered; some fresh commanded men from the bodies of our reserve, not only fought the prevailing enemy into balance again, but soon after from his late gotten ground; and though the command was to retreat, yet our new supplies still dapperly followed and fired upon them, till their Bandeliers coming at length to be recruited, here the day began to change upon us, and our raw engagers with their light matches, so suddenly, and in several places blew up our powder, that at the huff our Opposites apprehending it, were newly whetted into edge, and fell on again as bitterly as ever; now was the general cry throughout the field powder, powder; in the Fort (where likewise my Lord Martial, and some other Commanders were observing us) retreat retreat with Orders accordingly, and that the bringers up of our rear should immediately follow our main Body already shipped; which considering the present fear, was with spurs and wings so very passionately fulfilled, that being to pass my Pikes and colours first aboard, as freight enough for our little Ship-boat, yet did my musqueteers so precipitately huddle in, surcharging and keeping it aground, that I was compelled (wading the sea) to trim it again with my Musketrest. Neither was it otherwise (as before is hinted) with our soldiers at the point, and now engaged; for what with the scarcity of powder, and then the Calizians brisk and second charge, had not our Officers, with their rough brows and swords, conjured this pang of fear into a sense of honour, their heels had possibly been much more nimble than their hands; a disaster so stiffly aimed by the pursuers, that through the broken ground they still beat all along upon our rear: and about this time was it that for intelligence at the first hand, I now left my musketeers haling themselves aboard, that I might help wheel up one of our Drake areare, to some already at the point; where I found our enemies so risen high in crest, that they were now advancing out of covert after us into an open level near the seaside; but then again began our little Guns to play with so much terror and incussion, so fatally spattering in upon their violence, that they as suddenly relented, and shrunk back, locking themselves up again in covert; and thus after a passionate dispute of near four hours, we wrought out the convenience (though with some loss,) to quit Pointall, and ship ourselves again in safety: for now was all our hope among the briny billows, all our confidence in Neptune's kingdom; a wild and open champion I confess, yet where the several roads were full of precious ware and sumptuous plunder; by these did Cortes heretofore transport his golden handmill of 3400 * A Castelane is a coin weighing a third part more than a Ducat. castelanes; his famous golden culverin, & infinite other treasure; by these came the vast east Indie carat of 1000000 ducats taken by our Leveson and Monson; I, here the wealth, here the rarieties of the World are continually transient: a motive so considerable, that though some would rather urge for the taking of Dunshaul a rich city in the Madera island, yet our admiral and the Major voice declining it, our orders were rather to stand off to Sea amongst these considerable passes; and in the height of thirty six and thirty seven the half, to bid on still for an honourable welcome home, fortune would perhaps be brought about with importunity, either ministering to us of the plate Fleet, or some such aftergame from the spiceries, as with remarkable stakes might draw likewise an extraordinary reputation; or if the winds should again spit their winter venom, tyrannously chasing us as before, Budgrave in the straits was appointed us southerly to rally in, Northerly the Isles of Bayon. Nay, we had other storms here also to weather out, a dangerous gust, a personal clash, rising at this time between Viscount Valentia, and my Lord de la Ware vice-admiral to the Head-Squadron, whose command being transferred upon the former, and my Lord not digesting it, there ensued a peremptory competition of two red foretops borne out, and pretending to the same place of honour for several days together; till at length a temper being found, and the Viscount made admiral to the said Squadron, with my Lord in his remitter, and continuing as before; we bore up unanimously to the heights premised, there beating to and again for purchase, and to snap some of the Spanish golden Ingots. Neither was the Scene unfitly laid, since October the 31. we had three of their Ships in chase, and with such a near capacity, (as some will report) that had one of our captains kept his Luffe, when he bore room and gave over, they happily might have defrayed all our charges: but to chew this a little, and distinguish whether it may be safely swallowed; let me here vouch the Ship in which my own company was mounted, one so yare of sail above others, that my Lord admiral had formerly owned, and employed it as his Page; yet was our condition now so sad and sober, that though the being in chase often started me from my cabin 'twas all in vain, we never could engage; many a fair course we had, where there was neither bush nor brier for the game to Tapish in, but still lost ground till we were at last run out of sight; an instance so roundly pointing out our indisposition, that doubtless he that runs may likewise read it, and which must needs also scatter the cloud of prejudice injuriously gathering over captain Osborne. Nay so now began our Navy to groan under several disabilities, that the Rainbow, and some other of our Shipping, were the eighth of this November dismissed again for England, we which were still behind (though likewise in our declination) persevering as before; neither could the jolting watery wilderness yet awake us from our soft and silver dreams, the plate fleet was now indeed our ultimate errand, our immediate masterpiece; but without any piece of Plate fingered, save one of inferior value, and this at the drunken quarter beyond Cales. In conclusion, having for ten days after been vainly tacking to and fro, and with much pain and patience hitherto weathered out the wrathful Winter, our wants and weaknesses now at length became importunate, and at a council aboard the admiral, both moved for an immediate return, and joyfully carried it; yet as the sour sauce to this sweet refection, so were we hurried back in the stress of a mighty working sea, and even with such a witness, that part of our Fleet was beaten in at Bastable, part at Bristol, some into silly, our English Scylla and Charybdis in respect of the Bishop and his chaplains; into Falmouth, Plymouth, and Dartmouth some; the waves like wild horses had thus torn asunder and scattered the limbs of our Armado; that mighty bulk of our predominant anne-royal was yet tossed and tumbled into Ireland; Then concerning our vice-admiral the Swiftsure, she spent her foresail in the Tempest, split her Tillar, and was so full of sickness, that an impressed of fresh men was employed in bringing her from Falmouth about to Plymouth. The Constant Reformation, in which my Lord of Valentia commanded, spent her main mast by the Cradle, yet far more unhappy was her namesake the Mary-Constance, and even beyond comparison, as being wholly overwrought in this boiling Tempest, and swallowed down into the Sea; captain Hone, captain Shudborough, and some few others being hardly recovered from the shrowds. To come nearer home, and speak the bottom allotted that valiant Gentleman captain Richard Bowles the younger, myself, and our two Companies, though exteriorly it made as good weather as many other of the Fleet, yet our dangers since intestine and near the heart, were therefore more fatal; that fire which a Kettle of pitch accidentally kindled in our cookroom may witness it; and though by God's special providence this was again opportunely smothered, yet the Combustion between our soldiers, and the seamen became unextinguishable; nay sometimes so flaming hot as would needs have prompted in our pistols: The sea captain, though sufficiently seen in marine affairs, as having often sailed between Temple stairs and Westminster, yet referred all to his Mr. (for this he was indeed) and such a rough-hewn Palinure, as merely swayed by passion, made little or no bones of equity; a caveat against captain silly-soul hereafter, and demanding those of more experience, better government; the want whereof, had like a continual dropping so daily fretted out our patience, that being arrived at Falmouth, I rather chose with Captain bowls to land immediately at pennycom-quick, (though penniless▪ bench had been more proper for our empty purses) then thus to suffer further, to be longer thus embroiled: and having once quit the Sea, here perhaps opinion will heal us up again, yet at length presupposing a scene of extraordinary comfort and refreshment; but alas the while so was death implacable, with such feud pursuing us from Sea to Shore, that the passing-bell was now daily groaning in our ears, and at Plymouth alone, the elder captain bowls, captain Blage, captain Kirton, and captain Rice Skinner, with other inferiors, were now deduced into their former dust, by which scantling we may likewise guess at our sorry condition elsewhere; only concerning my own Company, I must with all humble thankfulness acknowledge, that God was pleased peculiarly to shine upon it with the light of his countenance; neither had death but such a single conquest in it during our whole Voyage, as yet defeated not the corpse of an English grave: who shall object, that as a tattered Colours, so likewise a shattered company is of greatest honour, yet there was never a more remarkable mercy, than when Israel conquered the Midianites without the loss of any one soldier; and an hazarding with so much safety above others, must needs be an extraordinary blessing. To close all with my peculiar; though outwardly I held up, and fair a while after, yet this forbearance wrought so little quittance, that several diseases (hence contracted) laid at length such peremptory fetters of a warm bed, and a cautious diet upon me, that I was compelled to retire; and in the following Stanza's verse myself out of that profession, which I had been formerly versed in for many years together. Disloyal flesh and blood, how has the snn, Both his direct and oblique hitching course, Full often through the heavenly girdle run, Since our so plighted love, that nought could force Or puzzle it; and dost thou now deceive me? Now at the quu, the clink of honour leave me? Our Mart in rust and cobwebs long decried, Yet rants it now, and on the wings of Fame Pitches his Tent, does now in triumph ride On his high places; now to shrink? Be lame And crazy now? When Medals double pays, Victorious Belts and Crowns shall others raise. Is this the troth of Friends? but then again What chemical extraction, reach of Art May flesh unweaken, and with such a train Of draw-backs does our Age itself impart; Such palsies, gouts, Cyaticks, and Catarrhs, It baffles Action, Wars even with the Wars. Submit we then; the moon her empty Lap Again inlightens, and our Winter Trees Have yet another rising of the Sap; But Man when once declining, by degrees, By fits, and pieces droop and dwindle must, Till crushed at length, and crumbled to his dust. The first Tooth that he draws convinces him Of past his best, and not a Sinew strained, Or Ligament, or Humour out of trim, But urges so for Age, that lastly maimed In all his structure, warping in his ties, And several nails, he druckens hence and dies. Submit we then I say, the Corslet quitting, For a retired sedentary course, Now not the Pike, the Pen is rather fitting; * The French proverb is, Quiter le plume pur dormir sur le dure. The Feathers, not the ground: ye brood of Mars On still and thrive, while thus the topling stairs Of age, advise and lead me to my Prayers. FINIS.