But Effex, forewarned of his duplomatic wilyness, had no

thing to do with him or his envoys. put it to the iffue-ultima ratio regum.

delay and that from no justified caufe.

Glad would he be to

Yet was there still

Some feeding the

Queen in her irrefolution, so that she would wrangle with the Action for no other cause but because it was now in hand. Then, again, Sir Walter, he was expecting a fon from the fair Throckmorton, and would fain stay the expedition till the christening might be over. A Fig!-as if he cared for that! Such pelting refpects to stay a vast emprise! But Effex, who well knew he could never do service to the Queen but against her will; having racked his wits to get this commiffion, and his means to carry that which should do the feat, as they fay, against the hair, would now go through with it: declaring he would elfe of a General become a Monk upon an hour's warning. He quitteth his politick desk and fendeth post for 'Zekiel. To arms, man!'

At length her Grace allowed of his departure, fending down Fulke Greville with a pretty parting letter to her favourite, and a private meditation or prayer for the then prefent expedition. Oh, she could touch the very heart of the heart of her lieges when she lifted! their patriotism, thei‍

A good Precedent, Sir.

281

religion, their devotion, their loyalty to God and her Grace! How patiently would she bear it-how fondly cherish-how wifely educate! A most royal mother, a most affectionate governess truly! My Lord catcheth the vein.

"I know God hath a great work to work by me," quoth Effex. "I thank God I see my way both smooth and certain, and I will make all the world fee I understand myself!" That was fine, was it not?

Oh, fuch a plot for the Campaign as my Lord laid! Here, furely, lay his genius in the projection and execution of noble and courageous exploits; for whatsoever his hand. found to do, that did he with all his might:-therein following Solomon his advice. First, to attempt fomething in another country, rather than await an enemy in your own. Secondly, to intercept that treafure whence the finews of war receive their nourishment. Lastly, fo to make war on him with his own money, and to beat him from his ships that he shall be utterly discontinued from fea and unhelped on fhore! "Thus," quod he, "fhould her Majesty be both fecured from his parlous invafions, and become Miftrefs

of the Ocean, which is the greatness that the Queen of our Island should aspire to."

And when one counselled more pacific measures, Effex boldly put it thus, "Whether he will make war upon us if we let him alone, let his folicitations, offers, and gifts to the rebels of Ireland, his befieging of Calys and winning of thofe parts of France that front upon us, and his ftrengthening himself by sea by so many means-let those things, I fay, tell us."

And much more to this effect did my Lord write to the Council (for they were still for thieving the time with unworthy refpects): he showing them by a notable example how that," as the end of wars is peace, so victorious England might have peace when she would, and with what conditions fhe would. That she might conclude or leave out whom she would. For fhe only, by this course, fhould force Spain to wish for peace; and she, having the means in her hands to make the conditions, it would be as easy to do this as to perform leffer or yet less certain fervices."

You are tired of thefe delays? So was Effex. They fet fail. But the elements would have their bye-play, too! They will dispute the Rule with Britannia herself, occafionally.

"Long the proud Spaniard had vaunted to conquer us,
Threat'ning our country with fyer and fword;

Often preparing their Navy moft fumptuous,
With as great plenty as Spain could afford.
Dub a dub, dub a dub, thus ftrike their drums:
Tantara! Tantara, the Englishman comes!"

THE WINNING OF GADES.-A Ballad.

GAIN, with a moft profperous wind, was the fleet carried far into the Western Ocean;

paffing along the Coast of Portingale not once

defcried, and that purpofely. For, had we been perceived, or had we attempted any thing on the hither fhore of Spain, the alarm had prefently been given. Our defign was (and that with the privity of very few) upon Gades, fo much renowned by the Poets for the Sun's lodging; and by the ancient Geographers holden for the uttermoft bound

of the earth at this day a most famous Mart-town, commodious in our hands to annoy the enemy, and there an end.

Upon Sunday, the 20th of June, one thousand five hundred and ninety-fix, betimes in the morning, did we cast anchor near S. Sebastian his Chaple on the west side. My Lord, full of courage and of youthful heat, was of opinion that the forces were presently to be landed. Ralegh and the Lord Admiral were of a contrary mind; the fea beating violently on the shore. "Without all delay let us fet upon the fhips of war, galleons, and merchantships that be fo thick together in the Bay, or upon fome of them," pressed Effex. But neither did this please the rest; forasmuch as the enemy's fhips lay under the fafeguard of their Forts, from whence, as alfo from the fhips themfelves, most present danger threatened us.

The next day, at the coming in of the tide, did the Spanish ships of war remove towards a point of land called Puntal, and the merchant-fhips drew more inward towards Port Real: We English, weighing anchor, now came into their place, being furiously played upon by Ordnance; on the one fide from the Port of S. Philip,