Reliques of Ancient English Poetry consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs, and other Pieces of our earlier Poets, (Chiefly of the Lyric kind.) Together with some few of later Date |
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 | Reliques of Ancient English Poetry |  |
XXII. THE WINNING OF CALES.
The subject of this ballad is the taking of the city of Cadiz, (called by our sailors corruptly Cales) on June 21. 1596, in a descent made on the coast of Spain, under the command of the Lord Howard admiral, and the Earl of Essex general.
The valour of Essex was not more distinguished on this occasion than his generosity: the town was carried sword in hand, but he stopt the slaughter as soon as possible, and treated his prisoners with the greatest humanity, and even affability and kindness. The English made a rich plunder in the city, but miss'd of a much richer, by the resolution which the Duke of Medina the Spanish admiral took, of setting fire to the ships, in order to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. It was computed, that the loss which the Spaniards sustained from this enterprize, amounted to twenty millions of ducats.
See Hume's Hist.The Earl of Essex knighted on this occasion not fewer than sixty persons, which gave rise to the following sarcasm,
And a laird of the North country;
But a yeoman of Kent with his yearly rent
Will buy them out all three.
The ballad is printed from the Editor's folio MS. and seems to have been composed by some person, who was concerned
Threatning our country with fire and sword;
Often preparing their navy most sumptuous
With as great plenty as Spain could afford.
Dub a dub, dub a dub, thus strike their drums;
Tantara, tantara, the Englishman comes.
With knights couragious and captains full good;
The brave Earl of Essex, a prosperous general,
With him prepared to pass the salt flood.
Dub a dub, &c.
Braver ships never were seen under sayle,
With their fair colours spread, and streamers o'er their head,
Now bragging Spaniard, take heed of your tayle.
Dub a dub, &c.
Where the kinges navy securelye did ride;
Being upon their backs, piercing their butts of sacks,
Ere any Spaniards our coming descry'd.
Dub a dub, &c.
Which at that season was made in that place;
The beacons were fyred, as need then required;
To hyde their great treasure they had little space.
Dub a dub, &c.
And how their men drowned themselves in the sea;
There might you hear them cry wayle and weep piteously,
When they saw no shift to scape thence away.
Dub a dub, &c.
Was burnt to the bottom, and sunk in the sea;
But the St. Andrew, and eke the St. Matthew,
Wee took in fight manfullye and brought away.
Dub a dub, &c.
With horsemen and footmen march'd up to the town;
The Spanyards, which saw them, were greatly alarmed,
Did fly for their safety, and durst not come down.
Dub a dub, &c.
Fight and be valiant, the spoil you shall have;
And bè well rewarded all from the great to the small;
But see the women and children you save.
Dub a dub, &c.
Hung out flags of truce and yielded the towne;
We marched in presentlye, decking the walls on high,
With English colours which purchas'd renowne.
Dub a dub, &c.
For gold and treasure we searched each day;
In some places wè did find, pyès baking left behind,
Meate at fire rosting, and folk run away.
Dub a dub, &c.
Damasks and sattens and velvets full fayre;
Whìch soldiers mèasur'd out by the length òf their swords;
Of all commodities each had his share.
Dub a dub, &c.
March'd to the market place, where he did stand;
There many prisoneres fell to our several shares,
Many crav'd mercye, and mercye they fonde.
Dub a dub, &c.
And would not ransome their towne as they said,
With their fair wanscots, their presses and bedsteds,
Their joint-stools and tables a fire we made;
And when the town burned all in a flame,
With tara, tantara, away we all came.
| Reliques of Ancient English Poetry | |