A Collection of Old English Plays, Vol. II | Page 5

Mynes And brought their
golden fagotts thence, their Ingotts And silver wedges; when each ship
of ours Was able to spread sayles of silke; the tacklings Of twisted gold;
when every marryner At his arrivall here had his deepe pockets
Crammd full of Pistoletts; when the poorest ship-boy Might on the
Thames make duckes and drakes with pieces Of eight fetchd out of
_Spayne_: These were the Bellowes Which blew the Spanish bonfires
of revenge; These were the times in which they calld our Nation
Borachos,[12] Lutherans and Furias del Inferno.
2. Would we might now give them the selfe same cause To call us soe.
1. The very name of Drake Was a Bugbear to fright Children; Nurses
still'd Their little Spanish Nynnyes when they cryde "Hush! the Drake
comes."
2. All this must needs beget Their mortall hate to us.
1. It did; yet then We lovd them beyond measure.
2. Why?
1. Why, did not Spaine fetch gold from the West Indies for us To spend
here merrily? She planted vines, We eate the Grapes; she playd the
Spanish Pavine[13] Under our windowes, we in our bedds lay laughing
To heare such Mynstrelsy.
2. How then turnd the windes? Why did this beauteous face of love in
us Put on so blacke a Visour of hate to them?
1. Oh, sir, doe but looke backe to Eighty Eight, That Spanish glasse
shall tell you, shew each wrinckle. England that yeare was but a bit
pickd out To be layd on their Kinges Trencher. Who were their Cookes?
Marry, sir, his Grandees and great Dons of _Spaine_, A Navy was
provided, a royall fleete, Infinite for the bravery of Admiralls,
Viceadmirall [sic], Generalls, Colonells and Commanders, Soldiers,
and all the warlike furniture Cost or experience or mans witt could
muster For such a mayne designe.
2. Stay; Eighty Eight,-- Thirty eight yeares agoe: much about then
Came I into the world.--Well, sir, this fleete?
1. Which made the Sea fish wonder what new kingdome Was building
over theirs, beate downe the Billowes Before them to gett thither. 'Twas
such a Monster In body, such a wonder in the eyes, And such a[14]

thunder in the eares of Christendome That the Popes Holynes would
needes be Godfather To this most mighty big limbd Child, and call it
Th'Invincible Armado.
2. Thats to say A Fleete of Shipps not to be overcome By any power of
man.
1. These were the Whales, These were the huge Levyathans of the Sea
Which roaring came with wide and dreadfull Jawes To swallow up our
Kingdom, Shipps & Nation. The fame of this Armado flew with
Terrour Riding on Envyes wing; the preparation Was wayted on with
wonder, and the approach Shewd the grim face of horrour: yet gainst all
these Our Country and our Courages were armd.
2. _St. George_ for _England_!
1. And _St. George_ we cryde, Albeit, we heard, the Spanish
Inquisition Was aboord every ship with torture, torments, Whipps
strung with wyre, and knives to cutt our throates. But from the armed
winds an hoast brake forth Which tare their shipps and sav'd
ours.--Thus I have read Two storyes to you; one, why Spayne hates us,
T'other why we love not them.
2. Oh, sir, I thank you.
[Exeunt.

SCENE 3.
_Ent. Teniente, Don John, Henrico_.
Ten. I ever feard some ill fate pointed at This Citty.
Jo. Makes the fleete this way?
Hen. _Buzzano_!
Ten. I did dreame every night of't, and the Ravens With their unlucky
throates never leave croaking Some danger to us all.
Hen. Where's _Buzzano_? Villaine!
Jo. Be not discomforted.
Ten. Don _Fernando_, too, Hath cut our strength off, taken away our

swords Should save our throates. I did preiudicate Too rashly of the
_English_; now we may Yield up the Towne.--Sirra, get you up to
th'highest Enter Buzzano. Turret, that lookes three leagues into the Sea,
And tell us what you can discover there.
Buz. Why, I can tell you ere I goe.
Hen. What?
Buz. Why there are fishes and shipps too in the sea; they were made for
that purpose.
Ten. The fellow doates? climbe quickly, sirra, and tell us Whither any
bend to this place: there's a fleete Abroad; skud, rascall.
Hen. Villayne, away; and cast your eyes into the Sea.
Buz. Ile be hangd first; some wiser then some: mine Eyes into the Sea?
I see no reason for't.
Ten. Why stayest thou?--this slave is without sence. Get up and see,
and report the truth.
Buz. Thats another matter: I will orelooke you all presently. [Exit.
Jo. What were I best to doe? I doe not like these Navyes.
Hen. 'Tis past question, If they were kenn'd this way, that they intend
To make another meale of this Citty.
Ten.