More News from the FLEET.
BEING A brief and true Account of the late Nobel, and Heroick exploit, performed against the Dutch, on the 8th-9th. and 10th. of this present month of August; by Captain Sr. Robert Holmes, Sr. Philip Howard, and Sr. William Jennings; having under their command, about 900. Sea-men, and Souldiers, and 120. Voluntiers; The burning and destroying of at least eightscore Merchant Ships, in the Vlie of about 200 Tun a piece, the burning of the chief Town upon the Schelling, consisting of above a thousand fair built Houses. The bringing away the Plate, and Jewels, and other rich Commodities, to the great inriching of our Sea-men and Souldiers, and to the honour of our Nation, the Cabins of the ships being filled with Plate like a Goldsmiths shop.
Tune is, The King enjoyes his own again.
OF
English Acts I intend to write,
Help me yée Muses to invite,
Their valour and their courage bold,
In Méeter I will here unfold,
How boldly they did venter
On the
Holland Coast to enter,
And do such VVarlike brave exploits,
The
Dutch were put to flight
And the Ships burn'd down outright
VVhilst Town and Harbor is all our own,
The God of VVar fought on our side,
To quell the
Dutch-mans swelling pride;
And they that lately on our Coast,
VVith open mouth did brag and boast;
Our Land they did divide
To those on their own side,
Imagining all was their own,
In the pit which they did deep,
Themselves may go and fleep,
For the
Dutch-men now are all forlorn.
The Second Part
to the same Tune.
THe cowardly
Dutch-men must not think
To make the
English courage shrink
Though on the rocks and among the waves,
Many valiant hearts have found their graves,
yet honor and renown
(though
Neptune séem to frown)
They'l séek through perils on the main,
when the Billows brush the Skye,
and the Ships are tost on high,
The
Dutch-men loose,
but English gain.
But ile no longer now delay
To tell you the good news to day;
And here now lets admiring stand,
At the action that was took in hand,
on the eighth of
August last
our Men and Ships they past
From the
Uly unto
Schelling Road,
nine hundred Men in all,
and forty fly Boats small,
A small number to go a board.
The valiant Generals, whose cares
VVere alwaies great in such affairs,
This great Imployment to commit
To Sr.
Robert Holms did think it fit,
that valiant noble heart,
who through fear did never start
Either on Land or on the Seas,
both Sea-men and Souldiers,
besides many Voluntéers,
This expedition did them please.
This valiant Company set sail
Having a swift and prosperous gale,
In the
Uly they descryed
Eight score and ten fair Ships there lyed,
which made our Men to smile,
hoping they should beguile
The
Dutch-men of their mighty Fléet,
to fulfil their intent,
their Fire'Ships in they sent,
VVho made an end of all they méet.
Here God his mercy to us showed;
In that the winde still for us blowed;
That very few escaped the fire;
All things against them did conspire;
The next day we with-drew,
The winde full high it blew,
And forced us into
Schelling road,
VVhere quickly we perceived
Our Enemies were grieved,
By their running to and fro, abroad,
Some Horse and Foot, appear'd in sight,
But by one shot were put to flight;
Such terror in their breasts it struck,
The Cowards durst not turn to look;
Away they run for fear,
Crying,
Who a devil's there,
VVhat kill men in their own Country.
But still they Keep on;
And run as they begun,
Not staying to hear the reason why.
Next morning our men in battel array,
March on to finde the Run-away,
VVhere the chief Town they quickly spy
VVhere all the people fast did fly;
Poor children and old folk,
VVere left to indure the stroke,
But
English-men such déeds do scorn,
Amboyna's Laws we sleight,
To kill such as can't fight,
For
English-men are better born.
All
England now hath cause to rejoyce,
And praise our God with heart and voice
Sea-men's VVives and Swéet-hearts too
May more rejoyce than others do;
Good store of plunder's got,
Their Cabbin's like a sho.
Of rich priz'd plate in Gold Smiths row;
Hold up your aprons Girles,
Here's Jewels, Diamonds, Pearls;
And other precious stones to show.
Finis.
With Allowance. London, Printed for T. Passenger, on London-Bridge.