The noble queene, who in her royall hand Did beare the state and stay of Britanie, In deepe contempt of such a basse command, With spirit of princely magnanimitie, Did briefely answere this proud ambasie: For in prouerbiall words her answere was, “_Ist hæc ad Græceas fient mandata Kalendas._” 182. An answere worthie, for the grace it bore, The virgin spring of old _Plantagenet_, Who from the foes to shield her natiue shore, Her subiects hearts for fight on fire did set, And their bold stomackes did with courage whet, Who fir’d with loue of their _Elizae’s_ good, In her defence did thirst to spend their blood. 183. For when for certaine, fame th’intended harmes Of Spaine’s blacke fleet to England’s shores did bring, How gladly did her people flocke to armes, And when the trumpe warre’s scathfull song did sing, About their eares how pleasing did it ring? Whose hearts with furie fed, to battell giuen, With braue conceits did leape as high as heau’n. 184. All townes did ring with sudden cri’d alarmes, Whence with loud clamour to the marine shore, The armed people clustred in thicke swarmes, Where red-ey’d Eris warre’s blacke ensigne bore, And mongst their troops did sprinkle blood and gore; Stirring them vp with eager minds to wade Through seas of blood, the aduerse fleet t’inuade. 185. And as the golden swarmes of black-backt bees, Their thighes full loaden from the flowrie field, With humming noise flie to the hollow trees, Where they with busie paine fit shelter build, Their treasure and themselues from harme to shield; So thicke in armes, th’alarum once begun, Vnto their ships with shouting they did run: 186. Where with their mutuall strengths they did assay, To hale _Elizae’s_ fleet from off the shore, Some pumpt, some cleans’d, some drew the stockes away, Some hoist the top-masts, some great burthens bore, The nauie’s want with furniture to store: And with their vtmost diligence all wrought, Till to perfection they their worke had brought. 187. Which from the shores, once launcht into the maine, Not all the world a fairer fleet could show: For though in hugenesse, that black fleet of Spaine Did farre surpasse; yet was it farre more slow In nimble stirrage wafting to and fro: For England’s fleet through seas swift passage won With gentle gale, though th’ocean smooth did run. 188.