And in the fight, t’increase the foe-men’s harmes, A ruddie flame from th’English fleet did flie, Which swiftly seased in his spoilefull armes The stout viceadmirall of th’enemie, Who proudly bore her loftie head on high, And with the violence of his shamefull flashes, Did quickly burne her vpper workes to ashes. 231. A golden bonfire on the siluer waues Did flote about, whose flame did reach the skies, While the poore Spaniard and his captiue slaues, Seeing their tragicke fall before their eies, Amidst the fire in vaine shriekt out shrill cries; For th’horrid fire all mercilesse did choake The scorched wretches with infestiue smoake. 232. Many tall ships, that did in greatnesse passe The greatest of our fleet, did fall in fight, Mongst whom, that faire galeon surprised was, In which renowned _Valdes_, that stout knight, With other captaines of approued might, Did yeeld themselues and all their golden treasure To noble _Drake_, to be at his good pleasure. 233. Three famous conflicts, in three seuerall daies, _Elizae’s_ hardie captaines did maintaine, And by their valour won eternall praise, Oft turning into flight the fleet of Spaine, With dreadfull fire, and cannon’s deadly bane, Who now t’effect what they did vainely boast Houer’d twixt Calice and the English coast. 234. There cast they ankor, and conuei’d with speed Swift notice to the prince of Parma hight, Who thither should repaire, as was decreed, And while each aduerse fleet stood hot in fight, For England he should passe with all his might, For which intent he had prepar’d before, Foure hundred ships vpon the Belgicke shore. 235. But noble _Seimer_ in the foe-men’s sight, With _Iustin_ of Nassau, that Belgian bold, And worthie _Winter_, that vndaunted knight, With their tall ships on th’ocean vncontrol’d, About the Belgicke strand strong gard did hold, Whose proud afront the foes did daunt so sore, That not a ship durst launch from off the shore. 236. [Sidenote: _Allen_ was made Cardinall for that purpose.] Yet the stout prince of Parma fondly led With hope, that _Allen_, that false fugitiue, Sent from proud _Sixtus_ to adorne his head With faire _Elizae’s_ crowne, in vaine did striue With all his power, his purpose to atchieue; And vnto Dunkirk came with all his force, To put in practise his intended course. 237.