Meane time the fleet, that did expect his aide, Before French Calice did at ankor lie, And now the chearefull day began to vade, And Vulcan’s louely Venus mounting high, Appear’d for euening starre in easterne skie, Whereby both aduerse fleets did cease from fight, And rendred place vnto th’approching night. 238. But when soft sleepe, the carelesse thoughts did bind Of others, that secure in cabbins lay, Each English leader in his labouring mind Did fashion counsels, how to giue th’assay, And driue from thence their foe-men’s fleet away, Who there did purpose by the shore to lie, That from the prince they might haue fresh supplie. 239. Amongst themselues our captaines did agree, That eight small ships with artificiall fire, Amidst the Spanish fleet should driuen bee In dead of night, to execute their ire Vpon the foes, that did sweet sleepe desire: Which dreadfull stratagem against the foe, Stout _Yong_ and valiant _Prowse_ did vndergoe. 240. The time came on, the drowzie night did frowne, Who clasping th’earth’s wide bounds with sable wings, Vpon the seas did powre grim darknesse downe, While sleepe, that vnto care sweet comfort brings, In quiet slumber, husht all watchfull things; And then the ships all fir’d for the euent, Amongst the foes with winde and tide were sent. 241. Through foggie clouds of night’s Cymmerian blacke, A glimmering light the watch did first espie, Which drifting fast vpon the sea-god’s backe, And to the Spanish fleete approching nigh, Burst out in flames into the darkesome skie, Glazing the heau’ns and chasing gloomie night, From off the seas with admirable light. 242. A sudden puffe with force of powder driuen, Oft blew vp sulphuric flames, in aire on high, From whence, as if that starres did drop from heau’n, The liuely sparkes on wings of winde did flie, Threatning confusion to the enemie; Who startled from their sleepe, shriekt out th’alarme To euery ship, to shun such dismall harme. 243. Th’Iberians drown’d before in sweet repose, With feare affrighted from their naked rest, Their eye-lids wanting weight one winke to close, Beheld the fire on Neptune’s burning brest, Which trembling horror in their hearts imprest; For floting towards them with fearefull flashes, It threatned sore to burne their ships to ashes. 244.