O well it was for Englishmen that, as the tidings spread, No panic seized their stalwart hearts, no fear or craven dread. O well it was for England then that, on her trial day, Her sailors and her soldiers brave were ready, ready aye! And Catholics and Protestants with equal zeal were seen Vying who best could England serve, who best could serve the Queen. Lord Effingham had chief command in Plymouth Sound that day, Hawkins and Drake and Frobisher like hounds in leashes lay; Drake and his men were playing bowls that eve, on Plymouth Hoe, Said he, “My mates, we’ll end our game and then we’ll end the foe!” When scarce the morning light had broke on land and sea around The English fleet, of forty sail, put out from Plymouth Sound; The flagship was the Raleigh Ark; beside her sailed the Bear, The Dreadnought and the Victory had foremost places there; And soon they saw the Spanish ships, with every sail outspread, Come up from the Atlantic main, by the tall Pinta led; Full six-score gallant ships sailed up, the south-west wind before, And, like a crescent moon, they stretched for seven good miles or more, And on their decks and in their hulls were thirty thousand men. Such fleet was never seen before, nor shall be seen again! Up channel now they set their helms, King Philip ordered so, To join the Duke of Parma’s men, ere up the Thames they go! For he, the greatest general that Spain or Europe knew, In Flanders long had waited them, and now impatient grew. But well the little English ships hung on their rear that day, And many a shot and shell flew east, to speed the Spaniard’s way! See hindermost, with towering poop, a galleon of Biscay Laden with gold of Mexico, full thirty weeks of pay; And next a frigate huge sails up, with port-holes open wide, From Andalusia is she come with piles of arms inside. But well for England fought that day the flame and southwest wind! The devil takes, the proverb says, the one that comes behind! The Andalusian lost her mast, the treasure barque took fire, While, in their wake, the English ships pressed ever nigh and nigher, And ere had paled, that summer night, the sunset’s ruddy glow These two, with all the spoil, were towed right up to Plymouth Hoe. Brave Drake it was that took the gold, but not a coin kept he; Full fifty thousand to his men he dealt, with jovial glee! Beyond the Tamar Raleigh lay, the Lizard Head to guard, But, when he saw the Spaniards pass, said he, “I count it hard That I who came to lead the van thus in the rear should lag!” He left his men, took horse and rode, and joined the Admiral’s flag! And now from every western port the ships came more and more, From Bristol and from Barnstaple, from all along the shore; From Dartmouth and from Bridport town, from Weymouth, Poole, and Lyme, And every ship spread all her sail, in haste to be in time.