The Loyal London follows next to these; Some call her the metropolis of seas, About whose walls not Thames but seas now cling, Wondering to see a city thus on wing. Venice no more shall Neptune's darling be, That stays ashore while this pursues the sea; Here valiant Spragge (like the Lord Mayor) appears, Only this difference--Spragge his own sword bears, My lord's supported is by other hands; This rules the sea, while t'other rules the lands: Nor is there wanting to increase his state A cap of maintenance; since his sober pate Still to his active hands commends advice, 'Tis happy to be valiant and wise. This second London had also the ill hap to perish by fire, being burned by the Dutch, in the disgraceful surprise of Chatham, 1667. Note XXXII. _O truly royal! who behold the law, And rule of Beings in your Maker's mind._ St. 166. p. 134. In this and the preceding stanza, our author, from the improved arts of ship-building and navigation, is led to compliment the Royal Society, then newly instituted, of which he was himself a member. Note XXXIII. _Already were the Belgians on our coast._--St. 168. p. 134. Notwithstanding the exertions made by Charles and his ministers, and celebrated with such minuteness by the poet, the Dutch fleet, which needed fewer repairs, was first at sea, and their admirals braved the coast of England, dating letters and dispatches, "From the fleet in the mouth of the river of London." The English were about a fortnight behind their enemies in preparation, owing chiefly to the difficulty of manning their fleet. Note XXXIV. _Old expert Allen, loyal all along, Famed for his action on the Smyrna fleet._ St. 172. p. 135. Sir Thomas Allen, vice-admiral of the White, and, as I believe, an old cavalier, opened the war by an action of some consequence in the Mediterranean. With a squadron of eight or nine ships, he attacked the Dutch homeward-bound Smyrna fleet, near Cadiz; consisting of forty merchant vessels, many of which were in these days capable of a stout resistance, and a convoy of four ships of war. Allen defeated them totally, killed their commodore, Brackel, took or sunk four of their richest ships, and drove the rest into the bay of Cadiz. He commanded the van in the engagement of July 25, 1666. Note XXXV. _Holmes, the Achates of the general's fight; Who first bewitched our eyes with Guinea gold._ St. 173. p. 135.