Page:A book of the west; being an introduction to Devon and Cornwall.djvu/448

362 majestically on, the vessels drawn up in the form of a crescent, which, from horn to horn, measured some seven miles.

Their great height and bulk, though imposing to the unskilled, gave confidence to the English seamen, who reckoned at once upon having the advantage in tacking and manoeuvring their lighter craft. The miserable parsimony of Elizabeth, who did not allow a sufficiency of ammunition to the fleet, interfered sadly with the proceedings of the defenders of the English shores. But the story of the Armada belongs to general English history, and need not be detailed here. It is a story, read it often as we may, that makes the blood dance in one's veins.

It has served as the topic of many lines. I will give some not usually quoted, by John O'Keefe, which were set to music by Dr. Arnold:—

"In May fifteen hundred and eighty-eight, Cries Philip, ' The English I'11 humble; I've taken it into my Majesty's pate, And the lion, Oh! down he shall tumble. The lords of the sea!' Then his sceptre he shook; 'I'll prove it all arrant bravado, By Neptune! I'll sweep 'em all into a nook, With th' Invincible Spanish Armado.'

"This fleet started out, and the winds they did blow; Their guns made a terrible clatter. Our noble Queen Bess, 'cos her wanted to know, Quill'd her ruff, and cried, 'Pray what's the matter?' 'They say, my good Queen,' replies Howard so stout, ' The Spaniard has drawn his toledo. Odds bobbins! he'll thump us, and kick us about, With th' Invincible Spanish Armado.'