Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/615

 on his belly; none that might be mistrusted being seen, but such only as rowed the two skiffs.

Then, with great circumspection (attended upon by a resolution to meet death face to face) they landed themselves; and, active as fire, suddenly, with little or no danger at all, surprised the platform, and, with the same dexterity, were masters of the fort. For the act being quick as lightning, so amazed the Spaniards: that it took from them all apprehension not only of fear, but of prevention or acknowledgment of that danger which trod upon their heels. So that Captain QUAILE, what with his own success and the others' astonishment, in a short time, and without resistance, seized upon the ordnance of the platform, which turning and discharging upon the town, and his own bark likewise giving fire to her pieces on the other side: away ran the people, to the number of two hundred persons, besides women and children. At the noise of these sudden terrors, the fishermen likewise, cutting their nets, hastened as fast as they could to the shore; having more care to save themselves than to catch any fish. And so the people flying up into the country, the town was left naked, and let to new landlords.

Who, meeting no Spaniards willing to be their tenants; and the Englishmen themselves being loth to tarry among such bad neighbours: they rifled both the fort and the town, and had the pillaging of both for eight hours together. In which time, they hurried to their ship anything that was of value: and besides the abundance of much riches; they brought away the ordnance of the fort, the bell out of the church, and the chalice. And so, without wrong to their persons, putting their Spanish prisoners into their own skiffs; to shore they sent them: with a warlike triumphing farewell from their own pieces; and are now with much honour arrived in England.

If this example, noble Countrymen! cannot give you sufficient encouragement: do but look back into the former ages, and take a brief survey what honourable attempts, exploits, undertakings and stratagems have in foreign countries been enterprized and achieved by the English. When brave [J]OHN of GAUNT, Duke of LANCASTER, &c., being but a subject, without borrowing or charging of the King's