his country by the behaviour of that gallant

given of many hostile acts against the same nation, by the Spaniards, even in Europe; from all which, says the manifesto, "We are confident, we have made it plain to all, who weigh things fairly and impartially, that necessity, honour and justice, have prompted us to undertake this late expedition. First, we have been prompted to it by necessity; it being absolutely necessary to go to war with the Spaniards, since they will not allow us to be at peace with them: and then honour and justice, seeing we cannot pretend to either of these, if we sit still and suffer such insufferable injuries to be done our countrymen, as those we have shown to be done them in the West Indies "." But Cromwell rested not in words. He sent orders to Blake to attack the Spaniards in the Mediterranean or elsewhere, and to seize every thing he could lay his hand on belonging unto them. Blake wanted nothing more. "Shortly after, cruising, in conjunction with general Montague, off of Cadiz, to intercept the Spanish Flota, captain Stayner, with three ships of the fleet, fell in with eight galleons, with which he dealt so effectually in two or three hours engagement, that one was sunk, another set on fire, two were forced on shore, and two he took, having on board in money and plate, to the value of six hundred thousand pounds, and only two escaped into Cadiz." This action was on the 9th of September, 1656. Capt. Stayner, in his letter to the generals of the fleet, written on the day of the engagement, says, "The ship he took was as good as all the fleet besides, and the other that capt. Harman took was very rich; though but little silver in her." By the calculation of the Spaniards, there was taken and lost nine millions of pieces of eight, of which about five millions fell to the share of the English. Besides this great sum of money, so useful to Cromwell at this time, advantage was made

• Milton's Prose Works, vol. II. p. 273. vol. V. p. 399. ◄ Id. p. 400.

Burchett, p. 395.

• Thurloe,

admiral. Very few commanders ever shewed

of the intelligence given by the young marquis of Baydex, a prisoner, who was born in Lima, and understood well the state of the West Indies. Montague spent almost a whole afternoon in discourse with him, and obtained such an account from him, as he thought worth transmitting to Thurloe." So intent was he on procuring all possible helps for his country. "The next year admiral Blake went out with a strong squadron on the same design of intercepting the Spanish West India fleet, and took his station off of Cadiz, where receiving intelligence that those ships were arrived at Teneriffe, he made the best of his way to that island. The Flota lay in the bay of Santa Cruz, drawn up in form of a half-moon, with a strong barricado before them; the bay itself defended by seven forts disposed round the same, with two castles at the entrance, which were well furnished with ordnance: in which posture the Spanish admiral thought himself so secure, that he sent out word by a Dutch merchant, Blake might come if he durst. The admiral having taken a view of the enemy's situation, sent in captain Stayner with a squadron to attack them, who soon forcing his passage into the bay, was presently supported by Blake with the whole fleet. Placing some of his ships so as that they might fire their broadsides into the castles and forts, himself and Stayner engaged the Spanish fleet, and in few hours obtaining a compleat victory, possessed himself of all the ships; but being not able to bring them off, he set them on fire, and they were every one burnt"." Sixteen galleons were destroyed, besides others. Most of them had a great part of their loading aboard, which perished all with the ships. "The last intelligence from Cadiz (says Mr. Maynard, the English consul at Lisbon, in a letter to Mr. Thurloe, dated June 6, 1657, N. S.) saies, that the losse of those ships in the

Thurloe, vol. V. p. 434. ⚫ Burchett, p. 396.

Thurloe, vol. VI.

P. 312.

like conduct and bravery. Nor were the Eng

Canaries goes near their hearts; they thinking it a greater losse to them than the galleons with the plate taken formerly; for the consequence of this losse will be greate, in respect they are wholly disappointed of furnishing the West India with such necessaries as they wante; for those ships were designed to have gone from thence in few days, if general Blake had not prevented them; so now they are driven to their laste shifte to freight Hollanders, and send them some, and some for the Indiaa."-- Such were the naval exploits under the protector! Exploits, which Mr. Walier has celebrated in more than one of his poems.

Britain, looking with a just disdain

Upon this gilded majesty of Spain;

And knowing well, that empire must decline,
Whose chief support, and sinews are of coin;
Our nation's solid virtue did oppose,

To the rich troublers of the world's repose.
And now some months, incamping on the main,
Our naval army had besieged Spain:

They that the whole world's monarchy design'd,
Are to their ports by our hold fleet confin'd;
From whence, our red cross they triumphant sec,
Riding without a rival on the sea.

And again,

The sea's our own: and now all nations greet
With bending sails, each vessel of our fleet:
Your pow'r extends as far as winds can blow,
Or swelling sails upon the globe may go.

He has not used too much poetical-licence.

Blake, "after this glorious atchievement, returned to the coast of Spain, and having cruised there some time, was coming home with the fleet to England, when he fell ill of a scorbutic fever, of which he died just as he was entring Plymouth sound. Cromwell's parliament, upon the news of his exploit at Santa Cruz, had ordered him a jewel of five hundred pound, and now upon his death

Thurloe, vol. VI. p. 312.

6