To our Valiant ENGLISH NATION,
An ENCOMIUM on that Worthy Exploit of Capt. JOHN BADDISON, Com-
mander of the Swallow, of 180 Tuns, and 26 Men; who preserv'd himself, and two other
small Ships, from a Turks Man of War, of 36 Guns, and 220 Men; whom he, after a long
and terrible Fight, very honourably repulsed, and brought home 4 of the Turks Prisoners.
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APollo, Pallas, and the Muses all
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Assist me (seeing for your help I call)
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I want your Aid now to direct my Pen,
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To write the Praise of Valiant Englishmen,
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Who through all Ages have been much renown'd,
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And for their Courage are with Honour crown'd.
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Since first this Land receiv'd the British name,
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It never wanted some t'extol its Fame.
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We ride triumphant with our Flags display'd:
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(All Nations prosper when they have our Aid)
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Lords of the World's great Wasts, the Ocean; We
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Whole Forests send to reign upon the Sea.
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Our little World (the image of the Great,
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Like that amidst the boundless Ocean set)
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Of its own growth hath all that Nature craves,
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And all that's rare, as Tribute from the Waves:
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The taste of hot Arabia's Spice we know,
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Free from the scorching Sun that made it so.
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Without the Worm, in Persian Silks we shine:
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And, without planting, drink of every Vine.
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To dig for Wealth we weary not our limbs;
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Gold (though the heaviest mettal) hither swims.
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We reign i'th' Ocean, and rule o're the Main;
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No Foreign Nation durst our wills restrain.
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Angels and we have this Prerogative,
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That none can to our happy Seat arrive;
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Whilst we descend at pleasure to invade
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The Bad with Vengeance, and the Good with Aid.
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The once great Spaniard, by our General Drake,
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Was made to tremble, and his Fleet to shake,
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With Thunder-claps which from Drakes sides did fly,
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Threatning destruction to his Enemy.
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Since him succeeded many Worthies more,
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Which on the Ocean made their Cannons Roar.
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Our Royal Duke did with his valiant Fleet
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Make Horror, Slaughter and Confusion meet:
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His Cannon bullets thick as Hail did fly,
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Whose dire effects ten thousand caus'd to dye:
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His Courage, Valour, and his Prowess then
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Was a true Pattern for brave English-men,
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Whose steps they follow, and with full desire
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Wrongs to revenge, their Passion's set on fire;
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They'l venture life and limbs, and all in fight,
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So to preserve their King and Countries Right.
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Our wealthy Merchants do their Ships forth send;
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These Martial Neptunes do their Goods defend.
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In Storms and Tempests they their skill make known;
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When met with Pyrats, then their might is shown.
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As instance here the brave Exploit that I
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In following Verse present unto your Eye.
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From Port a Port our HERO took his flight,
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With Canvas wings, to entertain the Night
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On th' Oceans deep, where Billows lofty rise,
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Mounting their Surges to th' unconstant Skyes;
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And after two dayes spent, he lost the fight
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Of great Bajona, and prepar'd to fight
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With a proud Turk, who from Argier was sent,
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And swiftly gave them chase, to the intent
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That they might take, and ransack, and enthral
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The Bodies, Minds, and Christian Souls of all.
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But those base Pagans never can prevail,
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If once our English Banners them assail.
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Our worthy Captain first did cause to fly
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Two little Ships that by him close did lye;
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Who from the fury of the Foes did glide,
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Being befriended by Night, Wind, and Tyde.
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Then being ready, and his Guns run out,
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He then prepared for a bloody Bout;
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Like Thunder, Lightning, and a Tempest great;
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Like Raging Waves, which on the Rocks do beat:
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Ev'n so our Captain, at his drawing nigh,
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Vollies Discharg'd at his proud Enemy;
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The Waves did tremble, and the Heavens blush,
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When these two Champions did together rush.
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The Turks they board us, knowing not the strength
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Of Valiant English, which they felt at length:
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Presumption prompt them on to graple strong,
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Which was too hot to be endur'd long;
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For being on Deck, some in the Air did fly,
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Others our warlike Engines forc'd to die:
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Yet six remain'd, which almost laid us waste,
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By cutting Sails and Rigging from our Mast:
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For which bold fact, two made the Sea their grave;
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The rest cry'd Quarter, which we freely gave.
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There might you see their Bodies go to wreck,
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Heads, Arms and Legs bestrew'd upon the Deck.
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This was their fate, which then they could not shun,
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Their Blood did off the Deck, like water, run.
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Our Men between Decks with their great Guns tore
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And rent the Hull of the Turks Ship so sore,
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Made them leave off, and from our sides to shrink,
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Lest they should all of the Salt-water drink;
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Their Ship lying by to stop her Leaks, and then
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Resolves to prove our Valour once agen.
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Our Sea-men bold, that never daunted were,
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To their proud Foes like Lions did appear,
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Threatning destruction, whilst a lucky Gun
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Made their Ship tremble, and our sides to shun;
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Not once more daring to approach us nigh,
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But from us at a distance far to lie.
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The Night came on, a pleasant Gale appears,
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They left each other; ours directly steers
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To her desired Port: safely arriv'd
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Our English Captain, and all that surviv'd.
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Sixteen were wounded, and three kill'd outright;
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The Ship sore Shatterd, and Sails burnt in fight;
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Only the Sprit and Main-sail left untore,
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Which brought them safely to our English shore:
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Where being arriv'd, were by his Majesty,
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And Royal Duke, welcom'd most graciously.
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For which brave Act the King an Order gave
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The Captain should a Chain and Medal have.
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The Merchants did with honour him commend,
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Because their Goods he bravely did defend.
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He was not daunted with their mighty Force,
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'Twas not their power could retard his Course.
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'Tis Valour, a good Cause, and Man-like Sp'rit
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That stirs up truly Valiant Men to fight.
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