WIGMORB CASTLE, HKREPORDSHIRE. 287 



Henri IV., of France, termed " un vray Caesar," died, and was in- 

 terred at St. Paul's cathedral, by Thomas Powel, of Usk, Esq., and 

 Gelly Meyrick, of the parish of St. Clement's without Temple Bar, 

 his kinsmen, *' at whose funeral Robert, Earl of Essex, and all the 

 warlike men of the city of London, mourned.*'* 



The year 1596 became memorable for the gallant and successful 

 attack, by the English forces, on the city of Cadiz. On this occa- 

 sion Captain Meyrick was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colo- 

 nel, and appointed joint commissioner of stores to the expedition 

 with Mr. Ashley, who was acting secretary-at-war on the occasion. 

 Sir Conyers Clifford was promoted to the rank of serjeant- major 

 general, equivalent to what is jiow termed adjutant general. His 

 regiment was thus officered : — 



MEN MEN 



His own company 150 Captain Davy 100 



Captain Meyrick, Lieut.-Col. 100 Captain Wilton 100 



Captain Daniel, Serjt.- Major 100 Captain f 100 



Captain Wolley 100 



750 



Sir Gelly 's company sailed in the Prudence, of Plymouth, a 

 coaster, and his brother's in the Fallow Hind, a victualler, of Dover.iji 



Without particularizing, suffice it to say that, after the display 

 of great gallantry, Cadiz was taken, together with immense booty 

 claimed by Queen Elizabeth. Sixty-four heroes received the honor 

 of knighthood in the great square of Cadiz, or Cales, at it was then 

 generally termed, and among them was Lieut. -Colon el Meyrick.lT 



To prevent a meditated attack on Ireland, Elizabeth, in 1597^ 

 determined to find employment for the Spaniards in their own ter- 

 ritories. For this purpose a fleet of nineteen of her majesty's ships 

 was assembled, to which were added several others fitted out at the 

 expense of the Earl of Essex. The command of the whole was 

 intrusted to his lordship, having under him the lords Howard and 

 Vere, with Sir Walter Raleigh. Sir Gelly Meyrick had her ma- 

 jesty's ship the Swifisure, of four hundred tons burthen, confided to 

 him, and sailed as one of Sir Walter's division. § After encounter- 



* Athena Oxon, vol. i., p. 282. 



f This Captain was, no doubt. Sir Francis Meyrick, brother to Sir Gelly, 

 as he was with Sir Conyers Clifford at the attack of the Pont Suaco. 



+ See MS., Julius F. vi., 107, fol. 278, Cott. Lib., Brit. Mus. 



^ Camden's Ann. Eliz. 



§ Sir William Monson's account, in the Cott. Lib.; and Sir Arthur 

 Gorge's, quoted in Lediard's Naval Histm-y. 



VOL. IV. NO. XVI. T 



