THE SPANISH ARMADA ad. 



1588. 



AD SERENISSIMAM ELIZABETHAM 

 ANGLIiE REGINAM. 



THEODOR. BEZA. 



Traverat innumeris Hispanus navibus aequor, 

 Regnis juncturus sceptra Britanna suis. 



Tanti hujus, rogitcis, quae motus causa? superbos 



Impulit Ambitio, vexit Avaritia. 

 Quam bene te ambitio mersit vanissima ventus ? 



Et tumidos tumidae vos superastis aquae ! 

 Quam bene totius raptores orbis avaros, 



Hausit inexhausti justa vorago maris ! 

 At tu, cui venti, cui totum militat aequor, 



Regina, 6 mundi totius una, decus. 

 Sic regnare Deo perge, ambitione remota, 



Prodiga sic opibus perge juvare pios, 

 Ut te Angli longum, longum Anglis ipsa fruaris, 



Quam dilecta bonis, tam metuenda malis. 



The same in English. 



THe Spanish Fleet did flote in narrow Seas, 

 And bend her ships against the English shore. 

 With so great rage as nothing could appease. 

 And with such strength as never scene before : 

 And all to joyne the kingdome of that land 

 Unto the kingdomes that he had in hand. 

 Now if you aske what set this king on fire, 

 To practise warre when he of peace did treat. 

 It was his Pride, and never quencht desire. 

 To spoile that Islands wealth, by peace made great : 

 His Pride which farre above the heavens did swell. 

 And his desire as unsuffic'd as hell. 

 But well have windes his proud blasts overblowen. 

 And swelling waves alayd his swelling heart, 

 Well hath the Sea with greedie gulfs unknowen, 

 Devoured the devourer to his smart : 



And made his ships a pray unto the sand, 

 That meant to pray upon anothers land. 



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