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SONGS AND BALLADS |
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Spanishe Navye sustayned yn the late fighte in the Sea and upon the West Coast of Ireland in this moneth of September 1588 ; A Ballad of Thanksgiving unto God for his mercy toward hir Majestie ; Englands Joy and Delight, In the back Rebound of the Spanyardes Spyght.
There were also ballads on the military preparations and the thanksgivings after the victory which-have perished, and a number of ballads relating the exploits of squadrons or single ships, whose titles are entered in the Stationers' Registers. Under November 14, 1588, appears A Ditty of the Exploit -of the Earl of Cumberland on the Sea in October 1588 ; under August 5, 1590, a Ballad made upon the late Fight at Sea between two Ships of Dunkirk and a small Ship of 80 ton appertaining to the Earl of Cumberland (Arber, ii. 236, 262). In July 1590 there was published A Ditty of the Fight upon the seas the 4 of June last in the Straits of Jubraltare between the George and the Thomas Bonaventure against eight gallies with three Frigates; in May 1591 followed a tract and a ballad on The wonderful Victory obtained by the Centurion of London against five Spanish Gallies, the 4th of April being Easter Day 1591 ; a year later came The Seamans Carol for the taking of the great Carack, and in July 1600 a ballad relating how certain Merchants ships of England fought five Spanish ships of war in the Straits of Gibraltar on May 25, 1600 (Arber, ii. 262, 274, 293 ; iii. 62). None of these survive.
About the beginning of the seventeenth century new enemies begin to take the place hitherto occupied by the Spanards in the ballads. Piracy took a new shape after the close of the war with Spain. Captain John Smith devotes the last chapter of his Travels to 'The bad life and qualities, and conditions of pirates, and how they taught the Turks |
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