Elizabethan seamen had founded, and reduced Spain to naval insignificance. The notice which Heath's Chronicle contains of the exploit at Santa Cruz may be likened to a modern newspaper report, as Heath culled his information from pamphlets, broadsides and journalistic literature generally.

SOURCE.-Chronicle of the Civil Wars of England, Scotland and Ireland. James Heath (1629-1664). London, 1676. P. 391.

Of all the desperate attempts that ever were made in the world against an enemy by sea, this of noble Blake's is not inferior to any. He lying upon the Spanish coast, had intelligence given him that the West India fleet were arrived at the Canary Islands, and put into the Bay of Santa Cruz, on the Island of Teneriffe. Upon this the fleet weighed anchor on the 13th of April, 1657, and by the 20th of the same month, were fair in the offing of Santa Cruz, where they discovered how bravely the Spanish ships (sixteen in number) were barricaded in this bay, where they lay in a manner semi-circular. Near to the mouth of this haven, stands a castle sufficiently furnished with great ordnance, which threatened destruction to any that durst enter without its leave into the harbour: besides this, there stood seven forts more round about the bay, with six, four, and three great guns apiece; and united together by a line of communication from one fort to another, which was manned with musketeers. To make all safe, Don Diego Diagues, General of the Spanish fleet, was not idle in making provision for the best defence of his Armado: he caused all the smaller ships to be moored close along the shore, and the six great galleons stood farther out at anchor, with their broadsides towards the sea. It happened at this time, there was a Dutch merchant's ship in the bay; the master whereof seeing the English ready to enter, and that a combat would presently be commenced, it made him fear that among all the blows that would be given, he could not avoid some knocks; therefore to save himself, he went to Don Diego, and desired his leave to depart the harbour: for (said he) I am very sure Blake will presently be amongst you. To this, the resolute Don made no other reply, but, get you gone if you will, and let Blake come if he dares.

They that knew Blake's courage, could not but know it needless to dare him to an engagement. All things being ordered for fight, a squadron of ships was drawn out of the whole fleet to make the first onset; these were commanded by Captain

Stainer in the Speaker frigate, who no sooner had received orders, but immediately he flew into the bay with his canvas wings, and by eight in the morning fell pell-mell upon the Spanish fleet, without the least regard to the forts, that spent their shot prodigally upon him. No sooner were these entered into the bay, but Blake following after, placed certain ships to pour broadsides into the castle and forts: these played their parts so well, that after some time the Spaniards found their forts too hot to be held. In the meantime Blake strikes in with Stainer, and bravely fought the Spanish ships, which were not much inferior in number to the English, but in men they were far the superior. Here we see a resolute bravery many times may carry the day, and make number lie by the lee: this was manifest; for by two of the clock in the afternoon, the English had beaten their enemies out of their ships.

Now Blake seeing an impossibility of carrying them away, he ordered his men to fire their prizes; which was done so effectually, that all the Spanish fleet were reduced to ashes, except two ships that sunk downright, nothing remaining of them above water but some part of their masts.

The English having now got a complete victory, were put to another difficulty by the wind, which blew so strong into the bay, that many despaired of getting out again. But God's providence was miraculously seen, in causing the wind upon the sudden to veer about to the south-west (a thing not known in many years before), which brought Blake and his fleet safe to sea again, notwithstanding the Spaniards from the castle played their great guns perpetually upon them as they passed by. The wind, as it proved a friend to bring the English forth, so it continued to carry them back again to their former station near to Cadiz.

This noble service made Blake as terrible as Drake to the Spaniard; there being less difference betwixt the fame and report of their actions and exploits, than in the sound of their names; and it was accordingly resented1 here by all parties. Cromwell (whom it most concerned) sent his secretary to acquaint the House with the particulars, who ordered a thanksgiving and 500l. to buy the General a jewel, as a testimony of his country's gratitude, and the honour they bore him; one hundred pound to the Captain that brought the tidings, and thanks to all officers and soldiers: and shortly after the Speaker returning home (being so bruised and torn in the late engage

1 Here used in the etymological sense of entertaining a certain feeling which may be pleasurable, instead of the opposite as is now usually meant by the word.

ment, that she was unfit for further service till repaired), the Captain of her (Richard Stainer) was knighted, who indeed deserved that honour from a better hand; nor did his merit miss of it. This was achieved on Monday, the 20th of April.

77. THE RESTORATION FESTIVITIES (1660).

The festivities attending the return of Charles II. in 1660 were perfectly spontaneous, and serve as a measure whereby we can gauge the popular dislike of Puritan and military rule. The disgraces of the reign could not be forecast at the Restoration, and amid universal rejoicing Charles exclaimed with that rich humour which was one of his redeeming traits: "Surely it is my own fault that I have remained these years in exile from a country which is so glad to see me". Our source for the ensuing excerpt is a tract printed in 1660, and called "England's Joy; or, a Relation of the most remarkable Passages from his Majesty's Arrival at Dover to his Entrance at White-Hall". SOURCE.--England's Joy. Arber's Garner. Birmingham, 1877. Vol. i., p. 27.

From Canterbury he came, on Monday, to Rochester, where the people had hung up, over the midst of the streets as he rode, many beautiful garlands, curiously made up with costly scarfs and ribands, decorated with spoons and bodkins of silver, and small plate of several sorts, and some with gold chains, in like sort as at Canterbury, each striving to outdo others in all expressions of joy.

On Tuesday, May the 29th (which happily fell out to be the anniversary of his Majesty's birth-day), he set forth from Rochester in his coach; but afterwards took horse on the farther side of Black-heath, on which spacious plain he found divers great and eminent troops of horse, in a most splendid and glorious equipage; and a kind of rural triumph, expressed by the country swains in a morrice-dance, with the old music of taber and pipe, which was performed will all agility and cheerfulness imaginable.

And from this heath the troops marched off before him, viz. Major-general Brown's, the Merchant-Adventurers, Alderman Robinson's, the Lord Maynard's, the Earls of Norwich, Peterborough, Cleveland, Derby, Duke of Richmond's, and his Majesty's own Life Guards.

In this order, proceeding towards London, there were placed in Deptford, on his right hand (as he passed through the town), above an hundred proper maids, clad all alike in white garments, with scarfs about them, who, having prepared many flaskets covered with fine linen, and adorned with rich scarfs and ribands, which flaskets were full of flowers and sweet herbs, strowed the way before him as he rode.

From thence, passing on, he came into St. George's Fields, in Southwark, where the Lord Mayor and aldermen of London, in their scarlet, with the recorder and other city council, waited for him in a large tent, hung with tapestry, in which they had placed a chair of state, with a rich canopy over it. When he came thither, the Lord Mayor presented him with the city sword, and the recorder made a speech to him, which being done, he alighted, and went into the tent, where a noble banquet was prepared for him.

From this tent the proceeding was thus ordered, viz. First, the city marshal to follow in the rear of his Majesty's Life Guards; next, the sheriff's trumpets; then the sheriff's men, in scarlet cloaks, laced with silver on the capes, carrying javelins in their hands; then divers eminent citizens, well mounted, all in black velvet coats, and chains of gold about their necks, and every one his footman, with suit, cassock, and ribands of the colour of his company, all which were made choice of out of the several companies in this famous city, and so distinguished; and, at the head of each distinction, the ensign, or arms of the company, painted or embroidered.

After these followed the city council by two and two, near the aldermen; then certain noblemen and noblemen's sons; then the king's trumpets; then the heralds at arms.

After them the Duke of Buckingham; then the Earl of Lindsey, Lord High Chamberlain of England, and the Lord General Monk; next to them Garter, Principal King of Arms, the Lord Mayor on his right hand, bearing the city sword, and a gentleman usher on his left, and on each side of them the serjeants at arms with their maces.

Then the King's Majesty, with his equeries and footmen on each side of him, and at a little distance on each hand, his royal brothers, the Dukes of York and Gloucester; and after them divers of the king's servants, who came with him from beyond sea; and, in the rear of all, those gallant troops, viz., the Duke of Buckingham, Earls of Oxford, Northampton, Winchelsea, Litchfield, and the Lord Mordaunt ; also five regiments of horse belonging to the army.

In this magnificent fashion his Majesty entered the borough of Southwark, about half an hour past three of the clock in the afternoon; and, within half an hour after, the city of London, at the bridge, where he found the windows and streets exceedingly thronged with people to behold him, and the walls adorned with hangings and carpets of tapestry, and other costly stuffs, and in many places sets of loud music. All the conduits, as he passed, running claret wine, and the several companies in their liveries, with the ensigns belonging to them; as also the trained bands of the city standing along the streets as he passed, welcoming him with joyful acclamations.

And within the rails, where Charing-Cross formerly was, a stand of six hundred pikes, consisting of knights and gentlemen as had been officers of the armies of his late Majesty of blessed memory; the truly noble and valiant Sir John Stowell, knight of the honourable order of the Bath, a person famous for his eminent actions and sufferings, being in the head of them.

From which place the citizens, in velvet coats and gold chains, being drawn up on each hand, and divers companies of foot soldiers, his Majesty passed betwixt them, and entered Whitehall at seven of the clock, the people making loud shouts, and the horse and foot several volleys of shot at this his happy arrival, where the House of Lords and Commons of Parliament received him, and kissed his royal hand. At the same time, likewise, the reverend bishops of Ely, Salisbury, Rochester, and Chichester, in their episcopal habits, with divers of the long-oppressed orthodox clergy, met in that royal chapel of King Henry the VII. at Westminster, there also sung Te Deum, etc., in praise and thanks to Almighty God for this His unspeakable mercy in the deliverance of his Majesty from many dangers, and so happily restoring him to rule these kingdoms according to his just and undoubted right.

78. THE FIRE OF LONDON (1666).

Samuel Pepys held a post in the civil service under Charles II., being attached to the admiralty office. He was neither great nor good, but he kept in cipher an important diary of public occurrences and of the gossip which came his way. This has been translated, and now stands among the rarities and treasures of English history. It can be regarded from several