triuinphing in Saint Andera, being desirous to go
al)oord that goodly ship, (the Admirall of his Fleet)
called the Prince (a title due to it for the brauery and
Princely building of it) spent so much time that the
euening drew on apace, and with the eucning a more
threatning enemy : for not onely the tyde resisted his
coming backe (his Highnesse being then in his own
Barge, and his owne Watermen rowing in it) but a
storme began to arise, and the billows to swel high,
before the Watermen had gotle halfe way fro the ships
to the towne, the distance between the shore and the
ships being at least a Spanish league. The Watermen
were strong, cunning, and couragious, but the furious
waues taught their Oares another maner of practise
than euer they were put to upon the Thames. To the
town they could not possibly get, against a winde
and tyde so raging, or if they had ventured, it had
been dangerous, in regard a huge Barke (to saue her
selfe) lay very neer to the mouth of the Harbour : to
the shore they were as fearefuU to put, it being full of
rocks ; to the ships back againe to flie for succour,
night (a darke night) being spred over that Horizon,
denied that comfort, for if they should misse the
ships, they were in doubt to be carried into the maine,
the channell where the Fleet was anchored, running
with an impetuous and irresistible torrent. In this
full-Sea of Horrors the Prince resolued to turn back
towards the ships, and to fall in upon the first they
could fasten, rather than trust to the mercy of the
rockes, upon euery one of which sat ineuitable destruc-
tion. What could Hope trust to here, where neither
the watermens skill nor strength could incourage



NOTES. 281

them to bring safety to their Master ? The clouds
opened, and discharged their artillery of raine, light-
ning and thunder : elements of contrary nature, war-
ring one upon another, whilst the waters (which were
called up to decide the controuersie) quarrelling with
the winds, made the uproare more horrid and tempes-
tuous. 