A POEM On the famous Ship CALLED The Loyal London.
Begun at the charge of the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commoners of the City of London, in the year 1665. and Lauched June 10. 1666. which they presented to His Majesty as a testimony of their Loyalty and dutiful affection; And built at Deptford by Captain Taylor.
By WILLIAM SMITH.
DOMINE DIRIGE NOS
LONDON, Printed for Nath: Brook, at the Angel in Cornhill, 1666.
Committee appointed to take care for the building of the Ship LOYAL LONDON. 15. March 1664.
Alder.
- Sir John Lawrence
- Sir Tho: Adams
- Sir Rich: Brown
- Sir John Frederick
- Sir John Robinson
- Sir An: Bateman
- Sir Tho: Bludworth
- Sir Wil. Turner
- Sir R: Ford
- Sir R: Ryves
Com.
- Sir Tho: Chambrelan
- Sir Wil: Bateman
- Sir A: Ingram
- Captain Ryves
- Col. Nevile
- Deputy Tivill
- Mr. N: Pening
- Deputy Canham
- Deputy Jefferies
- Major Stroud
- Sam: Foot Esq.
- Hen: Bainbrigg Esq. mort.
- Col. Clegat
- Mr. Tho: Pilkington
- Deputy Warren
- Deputy Throckmorton
- Tho: Culling Esq.
- Captain Birkin
- Deputy Lluellin and
- Mr. Jonathan Ash mort.
Licensed
June 15. 1666.
Roger L'estrange.
A POEM ON The Loyal London.
WHen envious Fate, or Errour had dissolv'd
The former London, and her self involv'd,
Her Men, her Guns, her Tackling in a cloak
Of sudden lightning and sulphureous smoak,
She roar'd out thus. Another (though I burn)
Shall blossome from, and grace my watry Vrne;
A LOYAL LONDON, who shall long proclaim
Her Princes greatness, and her CITYS fame.
This mightier Phaenix now at length we have,
The greater birth of her great Mother's grave.
Th' Escurial of the Deep, whose State may bear
As well as Titus Amphitheater,
[Page 2] The name of Wonder; and deserves a room
Above the ruines of the Carian Tomb.
Her bulk's for use, her beauty strength doth hide;
Those were th' effects of Luxury and Pride.
Yet e're kind Zephyr with officious gales
Salutes her Canvas, or employs her sails;
Before the wondring Nereides shall discern
Her threat'ning Lyon, or her guilded Stern;
On the admiring Surges floating ere
Among her Sister-wonders she appear,
(Cathedrals high-aspiring heads at land
Thus lift, and o're the humbler Churches stand.)
Her mighty timbers, and her large-siz'd beams.
Thames first receiv's on his transparent streams,
Glad to behold and bear this pompous load,
His reed-environ'd head from's moist aboad
He now advanc'd, and thus begins to say,
Whilst silver-footed Nymphs about him play.
I'm He, whom th' Ocean most of all his Sons
Does court; my crystal current gently runs,
And sends such winged fortresses abroad
As awe the world, and Thetis shoulders load.
[Page 3] Iberian Pagus slight thy golden Oare;
My fertile banks exceed thy barren shoare.
And Nereus knows my force o're him prevails;
His arms my Cables press, his back my Sails.
To Pibers awful Fasces yielding place,
So once the Ocean did submit his Mace.
Surrounding Drake about the vast globe rowls,
Viewing the Artick and Antartick Poles,
Yet his small Pinnace coasting did but show
A vain Ludibrium on rough Neptunes brow.
Built o're the subdu'd billows to give Law,
Both to encompass, and the world to awe,
Here's SHEE, whom uncontrolled Fates have chose
To check the boldness of our Neighboring foes;
Whose solid planks, when on rude waves they pass,
Contemn the fury of the thund'ring Brass.
No Sea-exciting gusts or Storms she fears;
Much lowder tempests in her self she bears:
Through foaming Neptunes boiling waves she glides,
Aetnas inclosed in her armed sides;
And trembling Holland her more dreadful finds
Then raging storms rais'd by Autumnal winds:
[Page 4] From out each Port-hole a Vesuvius roars
In massie Iron, and not in Cinder showers,
Whose unperceived speed leave far behind
Strong Corus o're the slower Eastern Wind;
Like wrathful Angels her lowd Guns do breath
On obvious Mortals unexpected Death;
And She, as Sinon's Horse, bears armed men,
Not by close plots, but open force to win;
Whose Sterling valour in true worth doth shine
Without the base allay of Brandy-wine.
To move revenge, and to incite our rage
What hood-wink'd rashness did the Dutch engage?
Depriv'd of Herrings (but our slighted store)
Soon they will be so despicably poor,
As when they made their Idolized thing,
And first took Arms against their Catholick King;
In whose Dominions Heaven's bright Cohorts have
Their rise and set, their cradle and their grave.
With equall folly, and with equal fate
Mistaken Carthage urg'd the Romane State.
Oh may I still the Loyal London see
Triumphant o're our foes return from Sea,
[Page 5] A living Monument and a lasting story
Of her great Masters and his Citie's glory!
He having spoke in this, or such a straine,
His aged head his flouds receive again.
Slightly encamp'd the Ancient Consuls lie,
Their Evocati and Triarij nigh,
Secur'd with treble fosses arm'd with stakes,
Whilst at each port an order'd Cohort wakes
Our better fenced Isle, which Thetis laves,
Entrench'd by Nereus with unconquer'd waves;
A liquid Rampier of fierce surges arms,
And we encamp'd within secure from harms.
Defended thus by careful Nature's hand,
Sole Umpiers of the Western world we stand;
When with extended Sails rough Seas we sweep,
Our sturdy Oaks re-florish in the deep.
On tumid billows tost with furious winds
Our warlike SEAMAN steady footing finds,
With Roman courage, Roman constancy,
Intends to conquer, or intends to die;
Protests that Quagmire Holland now doth quake,
Fearing our arms will to one Chaos shake,
And pickle up Mijnhere with Eeles and Frogs;
His sober brain provok'd, contemns vain fear,
Nor needs the fury of the Grape or Beer;
He without Brandy his true valour shows,
Engaged heats, still fighting fiercer grows;
His daring heart and good success alike
O're the Dutch sinews a chill Ague strike;
The great Augustus once affrighted thus
The weaker Angel of Antonius.
We floating Forts (our Guardian Angels) send
Our foe to vanquish, or assist our friend;
Vainly the Friar his Brasen Head invokes,
For Brasen walls we have brass-armed Oaks;
Swift Oaks, whose flame-wink'd thunder can with ease
Command the Ocean and the narrow Seas;
And our successful Red Cross still did come
From Sea victorious, and triumphant home.
With equall courage and with equal fate,
Our antient TITLE we at land debate;
Whilst our Victorious Armies twice advance
The English Standard through the heart of France;
[Page 7] France, on whose face our Swords have left more scarrs
Then mighty Caesar in his ten years wars.
And Monseur, if you question this report,
Read Crescy, Poictiers, Vernoil, Agincourt:
They'r your own Chronicles will tell you who
On one poor Rump oft sup'd and dined too.
Great Julius Eagles fixt their rav'nous claws,
When under various Princes, various Laws;
We did our Conquest to a period bring,
When France was subject to one Potent King.
Majestick Rome did back his conquering cause,
Rome to the wealthy East which then gave Laws;
The French provoked Scotch with hostile rage,
And sudden fury did our backs engage;
His were old Souldiers, ours had seen no foe;
And that Mercurial, aëry Nation know,
Our civil broils were the unhappy chance,
Not Joan nor Charls, which thrust us out of France;
It was our selves, our selves that overthrew!
None could our Arms, but our own Arms subdue.
'Twas our Black Edward, shak'd th' Iberian Crown,
And dispossessed Pedro did enthrone;
[Page 8] Twas our stout Richard won the Holy Land,
Both Prince and Victor did in Cyprus stand.
To the King.
BUt You, Great Prince, from whom do blossom forth
All former virtues, and all former worth,
Have propagated more the British powers
Then our old Monarchs, your great Ancestours.
Our ancient Saxon King did sometime please
O're smaller limits of the narrow Seas
To sit triumphant, view the neighboring shoares,
Whilst Captive Kings tug'd at his laboring oares.
The Earth-environing Ocean doth obey
The mild commands of your diffusive sway.
How do our Annals Edward's fame advance
For worsting once the Naval Force of France?
Far higher must your great renown appear,
Who worsted, and triumphed over Her,
Whose avaritious domineering rage,
You standing Neuter, might the world engage.
[Page 9] In our Terrestrial Sphere long may you move,
Your Subjects safety, and your Subjects love!
Your watchful thoughts, and your unwearied care,
Succeeding ages will with joy declare;
Tell, how without th' expence of their own bloud,
Or sweat, You wisely have contriv'd their good;
Cry out, oh Happy Age! even then alone
Both Arms and Arts in full perfection shone!
Then did the Sacred Nine sing in a strain
Not much exceeded in Augustus reign.
To the City.
I Know, oh stately City, my low praise,
Nor disproportion'd verse thy glory raise:
If of thy Arms, or of thy Arts I sing,
Or neighb'ring fields blest with perpetual Spring;
When Jove to seasons turn'd the fleeting year,
He left that ancient priviledge only here;
Or if I say, the rarest things thou hast
To feed the eye, or to provoke the tast;
Yea, if Lucullus had but seen thy store,
He must have thought's Luxurious Kitchin poor;
Or of thy wholsome site for air and health,
Or mighty trafick, or abundant wealth;
Or thy old splendor, power, and great renown;
Paulinus did see thee a famous Town;
Or of thy River, which such Fleets doth bear,
As Lumbardstreet shews us both Indies here;
Or should I say, thou always wert the great
Emporeum of our Kings, and regal Seat.
[Page 11] To compleat all, and now to serve thy King,
Thou didst at last to full perfection bring
This mighty Ship, this work of many days,
To thy great credit and eternal praise;
Although begun when scarce thou drew thy breath,
In a sad night of horror and of Death;
And she (I hope) will recompence alone
The former London and the Prince, that's gone.
The Prince, which (if the Muses can divine)
May prove a Phaenix too; one shall out-shine
Her, built by the brave Liberality,
And forward hearts of our Nobility;
Whose worthy service shall for many years
The Honour tell and Splendour of our Peers.
That in their veins, this resolution shows,
The antient bloud of their great Fathers flows.
FINIS.