News from the Coast of Spain
Or,
A true relation of a brisk and bloody encounter, which happened upon the 13th of February, between the Tyger frigot, Captain Harman commander, and the Schaherleas of Holland, Vice-Admiral of Young Evertson’s squadron, Pasqual De Wit captain, near Cadize in Spain; where the said De Wit, to vindicate his honour (being suspected of cowardice by the Spaniards, for quitting his station upon the Tyger’s approach), challenged Captain Harman to fight next day, and having double man’d his ship, the number being 270 men, came up with the Tyger, who had but a 180 men on board, within a league of Cadize Bay, within the view of all the inhabitants. These two ships being come within half pistol shot one of another, fired their broadsides, where the Tyger did such execution that he disabled their adversaries’ topmast-yard, killed and wounded 80 of their men, without any considerable damage to himself; and immediately laying him aboard on the bow, after half an hour’s dispute, entered his men and made him yield; carrying his prize, miserable, shattered, and torn, to the admiration of all the people: the Dutch having lost 140 men, besides 86 wounded: and the English losing but nine, and fifteen wounded, amongst whom the Captain himself was shot under the left eye by a musquet shot, but is in good hopes of recovery.
To the Tune of Digby’s Farewell.
Come, all you brave sea-men of courage so free,
Come lend your attention and listen to me,
For here is good news that is late come to town,
Which is for your credit and England’s renown;
Of brave Captain Harman ’tis now I must tell,
Who near unto Cadiz behav’d himself well,
And taught a Dutch captain, whose name is De Wit,
To know he had valour and made him submit.
The Tiger from Tangier to Cadiz made way,
Whereas the De Wit, the Dutch admiral lay,
But soon as the Dutchman our frigate espy’d
They straight into port with all diligence hi’d,
Which caused the Spaniards about for to say,
He quitted his station and durst not to stay;
Whereat the proud Dutchman did fume and did fret,
And wisht in his heart that they never had met.
Then taking advise of young Evertson straight,
A challenge he sent with the Tiger to fight,
To regain his honour if so it might be,
The which was accepted immediately.
His ship with stout seamen he then double mann’d,
And thought that our English was merely trapann’d;
But in the conclusion he found it not so,
They paid him his reckoning before he did go.
Two hundred and seventy men he had there,
And but half so many the Tiger did bear
Of brave English hearts, and of courage most free,
That scorn’d to be dounted in any degree:
Then up they did come within half pistol shot,
Their broad-sides they fired, and men went to th’ pot,
Whilst all the whole town did come out to behold
And see them encounter with courage most bold.
With broad-sides of bullets and shot that was bar’d
We quickly disabled De Wit’s top-mast yard,
And fourscore men they had wounded and slain,
Which made them to fret, but it was but in vain.
‘We’l bear in upon... [line and a half missing];
We’l show them such valour as never was shown;
I’le take their ship prize, or I’le venture my own.’
Then quickly they grappled, and then the dispute
Was desperate and bloody, whilst cannons were mute,
For half an hour’s space the hot service was such
Our men remain’d victors and conquered the Dutch;
And then they submitted themselves to be prize,
Which all the brisk Spaniards beheld with their eyes,
And our English valour did highly commend,
Since Harman had forc’d the proud Dutch for to bend.
The prize was so shattered and torn in the fray
They scarcely could get her safe into the bay;
For to Harman’s honour De Wit must confess
He nere was so thumped before, I do guess.
’Twill teach him hereafter more humble to be,
To yield to his betters in every degree;
By woeful experience he now can relate,
What ’tis to sell honour at so dear a rate.
Of Dutchmen one hundred and forty was slain,
And eighty-six wounded, which languish in pain;
Of all our brave English we lost but just nine,
And therefore we have no great cause to repine,
Besides fifteen wounded, the truth for to tell;
All which through God’s mercy we hope will do well.
Such blessings the Lord has for England in store
We lost not much more then a man to a score.
Brave Harman, who fought where the battel was hot,
Was struck through the cheek with a chance musket shot,
But yet there is hopes he’l recover again
And live for to win more renown on the main;
However his valour is highly extol’d,
’Mongst our English worthies he shall be enrol’d,
Who fought for true honour, glad tydings to bring,
How well he had serv’d both his countrey and King.
Then cheer up, brave seamen and Englishmen bold
You here, by this story, which here I have told,
No sea-men nor souldiers can with us compare;
Although they have odds yet to fight them we dare.
Throughout the whole world a terrour shall prove
If we can continue in union and love:
And thus you may see by these lines I have writ,
How stout Captain Harman did conquer De Wit.