[102] The Spaniard.
[104] Alluding to the successful war of Cromwell against the Dutch, in 1653.
[108] The planet Venus, which was visible in the day-time about the birth-day of Charles II., was by court astronomers affirmed to be a new star. See page 51.
[111] Protesilaus, the first Grecian who landed on the Trojan shore, was killed in disembarking.
[112] Opdam, the admiral of Holland. See note VIII.
[113] The war began, by mutual aggressions, on the coast of Guinea.
[116] Si bene calculum ponas, ubique fit naufragium. Petronius.
[122] Examina infantium, futurusque populus. Plin. jun. in pan. ad Trajanum.
[124] Where the Olympic games were celebrated.
[125] Credas innare revulsas Cyclades.
[126] "Ahey! what, in the wind's eye, brother? Where did you learn your seamanship."—Commodore Trunnion.
[127] Built, for build or structure.
[130] The Gauls, when they first entered the Roman senate, were so much struck with the solemn appearance of the venerable senators on their chairs of state, that, for a time, their fury was absorbed in veneration.—Liv. His. Lib. V. cap. 41.
[133] Spem vultu simulat, premit alto corde dolorem.—Virgil.
[134] Tell, for number.
[139] A falcon, I believe, is said to fly at check, when, having missed her stroke, she deserts her proper object of pursuit for a crow, or some other bird.
[142] Vestigia retro improperata refert.—Virgil.
[144] The third of June, famous for two victories by the English fleet over the Dutch in 1653 and 1665. On the last occasion, the fleets met on the third, though the Dutch avoided fighting till the fourth of the month.
[148] Corruptly for flax; her down or fur.
[152] To imp, generally, is to ingraft; but here there is a reference to falconry, in which, when the broken feather in a hawk's wing is supplied by art, it is said to be imp'd.
[154] Sweden was the only continental ally of Britain during this war.
[155] Marline, a piece of untwisted rope, dipped in pitch, and wrapped round a cable to guard it.
[156] Tarpawling, pitched canvas.
[158] Extra anni solisque vias.—Virgil.
[159] By a more exact measure of longitude. Dryden.
[160] Apostrophe to the Royal Society.
[168] Gross, used as a substantive for "main body."
[169] Levat ipse tridenti, et vastas aperit syrtes.—Virgil.
[171] Expires, in the unusual sense of "is blown forth."
[172] Possunt quia posse videntur.—Virgil.
[174] Spar-hawk. A lark is said to be dared by any object of terror which makes it sit close.
[175] St James, patron of Spain, on whose festival this battle was fought. See note XLI.
[176] Philip II. of Spain, against whom the Hollanders rebelling, were aided by Queen Elizabeth. See notes XLI. and XLII.
[180] Hæc arte tractabat cupidum virum, ut illius animum inopia accenderet.
[182] Sigæa igni freta late relucent.
[184] The word gross, as already noticed, signifies "main body." It was a military phrase of the time.
[194] Alluding to the city's request to the king, not to leave them.
[195] Note LVI.
[196] Note LVII.
[197] Mexico.
[198] Augusta, the old name of London.
[200] Alluding to the alliance betwixt France and Holland.
[201] The disgraceful surprise of Chatham, in 1667, baffled this prophecy.
[202] Referring to the monsoons, which the navigators fall in with upon doubling the Cape of Good Hope.
[203] "Memoirs of English affairs, chiefly naval, from 1660 to 1673, by his Royal Highness James Duke of York." Lond. 1729, 8vo.
[204] While these sheets were going to press, (to use the approved editorial phraseology,) I have discovered that these abstruse truths were asserted, not by Lilly himself, but a brother Philo-math, Richard Kirby, in his Vates Astrologicus, or England's Astrological Prophet.
[205] Sir Thomas Clifford was the person through whose medium Tydiman carried on a treaty with the Danish governor Alfeldt, for the surrender of the Dutch fleet; the sincerity of which, on the part of the Danes, may be greatly doubted, since their after conduct evinced an unrighteous desire of securing the whole booty of the unfortunate Dutchmen for themselves, which they must otherwise have divided with the English. See Ralph's Hist. Vol. I. p. 118.
[206] The wits of that age, who laughed at every thing, made themselves very merry with this accident. Denham exhorts the painter thus:
The bard elsewhere gives his grace the admonition,
[207] This is taken from the narrative imputed to Harman himself.—See Lives of the Admirals, Vol. II. p. 262. Its authenticity is questioned by Ralph, on account of the lubberly phrases, cordage and crossbeam for slings and yard. But the same circumstances occur in a letter from Alborough, dated June 2d, and published in the London Gazette for June 4th, giving an account of the crippled state in which the Henry had come into that port, and of the part she had sustained in the action. A doggrel poet, on the same occasion, apostrophises
[208] "Naboth's Vineyard, or the Innocent Traitor, copied from the original Holy Scriptures, in Heroic Verse, printed for C. R. 1679."
"Since holy scripture itself is not exempt from being tortured and abused by the strainings and perversions of evil men, no great wonder were it if this small poem, which is but an illustration of a single, yet remarkable, passage thereof, be also subject to the like distortions and misapplications of the over-prying and underwitted of one side, and of the malicious on the other: But all ingenious and ingenuous men (to whose divertisement only this poem offers itself) will be guarantees for the author, that neither any honourable and just judge can be thought concerned in the character of Arod, nor any honest and veracious witness in that of Malchus: And as, by the singular care and royal goodness of his Majesty, whom God long preserve, our benches in this nation are furnished with persons of such eminent integrity and ability, that no character of a corrupt judge can, with the least shadow of resemblance, belong to them; so it is to be wished, that also, in all our courts of judicature, a proportionable honesty and veracity were to be found in all witnesses, that so justice and peace might close in a happy kiss."
In this piece, Scroggs is described under the character of Arod, an ambitious judge and statesman:
Malchus—Oates.
Naboth—Stafford.
[209] The following lines occur in "The Badger in the Fox-trap," published, as appears from Mr Luttrell's jotting, about 9th July, 1681, four months before the appearance of Dryden's poem:
An accidental anticipation of the names imposed on Shaftesbury and the King occurs, where the author seems to have been inspired with prophecy at least, if not with poetry; namely, in "Verses on the blessed and happy Coronation of Charles II. King of England, &c. printed at the hearty desires of Persons of Quality; by John Rich, Gentleman:"
[210] See the Dedication of "Tyrannic Love," addressed to Monmouth, Vol. III. p. 346; and the "Vindication of the Duke of Guise," where Dryden says, "The obligations I have had to him were those of his countenance, his favour, his good word, and his esteem, all of which I have likewise had in a greater measure from his excellent Duchess, the patroness of my poor unworthy poetry." Vol. VII. p. 162.