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��THE GRANITE MONTHLY.
��ton, Concord & Montreal Railroad, in on Boston, Concord & Montreal Rail- Carroll, up valley of the New Zealand road, near bridge on Israel's river, to river, near to the head-waters thereof, forks of Garland brook, near base of
1879, july 18. Lancaster & Kil- Round mountain, in Kilkenny, kenny Railway Company. From point
��THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA.
��BY CHARLES W. COIT.
��Swift spread the tidings through the land.
And messengers rode fast, To tell all gallant Englishmen,
The hour was come at last. "When each must go aboard his ship.
And right upon the main. For country, faith and kindred.
'Gainst the proud fleet of Spain. From every point and headland
Along the southern shore. From beetling cliff, from shingly strand.
Where waves of ocean roar. The beacon fires shone bright and clear
O'er all the briny Hood, And trailed far out into the night
Their crimson rays of blood. And eager hands were hastening down
To many a hidden bay. To man their boats, and put to sea,
And join the coining tray. And all through merry England
The loyal spirit burned, Aud country-folk and gentlemen
Their faces sea-ward turned. In Plymouth Hound Lord Howard lay.
With forty ships and more; But ere the light of morning shone,
He 'd left Mount Edgecomb's shore. And waited ready for the foe
Upon the billows green ; — And southward oft he bent his eye.
With eager glance and keen.
The day wore on ; and now the sun
Was tending toward the west, And shed a milder radiance
Upon the surge's crest ; When, like a belt of snowy clouds
That through the azure sweep. There rose a line of canvass white,
Afar upon the deep. Near and yet nearer came the sails,
Filled by the breezes light ; And Spain's Armada swept along,
A fair and goodly sight. There galleons proud, of mighty size,
Their masts upreared on high, And pennons gay, of every hue.
Streamed bright athwart the sky.
��The cross, the holy emblem,
Gleamed red on every sail. Destined to carry death to all
Without the Roman pale. Upon the decks there glittered arms
Of polished brass and steel : And sparkled many a jewelled coat
Of Loon and Castile. There Andalusian peasant-lads
Dreamed of their distant home; There priests of Italy and France
Prayed for the cause of Koine. From Burgos and Valladolid
The young hidalgos came. And noble youths from Portugal,
To seek the path of fame. All Spain had sent her chivalry
To swell the mighty host. That now bore on right gallantly
Along the Cornish coast. Ah ! Little thought that proud array
Of coming woe. or gloom ! But falsehood and an evil cause
Deserve an evil doom !
The Lizard Head they left behind,
And onward held their way, Until the dusky evening hour
Found them off Plymouth Bay. While there they waited for the dawn,
Throughout the summer night The. English vessels glided forth,
All eager for the fight. Their prows were sharp, their hulls were light.
Their cordage stout and strong, And five score honest English lads
Obeyed each boatswain's song. And now they sailed against the foe; —
Lord Howard's flag was first; And from their decks, and port-holes black.
The streams of red fire burst. The English cannon did their work,
And pierced the Spanish oak, And soon upon the waters 'round
Floated the sable smoke. And Drake and Howard sped along
Amidst the ships of Spain, And oft the heavy galleons chased,
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