Whether by chance or plot the London died, She'll rise the Loyal London purified. That child, which doth from loyal parents spring, May brag that he's the godson of a king.
No sooner was blown out the London, when London took breath, and blew her in again.
Another bard not only compares the ship to the city from which she derived her name, but proves the captain to be the Lord Mayor, with this slight difference, that he carries his own sword, instead of having a sword-bearer to take that trouble. The passage occurs in a "Poem upon his Majesty's late declarations for toleration, and publication of war against the Hollander, by T. S. of Grey's Inn, Esq."
The Loyal London follows next to these; Some call her the metropolis of seas, About whose walls not Thames but seas now cling, Wondering to see a city thus on wing. Venice no more shall Neptune's darling be, That stays ashore while this pursues the sea; Here valiant Spragge (like the Lord Mayor) appears, Only this difference--Spragge his own sword bears, My lord's supported is by other hands; This rules the sea, while t'other rules the lands: Nor is there wanting to increase his state A cap of maintenance; since his sober pate Still to his active hands commends advice, 'Tis happy to be valiant and wise.
This second London had also the ill hap to perish by fire, being burned by the Dutch, in the disgraceful surprise of Chatham, 1667.
_O truly royal! who behold the law, And rule of Beings in your Maker's mind._ St. 166. p. 134.
In this and the preceding stanza, our author, from the improved arts of ship-building and navigation, is led to compliment the Royal Society, then newly instituted, of which he was himself a member.
_Already were the Belgians on our coast._--St. 168. p. 134.
Notwithstanding the exertions made by Charles and his ministers, and celebrated with such minuteness by the poet, the Dutch fleet, which needed fewer repairs, was first at sea, and their admirals braved the coast of England, dating letters and dispatches, "From the fleet in the mouth of the river of London." The English were about a fortnight behind their enemies in preparation, owing chiefly to the difficulty of manning their fleet.
_Old expert Allen, loyal all along, Famed for his action on the Smyrna fleet._ St. 172. p. 135.