Chap. XXVII. front the I, os James I, to the Revolution. ; L!^

1628. ff nelm spent all the Night followinga n ep £ res f° r “ in overseing the Preparations form en l gage ' " Fight and Firing in his several" Ships, for that he expected a fierce" Onset, the next Day, from the Vene-“ tians , who had declared themselves" the Guarders of that Road, and weretc reported to have given out, they" would sink all the£^///^Men of War* c they should meet,either in their own,or in the Grand Signior’s Seas. Which" Peremptorinefs, if true, includingr ‘ an Intent of Dishonour to the Na-tr tion, could not but exasperate any* e true English Spirit, especially of the" nobler Sort. This moved not yet" Sir Kenelm to any Violence of Paf-" sion, but that with a careful Tem-" per, and discreet Judgment, he pre-" pared himself, and fitted his Ships" at all Points, for all Occasions.

“And here, tho’ it be a Digression," since it may be worth an Observa-“ tion, (especially with the Curious)" let me insert a Report of his own," with the Preface of his Protestation," in the Way of Caution, That he wascc neither so simple or superstitious, as" vainly to build a Faith upon any" Ways of Divination, such as the" Sortes Virgiliana, which the An-“ dents much relied upon, and of<c which the Roman Histories have ma-tc ny strangeExamples, that make them“ seem no less than Oracles; Yet thus<c it happened to Sir Kenelm , that be-“ ing wearied with Cares, and desirous" to sleep upon the Poop, till the Wind" might serve to bring them in, amongst“ other Cogitations, the Remembrance“ of these Sortes intermixed itself, and€t by Accident one that was near him“ was reading Virgil. Which Sir Ke-" nelm taking, having first conceived" the Chance of a Number for thete Verse which he should take, upon" that Leaf where he opened the Book," these two following presented them-" selves:

Æneas celfa in Puppi jam certus eundi.Carpebat fotnnos, rebus jam rite paratis.

" Which falling out to fit to the" present Circumstances, and the Ro-sy,. v " lations they had to the ‘Trojans en-suing Fortunes, was received betwixtS $ eech to " Jest and Earnest for a very good O-" ^ e n. " men, and became the Instrument of<c an Encouragement, by being made" the Conclusion of a short Speech to

“ his Men r For it seemed to confirm 1628.“ their Resolutions, and prevent the“ Disturbance of them, by any Dist“ pute that might arise concerning the" justness of Sir Kenelm’’ s Design and" Proceeding.

" But his Judgment took another" Course for the Strengthning of his" Cause, -and that the Justness of it" might the better command the At-" tendance of Success, respecting (not-“ withstanding his Honour, before any" Politick Safety, which might tend to Sends a“ Disreputation) he sent his Sattie in Mejfage to" before to the Venetian General (the^^ ene '

" Qaleasies having weighed Anchor twn emra '“ and being come within half a League" of his Ships) with Letters; which“ Letters declared to the Venetians ,

“ That his Voyage of Warfare was by“ His Majesty’s Commission, and gave" them Assurance of all Respect and" Friendship, and that the French were" the only Objects of his Attempts, for“ which he had sufficient Warrant. To" the two Engli/h Ships, he likewise“ sent Letters, to settle the Disstuiet he“ conceived their Fears had put thepi" in, and to give them Satisfaction ;,

“ That his Business was no Way to di-“ sturb their Negotiations. But be-" fore the Sattie’ s Boat could come on g n" Board, to deliver the Answer, the gagement '" Admiral-Galeass of the Venetians dis- begins.

" charged seven or eight Shots, the" first of which lighting short, was re-“ ceived as a Salute, and returned with“ a Piece from themwards; But some“ of the Rest hitting his Ship, and one" Shot at his Flag, together with the“ Sattie’ s Arrival and Information,their“ Intents were known ; And Sir Kenelm“ to let them know, that his longFor-“ bearance was no Apprehension of" Fear he had of their Strength and" Advantage, but a Strengthning of" his Cause’s Justice, gave them three" or four Broadsides in a very short

Space, which did so much Spoil,

“ both to the FrencVznd the Venetians ,

" (who found Pretence by this Time,

“ That their Quarrel was the Protec-“ tion of the French, which they had“ undertaken) that they were enforced" to retire, and fight at a more wary" Distance. In the mean Time, Sir" Kenelm played so well upon their" Gallions, that the Men stowed them-“ selves under Hold, and left the Vest“ sels to their Fortune, without any" Guidance, The Galeasies, then com-

6 P " ing