Digital Renaissance Editions

About this text

  • Title: The Whore of Babylon (Quarto, 1607)
  • Editors: Frances E. Dolan, Anna Pruitt

  • Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Thomas Dekker
    Editors: Frances E. Dolan, Anna Pruitt
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Whore of Babylon (Quarto, 1607)

    The Whore of Babylon.
    Floate like twelue moouing Ca stles: Zabraes two.
    Habilimented gloriou sly for warre,
    With Souldiers, Seamen, shot, and ordinance:
    2220This Squadron stout Medyna does command:
    Who of the maine is Captaine Generall.
    The second Squadron braue Ricalde leades,
    Being Admirall to fouretene Galleons.
    Flores de Ualdes guides the third, the fourth
    2225Followes the silken streamers of the haughty
    Pedro de Valdes that tryed warriour.
    Oquendo in the fift front cries a Charge.
    Bretandona bringes vp the Leuantines
    With his sixt Squadron: Gomes de Medyna
    2230Waftes vp the seauenth like the God of warre,
    The eighth obayes Mendoza: and the ninth
    Fierce Vgo de Montada: all these Squadrons,
    For ve s s ell, numbred are one hundred thirtie,
    The sight of Souldiers, Marriners, and Slaues
    2235Twentie nine thousand, eight hundred thirtie three.
    Peeces of bra s s e for battery these,
    Six hundred thirtie: adde to these Gallions
    Twentie Caruiles, and Saluees ten: which make
    The whole Armada, eightscore lu stie saile.
    2240Add to all these your Generals of Armies,
    Your Captaines, En signe bearers, (which in role,
    Are eightscore and eleauen) the Voluntaries,
    With officers and seruants, then the Regiments
    That are in pay: to these, all men of orders,
    2245All mini sters of iu stice: and to these
    Supplies of forces that mu st second vs,
    And la st that ho st of starres which from the Moone
    Will fall to guide vs on: these totald vp,
    You shal a hundred thowsand swordes behold
    2250Brandi sh't at once, whose----- standes
    Men will seeme borne with weapons in their handes.
    Emp. Goe: cut the salt fome with your mooned keeles,
    And let our Galeons feele euen child-birth panges,
    Till