pirit of
ostentation, ordered them to be transported by land to London.

* Thurloe, vol. v. p. 433.

The next action against the Spaniards was more honorable, though less
profitable, to the nation. Blake, having heard that a Spanish fleet of
sixteen ships, much richer than the former, had taken shelter in the
Canaries, immediately made sail towards them. He found them in the Bay
of Santa Cruz, disposed in a formidable posture. The bay was secured
with a strong castle, well provided with cannon, besides seven forts in
several parts of it, all united by a line of communication, manned with
musketeers. Don Diego Diagues, the Spanish admiral, ordered all his
smaller vessels to moor close to the shore, and posted the larger
galleons farther off, at anchor, with their broadsides to the sea.

Blake was rather animated than daunted with this appearance. The wind
seconded his courage, and blowing full into the bay, in a moment brought
him among the thickest of his enemies. After a resistance of four hours,
the Spaniards yielded to English valor, and abandoned their ships, which
were set on fire, and consumed with all their treasure. The greatest
danger still remained to the English. They lay under the fire of the
castle and all the forts, which must in a little time have torn them in
pieces. But the wind, suddenly shifting, carried them out of the bay;
where they left the Spaniards in astonishment at the happy temerity of
their audacious victors.

This was the last and greatest action of the gallant Blake. He was
consumed with a dropsy and scurvy, and hastened home, that he might
yield up his breath in his native country, which he had so much adorned
by his valor. As he came within sight of land, he expired.[*]

* 20th of April, 1657.

Never man, so zealous for a faction, was so much respected and esteemed
even by the opposite factions. He was by principle an inflexible
republican; and the late usurpations, amidst all the trust and caresses
which he received from the ruling powers, were thought to be very little
grateful to him. "It is still our duty," he said to the seamen, "to
fight for our country, into what hands soever the government may fall."
Disinterested, generous, liberal; ambitious only of true glory, dreadful
only to his avowed enemies; he forms one of the most perfect characters
of the age, and the least stained with those errors and violences which
were then so predominant. The protector ordered him