nsented to make the
attack. He was now acquainted by the admiral with the queen's secret
order, dictated by her tender care for the safety of her young
favorite,--that he should by no means be allowed to lead the
assault;--and he promised an exact obedience to the mortifying
prohibition. But, once in presence of the enemy, his impetuosity would
brook no control. He broke from the station of inglorious security which
had been assigned him, and rushed into the heat of the action.

The Spanish fleet was speedily driven up the harbour, under the guns of
the fort of Puntal, where the admiral's ship and another first-rate were
set on fire by their own crews, and the rest run aground. Of these, two
fine ships fell into the hands of the English; and the lord admiral
having refused to accept of any ransom for the remainder, saying that he
came to consume and not to compound, they were all, to the number of
fifty, burned by the Spanish admiral.

Meantime, Essex landed his men and marched them to the assault of Cadiz.
The town was on this side well fortified, and the defenders, having also
the advantage of the ground, received the invaders so warmly that they
were on the point of being repulsed from the gate against which they had
directed their attack: but Essex, just at the critical moment, rushed
forward, seized his own colors and threw them over the wall; "giving
withal a most hot assault unto the gate, where, to save the honor of
their ensign, happy was he that could first leap down from the wall and
with shot and sword make way through the thickest press of the enemy."

The town being thus stormed, was of course given up to plunder; but
Essex, whose humanity was not less conspicuous than his courage, put an
immediate stop to the carnage by a vigorous exertion of his authority;
protected in person the women, children, and religious, whom he caused
to retire to a place of safety; caused the prisoners to be treated with
the utmost tenderness; and allowed all the citizens to withdraw, on
payment of a ransom, before the place with its fortifications was
committed to the flames. It was indeed the wish and intention of Essex
to have kept possession of Cadiz; which he confidently engaged to the
council of war to hold out against the Spaniards, with a force of no
more than three or four thousand men, till succours could be sent from
England; and with this view he had in the first instance sedulously
preserved the buildings from all