Lied roundly for dishonest gains,
Got Cat-o’-nine-tails for his pains.
Habeas Corpus 1679
The ‘Habeas Corpus’ best of laws
Shields us from prison without cause;
’Twas passed in sixteen-seventy-nine,
And means ‘Produce him here,’ in fine.
Van Tromp
Admiral Van Tromp, Dutchman bold,
With broom at masthead, so ’tis told,
The Channel sailed, suggesting he’s
Swept all the English from the seas.
Blake
But Blake laughed loud and spread his sails
Nought the Dutchman now avails;
For he got an awful shocker
Right to Davy Jones’ locker.
But though the Dutch failed to invade,
They were not disinclined to trade;
So we get ‘Hollands,’ cheese and hams
Fresh from the land of Dykes and Dams.
Peace of Breda 1667
For fifteen years these Navies fought,
’Till sixteen-six-seven respite brought;