Pietas in patriam the life of His Excellency Sir William Phips, Knt. late Captain…

And indeed, whatever Popular Clamour has been made against any of the Commanders, it is apparent, that they acted considerately, in making a Pause upon what was before them; and they did a greater kindness to their Soldiers than they have since been thanked for. But in this time, General Phips and his Men of War, with their Canvas, Wings, flew close up unto the West-end of the City, and there he behaved himself with the Greatest Bravery imaginable; nor did the other Men of War forbear ⟨p. 40⟩to follow his brave Example: who never discovered himself more in his Element, than when (as the Poet expresseth it,) The Slaughter-Breathing Brass grew hot, and spoke In Flames of Lightning, and in Clouds of Smoke:

And indeed, whatever Popular Clamour has been made against any of the Commanders, it is apparent, that they acted considerately, in making a Pause upon what was before them; and they did a greater kindness to their Souldiers than they have since been thanked for. But in this time, General Phips and his Men of War, with their Canvas, Wings, flew close up unto the West-end of the City, and there he behaved himself with the Greatest Bravery imaginable; nor did the other Men of War forbear ⟨p. 40⟩to follow his brave Example: who never discovered himself more in his Element, than when (as the Poet expresseth it,) The Slaughter-Breathing Brass grew hot, and spoke In Flames of Lightning, and in Clouds of Smoke:

He lay within Pistol-shot of the Enemies Cannon, and beat them from thence, and very much Battered the Town, having his own Ship shot through in an hundred places, with four and twenty Pounders, and yet, but one Man was killed, and only two mortally wounded aboard him, in this hot Engagement, which continued the greatest part of that Night, and several hours of the Day ensuing. But wondering, that he saw no Signal of any Effective Action ashoar, at the East end of the City, he sent that he might know the condition of the Army there; and received Answer, That several of the Men were so frozen in their Hands and Feet, as to be disabled from service, and others were apace falling sick of the Small-Pox. Whereupon he ordered them on Board immediately to refresh themselves, and he intended then, to have renewed his Attack upon the City, in the Method of Landing his Men in the face of it, under the shelter of his Great Guns; having to that purpose, provided also, a considerable number of well-shaped Wheel-Barrows, each of them carrying Two Petarraro's a piece, to March before the Men and make the Enemy fly, with as much Contempt as overwhelmed the Philistines, when undone by Foxes with Torches in their Tails; (remembered in an Anniversary Diversion, every April, among the Ancient Romans, taught by the Phoenicians.)