# Voyages and adventures of the renowned Admiral Drake

THE
Voyages and Adventures
OF THE RENOWNED
ADMIRAL DRAKE,
WHO
Sailed Round the World,
AND ASSISTED IN DESTROYING
THE SPANISH ARMADA,
WHICH CAME
To Invade England in the Reign of
Queen Elizabeth.
KILMARNOCK:
Printed by H. Crawford, Bookseller.
1827.
THE LIFE, VOYAGES & ADVENTURES
OF
Sir Francis Drake.
FRANCIS DRAKE was the son of Edmund Drake, a sailor, and born near Tavistock in Devonshire, in the year 1545. He was the eldest of twelve sons, and brought up at the expence and under the care of Sir John Hawkins, a kinsman. At the age of 18, he was made purser of a ship trading to Biscay; at 20 he went a voyage to Guinea; and at 22, had the honour to be made Captain of the Judith. In that capacity he was in the harbour of St. John de Usloa, in the Gulph of Mexico, where he behaved with great gallantry, under Sir John Hawkins, when that eminent Commander was so treacherously used by the Spaniards; and he returned to England with great reputation, though not worth a groat.
Upon this he conceived a design of making reprisals on the King of Spain; which, according to some, was put into his head by the Minister of his ship; and to be sure, says Dr. Campbell, in sea-divinity the case was clear. The King of Spain’s subjects had undone Mr. Drake, and therefore he was entitled to take the best and ⟨readiest⟩ satisfaction he could obtain of his enemies. This scheme of his was so acceptable to the public, that he no sooner made his design known, than he had numbers of volunteers ready to accompany him. Accordingly he made his first expedition in 1570, with two ships; and the next year with one ⟨only⟩, in which he returned safe, if not with all the advantages that he expected. But there is no account of what he performed in these voyages.
​Captain Drake soon after laid the plan of a more important design, with respect both to himself and to his enemies. This he put in execution on the 4th of May, 1572; on which day he sailed from Plymouth, himself in a ship called the Pascha, of ⟨7⟩0 tons burthen, and his brother John, in the ⟨Swan⟩, of 25 tons. In both vessels he had 73 men and boys, with provisions for a year, together with sufficient artillery and ammunition; and also three pinnaces, framed in such a manner, as to be put together wherever he might have occasion for them. And with these ships he hoped to make good the losses he had sustained from the Spaniards in the West Indies. He had so prosperous a voyage, that on the 28th of June he had sight of Guadalupe; and sailing between that island and Dominica, towards the continent, he directed his course towards a bay, which, in a former voyage, he had called Port Pheasant. Here he arrived on the 12th of July, and having moored his ships, ⟨set⟩ the carpenters to work to frame the pinnaces. The next day there came into the same bay, an English bark, of the Isle of Wight, commanded by Captain James Rawse, with a caraval and a ⟨sloop⟩ with oars, which he had taken from the Spaniards. Rawse, who had several men on board that had sailed with Drake on a former voyage, being informed of his designs against the Spaniards was willing to join with him; and Drake, upon certain conditions, admitted them.
Captain Drake departed from Port Pheasant on the 20th of July, and in three days came to the island of Pinas: Here he found two frigates belonging to Nombre de Dios; and from the Negroes who were in these frigates, he got a particular account of the state of that town, ​which he was resolved to attack: And having made every thing ready for the execution of his design, he left the command of the three ships and the caraval to Captain Rawse, and himself to command the three pinnaces, and Rawse's shallop, taking 20 of his men, and 53 of his own. On the 28th he arrived at the island of Cattivas, where he landed; and having trained his men, he gave them their several arms, which, till then, had not been unpacked, and were as follows, viz. 6 targets, 9 fire-pikes, 12 pikes, 24 muskets and callivers, 16 bows, and 6 partizans, with 2 drums, and 2 trumpets. The same afternoon they set sail for Nombre de Dios, and before sun-set they reached Rio Francisco. When within 2 leagues of the point of the bay, they rode at anchor till it was dark. They then weighed again, and set sail, and arrived at the town about three in the morning; at which time it happened, that a Spanish ship of 60 tons, laden with Canary wines, lately come into the bay, and had not yet furled her sprit-sail, seeing the four pinnaces with an unusual number of oars, sent off her Gondaloe to give intelligence to the town, but Drake getting between her and the place, forced her to go to the other side of the bay. He and his men landed without any opposition, tho’ they found a gunner upon the plat-form, in the very place where they landed, which was a sandy bay, not above 20 yards from the houses; there they found six large brass cannons, mounted on their carriages, which they immediately dismounted; but the gunner escaping, the town took alarm which they perceived not only by the noise and cries of the people, but by the bell ringing, and the drums beating up and down the town. Drake ​had left 12 men to take care of the pinnaces, that in case of any miscarriage, he might be secure of ⟨a⟩ retreat. Having secured the platform before he entered the town, he thought fit to view the mount, on the east side of the town, where he was informed the year before they had designed to plant some cannon. However, Capt. Drake found no cannon there: and thereupon ordered his brother, with John Oxenham, to go round behind the King’s treasure-house, and enter at the east end of the market-place; while he, with the rest, marched with sound of drum and trumpet up the broad-street, which led thither.
The fire-pikes, which served both to frighten the enemy and give light to his own men, he divided equally between the two companies.—The inhabitants stood amazed at such a strange sight, and hearing the sound of drums and trumpets in more than one place, imagined their enemies far more numerous than they were.—By this time some soldiers, and some of the inhabitants, had put themselves in arms at one end of the market-place, near the Governor’s house, and not far from the gate of the town. Upon Drake’s approaching them with his men, they discharged a volley of shot at them. The English having returned it, with both fire-arms and arrows, came immediately to a close fight, and did great execution with their pikes, swords, and the but-ends of their muskets. Capt. Drake’s brother coming in at the instant with the other company, the Spaniards threw down their weapons and fled out of the town. The English pursued them to the gate, and returning, took their stand towards the middle of the market-place: and Drake having taken two or three Spaniards ​in their flight, he ordered them to shew him the Governor’s house, where he was informed the treasure that came from Panama was deposited. Accordingly, he and his men being led thither they found the great door open, a candle upon the stairs, and a fine horse standing ready saddled. By means of the light, they saw a prodigious heap of silver in the lower room, being a pile of bars as near as they could guess, 70 feet in length 20 in breadth, and 12 in height. Each of the bars which were thus piled up against the wall, was about 30 or 40 pounds weight. At sight of this Drake gave strict orders that none should touch a bar of the silver, but stand to their arms; because the town was still full of people, and there was in the King’s treasure-house, near the water side, more gold and jewels than all their pinnaces could carry with them.
They were no sooner returned to their arms than a report was brought by some of their men that their pinnaces were in danger of being taken and that if themselves did not get on board before day light, they would be overpowered by multitudes of soldiers and townsmen. Drake immediately sent his brother, with John Oxenham, to enquire what had occasioned this report; and they found the men who were left to guard the pinnaces, very much disheartened, because they had seen great bodies of men running up and down, some with lighted matches, and some armed with different kinds of weapons. At this instant a violent shower of rain fell, attended with thunder and lightening; so that before they could take shelter under a pent-house, at the west end of the King’s treasure-house, some of their bow-strings were wet, and their match and powder damaged. ​During this interval, being about half an hour, some of the men began to murmur and express their discontent at the dangerous situation into which Drake had brought them. He being made acquainted with this told them, that he had led them to the mouth of the treasure of the world, which if, by their cowardice, they went away without, they had none to blame but themselves.
As soon as the fury of the storm was in some measure abated, he being unwilling to give his men more time to think on their dangerous situation, and the enemy an opportunity of assembling together, he ordered his brother and John Oxenham, with their company, to break open the King’s treasure-house, while he with his company secured the market place till their business was done. But in the instant Drake was giving out the orders his strength, sight, and speech failed him, and he fainted, with the loss of a large quantity of blood, by a wound he had received in his leg at the beginning of the action, but which he had till then concealed, to prevent his men from being disheartened. When he was a little recovered, his company used all the persuasions they could to induce him to go on board, to have his wound dressed, promising to return with him again, and pursue their design. But he having his scarf tied about his wound, and being sensible that if they now lost ground, it would be in vain to return, persisted in holding and improving the advantage they had obtained. However, the major-part of his men uniting against his resolution, they carried him almost by force on board his pinnace, and put off from the shore with the booty they had already gotten. It is said by the writer of his life, That by force, mingled with fair words, they carried ​him away to his pinnace, judging that preserving his life was the only chance of after success, or of getting safe home. Thus they abandoned the richest spoil that ever raised the expectation of adventurers; there being, as they were afterwards informed, 360 tons of silver, and far greater value in gold, which was in iron chests in the King’s treasure-house. At break of day, on the 29th of July, they embarked, having several men, besides Captain Drake, wounded, and one of their trumpeters killed.
Before they set off, they took, after some resistance, the ship laden with wine, formerly mentioned, and carried her to Bastimentes, about a league from Nombre de Dios, where they refreshed themselves two days, and then returned to their ships at the island of Pinas. Holding there a consultation with Capt. Rawse, how they should proceed in their present situation: the latter was of opinion, that they were no longer safe to continue on that coast, since they were discovered, and was for departing. Drake readily consented that Rawse should depart, which he did; but, for his own part, he was so chagrined at the disappointment he had met with, that he resolved to attempt some other exploit, which he hoped would prove more successful. Drake departed, with his 2 ships and 3 pinnaces for Carthagena, where he arrived on the 13th of August; and the same day took two Spanish Ships, one of which was of 240 tons burthen. The next morning he took 2 frigates more; and on the 15th he thought fit to burn one of his own ships, that he might have the more men to spare to man his pinnaces.
Drake continued a considerable time in these ​seas and made himself master of many Spanish vessels. He afterwards attempted to plunder the mules laden with silver, which passed from Venta Cruz to Nombre de Dios; but in this he was disappointed. However he attacked the town Venta Cruz, took it, and carried of some booty. In his return, he unexpectedly met with 50 mules laden with plate, of which he and his men carried off as much as they could, and buried the rest.
In these expeditions he was much assisted by a nation of Indians, who were engaged in war with the Spaniards. The Prince, or Captain of these people was named Pedro, to whom Drake presented a fine cutlass which he wore, and to which he saw the Indian had a mind. Pedro, in return, gave him four large wedges of gold, which Drake threw into the common stock, with this remarkable expression, That he thought it but just, that such as bore the charge of so uncertain a voyage on his credit, should share the utmost advantages the voyage produced! Then embarking his men, with all the wealth he had got, which was very considerable, he set out for England, and was so fortunate as to make his voyage in 23 days, from Cape Florida to the Isles of Scilly, and thence to Plymouth, where he arrived on the 9th of August, 1573.
Captain Drake’s success in this expedition, together with his honourable behaviour towards his owners, gained him a high reputation; and the use he made of his riches a still higher: For, fitting out 3 stout frigates at his own expence, he sailed with them to Ireland, where, under Walter, Earl of Essex, he served as a volunteer, and displayed great bravery. After the death ​of his noble patron, he returned to England; where Sir Christopher Hatton, who was then Vice-Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth, a Privy Councellor, and a great favourite, became his patron, and introduced him to her Majesty.—By this means he acquired a capacity of undertaking that grand expedition which will immortalize his name in the naval history of Britain.
His first proposal was a voyage to the South-Seas, through the straits of Magellan, which was what no Englishman had ever hitherto attempted. This project was well received at Court, and in a short time Drake saw himself at the height of his wishes; for in his former voyage having had a distant prospect of the South-Seas, he put up an ardent prayer to GOD, that he might sail an English ship in them, which he now found an opportunity of attempting, the Queen’s permission furnishing him with the means, and his own fame quickly drawing to him a sufficient force.
The fleet with which he sailed on this extraordinary undertaking, consisted of the following ships, the Pelican commanded by himself, of 100 tons; the Elizabeth Vice-Admiral, 80 tons, under Capt. John Winter; the Marygold, a bark of 30 tons, commanded by Capt. John Thomas; the Swan, a fly-boat, of 50 tons, under Capt. John Chester; and the Christopher, a pinnace of 15 tons, under Capt Thomas Moon. In this fleet were embarked 164 able men; and the ships were plentifully furnished with all kinds of provisions and necessaries for so long and dangerous a voyage. Drake took with him some very expert musicians; & his furniture of all kinds, was rich & sumptuous. All the vessels for his table, and many in the cookroom, were of pure silver, curiously wrought; ​And he also carried many other things with him, whereby the magnificence of his native country might be displayed. However, the intent of this voyage was not openly declared, it being pretended that a voyage to Alexandria only was intended; but it was generally suspected, and many knew, that he designed to go to America.
On the 15th of November, 1577, about three in the afternoon, Drake sailed from Plymouth; but a violent storm arising, as soon as he was out of port, forced him, in a very bad condition, into Falmouth to refit, which having expeditiously performed, he put again to sea on the 13th of December following. On the 25th of the same month, he fell in with the coast of Barbary, and on the 29th with Cape Verd.
On the 13th of March, he passed the Equinoctial. The 5th of April he made the coast of Brazil, and entered the river de la Plata, where he lost the company of two of his ships; but meeting them again, and having taken out of them the provisions on board, he turned them a drift.
On the 29th of May he entered the port of St. Julian’s, where he continued two months, for the sake of laying in provisions. And here it was that, on a sudden, having carried the principal persons engaged in the service to a desart island, lying in the bay, he called a council of war, or rather court-martial, where he produced his commission, by which the Queen granted him power of life and death; which was delivered him with this remarkable expression from her own mouth: “We do account that he, Drake, who strikes at thee, does strike at us!” He then laid open, with great eloquence, the cause of this assembly.
For, tho’ his education had been but indifferent, ​he was an excellent speaker. He proceeded next to charge Mr. John Doughty, who had been second in command during the voyage, with plotting the destruction of the undertaking, and the murder of his person. He said, that he had the first intimation of this gentleman’s evil intentions before his departure from England, but that he was in hopes his behaviour towards him would have extinguished such dispositions, if there had been any truth in the information. He then appeared for his behaviour to the whole assembly, and to the gentleman accused, and next exposed Mr. Doughty’s practices from the time they left England, while he behaved towards him with all the kindness and cordiality of a brother; which charge he supported, by producing papers from his own hand. After this Drake retired, leaving the determination to the assembly, telling them he would be no judge in his own cause. Doughty being hereupon brought to his trial, for raising a mutiny in the fleet, and conspiring his Commander’s death, was, by a Jury, not 12 but of above 40 of the chief men of the fleet, condemned to die. It was put to his choice, whether to be set on shore, sent to take his trial in England, or submit to his sentence. He preferred the latter, it is said, and was there beheaded. He submitted patiently to his fate, and died with great courage and serenity. The morning before his execution he received the Communion with Drake and several of the other officers. He afterwards dined with them, appearing as cheerful as he had ever done before; and took leave of them all, by drinking to them, as if he had been going on a journey. Dinner being ended he rose from table, and, without any hesitation, walked out to the ​place prepared for his execution. He is said to have been a stout, able, and industrious seaman, but haughty & turbulent. Some were of opinion that, though he had been seditious in the fleet, Drake had cut him off as an emulator of his glory; while other pretended that he was designed ⟨a⟩ sacrifice before he left England; and that Drake had positive orders from the Earl of Leicester to cut off Doughty on any pretence whatever, because he had charged Leicester with having poisoned Walter, Earl of Essex.
Drake departed from St. Julian, August 17th, and the 20th entered the Streights of Magellan. After a difficult navigation of 10 days, he came out, on the 6th September, into the Great South Sea. But here he met with such tempestuous weather, that he was forced back to the westward near 100 leagues; and one of his ships, ⟨(⟩the Marygold, Capt. Thomas,) was lost. Near the 57th degree south-latitude, he entered a bay where he found naked people ranging from one island to another, in canoes, in search of provisions. Sailing northward from thence, on October 3d, he found three ⟨islands⟩ in one of which was extraordinary flocks of birds. On the 8th he lost another ship (the Elizabeth, Capt. John Winter) which returned through the Streights, and arrived safe in England, June 2d, the year following, being the first shipment that ever came back that way. Drake had now only his own ship, which, in the South-Seas, he new-named the Hind; and proceeding along the coast of Chili, he came to an Island called ⟨Moutha⟩, where he had intelligence from an Indian, that a large Spanish ship ⟨lay⟩ loaden at Val Paraiso, which he immediately sailed in search of. Having got sight of her, and ​drawing near where she lay, the Spaniards supposing them some of their countrymen coming towards them, beat their drums and received them with great joy! Drake, having boarded her, ordered them below, and so took possession of her; in which, according to some naval historians, was found 400 pounds-weight of Baldivian gold. Drake put the Spaniards on shore, but carried away the master with the ship. Some writers say, that the booty taken on board this ship, was only 257000 penzoes, amounting to a little more than 27000 Spanish ducats. After this, he plundered a neighbouring town, and soon thereafter landed at Tarapasa, where finding a Spaniard asleep upon the shore, with 13 bars of silver lying beside him, of the value of 4000 Spanish ducats, they carried off the bars without waking the man.
Drake next entered the port of Africa, where he found 3 ships, with not a man on board them; in which were, besides other merchandize, fifty-seven wedges of silver, weighing 20 pounds each. From thence he proceeded to Lima, the capital of Peru; where he seized 12 ships, in which were great quantities of silk; with a chest full of coined money; but had not a person on board them: So great was the security of the Spaniards on these coasts, where, by reason of their great distance from Europe, they feared no danger; nor indeed had ever any but Magellan before Drake, navigated those seas, except the Spaniards themselves, who built there the ships they had in those parts. Having set these ships a-drift, he, with all the sail he could make, gave chace to the Cacofoga, a very rich ship, which he understood had lately sailed from thence for Panama, and by the way met with a brigantine, out of which he took eighty pounds ​weight of gold, a crucifix of the same metal, some emeralds of a finger’s length, and some cordage. In a few days after he came up with the Cacofoga, and shooting her fore-mast by the board, presently made himself master of her; wherein, besides pearls and precious stones, he took eighty pounds weight of gold, 13 chests full of silver coined, and a great quantity of other silver. Having removed all this into his own ship, he let the Cacofogo go.
Drake continued his course to the northward, sailed along the coast of Mexico, and landing at Agnatulco, sacked that town. Here he found a Court of Justice sitting in the town-hall, and a judge just going to pronounce sentence against some poor Negroes, who were accused of a plot to set the town on fire; but Drake thought fit to make a small alteration in the sentence, and to order the judge, court, and criminals, to be conveyed prisoners on board his ship; and the sentence was no sooner pronounced than executed.
Drake having now made more than sufficient reprisals on the Spaniards for his former losses, proposed returning to England; in doing which, he boldly attempted to find a passage by North America, sailing to the latitude of 42 degrees on that coast: but meeting with nothing but severe cold, and open shores covered with snow, he came back into the latitude of 38, and there putting into a convenient harbour in the north of California, met with a very kind reception from Indians inhabiting the same; who, by significant tokens offered to make him their king. To this country Drake gave the name of New Albion; and raising a pillar, inscribed upon it the name of Queen Elizabeth, the date of the year, the time of his arrival there, and put under it some of the Queen’s ​coin. Leaving this coast, he sailed to the westward, and at length arriving at the Molluccas, he was kindly entertained by the king of Pernate, one of those islands. Sailing from thence, he pursued his course through those dangerous seas; but his ship striking upon a rock, stuck fast for 27 hours, which put all his men into despair: but when they had lightened the ship, by throwing over-board eight of her guns, and some merchandise, a bearing gale of wind fortunately took her in the quarter, and heaved her off.—Then touching at Java, where he received great civility from one of the Kings of the Island, he continued his course for the Cape of Good Hope, and from thence to Rio Grande in Negroland, where he took in water, and then set out for England. On the 25th of September, 1580, he arrived safe at Plymouth; having, in less than three years, sailed round the globe, to the great admiration of all men!
Captain Drake’s success in this voyage, and the immense wealth he brought home, occasioned much discourse throughout the kingdom; some highly applauding, and some as loudly decrying him. The former alledged, that his exploits were not only honourable to himself, but to the nation; that it would establish our reputation, for maritime skill, in foreign nations, and raise an useful spirit of emulation at home; and that as to the money, our merchants having suffered deeply from the faithlessness of the Spaniards, nothing could be more just than that the nation should receive the benefit of Drake’s reprisals. The other party alledged, that he was no better than a pirate: That of all others, it least became a trading nation to encourage such practices: ​That it was not only a direct breach of late treaties with Spain, but also of our old leagues with the House of Burgundy; and that the consequences would be much more fatal than the benefits reaped from it would be advantageous. However, on the 4th of April, 1581, Queen Elizabeth going to Deptford, went on board Capt. Drake’s ship, where she dined, and afterwards conferred on him the honour of Knighthood, declaring her absolute approbation of all that he had done, to the confusion of his enemies, and joy of his friends. Her Majesty also gave directions for the preservation of his ship, that she might remain a monument of his own and his country’s glory. This famous ship, which was contemplated for many years at Deptford, at length falling into decay, was broken up, and a chair made of some of her planks, was presented to the University of Oxford: Upon which the celebrated Abraham Cowley wrote the following verses.
To this great ship, which round the world has run, And match'd in race the chariot of the sun; This Pythagorean ship, (for she may claim, Without presumption, so deserv'd a name, By knowledge once and transformation now) In this new shape this sacred port allow. Drake and his Ship could not have wish'd from fate, An happier station, or more bless'd estate: For, lo! a seat of endless rest is given To her in Oxford, and to him in Heaven.
In the year 1585, Sir Francis Drake, who was now made Admiral, was sent on an ​expedition against the Spaniards, to the West Indies, with a fleet of 21 sail, having above 2000 soldiers on board, under the command of Christopher Carlisle. Taking Cape-Verd Islands in their way, they landed at the Island of St. Jago; and surprising the chief town of the same name, sacked the place, and carried off a considerable booty. From thence proceeding to Hispaniola, they made themselves masters of the town of St. Domingo; the inhabitants whereof having redeemed it from being burnt, with 2500 ducats, the fleet sailed over to Carthagena; which, after a short defence, was also taken by storm, and ransomed for 110000 ducats, which were shared among the seamen and soldiers.—But the calenture, that raged among the men, taking off many of them, the Admiral laid aside his design of attacking Nombre de Dios: and setting sail for England, passed between Cuba and Jucatan:—And going along the coast of Florida, seized and burnt St. Anthony’s and St. Helen’s, two small towns that the Spaniards had abandoned. From thence continuing his course along the shore, he came to Virginia, then an infant colony, lately settled by Sir Walter Raleigh; but the Planters being reduced to a small number, and distressed for want of provisions, Sir Francis, at their earnest request, took them on board, with their Governor, Ralph Lane, and brought them home. Thus concluded this expedition. The booty taken from the Spaniards was valued at L 60,000, besides 200 brass and iron cannon; but with the loss of 700 men; most of whom died of the calenture.
In 1587, Drake was sent out with a squadron to cruize against the Spaniards, and particularly ​with a view to interrupt the preparations they were making to invade England, and to destroy, if possible, the Spanish shipping, ammunition, and provisions, in their ports. On the 19th of April, he arrived in the bay of Cadiz, where he was opposed by 12 Spanish gallies, of which he sunk two, and forced the others to retire under the castles. He then, under a dreadful fire from the forts and batteries, burnt one ship of 1500 tons, another of 1200, and 31 more from 1000 to 200 tons; besides carrying away 4 ships laden with provisions, designed for the expedition against England. Drake sent an account of what he had done to Lord Burleigh: and at the same time acquainted him with the prodigious preparations making in all the ports of Spain for invading England, and of his further plans to frustrate their designs. After this, he demolished several forts on the coast of Spain, without much opposition from the Spanish Admiral, whom he insulted in their harbours. From thence he sailed for the Azure Islands, and took the Don Pedro, a ship reckoned worth 200,000 crowns, bound for Portugal from the East Indies. This capture was of great advantage to the English in several respects; because, besides the money they took, they learnt two important things; first, that those large hulks were not invincible; secondly, that the East India trade was very valuable: And this put them on the first thoughts of establishing an East India Company.
In 1588, Admiral Drake signalized himself, in the defence of his country against the Spanish Armada, being appointed Vice Admiral under Lord High Admiral Howard. A little before this formidable Spanish armament put to sea, ​the Ambassador of his Catholic Majesty had the confidence to propose to Queen Elizabeth, in Latin verse, the terms upon which she might hope for peace; which, in an English translation by Dr. Fuller, we shall here insert, because that Drake’s expedition to the West Indies makes a part of this message, and are as follows.
These to you are our commands, Send no help to the Netherlands. Of the treasure took by Drake, Restitution you must make; And those Abbies build anew, Which your father overthrew: If for any peace you hope, In all points restore the Pope.
The Queen’s Extempore Answer.
Worthy King, know, this your will, At Latter-Lammas we’ll fulfil.
In this remarkable period of the Naval History of England, Drake’s good fortune attended him as remarkably as ever; for he made prize of a large Galleon, commanded by Don Pedro de Valdez, who yielded on the bare mention of his name. In this vessel he found 50,000 ducats; which he generously distributed among the seamen and soldiers. It must not, however be concealed, that, through an oversight of his the Lord-Admiral ran the utmost hazard of being taken by the enemy; for Drake being appointed the first night of the engagement, to carry lights for the direction of the English fleet, he being in full pursuit of some hulks belonging to the ​Hanse Towns neglected his appointment; which occasioned the Lord-Admiral his following the Spanish lights, and remaining almost in the centre of their fleet till morning. However, Drake’s succeeding services sufficiently effaced the memory of this mistake, the greatest execution done on the flying Spaniards being performed by the squadron under his command.
Notwithstanding the defeat of the Spaniards had been so notorious they took great pains to propagate false stories concerning it to conceal their own dishonour, and to the prejudice of the English. This provoked none more than Drake, who could, upon occasion, use his pen as well as his sword, and, therefore, wrote as follows, upon this subject.
“They were not ashamed, says he, to publish in sundry languages in print, great victories in words, which they pretended to have obtained against this realm, and spread the same in a most false sort over all parts of France, Italy, and elsewhere; when, shortly after, it was happily manifested in very deed to all nations, how their navy. which they termed INVINCIBLE, consisting of 140 sail of ships, not only of their own kingdom, but strengthened with the greatest argosies, Portugal carracks, Florentines, and large hulks of other countries; were, by 30 of her Majesty’s own ships of war, and a few of our own merchants, by the wise, valiant, and advantageous conduct of the Lord Charles Howard, High-Admiral of England, beaten and shuffled together, even from the Lizard in Cornwall, first to Portland, where they shamefully left Don Pedro de Valdez, with his mighty ship; from Portland to Calais, where they lost Hugh ​de Moncado, with the gallies of which he was Captain; and from Calais driven with squibs from their anchors, were chased out of the sight of England, round about Scotland and Ireland; where, for the sympathy of their religion, hoping to find succour and assistance, a great part of them were crushed against the rocks, and those other that landed, being very many in number, were, notwithstanding, broken, slain, and taken: and so sent from village to village, coupled in halters, to be shipped into England; where her Majesty, of her princely and invincible disposition disdaining to put them to death, and scorning to retain or entertain them, they were all sent back again to their countries, to witness and recount the worthy atchievements of their invincible and dreadful Navy! Of which the number of soldiers, the fearful burden of their ships, the Commanders’ names of every squadron, with all other their magazines and provisions, were put in print, as an Army and Navy irresistible, and disdaining prevention: With all which their great ostentation, they did not; in all their sailing round about England, so much as sink or take one ship, bark, pinnace or cock boat, of ours; or ever burnt so much as one sheep cote on this land.” This spirited relation of so signal a defeat of the Spaniards, gives us an advantageous idea of the eloquence of our gallant Admiral.
In 1589, Drake commanded as Admiral at sea, the fleet sent to restore Don Antonio, King of Portugal; the command of the land forces being given to Sir John Norris. They were but just at sea before the Commanders differed. The ground of their difference was this: The General was bent on landing at the Groyne, whereas the ​Admiral, and the Sea Officers, were for sailing to Lisbon directly: in which if their advice had been taken, there is little reason to doubt but their enterprize would have succeeded, and Don Antonio been restored. Sir John Norris, indeed, marched by land to Lisbon, and Drake, very imprudently, promised to sail up the river with his whole fleet; but, when he saw the consequences which would attend the keeping his word, he chose rather to break his promise, than to hazard the Queen’s navy; for which he was grievously reproached by Norris, and the miscarriage of the whole affair was imputed to his failure of performing what he had undertaken. Yet Drake fully justified himself on his return.
Admiral Drake’s last public service was, the fatal expedition against the Spanish West-Indies, in 1595, in conjunction with Sir John Hawkins; in which service that valiant officer died. The same evening that Hawkins died, while the great Officers were at supper together, a cannon-shot, from Porto Rico, pierced the cabin, killed Sir Nicholas Clifford, wounded Captain Stratford, and Mr. Bute Browne, the latter mortally, and struck the stool from under Drake, who was drinking, without doing him the least hurt.
The day after the death of Hawkins, Drake made a desperate attack on the shipping in the harbour of Porto Rico. This was performed with all the courage imaginable, and with great loss to the Spaniards, but with little advantage to the English, who were obliged to sheer off.
Admiral Drake then steered for the main, and took the town of Rio de la Hacha, which he burnt to the ground, a church, and a house belonging to a Lady, only excepted.
​He also made himself master of the famous town of Nombre de Dios, which he destroyed likewise, with all the shipping there, after short resistance from the Spaniards; but he found no money in the town, though, in a watch-house, on the top of a hill, near the town, he found 20 sows of silver, 2 bars of gold, some pearl, coined money, and other pillage. Sir Thomas Baskerville, who commanded the land-forces, then marched, with 750 men, towards Panama; but returned soon after, finding the design of taking that place absolutely impracticable. This disappointment greatly chagrined Drake; however, he then resolved to proceed towards the island of Escudo, and from thence to Porto Bello: But before he could put his designs in practice, he was seized with a bloody flux, which carried him off the 28th of January, 1595, in the 51st year of his age. His corpse was, with a few maritime honours, thrown overboard; and thus the sea became at once his tomb and monument; the grave of his body, as it had been the theatre of his valour and intrepidity.
He was of a low stature, but well set; had a broad open chest, a very round head, his hair of a fine brown colour, his beard full and comely, his eyes large and clear, of a fair complexion, with a fresh, cheerful, and very engaging countenance. He died without issue, and left behind him a widow.
FINIS.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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