Sir Francis Drake Revived/Introductory Note

by Philip Nichols

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

Sir Francis Drake, the greatest of the naval adventurers of England of the time of Elizabeth, was born in Devonshire about 1540. He went to sea early, was sailing to the Spanish Main by 1565, and commanded a ship under Hawkins in an expedition that was overwhelmed by the Spaniards in 1567. In order to recompense himself for the loss suffered in this disaster, he equipped the expedition against the Spanish treasure-house at Nombre de Dios in 1572, the fortunes of which are described in the first of the two following narratives. It was on this voyage that he was led by native guides to "that goodly and great high tree" on the isthmus of Darien, from which, first of Englishmen, he looked on the Pacific, and "besought Almighty God of His goodness to give him life and leave to sail once in an English ship in that sea."

The fulfilment of this prayer is described in the second of the voyages here printed, in which it is told how, in 1578, Drake passed through the Straits of Magellan into waters never before sailed by his countrymen, and with a single ship rifled the Spanish settlements on the west coast of South America and plundered the Spanish treasure-ships; how, considering it unsafe to go back the way he came lest the enemy should seek revenge, he went as far north as the Golden Gate, then passed across the Pacific and round by the Cape of Good Hope, and so home, the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. Only Magellan's ship had preceded him in the feat, and Magellan had died on the voyage. The Queen visited the ship, "The Golden Hind," as she lay at Deptford and knighted the commander on board.

Drake's further adventures were of almost equal interest. Returning from a raid on the Spaniards in 1586, he brought home the despairing Virginian colony, and is said at the same time to have introduced from America tobacco and potatoes. Two years later he led the English fleet in the decisive engagement with the Great Armada. In 1595 he set out on another voyage to the Spanish Main; and in the January of the following year died off Porto Bello and was buried in the waters where he had made his name as the greatest seaman of his day and nation.

               TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY
                CHARLES THE FIRST, OF
         GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, and IRELAND,
   KING, all the blessings of this, and a better life.

     MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,

     That this brief Treatise is yours, both by right and by
     succession, will appear by the Author's and Actor's ensuing
     Dedication. To praise either the Mistress or the Servant, might
     justly incur the censure of Quis eos unquam sanus vituperavit;
     either's worth having sufficiently blazed their fame.

     This Present loseth nothing, by glancing on former actions; and
     the observation of passed adventures may probably advantage future
     employments. Caesar wrote his own Commentaries; and this Doer was
     partly the Indictor.

     Neither is there wanting living testimony to confirm its truth.
     For his sake, then, cherish what is good! and I shall willingly
     entertain check for what is amiss. Your favourable acceptance may
     encourage my collecting of more neglected notes! However, though
     Virtue, as Lands, be not inheritable; yet hath he left of his
     Name, one that resolves, and therein joys to approve himself.

     Your most humble and loyal subject,

     FRANCIS DRAKE [BART.]

     The Dedicatory Epistle, Intended To
             QUEEN ELIZABETH
     Written By SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, Deceased.

     To The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty,
          my most dread Sovereign.

     Madam,

     Seeing divers have diversely reported and written of these Voyages
     and Actions which I have attempted and made, every one
     endeavouring to bring to light whatsoever inklings or conjectures
     they have had; whereby many untruths have been published, and the
     certain truth concealed: as [so] I have thought it necessary
     myself, as in a Card [chart] to prick the principal points of the
     counsels taken, attempts made, and success had, during the whole
     course of my employment in these services against the Spaniard.
     Not as setting sail for maintaining my reputation in men's
     judgment, but only as sitting at helm, if occasion shall be, for
     conducting the like actions hereafter. So I have accounted it my
     duty, to present this Discourse to Your Majesty, as of right;
     either for itself being the first fruits of your Servant's pen, or
     for the matter, being service done to Your Majesty by your poor
     vassal, against your great Enemy: at times, in such places, and
     after such sort as may seem strange to those that are not
     acquainted with the whole carriage thereof; but will be a pleasing
     remembrance to Your Highness, who take the apparent height of the
     Almighty's favour towards you, by these events, as truest
     instruments.

     Humbly submitting myself to Your gracious censure, both in writing
     and presenting; that Posterity be not deprived of such help as may
     happily be gained hereby, and our present Age, at least, may be
     satisfied, in the rightfulness of these actions, which hitherto
     have been silenced: and Your Servant's labour not seem altogether
     lost, not only in travels by sea and land, but also in writing the
     Report thereof (a work to him no less troublesome) yet made
     pleasant and sweet, in that it hath been, is, and shall be for
     Your Majesty's content; to whom I have devoted myself [and] live
     or die.

     FRANCIS DRAKE [Knight].

     January 1, 1592 [i.e., 1593].


     TO THE COURTEOUS READER

     HONEST READER,

     Without apology, I desire thee, in this ensuing Discourse, to
     observe, with me, the power and justice of the LORD of Hosts, Who
     could enable so mean a person to right himself upon so mighty a
     Prince; together with the goodness and providence of GOD very
     observable in that it pleased Him to raise this man, not only from
     a low condition, but even from the state of persecution. His
     father suffered in it, being forced to fly from his house, near
     South Tavistock in Devon, into Kent: and there to inhabit in the
     hull of a ship, wherein many of his younger sons were born. He had
     twelve in all: and as it pleased GOD to give most of them a being
     upon the water, so the greatest part of them died at sea. The
     youngest, who though he was [went] as far as any, yet died at
     home; whose posterity inherits that, which by himself and this
     noble Gentleman the eldest brother, was hardly, yet worthily
     gotten.

     I could more largely acquaint thee, that this voyage was his Third
     he made into the West Indies; after that [of] his excellent
     service, both by sea and land, in Ireland, under WALTER, Earl of
     ESSEX; his next, about the World; another, wherein he took St.
     Jago, Cartagena, St. Domingo, St. Augustino; his doings at Cadiz;
     besides the first Carrack taught by him to sail into England; his
     stirrings in Eighty-seven; his remarkable actions in Eighty-eight;
     his endeavours in the Portugal employment; his last enterprise,
     determined by death; and his filling Plymouth with a plentiful
     stream of fresh water: but I pass by all these. I had rather thou
     shouldest inquire of others! then to seem myself a vainglorious
     man.

     I intend not his praise! I strive only to set out the praise of
     his and our good GOD! that guided him in his truth! and protected
     him in his courses! My ends are to stir thee up to the worship of
     GOD, and service of our King and Country, by his example! If
     anything be worth thy consideration; conclude with me, that the
     LORD only, can do great things!

     FRANCIS DRAKE [Bart.]