CHAPTER III.

THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD.

1577-1580.

Preliminary observations-Drake's Services in Ireland-He is patronised by the Queen-Expensive preparations for the Voyage-Secrecy as to its destination-The cause of a rival enterprise-Oxenham's disastrous voyage and death - Drake's squadron-Captures made by it- Misconduct of Doughty-Patagonians-Arrival at St. Julian-Trial and execution of Doughty-Passage through the Strait of Magelhaens-Driven down to Cape Horn-Passage up the North Pacific-Numerous captures of Trea

sure.

"FIVE years," says Camden, "after his return from a former voyage, to wit, in the year 1572, when Drake had gotten a pretty store of money, by playing the seaman and the pirate, he, to lick himself whole of the damage he had receaved from the Spaniards (which a divine belonging to the fleet had easily persuaded him to be lawful), set sail again for America."

There can be little doubt that his late voyage had been greatly profitable to Drake; although the amount gained by him is nowhere stated: and it was not likely that a person of his active and vigorous mind would sit down quietly, and lapse into a state of listless indolence; but would rather be on the look out for some fresh employment congenial with his enterprising disposition. He betrayed no haste, however, to embark on a new voyage. Previous to the last he had made the acquaintance of the Earl of Essex; who had been appointed Governor of the province of Ulster, for the purpose of quelling the rebels, more particularly in the district of Clandeboy, by means of volunteer adventurers, who were to be raised by himself, and to he rewarded by grants of land.

Drake, thinking he might be of material assistance to the Earl, and perhaps with a view to his own interest, "furnished," says Stow, "at his own proper expense, three frigates with men

and munition, and served voluntary in Ireland under Walter, Earl of Essex; where he did excellent service both by sea and land, at the winning of divers strong forts." We are not, however, to suppose that a frigate in those days had any resemblance to the ships now so termed. A fregata was a small pinnace moved by sails and oars, of five, ten, or fifteen tons measurement, in use mostly in the Mediterranean. In those days there was no vessel in our navy denominated a frigate.

The Irish project, however, failed. We learn from Rapin that, "in 1573, Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex, had leave to go to Ireland, to conquer the country of Clandeboy, at his own expense. But his enterprise was not crowned with success; because he was privately hindered by the Earl of Leicester, his enemy." The Irish historian, Mc Skimmin, gives us somewhat more precise information.

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"In 1573," he says, came the Right Hon. the Earl of Essex into this land, as Captain-General and Governor of Ulster, and was, at this time, the chief of a band of military adventurers. He drove the Scots out of Clandeboy, and took the Castle of Lifford from Con. O'Donnell: but making little progress, and receiving many angry messages from court, at the instigations of Lord Leicester, who was his greatest enemy, he resigned his command, and retired to Dublin, where he died of a broken heart, in September, 1576, at the early age of 36"

Drake's exertions, however, on this occasion undoubtedly led to the establishment of his future reputation, by the introduction it procured for him to Sir Christopher Hatton, then ViceChamberlain, and through him to the Queen; who, being apprised of his adventurous and successful expedition against her bitterest enemy the Spaniard, gave him a most flattering reception, and encouraged him to follow up his brave and successful attacks upon the Indian colonies of Spain: nay, it is asserted by some historians, that she actually gave him a commission to make reprisals. As this would have been equivalent to a declaration of war, it is not credible: and still less can we believe that she should have said to him at his first audience, as the old chroniclers mostly have it, "I account that he who striketh thee, Drake, striketh me." Such an expression might, perhaps, have escaped the royal lips at a later period, and after his return from his voyage of circumnavigation, when she condescended to visit the "Golden Hind" at Deptford; and when Drake "had

been stricken" by certain of his own countrymen: she might then have sought, by an expression of such kindness, to soothe the pain that envy had inflicted; but certain it is that she showed him such a degree of favour as at once to raise his fortune and reputation.

The enterprise, which we are now about to relate, produced a great sensation at the time: nor has it ever ceased to be considered as one of the boldest undertakings which the naval history of England-rich as it is in deeds of courage and energy— has to record. In many respects, indeed, this voyage is memorable: a sea, hitherto unknown, was passed over; a powerful enemy's territory was attacked, with means so scanty and inadequate as to render the attempt apparently one of hopeless peril. Yet was the attack successful, and added new glories to England: and, to crown all, the globe was circumnavigated, a thing never but once performed before: and all this was accomplished by a fleet of five insignificant sized vessels, the largest being only of 100 tons burden; and 164 seamen the complement of the whole.*

From the splendid manner in which Drake fitted out his own ship, it may be concluded that there was no want of funds :

:

"He did not omit," says Prince, "to make provision for ornament and delight; carrying to this purpose with him expert musicians, rich furniture (all the vessels for his table, yea, many belonging to the cook-room, being of pure silver) with divers shows of all sorts of curious workmanship, whereby the civility and magnificence of his native country might, among all nations whither he should come, be the more admired.”

As Drake is known to have been a man of plain and simple habits, there can be no doubt that this display of wealth and taste was made, not from vanity, but from sound motives of policy; and probably he had in view the similar conduct of the Portuguese in their first expedition to the East.

The account of this voyage was published by Sir Francis Drake (nephew of the Admiral), under the title of The World Encompassed,' carefully collected, as the preface tells us,

*The Pelican, 100 tons, Captain Drake; the Elizabeth, 80 tons, Captain John Winter; the Marygold, 30 ditto, Captain John Thomas; the Swan, Flyboat, 50 ditto, Captain John Chester; the Christopher, pinuace, 15 ditto Captain Thomas Moone.

"Out of the notes of Master Francis Fletcher, Preacher in this employment, and divers others his followers in the same: Offered now, at last, to publique view, both for the honour of the actor, but especially for the stirring up of heroick spirits, to benefit their countrie, and eternize their names by like noble attempts."

He begins by informing his readers that

"The main ocean by right is the Lord's alone, and by nature left free for all men to deal withall, as very sufficient for all men's use, and large enough for all men's industry. And therefore that valiant enterprize, accompanied with happy success, which that right rare and thrice worthy Captaine, Francis Drake, achieved, in first turning up a furrow about the whole world, doth not only overmatch the ancient Argonauts, but also outreacheth in many respects that noble mariner Magelhaens, and by farre surpasseth his crowned victory. But hereof let posterity judge."

It is said that such secrecy was observed by Drake in making preparations for this voyage, that its destination was concealed even from his most intimate friends; and that, when his little squadron put to sea, it was given out that it was bound for Alexandria. It was, probably, in part owing to this concealment that the voyage to Nombre de Dios, and the other places about the isthmus of Darien, was anticipated by another adventurer, John Oxenham; who in the late voyage served under Drake as a soldier, sailor, and cook, and was actively and usefully employed by him on various occasions. This man was so attached to Drake, that he declared his readiness to go with him on any future voyage, and to any part of the world: but having waited above two years, and not knowing of Drake's intentions, he, with some others, scraped together money enough to fit out a ship of 140 tons, with a crew of twenty seamen, and fifty other men; with which they sailed, in the year 1575, for the isthmus of Darien. On arriving at Porto Bello, Oxenham learned from the Indians that a convoy of muleteers was expected to come to that place from Panama: he therefore marched with his company to meet them, having only two small guns and some muskets, with six Indians for their guides; and proceeded about twelve leagues over the mountains, to a small river that falls into the South Sea. Here he built a pinnace; and dropped down in her into the Bay of Panama, and thence to the Pearl Islands, near which place the plate ships from Peru usually pass in their voyage to Panama. Before long a small bark from Quitc

arrived at the island; of which Oxenham took possession, and found in her sixty pounds' weight of gold, and a large supply of provisions. At the end of six days he took another bark from Lima, in which he found a hundred pounds' weight of silver in bars. He then went in search of pearls on the island; found a few, and returning to his pinnace, re-entered the river; first, however, dismissing his two prizes.

The delay on Pearl Island was the cause of all his misfortunes. The Indians of the island went, the very night he left them, to Panama, to give intelligence of what had happened: and a Spanish captain named Ortega was dispatched with four barks and 100 soldiers in search of him. In his way to Pearl Island he fell in with the two liberated prizes; from the crews of which he learned that Oxenham had gone up a certain river. This river had three branches; and Ortega was doubtful which of them to take: but having observed a quantity of fowl feathers swimming down one of the streams, he took that branch; and, after four days' rowing, discovered Oxenham's pinnace upon the sands, with only six men in her, of whom his men killed one, but the other five escaped. In the pinnace, however, they found nothing but provisions. Ortega, therefore, left twenty of his men to guard her and his own barks; and, with the other eighty, set out to explore the country. They had not proceeded more than half a league before they discovered a hut, made of boughs, in which they found all the Englishmen's goods, together with their booty of gold, pearls, and silver. Satisfied with having recovered the treasure, Ortega was about to depart, when Oxenham came down upon him with his men and about 200 Symerons; and attacked the Spaniards with great fury: but the latter got the better of the English party; killed eleven of them, together with five Indians, and took seven prisoners; having only two of their own men killed and five wounded. Oxenham escaped, and made the best of his way to his ship.

Information having been sent from Panama, over the isthmus, to Nombre de Dios, of all that had passed, four barks were fitted out these soon found Oxenham's ship, and carried her back to their port. In the meantime the Viceroy of Peru had ordered 150 men to scour the mountains in search of the English. When discovered, as they speedily were, some of them were sick,