Francesco, he took in the rest of his company, with that part of the treasure which they had been able to carry with them through the woods; and then making the utmost expedition, they soon rejoined their other vessels, where Drake divided equally between the English and the French all the gold and silver which had been taken. He now also dismissed the Symerons, who had proved themselves such useful allies. That they might not go away unrewarded, he broke up his pinnaces and gave them the iron-to them by far the most valuable of metals. But he was anxious to give their leader, Pedro, some special token of regard. He desired him therefore to go through the ship, and select whatever object he best liked. It was soon evident that Pedro had taken a great fancy to a rich cimeter which had been given to Drake by the French Captain Teton; but was too modest to ask for it; and fearful also lest Drake should so value it as to be unwilling to part with it. As soon as the General learnt this, he at once presented it to him. Pedro was overwhelmed with joy; and, anxious to show his gratitude, entreated Drake to accept from him, in return, four wedges of gold, as a pledge of his friendship. Drake was unwilling to take them, but the grateful Indian insisted on his doing so. The General, having received them with all courtesy, threw them into the common stock, observing, "That it was only just that those who bore part of the charge with him in setting him to sea, should likewise enjoy their full proportion of the advantage at his return." Having now resolved to return to England, and being fully prepared, they set sail, and steered a direct course home; and proceeded with so prosperous a gale that in twenty-three days they passed from Cape Florida to the Isles of Scilly; and arrived at Plymouth on Sunday, the 9th of August, 1573, during sermon time. The news of Drake's return being carried into the church, few of the congregation remained with the preacher: "All," says the narrative," hastening to see the evidence of God's love and blessing towards our gracious Queene and countrey, by the fruite of our Captaine's labour and successe. SOLI DEO GLORIA." This voyage occupied fourteen months and some odd days. It not only excited intense interest at the time, but a hundred years afterwards Sir William Davenant, poet - laureate to Charles II., took it as the subject of one of his dramas, which he entitled 'The History of Sir Francis Drake, expressed by instrumental and vocal music, and by art of Perspective in Scenes, &c.' In this drama the incidents of the voyage are pretty correctly told in rhyme; accompanied with appropriate scenery, songs, dances, and choruses by the mariners and the Symerons, Pedro performing a principal part. The first scene is laid at Port Pheasant; the men are busied setting up the pinnaces, &c.; and the arrival of Captain Rause is announced by the Boatswain:: Boatswain. The Lion Rause is landed here, For half my share I scorn to take, When he is joined with Dragon Drake. In the fourth "Entry," with "hills, a wood, and a tree of extraordinary compass and height," we have the following dialogue : Drake. Pedro. Drake. Drake, Jun. Is this that most renown'd of Western trees, On whose main-top Thou gav'st me hope To view the North and South Atlantick Seas? Thither, my chief, proceed: And when you, climbing, have attained the height, When from these lofty branches, I The South Atlantick spy, My vows shall higher fly, 'Till they with highest heav'n prevail, No English keel hath yet that Ocean plowed. For thou of all the Britons art the first This Western World invade : And as thou now art made The first to whom that Ocean will be shown, D 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 be 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. "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, pinnace, 15 ditto, Captain Thomas Moone. |