CHAPTER VI.

DRAKE'S VOYAGE TO THE WEST INDIES.

1585-1586.

Drake receives command of a Squadron-Sir Philip Sydney-The squadron and troops employed-Land on the island of St. Jago-Attack on St. Domingo- And on Cartagena-Sickness in the fleet-The intention of taking Nombre de Dios and entering the Isthmus abandoned-Destroy St. Augustine-Return homewards-Call at Virginia-Bring away the Governor and Colonists, who abandon the Colony-Introduction of Tobacco.

THE Complete success of the circumnavigation voyage gave an additional spur to the military spirit of England, eager to humble the arrogant pretensions of Spain, and punish the authors of the cruelties inflicted on our countrymen in her Indian possessions. Her Majesty, who had been greatly pleased with the result of that voyage, now, as a proof of her good opinion, advanced Sir Francis Drake to the rank of Admiral; and signified her pleasure that he should take the command of a fleet, which she destined for the West Indies. She had strong motives for adopting this measure: she was well aware that the treaty she had just concluded with the United Netherlands would be considered by the King of Spain as little short of a declaration of war, and that she ought to be prepared accordingly. He had, in fact, already laid an embargo upon all the English ships, goods, and men found within his territories, which was in itself a hostile measure, and the first step towards a declaration of war. The Queen was moreover fully aware what little chance there was of restitution, or of obtaining any satisfaction for her subjects whose property had been seized, unless she adopted hostile measures; and therefore she wisely resolved to attack the King of Spain in the West Indies, from whence his chief supplies were derived.

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"The Queen and kingdom," says Strype, "had the greatest apprehensions from abroad of the King of Spain: with whom she could obtain no good understanding and of whom especially it concerned her to beware, considering his power, which at that time was formidable; and thus set forth by our historian (Camden :) All the Princes of Italy were at his beck: the bishop of Rome was wholly addicted and engaged to him; the Cardinals were, as it were, his vassals; all the ablest persons, for matters both of war and peace, were his pensioners. In Germany, the house of Austria, a house extending and branching far and wide, and other houses allied unto the same by marriages, did, as it were, attend upon him and his service. His wealth also and his strength were so much increased, both by sea and land, since the late addition of Portugal and East India, that he was far more powerful and formidable than ever his father Charles V. was. And if he should once reduce the Netherlands under his power, there was nothing to hinder, but that the rest of the princes of Christendom must of necessity stoop to his greatness, unless it were prevented.'

"This powerful prince then the Queen had to deal with. It was judged therefore the best course to favour the Netherlanders, with whom he was now at war, and towards whom he had exercised great barbarities. It was now under deliberation concerning the doing of this weighty matter. The lord-treasurer had consulted with Hawkins, a brave seaman and treasurer of the Navy, upon this affair; and what means might be used in this undertaking, requiring to know his thoughts thereof. He soon after showed that statesman, in writing, the means to offend that king, and the reasons to maintain that faction."

The King of Spain's hostility to England was avowed, and he had, as it were, thrown down the gauntlet. The Queen therefore saw plainly that nothing was left to meet this insolence but to authorize all such of her subjects as had suffered from the measures taken by Spain, and all others who might feel disposed to resent the hostile proceedings of that nation, to be furnished with letters of marque and reprisal, with power to seize all ships and merchandise, wherever found, belonging to the subjects of the King of Spain. At the same time she ordered a powerful fleet of her own ships to be equipped. The whole of this armament was to be employed under the command of Sir Francis Drake, whom, from his experience and success in naval matters, she considered as the fittest officer in her dominions to strike a blow against Spain.

On this occasion a volunteer presented himself, whose offer Drake could neither well reject nor prudently accept. This was no less a person than the gallant and most accomplished Sir Philip Sydney, the friend and favourite of Queen Elizabeth, of

whom one about the Court said, when he was about to leave her on another occasion, "that she was afraid to lose the jewel of her times." In a life of this celebrated man, written by his friend Sir Fulke Grevil (Lord Brooke), it is stated that this expedition was of Sir Philip's own projecting

"Wherein he fashioned the whole body with purpose to become the head of it himself. I mean the last employment but one, of Sir Francis Drake to the West Indies, which journey, as the scope of it was mixt both of sea and land service, so had it accordingly distinct officers and commanders, chosen by Sir Philip out of the ablest governors of those martial times."

He then tells us that it was arranged between themselves, that he and Sir Francis should be equal commanders when they had left England; that the preparations should be made in the name of Sir Francis, and that everything should be abundantly supplied by the credit of Sir Philip. All this, however, was to be kept secret, as Sir Philip well knew it would be next to impossible to obtain the Queen's consent to his taking an employment so remote and of so hazardous a nature; but when once it was ready, he presumed "the success would put envy and all her agents to silence." And Sir Francis, on his part, "found that Sir Philip's friends, with the influence of his excellent inward powers, would add both weight and fashion to his ambition; and consequently, either with or without Sir Philip's company, yield unexpected ease and honour to him on this voyage.'

The preparations went on: everything that Drake required was at once procured. He repaired to Plymouth, and waited only the arrival of Sir Philip to put to sea. At length the gallant knight arrived at Plymouth, and was feasted the first night by Sir Francis, with a great deal of pomp and compliment.

"Yet, I," says Lord Brooke, "being his [Sydney's] loving and beloved Achates in this journey, observing the countenance of this gallant mariner, more than Sir Philip's leisure served him to do, acquainted him with my observation of the discountenance and depression which appeared in Sir Francis; as if our coming were both beyond his expectation and desire."

Lord Brooke's conjecture might probably have been correct. Drake might not much relish such high company, and might in fact be playing a game assigned to him.

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'For,” says Lord Brooke, “within a few days after, a post steals up to the court, upon whose arrival an alarm is presently taken; messengers sent

away to stay us, and, if we refused, to stay the whole fleet. The Queen in her affection, conveyed her royal mandate by a peer of the realm, carrying with it in the one hand, grace, and in the other, thunder."

How Drake contrived to settle this ticklish affair does not appear. It is not improbable that he was all the while in communication with Sir Francis Walsingham, or some other person at Court; and that he was desired to indulge the scheme of the romantic knight until the expedition should be ready to depart. Everything in fact had been already settled as to the officers and men, and the preparations were completed. The fleet consisted of twenty-one sail of ships (some say twenty-five sail) and pinnaces, and had on board two thousand seamen and soldiers.

(This officer had the command of the troops, with one major, three corporals of the field, and ten captains under him.)

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The other ships were probably taken up as transports. though Drake was the chief, or General, of the expedition, yet the military part of the operations, of course, devolved upon Lieutenant-General Carleill; and in point of fact the whole account of their proceedings, as given in Hakluyt, is taken from the narrative drawn up partly by Captain Walter Bigg's, who died on the voyage, and completed by Lieutenant Cripps, who gave it to Lieutenant Cates, to be prepared by him for publication-all three being officers of the army serving in the Lieutenant-General's company.

On the 14th of September, 1585, the expedition left Plymouth ; and near the coast of Spain fell in with several French ships of small burthen, mostly laden with salt; one of which, having no person in her, the General took for the use of the fleet. To this bark he gave the name of Drake, and on his return paid her

value to the owners. A few days after this they fell in with a stout Spanish ship, having on board a great quantity of dry Newfoundland fish, which the sailors called "Poor John," that was of great use during the voyage.

Coming before Bayonne, a message was sent to the Governor to ask if there was war between Spain and England, and why our merchants were embargoed and arrested? Being satisfied on these points, and receiving from the Governor a present of bread, wine, oil, apples, grapes, and marmalade, they took their leave, but had scarcely returned to their ships before a storm arose which scattered the fleet.

Being again collected, they sent their pinnaces to see what might be done above the harbour of Vigo; where they succeeded in taking several boats and caravels laden with things of small value. One, however, had on board it "stuff of the high church or cathedral of Vigo, among which was a cross of silver doubly gilt, having cost a great mass of money."

The Spaniards declared that the property taken here amounted in value to thirty thousand ducats.

At Palma, in the Canary Islands, "by the naughtinesse of the landing place, well furnished with great ordnance, we thought fit to depart with the receipt of many of their cannon shot, some into our ships, and some of them besides being in very deed full cannon high." But their calling first at Bayonne was imprudent, as it had enabled the Governor of that place to send a dispatch to their several possessions, to warn them of the approach of the English force, the strength of which he greatly exaggerated.

At Ferro they found the inhabitants so poor that they spared them; and proceeding to the Cape de Verde Islands, anchored near Porta Praya (which is called Playa by Cates), where they put on shore a thousand men. Here they dallied for fourteen days, between the towns of St. Jago and Porta Praya, two wretched Portuguese villages. The Governor, the Bishop, and the better sort, all ran away into the mountains; and the only booty obtained was two pieces of ordnance, one of iron and one of brass. The inhabitants met with one of the English boys straggling, whom they killed, and mangled in a brutal manner;

* Cates.