Mr. Drake was first apprenticed to the master of a small vessel
trading to France and Zealand; at the age of eighteen he went purser
of a ship to the Bay of Biscay, and at twenty made a voyage to the
coast of Guinea. Having obtained Queen Elizabeth’s permission for an
expedition against the Spaniards, five ships were fitted out, having
on board 164 able men and a large quantity of provisions. This fleet
sailed out of Plymouth Sound on the 5th of November, 1577; but meeting
with a violent storm, they were obliged to put back and refit. On the
13th of December they sailed again, and on the 25th passed Cape Cantin
on the coast of Barbary. After visiting numerous islands and meeting
with various adventures, having passed the line, they at length
discovered the coast of Brazil on the 5th of April, it being
fifty-four days since they saw land. As soon as the people on shore
saw the ships, they made large fires in different parts, and performed
ceremonies to prevail on the gods to sink the vessels, or at least to
prevent their landing. Sailing southward, they anchored in fort St.
Julian, where the admiral going on shore with six men, some of the
natives slew the gunner, whose death was revenged by the commander,
who killed the murderer with his own hand. At this place Magellan
having executed one of his company who conspired against his life,
Drake caused one of the crew named Doughty to be tried for the same
offense against himself; and executed him on the same gibbet.
On the 20th of August, they fell in with the strait of Magellan, which
they entered, but found so full of intricate windings, that the same
wind which was sometimes in their favor, was at others against them.
After several difficulties, they entered the South Sea on the 6th of
September, and on the next day a violent storm drove them 200 leagues
south of the strait, where they anchored among some islands, abounding
in herbs and water. Being now arrived at the other mouth of the
strait, they steered for the coast of Chili. On their course they met
an Indian in a canoe, who informed them that at St. Jago there was a
large ship laden for Peru. The admiral rewarded him for this
information, whereupon he conducted them to the place where the ship
lay at anchor. There were only eight Spaniards and three negroes on
board, who mistaking them for friends, welcomed them, and invited them
to drink Chili wine. Drake accepted the invitation, and going on
board, put them under hatches; arriving on shore, he rifled the town
and chapel, from which he took great quantities of silver and gold.
Proceeding to sea, they arrived at the port of Tarapaxa, where some of
them going on shore, found a Spaniard asleep, with eighteen bars of
silver laying by his side, which they took without waking him.
Entering the port of Lima on the 13th of February, they found twelve
sail of ships at anchor unguarded, the crews being all on shore.
Examining these vessels they found much plate, together with rich
silks and linens, which they took away; but having learned that a rich
ship called the Cacafuego had lately sailed from that harbor for
Taila, the admiral determined to follow her. Having come up with the
chase, they gave her three shots, which brought away the mizzen-mast,
whereupon they boarded her, and found thirteen chests full of rials of
plate, eighty pounds-weight of gold, a quantity of jewels, and
twenty-six tons of silver in bars.
They subsequently took several other rich prizes, and Drake having now
revenged himself on the Spaniards, began to think of the best way of
returning to England. To return by the straits of Magellan would be to
throw himself into the hands of the Spaniards; he therefore determined
to sail westward to the East Indies, and return by the Cape of Good
Hope. But wanting wind, he sailed toward the north, and in 38 degrees
N. latitude, discovered a country, which from its white cliffs he
called New Albion, though it is now known by the name of California.
Here they were received with much hospitality by the natives, and the
king made Drake a solemn tender of his kingdom. Sailing hence, they
saw the Ladrones on the 13th of October. The admiral held on his
course without delay, and on the 4th of November, fell in with the
Moluccas. Having arrived at a little island south of Celebes, they
staid 26 days, in order to repair the ships. Setting sail hence, they
ran among a number of small islands, and the wind shifting about
suddenly, drove them upon a rock, on the evening of the 9th of
January, 1579, where they stuck fast, till four in the afternoon of
the next day. In this extremity they lightened the vessel by taking
out eight pieces of ordnance and three tons of cloves. On the 18th of
June, they doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and on the 22d of July
arrived at Sierra Leone, where they found a great number of elephants.
They staid here two days, and holding on their course for Plymouth,
arrived there on Monday, September 26, 1580; but according to their
own reckoning, on Sunday the 25th, having gone round the world in two
years, ten months, and a few days. The honor of knighthood was
conferred on Drake, and a chair was made from his ship, which is still
shown as a curiosity at Oxford.