ROUND THE WORLD
So we see that both of Drake’s ships, the _Pascha_ and the _Swan_, were
left behind in the West Indies, and he made a quick voyage home in the
well-built Spanish frigate. We hear nothing of Drake for two years
after his return to Plymouth. There is a legend that he kept on the
seas near Ireland. Elizabeth was still unable and unwilling to go to
war with the King of Spain, but she was willing to encourage the sort
of warfare that Drake and the other rovers had so successfully carried
on against him.
Such companies of adventurers as these that sailed under Drake and
Hawkins did a large part of the work of the navy in the time of
Elizabeth. The country was saved the expense which private persons were
willing to pay to furnish the ships. The Queen herself is known to
have shared in the expenses and plunder of some such expeditions, and
so she thriftily laid up treasure in England’s empty money-chests. But
some of her older councillors disliked exceedingly this way of getting
rich, and would rather it had been done openly in war, or not at all.
To Drake it seems to have been a very simple affair. He wished, in the
first place, as the old book says, “to lick himself whole of the damage
he had received from the Spaniards.” So he acted in pirate-fashion to
the Spaniards, but not to the French or to the natives of the West
Indies. And Drake considered his own cause so just that he never made
a secret of his doings. He went at his own risk, for should he be
taken by the enemy his country had no power to protect him, as she was
not openly at war with Spain. But, on the other hand, he was secretly
encouraged, and his gains were immense.
In the second place, Drake wished to attack and injure the Roman
Catholic faith whenever and wherever he could. Churchmen had told
him that this was a lawful aim. How earnestly he believed it we can
see from the story, where he tried to persuade the Maroons to “leave
their crosses,” which to him were the sign of the hated religion. The
terrible tale of the massacre of the Protestants on St. Bartholomew’s
Day told him by the French captain (who himself fell into the hands of
the Spaniards, as we have seen), must have inflamed this feeling in
his soul and in those of his men. It made them more eager than ever to
fight the enemies of their own faith.
Then, too, the Spaniards founded their rights to own the New World
upon a grant from one of the Popes; and the English, now no longer
Catholics, denied his power to give it, and claimed the right for
themselves to explore and conquer and keep what share they could get.
The King of Spain looked upon Drake as a pirate, but he could not find
out how far he had been secretly encouraged by Elizabeth, and Drake
was not punished, in spite of Philip’s urgent complaints. But he was
prevented from sailing away again on a voyage of discovery, though his
friends and brothers went, and among them John Oxenham, who was hanged
as a pirate by the Spaniards because he had no commission or formal
leave from the Queen or the Government to trade in the West Indies.
During this interval Drake took service in Ireland, under the Earl of
Essex, furnishing his own ships, “and doing excellent service both by
sea and land at the winning of divers strong forts.” The work he took
a part in was as harsh and cruel as any that was ever done by fire and
sword to make Ireland more desolate. Here he met Thomas Doughty, one of
the household of the Earl of Essex, a scholar and a soldier, who became
his friend, and sailed with him on his next voyage.
The story of this voyage is told under the name of “The World
Encompassed,” and in it Drake is said “to have turned up a furrow about
the whole world.” In 1520 Magellan had discovered the passage south of
America from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, since called by his
name. Many adventurers had tried to follow him, but all their efforts
had ended in disaster, and the Straits had an uncanny name among
sailors, and “were counted so terrible in those days that the very
thoughts of attempting them were dreadful.”
Drake’s fleet was made up of five ships--the _Pelican_, which was
his flagship, the _Elizabeth_, the _Marigold_, the _Swan_, and the
_Christopher_. They took a hundred and sixty men and plentiful
provisions and stores for the long and dangerous voyage. They also took
pinnaces which could be set up when wanted. Nor did Drake forget 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).”
They started on November 15, 1577, but were forced by a gale to put
back into Plymouth for repairs, and started out again on December 13.
The sailors were not told the real aim of the voyage, which was to
“sail upon those seas greatly longed for.” They were too full of fears
and fancies. The unknown was haunted in their minds with devils and
hurtful spirits, and in those days people still believed in magic.
They picked up several prizes on their way out, notably a large
Portuguese ship, whose cargo of wine and food was valuable to the
English ships. Drake sent the passengers and crew on shore, but kept
the pilot, Numa da Silva, who gives one account of the voyage, and
was most useful, as he knew the coasts so well. One of Drake’s main
cares on this voyage, we are told, was to keep the fleet together as
much as possible, to get fresh water, and to refresh the men, “wearied
with long toils at sea,” as often as possible. He decided to lessen
the number of the ships, for “fewer ships keep better company,” and he
looked for a harbour to anchor in.
“Our General,” says the book, “especially in matters of moment, was
never one to rely only on other men’s care, how trusty or skilful
soever they might seem to be. But always scorning danger, and refusing
no toil, he was wont himself to be one, whosoever was a second, at
every turn, where courage, skill, or industry was to be employed.
Neither would he at any time entrust the discovery of these dangers to
another’s pains, but rather to his own experience in searching out and
sounding of them.”
So in this case Drake himself went out in the boat and rowed into the
bay. The _Swan_, the _Christopher_, and the prize were sacrificed,
their stores being used for the other ships.
On the 20th of June they anchored in a very good harbour, called by
Magellan Port St. Julian. Here a gibbet stood upon the land, and in
this place Magellan is supposed to have executed some disobedient and
rebellious men of his company. In this port Drake began to “inquire
diligently into the actions of Master Thomas Doughty, and found them
not to be such as he looked for.”
(Doughty is said to have plotted to kill Drake or desert him, and take
his place as commander, or at any rate to force him to go back, to the
ruin of the voyage.)
“Whereupon the company was called together, and the particulars of the
cause made known to them, which were found partly by Master Doughty’s
own confession, and partly by the evidence of the fact, to be true.
Which when our General saw, although his private affection to Master
Doughty (as he then in the presence of us all sacredly protested)
was great; yet the care he had of the state of the voyage, of the
expectation of her Majesty, and of the honour of his country, did more
touch him (as indeed it ought) than the private respect of one man. So
that the cause being thoroughly heard, and all things done in good
order, as near as might be to the course of our laws in England, it was
concluded that Master Doughty should receive punishment according to
the quality of the offence. And he, seeing no remedy but patience for
himself, desired before his death to receive the Communion, which he
did, at the hands of our minister, and our General himself accompanied
him in that holy action....
“And after this holy repast, they dined also at the same table
together, as cheerfully, in sobriety, as ever in their lives they had
done aforetime, each cheering up the other, and taking their leave, by
drinking each to other, as if some journey only had been in hand.
“And the place of execution being ready, he having embraced our
General, and taken his leave of all the company, with prayer for
the Queen’s Majesty and our realm, in quiet sort laid his head to
the block, where he ended his life. This being done, our General
made various speeches to the whole company, persuading us to unity,
obedience, love and regard of our voyage. And to help us to this,
he willed every man the next Sunday following to prepare himself to
receive the Communion, as Christian brethren and friends ought to do,
which was done in very reverent sort, and so with good contentment
every man went about his business.”
On the 11th of August, as quarrelling still continued, Drake ordered
the whole ships’ companies ashore. They all went into a large tent, and
the minister offered to make a sermon. “Nay, soft, Master Fletcher,”
said Drake, “I must preach this day myself, although I have small skill
in preaching.... I am a very bad speaker, for my bringing up hath not
been in learning.”
He then told them that for what he was going to say he would answer
in England and before her Majesty. He and his men were far away from
their country and friends, and discords and mutiny had grown up among
them. “By the life of God,” said Drake, “it doth take my wits from
me to think on it. Here is such quarrels between the sailors and the
gentlemen as it doth make me mad to hear it. But, my masters, I must
have it left [off], for I must have the gentleman to haul and draw with
the mariner, and the mariner with the gentleman. What, let us show
ourselves all to be of a company, and let us not give occasion to the
enemy to rejoice at our decay and overthrow. I would know him that
would refuse to set his hand to a rope, but I know there is not any
such here....”
He then offered to send any home that liked in the _Marigold_, a
well-furnished ship; “but let them take heed that they go homeward, for
if I find them in my way I will surely sink them, therefore you shall
have time to consider here until to-morrow; for by my troth I must
needs be plain with you now.”
“Yet the voice was that none would return, they would all take such
part as he did.” And so, after more of such “preaching,” they were told
to forget the past, and “wishing all men to be friends, he willed them
to depart about their business.”