admiral came up with Lord Thomas Howard and Lord Sheffield. There were scarcely two or three and twenty among their ships which matched ninety of the Spanish vessels in size, but the smaller vessels were more easily handled and manœuvred. Wherefore," says Hakluyt, "using their prerogative of nimble steerage, whereby they could turn and wield themselves with the wind which way they listed, they came oftentimes very near upon the Spaniards, and charged them so sore, that now and then they were but a pike's length asunder; and so continually giving them one broadside after another, they

discharged all their shot, both great and small, upon them, spending a whole day, from morning till night, in that violent kind of conflict." During this action many of the Spanish vessels were pierced through and through between wind and water; one was sunk, and it was learnt that one of her officers, having proposed to strike, was put to death by another; the brother of the slain man instantly avenged his death, and then the ship went down. Others are believed to have sunk, and many were terribly shattered. One, which leaked so fast that fifty men were employed at the pumps, tried to run aground on the Flemish coast, where her captain had to strike to a Dutch commander. Our ships at last desisted from the contest, from sheer want of ammunition; and the Armada made an effort to reach the Straits. Here a great engagement was expected, but the fighting was over, and that which the hand of man barely commenced the

hand of God completed. The Spaniards "were now experimentally convinced that the English excelled them in naval strength. Several of their largest ships had been lost, others were greatly damaged; there was no port to which they could repair; and to force their way through the victorious English fleet, then in sight, and amounting to 140 sail, was plainly and confessedly impossible." They resolved upon returning to Spain by a northern route, and "having gotten more sea room for their huge-bodied bulks, spread their mainsails, and made away as fast as wind and water would give them leave." Effingham, leaving Seymour to blockade the Prince of Parma's force, followed what our chroniclers now termed the Vincible Armada, and pursued them to Scotland, where they did not attempt to land, but made for Norway, "where the English," says Drake, "thought it best to leave them to those boisterous and uncouth northern seas."

Meantime, it was still expected ashore that the Prince of Parma might effect a landing, and it was at this time that Elizabeth, who declared her intention to be present wherever the battle might be fought, rode through the soldiers' ranks at Tilbury, and made her now historical speech. "Incredible it is," says Camden, "how much she encouraged the hearts of her captains and soldiers by her presence and her words." When a false report was brought that the prince had landed, the news was immediately published throughout the camp, "and assuredly," says Southey, "if the enemy had set foot upon our shores they would have sped no better than they had done at sea, such was the spirit of the nation." Some time elapsed before the fate of the Armada was known. It was affirmed on the Continent that the greater part of the English fleet had been taken, and a large proportion sunk, the poor remainder having been driven into the Thames "all rent and torn." It was believed at Rome that Elizabeth was taken and England conquered! Meantime, the wretched Armada was being blown hither and thither by contending winds. The mules and horses had to be thrown overboard lest the water should fail. When they had reached a northern latitude, some 200 miles from the Scottish isles, the duke ordered them each to take the best course they could for Spain, and he himself with some five-and-twenty of his best provided ships reached it in safety. The others made for Cape Clear, hoping to water there, but a terrible storm arose, in which it is believed more than thirty of the vessels perished off the coast of Ireland. About 200 of the poor Spaniards were driven from their hiding-places and beheaded, through the inhumanity of Sir William Fitzwilliam. "Terrified at this, the other Spaniards, sick and starved as they were, committed themselves to the sea in their shattered vessels, and very many of them were swallowed up by the waves." Two of their ships were wrecked on the coasts of Norway. Some few got into the English seas; two were taken by cruisers off Rochelle. About 700 men were cast ashore in Scotland, were humanely treated, and subsequently sent, by request of the Prince of Parma, to the Netherlands. Of the whole Armada only fifty-three vessels returned to Spain; eighty-one were lost. The enormous number of 14,000 men, of whom only 2,000 were prisoners, were missing. By far the larger proportion were lost by shipwreck.

Philip's behaviour," says Southey, "when the whole of this great calamity was known, should always be recorded to his honour. He received it as a dispensation of Providence, and gave, and commanded to be given, throughout Spain, thanks to God and the saints

that it was no greater." In England, a solemn thanksgiving was celebrated at St. Paul's, where the Spanish ensigns which had been taken were displayed, and the same flags were shown on London Bridge the following day, it being Southwark Fair. Many of the arms and instruments of torture taken are still to be seen in the Tower. Another great thanksgiving-day was celebrated on the anniversary of the queen's accession, and one of great solemnity, two days later, throughout the realm. On the Sunday following, the queen went "as in public, but Christian triumph," to St. Paul's, in a chariot "made in the form of a throne with four pillars," and drawn by four white horses; alighting from which at the west door, she knelt and "audibly praised God, acknowledging Him her only Defender, who had thus delivered the land from the rage of the enemy." Her Privy Council, the nobility, the French ambassador, the judges, and the heralds, accompanied her. The streets were hung with blue cloth and flags, "the several companies, in their liveries, being drawn up both sides of the way, with their banners in becoming and gallant order." Thus ended this most serious attempt at the invasion of England.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE HISTORY OF SHIPS AND SHIPPING INTERESTS (continued).

Noble Adventurers-The Earl of Cumberland as a Pirate-Rich Prizes-Action with the Madre de Dios-Capture of the Great Carrack-A Cargo worth £150,000-Burning of the Cinco Chagas-But Fifteen saved out of Eleven Hundred Souls-The Scourge of Malice-Establishment of the Slave Trade-Sir John Hawkins' Ventures-High-handed Proceedings-The Spaniards forced to Purchase-A Fleet of Slavers-Hawkins sanctioned by "Good Queen Bess "-Joins in a Negro War -A Disastrous Voyage-Sir Francis Drake-His First Loss-The Treasure at Nombre de Dios-Drake's First Sight of the Pacific-Tons of Silver Captured-John Oxenham's Voyage-The First Englishman on the Pacific-His Disasters and Death-Drake's Voyage Round the World-Blood-letting at the Equator-Arrival at Port Julian-Trouble with the Natives-Execution of a Mutineer-Passage of the Straits of Magellan-Vessels separated in a Gale-Loss of the Marigold-Tragic Fate of Eight Men-Drake Driven to Cape Horn-Proceedings at Valparaiso-Prizes taken-Capture of the great Treasure Ship-Drake's Resolve to change his Course Home-Vessel refitted at Nicaragua-Stay in the Bay of San Francisco-The Natives worship the English-Grand Reception at Ternate-Drake's Ship nearly wrecked -Return to England-Honours accorded Drake-His Character and Influence-Sir Humphrey Gilbert's Disasters and Death-Raleigh's Virginia Settlements.

THE spirit of adventure, fostered by the grand discoveries which were constantly being made, the rich returns derived from trading expeditions, and from the pillage of our enemies, was at its zenith in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Nor was it confined to mere soldiers of fortune, for we find distinguished noblemen of ample fortunes taking to the seas as though their daily bread depended thereupon. Among these naval adventurers "there was no one," says Southey, "who took to the seas so much in the spirit of a northern sea king as the Earl of Cumberland." He had borne his part in the defeat of the Armada, while still a young man, and the queen was so well satisfied with him, that she gave him a commission to go the same year to the Spanish coast as general, lending him the Golden Lion, one of the ships royal, he victualling and furnishing it at his own expense. After some fighting he took a prize, but soon after had to cut away his mainmast in a storm, and return to England. "His spirit remaining, nevertheless, higher than the winds, and more resolutely by storms compact and united in itself," we find him

shortly afterwards again on the high seas with the Victory, one of the queen's ships, and three smaller vessels. The earl was not very scrupulous as regards prize-taking, and captured two French ships, which belonged to the party of the League. A little later he fell in with eleven ships from Hamburg and the Baltic, and fired on them till the captains came on board and showed their passports; these were respected, but not so the property of a Lisbon Jew, which they confessed to have on their ships, and which was valued at £4,500. Off the Azores, he hoisted Spanish colours, and succeeded in robbing some Spanish vessels. The homeward-bound Portuguese fleet from the East Indies narrowly escaped him; when near Tercera some English prisoners stole out in a small boat, having no other yard for their mainsail than two pipe-staves, and informed him that the Portuguese ships had left the island a week before. This induced him to return to Fayal, and the terror inspired by the English name in those days is indicated by the fact that the town of about 500 houses was found to be completely empty; the inhabitants had abandoned it. He set a guard over the churches and monasteries, and then calmly waited till a ransom of 2,000 ducats was brought him. He helped himself to fifty-eight pieces of iron ordnance, and the Governor of Graciosa, to keep on good terms with the earl, sent him sixty butts of wine. While there a Weymouth privateer came in with a Spanish prize worth £16,000. Next we find the earl at St. Mary's, where he captured a Brazilian sugar ship. In bringing out their prize they were detained on the harbour bar, exposed to the enemy. Eighty of Cumberland's men were killed, and he himself was wounded; "his head also was broken with stones, so that the blood covered his face," and both his face and legs were burnt with fire-balls. The prize, however, was secured and forwarded to England.

Cumberland himself held on his course to Spain, and soon fell in with a ship of 400 tons, from Mexico, laden with hides, cochineal, sugar, and silver, "and the captain had with him a venture to the amount of 25,000 ducats," which was taken. They now resolved to return home, but "sea fortunes are variable, having two inconstant parents, air and water," and as one of the adventurers* concisely put it, "these summer services and ships of sugar proved not so sweet and pleasant as the winter was afterwards sharp and painful.” Lister, the earl's captain, was sent in the Mexican prize for England, and was wrecked off Cornwall, everything being lost in her, and all the crew, save five or six men. On the earl's ship, contrary winds and gales delayed them so greatly that their water failed; they were reduced to three spoonfuls of vinegar apiece at each meal; this state of affairs lasting fourteen days, except what water they could collect from rain and hail-storms. "Yet was that rain so intermingled with the spray of the foaming sea, in that extreme storm, that it could not be healthful: yea, some in their extremity of thirst drank themselves to death with their cans of salt water in their hands." Some ten or twelve perished on each of

as many consecutive nights, and the storm was at one time so violent that the ship was almost torn to pieces; "his lordship's cabin, the dining-room, and the half deck became all one," and he was obliged to seek a lodging in the hold. The earl, however, constantly encouraged the men, and the small stock of provisions was distributed with the greatest

* Sir William Monson: Churchill's "Collection of Voyages."

equality; so at last they reached a haven on the west coast of Ireland, where their sufferings ended. On this voyage they had taken thirteen prizes. The Mexican prize which had been wrecked would have added £100,000 to the profits of the venture, but even with this great deduction, the earl had been doubly repaid for his outlay.

The earl's third expedition was a failure, but the fourth resulted in the capture of the Madre de Dios, one of the largest carracks belonging to the Portuguese crown. In this, however, some of Raleigh's and Hawkins' ships had a share. Captain Thomson, who came up with her first, "again and again delivered his peals as fast as he could fire and fall astern to load again, thus hindering her way, though somewhat to his own cost, till the others could come up" Several others worried the carrack, until the earl's ships Captain Norton had no intention of boarding the enemy

came up about eleven at night.

till daylight, if there had not been a cry from one of the ships royal, then in danger, "An you be men, save the queen's ship!" Upon this the carrack was boarded on both sides. A desperate struggle ensued, and it took an hour and a half before the attacking parties succeeded in getting possession of the high forecastle, "so brave a booty making the men fight like dragons." The ship won, the boarders turned to pillage, and while searching about with candles, managed to set fire to a cabin containing some hundreds of cartridges, very nearly blowing up the ship. The hotness of the action was evidenced by the number of dead and dying who strewed the carrack's decks, "especially," says the chronicler, "about the helm; for the greatness of the steerage requiring the labour of twelve or fourteen men at once, and some of our ships beating her in at the stern with their ordnance, oftentimes with one shot slew four or five labouring on either side of the helm; whose room being still furnished with fresh supplies, and our artillery still playing upon them with continual volleys, it could not be but that much blood should be shed in that place." For the times, the prisoners were treated with great humanity, and surgeons were sent on board to dress their wounds. The captain, Don Fernando de Mendoza, was