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much commonplace in our daily lives, that it is good to be sometimes lifted out of it into a more inspiring and bracing atmosphere. It is good that our pulses should sometimes beat a little more quickly, and our blood flow with a freer, fuller currentthat we should feel the glow of enthusiasm and the touch of patriotic ardour. Next to the power of doing a brave thing is the power of being able to admire it. We cannot all be Howes and Blakes and Nelsons, but we can all learn to love and honour them.

W. H. DAVENPORT ADAMS.

EMINENT SAILORS.

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.

A.D. 1541-1596.

I.

To omit from a record of Eminent Sailors the story of Sir Francis Drake would be as grievous an error as to omit from the play of Hamlet the moody prince himself; yet we feel some difficulty in re-telling a story that has been so often told, and told by such competent tellers.

There has ever been a wonderful consensus of opinion concerning Drake. The main lineaments of his character were so bold that it was impossible to mistake them; just as the principal actions of his life were of such high importance that it is impossible to over-estimate them. Hence, from Stow and Fuller to Froude and J. R. Green, our historians have described. him in almost exactly similar terms.

This is what Thomas Fuller says, in his customary quaint fashion:

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"If any should be desirous to know something," he says, "of Sir Francis Drake's person, he was of stature low, but set and strong grown. A very religious man towards God and His * FULLER, Worthies of England, art, Devon,

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houses, generally sparing the churches wherever he came; chaste in his life, just in his dealings, true of his word, merciful to those that were under him, and hating nothing so much as idleness; in matters (especially) of moment he was never wont to rely on other men's care, how trusty or skilful soever they might seem to be, but always contemning danger and refusing no toyl; he was wont himself to be one (who ever was a second) at every time, where danger, skill, or industry was to be employed."

This is what John Stow says:—

"He was more skilful in all points of navigation than any that ever was before his time, in his time, or since his death; he was also of a perfect memory, great observation, eloquent by nature, skilful in artillery, expert and apt to let blood, and give physic unto his people, according to the climate; he was low of stature, of strong limbs, broad-breasted, round-headed, brown hair, full bearded, his eyes round, large, and clear, wellfavoured, fair, and of a cheerful countenance. His name was a terror to the French, Spaniard, Portugal, and Indians; many princes of Italy, Germany, and others, as well enemies as friends, in his lifetime desired his picture. He was the second that ever went through the Straits of Magellan, and the first that ever went round about the world. He was lawfully married unto two wives, both young; yet he himself, and ten of his brethren, died without issue. He made his younger brother, Thomas, his heir, who was with him in most and chiefest of his employments. In brief, he was as famous in Europe and America as Tamerlane [surely an unlucky comparison!] in Asia and Africa.

"In his imperfections he was

Ambitious for honour.

Inconstant in amity.

Greatly affected to popularity."

Of this man, who played so large a part in the struggle

between England and Spain for the sovereignty of the ocean, Mr. Froude also draws a portrait as he was in the prime of his strength :

"Of middle height, with crisp brown hair, a broad, high forehead; grey, steady eyes, unusually long; small ears, tight to the head; the mouth and chin slightly concealed by the moustache and beard, but hard, inflexible, and fierce. His dress, as he appears in his portrait, is a loose, dark seaman's shirt, belted at the waist. About his neck is a plaited cord, with a ring attached to it, in which, as if the attitude was familiar, one of his fingers is slung, displaying a small, delicate, but long and sinewy hand. When at sea, he wore a scarlet cap with a gold band, and was exacting in the respect with which he required. to be treated by his crew."

Francis Drake was born near Tavistock, in Devonshire, in 1541. His father, Edmund Drake, was a tenant of the House of Bedford, and by marriage was connected with those famous seamen, the Hawkinses of Plymouth. That he was esteemed by the Russells, we infer from the fact that Francis was godson of the second Earl, and named after him. Embracing the Protestant doctrine, Edmund Drake fell into trouble under the Six Articles Act, was forced to fly from his Devonshire home, and found an asylum at Chatham, where he lived for awhile, it is said, in the hull of a stranded ship. On the accession of Edward VI., he began to preach the new creed to the sailors of the King's fleet, and afterwards, taking orders, was made vicar of Upnor, on the Medway.

Young Drake's early years were spent in an atmosphere that smacked of the sea, and while yet a boy he was apprenticed in a Channel coaster. Being "painful and diligent," he so won upon his master's affection and esteem, that at his death he bequeathed to him the vessel which constituted his sole fortune. He was then about twenty-three. At this time,

John Hawkins, a man of bold and enterprising character, who had previously made two voyages to the Spanish Main in connection with the slave trade-not then stamped with the infamy that afterwards was so justly attached to it-undertook a third expedition, and persuaded Drake to join him in it. For this purpose he sold his vessel, and accompanied by some of his Kentish friends, repaired to Plymouth.

The little squadron collected by Hawkins consisted of one large ship of 700 tons, the Jesus of Lubeck, lent to him by the Queen, in which was hoisted his own flag; the Minion, Captain John Hampton; the William and John, Captain Thomas Bolton; and the Judith, Captain Francis Drake.

They sailed from Plymouth on the 2nd of October, 1567; and reaching the Cape de Verde, landed a body of 150 men in the hope of securing a supply of unfortunate negroes. They obtained but few, however, and those few at heavy cost; for many of the kidnappers were wounded by the poisoned arms of the natives; and, two days afterwards, died of their wounds. The poison seems to have produced a kind of tetanus or lockjaw. Cruising along the Guinea coast, they succeeded, at a further cost of life, in obtaining about 200 negroes in all, after which they made for St. George da Mina. There a negro chief came to solicit their aid against the neighbouring potentate, offering them in reward all the negroes that should be taken. Hawkins was tempted by the prospect of so much booty, and sent a contingent of 150 men, who assaulted a palisaded town or village of some 8,000 inhabitants, but met with so stout an opposition that they were compelled to solicit additional support. "Whereupon," says Hawkins, "considering that the good success of this enterprise might highly further the commodity of our voyage, I went myself; and with the help of the king of our side, assaulted the town both by land and sea." After a hard struggle it was set on fire, and the inhabitants

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