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DRAKE'S NEXT PROJECT.

Of

The next undertaking of Drake was of a more ambitious character. With the wealth acquired thus gallantly, and, in the opinion of his contemporaries fairly and honourably, though the means may not stand the test of the morality of a more enlightened and philosophic age, Drake fitted out three stout frigates, which, with himself as a volunteer, he placed at the disposal of Walter, earl of Essex, father of the unfortunate favourite of Elizabeth. these he was, as a matter of course, appointed commander, and performed good service in subduing the rebellion in Ireland. His former reputation and his late exploits had now acquired for Drake high fame and noble patronage. He became known to the queen through the introduction of her favourite and privy-councillor, Sir Christopher Hatton, a distinction doubly desirable as it promised assistance in "that haughty design which every day and night lay next his heart, pricking him forwards to the performance."

Though, in the enthusiasm of the moment of inspiration, Drake had betrayed his project, when the time came for its accomplishment he maintained an almost suspicious reserve, meditating his great design without " confiding it to any one." His character through life was that of a man who listens to every one's counsel, but follows his own; and doubtless in the purpose he meditated there was no judgment so well-informed and ripe.

DRAKE.

CHAPTER III.

Drake's Circumnavigation.

The Queen approves the New Expedition-Drake's SquadronCape Cantin-Muley Moloch-Cape Blanco-Mayo and Brava -The Brazilians-Ostriches-Natives of Seal Bay-Their Manners and Disposition-Patagonians-Unfortunate Affray-Stature of the Indians-Port St Julian-Doughty's Trial and Execution -Passage of the Strait-The Natives-The Fleet SeparatedTierra del Fuego-Fate of the Shallop's Crew-Cape HornThe Elizabethides-Capture of Spanish Prizes-Lamas with Treasure-Capture of the Cacafuego-The Hind Proceeds in Search of the North-west Passage-Indians of New Albion Discovered Singular Manners of the Indians-Drake Crosses the Pacific The Ladrones-The Moluccas-Remarkable Preservation-Baratane-Java-The Voyage Home-The Cape of Good Hope-Arrival at Plymouth-Drake's Fame-The Queen Visits his Ship.

SPAIN and England were still nominally at peace, though the national animosity was continually breaking out in fits of aggression and violence; and if Elizabeth did not absolutely discountenance, her policy forbade open approbation of a project so equi. vocal as that which Drake contemplated. It is however certain, that the plan of his voyage was laid before the queen; and her majesty, once convinced of its importance and the glory and advan

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SPEECH OF ELIZABETH.

tage which might be derived to her kingdom from its prosperous issue, was easily reconciled to the justice of what appeared so expedient. The plan accordingly at last received her decided, though secret approbation. In one relation of the voyage it is even affirmed that Drake held the royal commission, though this is not probable. What follows is more true to the character of Elizabeth, subtle at once and bold. At a parting interview she is said to have presented Drake with a sword, delivered with this emphatic speech,-" We do account that he who striketh at thee, Drake, striketh at us." Even this verbal commission saves Drake from the charge of having made a piratical voyage, or divides the shame with his sovereign.

The high estimation in which Drake was now held may be gathered from the readiness with which friends and admirers placed in his hands their ships, and the means of equipping a squadron to go on some expedition of which the destination lay hid in his own bosom. Nor, though the horrible sufferings of Hawkins' crew and more recent disasters were still fresh in the public memory, did he lack both officers and seamen, from among the most bold, able, and active of that age, who were ready to follow him blindfold to the end of the world. Some of the more sordid might from afar smell the spoils of the Spaniards, but many were actuated by nobler motives.

The squadron was ostensibly fitted out for a trading voyage to Alexandria, though the pretence deceived no one, and least of all the watchful Spaniards. It consisted of five vessels of light burthen, the largest being only 100 tons. This was named

the Pelican, and was the captain-general's ship, The others were, the Elizabeth, a bark of 80 tons belonging to London, and commanded by Captain John Winter; the Swan, a fly-boat of 50 tons burthen, Captain John Chester; the Christopher, a pinnace of 15 tons, Captain Thomas Moone; and the Marigold, a bark of 30 tons, Captain John Thomas. The Benedict, a pinnace of 12 tons, accompanied the Elizabeth. The frames of four pinnaces were taken out, to be set up as they were wanted. The anxiety displayed for the proper outfit of the squadron, the extent of preparations in provisioning the ships, and laying in arms and stores equal to a very long voyage, and the improbability of Drake, after his late exploits, undertaking a peaceful expedition for traffic, had betrayed in part his design before the fleet left England; but when, out of sight of the land, the captain-general, in case of separation, appointed a rendezvous at the island of Mogadore on the Barbary coast, there was no remaining doubt that his enterprise pointed to a place more distant and important than Alexandria.

Though it is probable that traversing the Pacific was a subsequent idea arising from the condition in which we shall find him after leaving the coast of New Albion, Drake is not the less entitled to the praise he has often received for attempting an enterprise like that of passing the Straits of Magellan with so small a force, and adventuring into wild, stormy, and unknown seas with ships of so little weight. The passage of the Straits, even to a man not so obnoxious to the Spanish nation, was a project which could only rationally be entertained by a bold and

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commanding genius relying implicitly on its own resources. The dangers and difficulties of Magellan's Strait had made it be for a long period of years almost abandoned by the Spaniards, and it was come to be a saying among them that the passage had closed up. A superstitious prejudice was conceived against all farther attempts in the SOUTH SEA, which, it was asserted, had proved fatal to every one who had been celebrated as a discoverer there,as if Providence had a controversy with those who were so daring as to pass the insuperable barriers placed between the known and the unknown world. Magellan had been killed by the heathen in this new region, which Europeans had no sanction to approach; Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the European who first saw the South Sea, put to death by his countrymen; and De Solis cruelly murdered by the natives of Rio de la Plata when proceeding to the Strait. Most of the commanders had successively perished of diseases produced by the hardships and anxiety attending the voyage. The mariner De Lope, who from the topmast of a ship of Magellan's fleet first saw the Strait, had a fate still more dreadful in the eyes of the good Catholics of Castile, as he had turned a renegado and Mahommedan. None of these real and imaginary dangers deterred Drake; and he, who at all times preferred vessels of light burden, as of greater utility in threading narrow and intricate channels and coasting unknown shores than ships of large and unwieldy size, selected those mentioned above.

Besides the cargoes usually exported for trading, both with civilized and savage nations, Drake, who