Francis Drake

Adventures before the Armada

This Naval History continues on from: " William Dampier"

In everybody's eyes during the Tudor period Francis Drake appeared to be having his own private war with Spain. But he himself saw it as his public duty, while some believed he was striking good luck while having an adventurous affair.

With Spanish gold as his reward, the challenge to say the least, was daring. He had learned the rudiments of his mission in the world off his father Edmund Drake, a lay preacher; and he cherished every word.

But there was a more sinnister motive for his annoying actions. Young Francis Drake had been in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua, with John Hawkins, when the armed merchant ships of the squadron were set upon and overwhelmed by a number Spanish ships.

Drake had been lucky to make his escape in a little ship that leaked badly. He had intended making his name and had invested his modest capital in the voyage, now it was lost and the reputation he dreamed of was ruined.

The following year having scraped together enough for another ship; Francis Drake sailed with the sole intention of recouping his losses, his money and his reputation as a seaman.

In the next eighteen years he would see some glorious home comings to Plymouth; and some not so virtuous. In August 1573 he returned having captured a Spanish frigate and brought home the gold from the gates of Nombre de Dois.

William Dampier

Drakes most victorious return

His most triumphant was that day in the autmn of 1580, when the "Golden Hind" rounded Rame Head at Plymouth, with the circumnavigation of the globe behind her, carrying the spoils of the Pacific Ocean in her holds.

Yealding a dividend of 4,700 per cent for all share holders in the voyage of which the Queen was the greatest. His popularity enabled him to raise the finance for any venture he wanted to undertake without risking any of his own assets.

That year Spain took slight miscomfort. No silver from Peru or Mexico, had crossed the Atlantic in 1586, some of the great merchants of Seville were all but ruined, and there had been a minor panic among King Pilip's bankers.

Though she lent him the Queen's ships in his later ventures and took a royal share of the profits, Elizabeth I, was always quick to deny any knowledge of Drake's plans or took any responsibilty for his behavior.

In the Spanish view that made Drake a pirate.

Drakes War

Drake regarded himself at war with the King of Spain. For him the war had begun with the unprovoked attack at San Juan de Ulua. If Spanish ships had the right to destroy English merchantmen; then it was only rightful that he could repeat the same against them.

The notion that a simple English Knight could be at war with the greatest King in the world; transcends ordinary sanity; but he was no madman, a part of his genius was his devastating self-confidence.

The surprising thing was that all of Europe was beginning to take Drake's view. Newsmongers were coming to speak of the naval war between Spain and England as if it were a personal duel between King Philip II, and Francis Drake. As early as 1580, Europeans that were enemies of Spain, begun to send for copies of Drakes portrait.

The Armada preparations

When told of the great preparations being carried out in Spain, Drake knew what the King's mind was thinking; and with a pirates whim, he felt he knew how to hinder those preparations.

By sudden thrusts as his campaigns in the Carribean had taught him. But the Queen's ships did not sail anywhere without the Queen's word.

Whatever happened the threat of a Spanish attack by sea if it arrived, it would have to be parried, and England was not unprepared by sea.

Nobody in the sixteenth century kept a fighting fleet mobilized between wars, but thanks to John Hawkins, Elizabeth's was more ready than any other, and she had better ships, all built and kept in good repair at the lowest cost possible.

Her sea-dogs were confident of beating the Spaniards, but she knew a pitched naval battle at sea would be a terribly risky and expensive business. Francis Drake believed he knew a cheaper way, and swore he could stop the Spaniards in their fortified harbours by raiding along their coasts, but Elizabeth hesitated.

A Change of mind

Eventually Elizabeth decided to let Drake have six of her ships, two London merchantmen agreed to join him and he had four ships of his own. The squadron was to cruise for prizes, dividing the profits, making the expedition in some ways a private commercial venture.

For the voyage he was given the Queen's commission. At last his private war with Spain was becoming Englands war. After he sailed the Queen changed her mind again and sent a message to him, which he never received.

The message relayed stated: "Her Majesty has sent expressly to forbid Drake to show any act of hostility to the King of Spain."

On not receiving the message Drake was absolutely free to impede the assembling of the Spanish fleet by any means that appealed to him. Elizabeth realised that Drake knew as much about that end of the business as anybody.

Drake's target was Cadiz

His attack on Cadiz was very successful. He estimated he had sunk, captured or burned thirty-seven vessels, with the Spanish destroying many of their own ships by setting them adrift as fire ships hoping to destroy some of Drakes but none succeeded.

Admiral Don Pedro, sent Drake a complimentary message, along with some wine and some sweet meats. The two Commanders then accepted an exchange of prisoners.

Then Drake after a farewell gesture, bore away in the direction of Cape St. Vincent. After the destruction of the Port of Cadiz, Drake said: "I have only singed the King's Beard," he knew it would grow again.

At cadiz he heard from one of the prisoners that Spain's second greatest Admiral Juan Martinez de Recalde was somewhere off Cape St. Vincent, with his squadron; Drake made this his next target. Satisfied that Recalde had got away, he broke off his search promptly.

Drake's next target was Castle Sagres

Drake moved on and captured Castle Sagres, of Henry the Navigator, the cradle of all of Europe's colonial empires, past present and to come. He had no thought of occupying it, only to make it uninhabitable and harmless. The brass cannons and other weapons he had taken aboard his ships.

Adjacent to the castle there were the work houses and storage yards for thousands of cut and shaped oak pipe staves and metal hoops for making barrels and storage casks, all seasoned and ready to put together for use. Drake had all the staves burnt to ashes and the steel hoops damaged beyond use.

Five days later the English fleet was off Lisbon

News twelve days earlier had warned the people of Lisbon of danger and that Drake was in their waters. The Marquis Santa Cruz was fuming at an emergency which found him with an enemy fleet at his front door without the new guns he had been promised.

Drake had come to Lisbon just for a look at the state of things. Finding no opportunity of surprise and unable to tempt a fight in open waters he returned to Sagres. The demonstration before Lisbon had kept the enemy uneasy, irritated and off-balance, something Drake liked to do.

During the next ten days at Sagres the ships of the fleet were cleaned fumigated and rummaged, bilges pumped and ballast freshened. Elizabethans knew the fouler the ship the unhealthier the crew. Meanwhile the ships at sea swept methodically up and down the coast, sinking, burning or bringing back to Sagres everything that ventured their way.

Drake then took his squadron to Cape St. Vincent. His presence immobilizing the movement of Spanish soldiers, seamen, cannon and victuals that were getting needed. He was prepared to remain disrupting the Armada supplies for several months.

News of a prize reached his ears

Drake heard the sudden news that a Portuguese ship the "San Felipe" was homeward bound; she was a large ship much bigger than three of Drakes largest and much taller. She returned annually with her holds cramed with spices and oriental goods.

Once news reached Drake he could calculate her course and destination. He immediately set sail to intercept her. The "San Felipe" her crew weakened quickly due to depletion by disease, and with her main deck crammed with merchandise, could fend off pirates, but she was never meant to stand up to the heavy guns which the English used.

On its capture Drake steered straight for Plymouth with his tremendous prize. The first of its kind in history. The "San Felipe" was stuffed ith pepper, cinnamon and cloves, unbleached white cotten cloth, silkes and ivories, besides huge quantities of gold and silver, and some caskets full of jewellery. The total value turned out to be nearly a hundred and fourteen thousand pounds.

Drake had already so confused and disrupted the Spanish plans and supplies that they could not sail for England that year.

Modern-day Pages Fast Boats Pages Joe Wezley Pages

The English fleet waiting

There was no doubt that the English fleet was still, as it had been in the past, the most powerful and formidable fighting force in Atlantic waters.

And experience had shown how difficult it was, to conquor a resolutely defended land. But there were merchants, who were willing to lay modest odds on King Philip's invasion achieving success.

Once Philip had England in his hand the days of the Dutch and the French would be numbered. The world's greatest empire would be able to take whom and when they wanted. The shadow of Spain would contemptuously spread across the whole world.

There were tough fighting men, fidgeting through the winter months in Plymouth and along the London river, who wanted nothing more than the sight of Spanish sails in the Channel. But even they did not see an easy victory.

The continuation of this Naval History will be: "Pre-Armada"

Francis Drake Pre-Armada

"Pirates Trilogy" $20