Richard Grenville

Elizabethan Land-Owner

This Naval History follows on from: "Other Descendents"

Just imagine if we could meet that Elizabethan figure Sir Richard Granville. What could we guess that he might tell us? These answers should be easier; unlike Drake who rose to fame over a long period, he remained the same throughout his life a "Gentleman," meaning of course, in the Elizabethan sense a "land-owner."

For such he was, having considerable inherited estates on the northern borders of Cornwall and Devon. It is just possible, perhaps, that he might have said he was a "Soldier," for he did see a good deal of land-service at one time or another.

Nor should we be surprised if he told us that; for though Grenville misses being a medievil figure by something like a century, it was from him and his like-the land-owning class-that the Queen would look for her fighting leaders.

But this alternative almosts exhausts other possibilities. because it would be surprising if he told us he were a "Seaman," because it would not be true. It would indeed be surprising if it were, since he did not come from that society which, even then, made the sea its basic profession.

Other Descendents

He achieved so much in a short time

It may astonish many people to learn that, Sir Richard was only forty-nine years old when he died, and his first sea-venture, so far as is known, took place when he was forty-three.

Again like Drake, he could not have claimed to be a "Royal Navy Officer," and for the same reason. There was no such person-there were no "whole-time professional men who could rise through the ranks," because the Royal Navy had not yet come into existance.

Thus we arrive at what Sir Richard, ought to have called himself-at those moments when he was serving at sea. Could he have spoken the language of the twentieth century he might have replied: "an officer of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve."

"I serve my Country," is probably what he would have said, "when and where my Country needs me most." "This time the service is on the sea, but the next time it may be elsewhere. I certainly do not regard the profession of seaman to be my basic profession, nor that in which I have the greatest experience or efficiency."

"But, I know something of War, and a great deal about Leadership, and I shall do my best on a, comparatively, strange element, and serve my Queen there, for the time being."

The reason which enabled Grenville to rise so comparatively high as a sea-commander is much the same as that which enabled Drake-the absence in his day of truly professional competition. He too was not in friendly rivalry as he would be today with the Royal Naval Officers of this century.

They were not prototypes of today's Navy

Yet, as Drake was to the Royal Naval Reserve, so was Grenville to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves-a distinguished example, but not a prototype. Again, like Drake was chosen as a type of important class of "sea-reserves," so is Grenville of another.

There were many like him. For instance, his own superior officer in his last great fight off Flores-Lord Thomas Howard, a younger son of the ill-fated Duke of Norfolk, the premier peer of England, who lost his life plotting with Ridolfi.

Lord Thomas was very "blue-blooded," yet often served at sea, for a variety of "durations," and achieved great proficiency. Yet he never became a "whole-time professional" in the sea-service. There was George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, his motive for "taking to the sea" was an attempt to replenish his fortunes after a spendthrift youth.

He appears in the Elizabethan sea story both as privateer and leader of "official" expeditions, and he too achieved very considerable efficiency afloat. Another whose sea-time may be said to have been spent in this Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve capacity was the immortal Sir Walter Raleigh.

Sir Walter Raleigh a very versatile Englishman

He is in one sense, a very good example to cite, for sea-faring. Sea-commanding was only one of his activities, for he was a very versatile Englishman. As a statesman, a soldier, an author and a colonist his memory is secure. Had he been compelled to depend for his fame upon his seaman's performance alone, he would scarcely be remembered at all.

There are a host of others like these-men of the "fighting-land-owning" stock who turned up at need in command of ships, and even fleets-such men as Lord Henry Seymour, Lord Sheffield, Sir Robert Southwell and Sir Richard Leveson.

Some were employed at sea often, some but seldom, some clearly made good; some not so clearly; some evidently did not. But all were of a class that was complementary to the Royal Naval Reserve. They were the Queen's "natural reserve" drawn from the fighting element who would do their fighting for her on the sea; when circumstances demanded it.

But if the list of Royal Naval Reserve officers mentioned earlier were joined to that of the Royal Naval Voluntary Reserve class, then there is little left. All, or almost all, of the great Elizabethan sea-names are included in one or the other.

It was the English Navy which fought and beat the Spaniard; officered exclusively by seamen turned fighters and by fighters for the time being turned seamen?

There are, perhaps, two minor groups of exceptions. One of these groups, though important, consisted of a single man-the Lord High Admiral, whose position was official enough, and whole-time enough too.

The other exception, though a more numerous class, consists of less important people-those officers who, like Sir William Wynter, William Borough, Sir Henry Palmer and Sir George Beeston, were old servants of the Queen, in constant employ under the Crown in her own ships.

The Lord High Admiral of 1588

since the Duke of Exeter, the first Lord High Admiral in 1413 held this position, the lord High Admiral has always been a member of the Gentry who was a close companion and advisor to the Sovreign of the realm. The Lord High Admiral at this time had nothing to do with the running of the navy.

In the great crisis of 1588, it was inevitable that the Lord High Admiral should start to take at least a nominal charge; and he did. But Lord Charles Effingham was given Council of War, and could and did over-ride that of Lord Howard of Effingham who was the serving Lord High Admiral.

The War Council consisted of Drake, appointed Vice-Admiral; just in case anything should happen to the Admiral. There were also Lord Thomas Howard, Lord Sheffield, John Hawkins, Martin Frobisher, Thomas Fenner and Sir Roger Williams.

Of these counting Drake, in today's navy, four would have been Royal Naval Reserve, officers, and two would have been Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve officers. The last named Williams, was an interesting appointment.

Had we been able to ask him for his description, there can be little doubt what he would have answered: "Soldier." He was infact, one of the most famous soldiers of the day. Nor, when the great moment arrived, was his talent wasted.

He did not fight the Armada at sea, being transferred to the staff of Leicester's army. The Queen's own officers, it should be noted, found no place at all at the Council Table; they were hardly of that stature.

Nor is there any surprise in all of this. The day of the whole-time professional has not begun to dawn. Lacking him-what can the Crown do but to call on its age-old reserves, its fighters who are prepared to turn seamen, and its seamen who are prepared to turn fighter?

The continuation of this Naval History will be: "Admiralship"

Richard Grenville Admiralship

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