a secret.

boldness of design, would alone entitle him to everlasting fame, and to the highest honours that a grateful nation could bestow-the circumnavigation of the globe. He was the first Englishman that had ever dared even to think of it. It is true he met with every encouragement from Queen Elizabeth and her ministers, before his setting out; but his zeal for the honour of the profession he had adopted, for the service of his country, and moreover for the establishment of his own fame and fortune, needed no other spur. He was assisted in his preparations by a very few friends, being desirous of keeping his plan It is presumed, however, that he followed the advice of his old patron and able navigator, Captain John Hawkins, on whom the Queen had bestowed the office of Treasurer of the Navy; and who, being much about the court, is supposed to have introduced him to the Vice-Chamberlain, Sir Christopher Hatton, and by him to the Queen. She had been made acquainted with his former adventures, and was not displeased with the annoyance he had already occasioned to her enemy, the King of Spain-for an enemy he was, though no war had been declared. He could, therefore, not have obtained any commission from the Queen to sanction hostilities, but probably had an instruction from the Privy Council, such as was given about the same time to Captain Edward Fenton, for maintaining discipline in his squadron.

That squadron consisted of the Pelican, 100 tons, Drake, Commander; Elizabeth, 80 tons, John Winter, Commander; Marygold, 30, John Thomas; Swan, fly-boat, 50, John Chester; Christopher, pinnace, 15, Thos. Moone: manned in the whole with 163 stout and able seamen.

They left Plymouth on the 13th December, 1577; and, on their passage from the Cape de Verde Islands, captured a Portuguese vessel laden with wine and other valuable articles. In her he placed a volunteer gentleman, of the name of Doughty, as commander: a person with whom, it would appear, he had become acquainted in Ireland, and who, like himself and many others, went there on a speculation of government, which failed and occasioned great disappointment. This person behaved so improperly to some of the passengers of the prize, that Drake found it expedient to remove him into his own ship. The story of this unfortunate man was told in the Life of Drake,' from what was considered the fullest and most authentic source of information.* In consequence, however, of a notification in a late number of the 'Edinburgh Review,' that in the Harleian Collection of Manuscripts, in the British Museum, there would be found a fragment that contained more information than had been collected from printed works, it has been thought proper, on the present occasion, to

* The World Encompassed.

take advantage of it, in the hope that it might throw some new light on the mysterious and distressing circumstance of Doughty's death. It affords but little; yet fully sufficient to establish the fact, that he was a most unfit, unsafe, and dangerous man, in any ship whatever on the high seas; and that it was utterly impossible, after the investigation about to be given, that Drake, as commander of the expedition, intrusted with the care of so many lives, could suffer him to have another day's intercourse with the crews of any one of the ships.

The document in question consists of a fragment, or a series of fragments, containing a sort of evidence of the unfortunate gentleman's intrigues at various times, and in various places, with certain persons belonging to the squadron. This document has neither beginning nor end, name, date, or purpose; yet its authenticity cannot be doubted. It consists chiefly of a number of depositions, given and signed by various persons in the fleet.

Drake was known and esteemed by all the seamen for his kindness and humanity; and when so many and such undoubted proofs were openly alleged, Doughty is said to have confessed that his object was to obtain the command of the expedition; and that he was ready to submit to any punishment that the assembly might pronounce, and thus prevent him becoming his own executioner. The crews,

it is stated, were greatly affected: But," says the World Encompassed,' "the General was most of all distracted; and therefore withdrew himself, as not able to conceal his tender affection, requiring them, that had heard the whole matter, to give their judgment, as they would another day answer it unto their Prince, and unto Almighty God, judge of all the earth."*

The fragment thus commences:

THOMAS DOUGHTY his Oration upon the Pelican when he

came from the fly-boat (the Swan) to the Pellican to remain, the Company being called by the Boatswaine together:

He said he had called them together, having somewhat to say from the General.

Reminded them that there had been great brawls and quarrels among them-many looking on themselves to be masters, some resisting, others commanding.

The General meaning to do us all good, hath sent me as his friend whom he trusteth, to take charge in this place, giving to me a special commandment to signify to you, that all matters bypast are forgiven and forgotten, on this condition, that we hear no more of your evil dealings hereafter; and I am therefore to tell you that you are to obey only one master in all matters, knowing that the General hath his authority from her Highness the Queen's Majesty, and her Council, such as hath not been committed rarely to any subject before this time: to punish, at his discretion, with death or otherwise, offenders; so he hath committed the same authority to me, in his absence, to execute upon those who are malefactors, wherein I will not disappoint his ex

* World Encompassed.

pectation and credit, what he doth look for at my hands, for the respect of any person; but whosoever offendeth, by God's body shall feel the smart.

Be honest men, by God's body, and by the faith of an honest gentleman, I love you and mean to do you good, and I hope that a great company conceive of me that I will be rather your friend than your enemy; wherefore I wish, as an honest gentleman, that you will so use yourselves that I may not have cause to laye it upon you, which I have power to do; and thus hoping you will give me cause to think well of you, I make an end.

These things were spoken and concluded upon the Pelican by T. D.

1. It was supposed that one ship's company were against another, and that Doughty refused to give the General to understand of it, affirming that he, Doughty, should be thought to be the chief. And when it was said by Francis Fletcher that he would tell the General of it, the said Thos. Doughty desired him, very earnestly, that he would not; for, saith he, I shall be suspected.

2. That T. D. and Thos. Cuttill were often in secret; he told Cuttill for the good liking he had of him, if he found him the same man afterwards, as he then did, he would provide for him 1007., besides his voyage, when they came to England, and that he would stand between him and the danger, and would keep the said Cuttill in the Temple from the Lord Admiral and all officers. Such his words in the fly-boat.

3. Returning from the Pelican into the fly-boat he said, tho' Mr. Chester (the captain) was his enemy, whom he would never forgive, yet had he friends which had, and would, work for him, and that he had promised to be Master in another and better ship.