destroyed every species of craft between Cadiz and Lisbon; and for the satisfaction of the adventurers as well as that of his own people, he stood over to the Azores, where he fell in with and captured a rich Portuguese carrack from the West Indies, called the St. Philip, and carried her home, when the Lords of the Privy Council deemed the treasure in her of such value, as to send down a commission to inquire into her cargo, in order to make the usual distribution. The following excellent letter shows, what indeed has been generally ascribed to him, that Sir Francis Drake was as devout as he was brave. John Fox, to whom it is addressed, is the same good and learned divine, to whom the world is indebted for that valuable and interesting work entitled "Acts and Monuments," but more familiarly known as "Fox's Book of Martyrs." This venerable man died in the year that this letter is dated, and in the seventieth of his age. TO THE REVEREND FATHER IN GOD JOHN FFOX, MY VERY GOOD FRIEND. MR. FOX, Whereas we have had of late such happy suxces against the Spaniards, I doe assure myself that you have faithfully remembered us in your good prayers, therefore I have not forgotten briefly to make you partaker thereof. The sixt day of Aprill wee arrivyd in the Road of Cales, where wee found very much shipping, but among the rest 32 of Exceeding Burden, loaden and to be loaden with provisions and preparacions to furnish the King's Navie, intended with all speed against England, the which when wee had boarded and also furnished our severall ships with provisions as we thought sufficient, wee burnt, and although by the space of 2 dayes and 2 nights that wee continued there wee weare still indangered both with thundering shotts from the towne, and assaulted with the roaring cannons of twelve galleys, yet wee sonnke 2 of them, and one great argosy, and still avoyded them with very small hurt, and at our departure brought away 4 ships of provisions, to the great terrour of our Enemies, as it may appear by a most courtious letter with a Flag of Truce by Don Pedro, Generall of the Galleys; but whereas it is most certain that the King doth not only make speedy preparations in Spaine, but likewise expecteth a very great fleet from the Straits, and duivers other places, that should come with his forces to invade England, wee purpose to set apart all fear of danger, and by God's furtherance to proceed with all the good meanes wee can devise to prevent their comming. Wherefore I shall desire you to continue a faithfull rememberance of us in your praiers that our part and service may take that Effect as God may be glorified, his Church, our Queen, and Country preserved, the Enemies of the Truth so vanquished that wee may have continuall peace in Israell. From aboard Her Majesties good ship called the Elizabeth Bonaadventure, in very great hast, 27 of Aprill, 1587. Your loving and faithfull Sonne in Christ Jesus, Our Enemies are many, but our Protector commandeth the whole world. Lett us all pray continually, and our Lord Jesus will hear us in good time mercifully.* The only disagreeable circumstance that occurred, on this expedition, was the misconduct of Captain * Harleian MSS., British Museum. OR Burroughs which caused his supercession, and the subsequent mutiny in the Golden Lion. It was alluded to incidentally in the "Life of Drake," but a series of papers have since been discovered, which show the steps taken by Drake at a court held by him on board his flag-ship near Cadiz, for the trial of Captain Marchaunt and the mutineers; and also a revision of the same before the Judge of the High Court of Admiralty held at Theobalds. The paper containing this is docketed thus, in the hand-writing of Dr. Julius Cæsar: " Examynacion of the Companye of the Lyon before me Doctor Cæsar, Judge of the Admiralty, the Queen's Attorney and Solicitor General, and Dr. Hamman.” In a schedule of his papers, Dr. Cæsar calls this 'Examynacion' "An excellent forme of a Sessions kept by Sir Francis Drake and other Captains on boarde of one of the Queen Elizabeth's Ships." This is a high compliment to the sagacity of the man who, for the first time, and without any precedent, held and devised what may properly be considered the form of proceeding on the first court-martial ever held in the navy." * * The original manuscript of this interesting document is now in the British Museum, among what are called the Cæsar Papers,' consisting of about twenty volumes, five of which were recently purchased by the trustees at the late Strawberry Hill sale, and in one of these latter was found the document in question. Horace Walpole purchased them many years ago at a sale of Dr. Julius Cæsar's papers. I feel particularly obliged to Mr. It thus commences: “A generall Courte holden for the service of Her Majestie aboarde the Elizabeth Bonaventure the 30th of Maye 1587, before Sir ffrancis Drake, Knighte, Generall of Her Majestie's fleete, Thomas ffenner, Vize Admyrall, Anthony Platte Lieutenante Generall, John Marchaunt Serjant Major, and the reste of the Captaines and Masters of the ffleete as followeth : THE GENERALL, Att this Courte, called in question and judiciallye demanded of Captayne Marchaunt howe he colde discharge himselfe and answere the Departure of Her Majestie's Shippe the Golden Lyon which he latelye gave him in charge. Captayne Marchaunt protestinge, with all earnest affection, his Innocencye, alledged and declared-That there was a greate Mutyne growen amonge the Companye of the Lyon the 27 of this moneth assone as we had given over the chase undertaken, (understandinge) that she was the Barke of Lyme, whereon I requyred the Master that we mighte lye close by the wynde to round our Generall. The Master answered, well Captaine, we will. But presently one of the quarter Masters came and delivered me a letter in the behalfe of the whole company as followeth : "Captayne Marchaunt, Captayne of the Golden Lyon appoynted by Sir ffrancis Drake, Generall of this fleete, We the Queenes and yours at this tyme desyre that as you are a man and beare the name of a Captayne over us, so to weighe of us like men, and lett us not be spoyled for wante of foode, for our allowance is so small we are not able to lyve any longer of it, for when as three or foure were wonte to take a charge in hande, nowe Tenne at the leaste, by reason of our weake victuallinge, and filthie drink, is scarce Holmes, of the MS. department, for having kindly brought this paper to my notice. able to discharge it, and yet growe rather weaker and weaker, which surely, if it be not loked unto, will growe to greate dishonor on your parte, and to a lasting shame on our sydes, by reason of the moste worthie and most honorable Challendge of our Generall at Castel Calleys, in daringe the King's deputie, or the Kinge himself if he were in place, or the proudest Champyon he had, to come fourthe and chaunge a Bullett with him. But none durste once adventure to come forthe unto him, But like Cowardlike knights sayde they were not readye for him,-a most worthye enterprise, deservinge lastinge fame, to come to the Gates of his Courte, yea the strongest holde of his Lande, and dare him fourth. Our harts were then so boldened, and our stomachs so coragiouslye bente, That if theye had byn Tenne to one, we rather wished to fighte then to go to dynner. But nowe moste unfortunatelye unluckie Chaunce fallen amongest us by weakinninge of our Lymes (limbs) and feblenes of our bodyes, we are not able to abyde the force of them as now, and though theye be but one to one, the more is of greife, ffor what is a peice of Beefe of halfe a pounde amonge fourre men to dynner, or halfe a drye Stockfishe for foure dayes in the weeke, and nothinge ells to helpe withall. You now have holpe a little Beveridge, worse then the pompe Water. Wee were preste by Her Majesties presse to have her allowance, and not to be thus dealt withall, you make no more of us but beasts, And therefore wee are not determyned to goo any further, but as we brought the Lyon with our Masters help fourthe, so now will carye her home agayne by the helpe of God, for as the wynde is faire, and hence we will. And thus Captayne Marchaunt thinke of us as you will, and lett us have more victualls to bringe us home, for as long as it please God this wynde to blowe, we will not alter our course, but hence straighte, and so thincke of us as you please. "The Queenes men and yours homewards by our powers." |