208
IlISTOilY OF INDIA.
[liOOK I.
Sir Fraxcis Drake.
After a picture in the CoUection of the Blarquis of Lothian.
A 0. 1679 Eii;;flaiid and Spain ware entirely at an end; and though howtilities were not oi)enly declared, it was perfectly understood that, at least on the part of Spain,
they were only delayed in order that the preparations for carrying them on with effect might be rendered more complete. It is not surfmsing that, under these circumstances, fre- ([uent rencounters took place ; and the natives of either country, when- ever favourable opportunities occur- red, made no scruples of treating those of the other as open enemies. In this kind of irregidar, predator}- warfare, Francis Drake, who, origin- ally of obscure parentage from the vicinity of Tavistock, in Devonshire, had won a high name for valour and seamanship, particularly distinguished liimself. He had made two successful cruises against the Spaniards, and acquired so much wealth that he was able, in 1577, to fit out a fleet of five small vessels, with an aggi'egate crew of 164 men. The largest vessel, commanded by himself, did not exceed 100 tons; the smallest was only 1 5 tons. With these he set sail from PhTnouth on the 1 3th of December, 1577, and steered directh' across the Atlantic. On the 20th of August, 1578, he arrived in the Straits of Magalhaens, passed them, and then continued his course northwards alongf the west coast of. America till he had reached 48° N. latitude. He had probably proceeded thus far in the hope of dis- covering some opening by which he might again pass into the Atlantic. Disappointed in this ex- pectation, he retraced his steps for about 10°, and then, with the only vessel now remaining of his original five, shot boldly across the Pacific. On the 29th of September, 1579, he came in sight of the Moluccas. On the 4th of November he cast anchor at Ternate, He afterwards wound his way westward among the islands of the Indian Archipelago, doubled the Cape of Good Hope.
tSir P'rancii Draki
sails round the globe.
Drake's A.stkolabe.i
From origiD&l in Greenwich Hospital.
' Among the many relics of England's naval heroes the astrolabe, or instrument for taking the altitude
enshrined in that appropriate repository, Greenwich of the sun or stars — once belonging to the famous
Hospital, few are more interesting, few attract more Drake, which was constructed for him prior to las
attention, than the subject of the above engraving — first expedition to the West Indies in 1570.
