![]() There were six ships in total heading for the Pacific coast of America. In 1578, though, Drake would accuse poor Doughty of witchcraft! This led to his beheading on 2nd July for mutiny and treason.ĭrake left Plymouth on 13th December, 1577 on board the Pelican, after a delay due to bad weather. He led the trip alongside Jon Winter and Thomas Doughty, the latter secretly appointed by Queen Elizabeth I. Magellan led the first voyage round the world, but Drake was next, the first Englishman to achieve this. She did approve of the treasure he returned with though! Queen Elizabeth had to maintain a public attitude of disapproval for his unlawful methods, to try and prevent hostile relations with Spain. Her minister, Lord Burghley, was not at all fond of Drake’s villainous behaviour, but did concede that he was a good weapon against the Spanish. Queen Elizabeth I had obvious faith in Drake – in 1572 she enlisted Drake as a privateer (pirate working for the head of a country) to sail to the Americas. This, as well as other factors, contributed to fuelling the animosity between Spain and England, leading up to the war in 1585 and subsequent Armada. It was illegal in English law to capture people and transport them, but in those days it was perceived as ok if they were slaves, non-protestants or criminals! They were attacked by Spanish vessels and only two of the six British ships survived (those led by Drake and Hawkins themselves). Some admired his achievements and courage, whilst others resented him.ĭrake and his second cousin, Richard Hawkins, led one of the first slavery trips to West Africa in 1567. Drake was definitely not popular! Although vital to the British government and the Queen herself, even the English people were somewhat divided in their view of Drake. The king of Spain and Portugal, King Philip II was said to have offered the huge sum of 20,000 ducats (£4 million) for Drake’s life. To the Spanish, ‘El Draque’ (The Dragon) was a wayward pirate, a threat to their voyages. Exploration was obviously in their genes! He contributed to the colonisation of the New World. ![]() Walter Raleigh/Ralegh was a distant relative of Drake, famous for many things including writing and expedition. ![]() ![]() Queen Elizabeth I was eager to follow in Spain and Portugal’s explorative footsteps – they were travelling the globe, to the Americas, benefiting from slavery and setting up important trade routes.įrancis Drake was key to gaining much of England’s riches and naval successes, however morally corrupt his actions were! He would attack Spanish vessels, taking the treasure that they had brought back from abroad, and would raid Spanish and Portuguese ports. Religion and politics were dominant forces. Francis had a trading ship left to him by his apprenticeship boss at the age of 20, which was perhaps the catalyst for his historic naval achievements.ĭuring the Elizabethan period (1558-1603) of Tudor England, the country’s population was growing, and the desire for power and to explore was increasing. The reason for the move is not entirely certain: the Prayer Book Rebellion of 1549 angered Catholics, who could have then made it difficult for Drake’s Protestant family, or it may be that Edmund was involved in petty crime. The family later moved to Kent, where they lived in an old ship and it was there that his fascination with sailing began. His father, Edmund Drake, was a farmer and preacher. 1540 – 1596) was born the eldest of 12 sons, in Tavistock, Devon. He could be considered a morally dubious hero in many ways, perhaps even a villain, but was still incredibly influential in Tudor times.ĭrake (c. Sir Francis Drake – to the Spanish, a wayward pirate to the English, a hero.
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