I

The great sailors of the Elizabethan era—­Hawkins, Drake, Frobisher, Howard, Davis, and Sir Humphrey Gilbert—­were the prototypes of the sailors of the nineteenth century.  They discovered new lands, opened up new avenues of commerce, and combined these legitimate forms of enterprise with others which at this date would be regarded as rank piracy.  Since, however, they believed themselves to be the ambassadors of God, they did everything in His name, whether it were the seizing of Spanish treasure or the annexing of new worlds by fair means or foul, believing quite sincerely in the sanctity of what they did with a seriousness and faith which now appear almost comic.

For many years the authorities of the Inquisition had plundered goods and put to death English seamen and merchants, and Spanish Philip, when remonstrated with, shrugged his shoulders and repudiated the responsibility by saying that he had no power over the “Holy House.”  Drake retaliated by taking possession of and bringing to England a million and a half of Spanish treasure while the two countries were not at war.  It is said that when Drake laid hands on the bullion at Panama he sent a message to the Viceroy that he must now learn not to interfere with the properties of English subjects, and that if four English sailors who were prisoners in Mexico were ill-treated he would execute two thousand Spaniards and send him their heads.  Drake never wasted thought about reprisals or made frothy apologetic speeches as to what would happen to those with whom he was at religious war if they molested his fellow-countrymen.  He met atrocity with atrocity.  He believed it to be his mission to avenge the burning of British seamen and the Spanish and Popish attempts on the life of his virgin sovereign.  That he knew her to be an audacious flirt, an insufferable miser, and an incurable political intriguer whose tortuous moves had to be watched as vigilantly as Philip’s assassins and English traitors, is apparent from reliable records.  His mind was saturated with the belief in his own high destiny, as the chosen instrument to break the Spanish power in Europe.  He was insensible to fear, and knew how to make other people fear and obey him.  He was not only an invincible crusader, but one of those rare personalities who have the power of infusing into his comrades his own courage and enthusiasm.  The Spanish said he was “a magician who had sold his soul to the devil.”  The Spanish sailors, and Philip himself, together with his nobles, were terror-stricken at the mention of his name.  He was to them an invincible dragon.  Santa Cruz warned his compatriots that the heretics “had teeth, and could use them.”  Here is another instance, selected from many, of the fanatical superstitions concerning Drake’s irresistible power.  Medina Sidonia had deserted the Andalusian squadron.  Drake came across the flagship.  Her commander said he was Don Pedro de Valdes, and could only surrender