were of eighty, fifty, thirty, and fifteen.  There were altogether less than three hundred tons and two hundred men.  The crews numbered a hundred and fifty.  The rest were gentlemen-adventurers, special artificers, two trained surveyors, musicians, boys, and Drake’s own page, Jack Drake.  There was great store of wild-fire, chain-shot, harquebusses, pistols, corslets, bows and other like weapons in great abundance.  Neither had he omitted to make provision for ornament and delight, carrying with him expert musicians, rich furniture (all the vessels for his table, yea, many belonging even to the cook-room, being of pure silver), and divers shows of all sorts of curious workmanship whereby the civility and magnificence of his native country might amongst all nations withersoever he should come, be the more admired.’[3]

[3:  The little handbook issued by Pette and Jackman in 1580, for those whom we should now call commercial travellers, is full of ‘tips’ about ’Thinges to be carried with you, whereof more or lesse is to be carried for a shewe of our commodities to bee made.’  For instance:—­’Kersies of all orient couleurs, specially of stamel (fine worsted), brode cloth of orient couleurs also.  Taffeta hats.  Deepe cappes for mariners.  Quilted Cappes of Levant Taffeta of divers coulours, for the night.  Garters of Silke.  Girdels of Buffe and all leathers, with gilt and ungilt Buckles, specially wast girdels.  Wast girdels of velvet.  Gloves of all sortes, knit and of leather.  Gloves perfumed.  Shooes of Spanish leather, of divers colours.  Looking glasses for Women, great and fayre.  Comes of Ivorie.  Handkerchewes, with silk of divers colours, wrought.  Glasen eyes to ride with against dust [so motor goggles are not so new, after all!].  Boxes with weightes of golde, and every kind of coyne of golde, to shewe that the people here use weight and measure, which is a certayne shewe of wisedome, and of a certayne government settled here.’  There are also elaborate directions about what to take ’For banketing on shipborde of persons of credite’ [and prospective customers].  ’First, the sweetest perfumes to set under hatches to make the place smell sweete against their coming aborde.  Marmelade.  Sucket [candies].  Figges barrelled.  Raisins of the Sun.  Comfets that shall not dissolve.  Prunes damaske.  Dried peres.  Walnuttes.  Almondes.  Olives, to make them taste their wine.  The Apple John that dureth two yeares, to make showe of our fruites.  Hullocke [a sweet wine].  Sacke.  Vials of good sweet waters, and casting-bottels of glass, to besprinckel the gests withal, after their coming aborde.  The sweet oyle of Xante and excellent French vinegar and a fine kind of Bisket steeped in the same do make a banketting dishe. and a little Sugar cast in it cooleth and comforteth, and refresheth the spirittes of man.  Synomomme Water and Imperiall Water is to be had with you to comfort your sicke in the voyage.’