by coasting in the narrow seas, had taken a bolder flight.  He had risked his hard-earned savings in a voyage with the old slave-trader, John Hawkins—­whose exertions, in what was then considered an honourable and useful vocation, had been rewarded by Queen Elizabeth with her special favour, and with a coat of arms, the crest whereof was a negro’s head, proper, chained—­but the lad’s first and last enterprise in this field was unfortunate.  Captured by Spaniards, and only escaping with life, he determined to revenge himself on the whole Spanish nation; and this was considered a most legitimate proceeding according to the “sea divinity” in which he, had been schooled.  His subsequent expeditions against the Spanish possessions in the West Indies were eminently successful, and soon the name of Francis Drake rang through the world, and startled Philip in the depths of his Escorial.  The first Englishman, and the second of any nation, he then ploughed his memorable “furrow round the earth,” carrying amazement and, destruction to the Spaniards as he sailed, and after three years brought to the Queen treasure enough, as it was asserted, to maintain a war with the Spanish King for seven years, and to pay himself and companions, and the merchant-adventurers who had participated in his enterprise, forty-seven pounds sterling for every pound invested in the voyage.  The speculation had been a fortunate one both, for himself and for the kingdom.

The terrible Sea-King was one of the great types of the sixteenth century.  The self-helping private adventurer, in his little vessel the ‘Golden Hind,’ one hundred tons burthen, had waged successful war against a mighty empire, and had shown England how to humble Philip.  When he again set foot on his native soil he was followed by admiring crowds, and became the favourite hero of romance and ballad; for it was not the ignoble pursuit of gold alone, through toil and peril, which had endeared his name to the nation.  The popular instinct recognized that the true means had been found at last for rescuing England and Protestantism from the overshadowing empire of Spain.  The Queen visited him in his ’Golden Hind,’ and gave him the honour of knighthood.

The treaty between the United Netherlands and England had been followed by an embargo upon English vessels, persons, and property, in the ports of Spain; and after five years of unwonted repose, the privateersman again set forth with twenty-five small vessels—­of which five or six only were armed—­under his command, conjoined with that of General Carlisle.  This time the voyage was undertaken with full permission and assistance of the Queen who, however, intended to disavow him, if she should find such a step convenient.  This was the expedition in which Philip Sidney had desired to take part.  The Queen watched its result with intense anxiety, for the fate of her Netherland adventure was thought to be hanging on the issue.  “Upon Drake’s voyage, in very truth, dependeth the life and death of the cause, according to man’s judgment,” said Walsingham.