dies in his arms-Receives news that the Spanish fleet is arrived at
Nombre de Dios to bear off the treasures of Panama-Determines
to possess himself of them-A Spanish ship captured-The negroes
wish to murder the men-Drake protects them-Drake sets off on
his overland expedition in pursuit of the treasures-His journey
and adventures noticed-Ascends the great tree-Sees the north
and south Atlantic oceans-Forms his resolution to be the first to
sail an English ship in those unknown seas-His prayer for suc-
cess-Arrives near Panama-Marches towards Venta Cruz-Sur-
prises a Spanish soldier sleeping-Commands a strict silence-The
mules laden with treasure appear in sight-Drake's plan rendered
abortive by the drunkenness of one of his followers-Robert Pike-
A body of Spaniards stationed to receive them-Assault and
defence--Drake's victory-His humanity to the conquered-His
march overland-Arrives on the banks of the Tortugas-Town of
huts built with the branches of the Palmetto-Drake sends his
token to the captain to sail up the river-Drake on board the
Minion-Sails to the Cabezas to seize the treasure-Joined by a
Frenchman-He leaves the large vessel-Proceeds for Rio Fran-
cisco-Lands-Mules and their drivers advance from Panama-
Spanish soldiers who guard the treasure overcome-The treasure
too weighty to be removed by the crew-Their perilous situation-
Drake's gallantry and spirit-The genius of Drake suggests an
expedient to save them-Constructs a raft-For six hours in danger
of instant death-Descries the pinnaces-Joy at their deliverance-
Rewards the faithful negro, Pedro, with his sword set with
diamonds-Returns to England-Drake lands at Plymouth, 1573
-The people run out of church to see him-Drake's great plan to
sail his ship in the unknown seas-Obstacles-He overcomes them
-1577, once more quits the shores of England-Driven back by a
storm-Sails again-comes in sight of the isle of Magadon-
Lands-The savages seize one of his crew-Touches at Cape
Blanc-The inhabitants beg water-Drake gives it to them-They
assist him with provisions-His fleet draws near the Line-They
approach the coast of Brazil—Inhabitants—Incantations to raise a
storm-April 7th, dreadful storm-The Christopher supposed to be
lost-Joins the fleet again-Drake enters the river Plate-Violent
tempest-Loss of the fleet apprehended-He enters the Elizabeth—
Sends Captain Winter to look after the ships missing.

MY DEAR SIR,

Vicarage, Tavistock, Oct. 8, 1832.

IN returning to the subject of Drake, I can-
not forbear observing that there is some reason to

suppose our great naval hero retained throughout life an affection for the neighbourhood in which he was born; a feeling that we often see strongly marked in men of genius. It is not unlikely Drake (who, by his own merit and God's favour, rose from a poor lad to become the terror of Spain, and the wonder of England) might have a secret pleasure in visiting the scenes of his boyhood, where his ardent mind had employed itself in those visions of enterprize and forebodings of success which persons of great understanding at a very early period are apt to indulge, till they sometimes become prophets to themselves, as they feel within them a strong assurance, like the whisper of their better angel, that the course they have to run will be marked by more than ordinary things. Drake's fondness for Buckland Abbey, where during his latter years he frequently resided whilst in England, is well known. There one of the finest portraits of him is still preserved, together with his bible, his sword, and his ship-drum, that went with him round the world. He was also a munificent benefactor to Plymouth, by causing a supply of fresh water to be brought to that town, from a distance of many miles, over the rocky and elevated lands of Dartmoor. On the completion of the Leet, for so it is called, the mayor and corporation, dressed in their formalities, accompanied by Sir Francis, came out to meet the water, and followed the stream in procession, as it was for the first time permitted to flow into the town, whilst the ringing of bells and the discharge of cannon welcomed its arrival in full chorus.

On referring to your letter of March, 1831, where you so kindly suggested to me the subjects you would wish to see embraced in a local history, so as

to make it of universal interest, you have named "the whole of its History and Biography." Sir Francis Drake, born in our parish, certainly comes under the latter class; and though I shall attempt to give little more than a sketch of his life, particularly noticing any events that may be connected with the county of his birth; yet, should these letters ever go beyond your hands, even a sketch may not be unacceptable to such of my readers (especially in this part of England) as may never have had the good fortune to meet with Johnson's life of our hero; or Fuller's or Prince's abbreviated notices of him, in the Worthies of Devon*. I have not unfrequently been surprised to find that, even some who are considered reading persons, in this neighbourhood, knew very little more of Drake than that he was born here, sailed round the world, and fought the Armada; whilst of his personal adventures, and the more minute circumstances of his history, replete as they are with wild and romantic interest, they knew nothing whatever, nor seemed to suspect there was anything worth knowing about them.

Francis Drake, the eldest of twelve male children, was the son of a minister of the reformed church. He was born in Crowndale, in the parish of Tavistock, Devon. The time of his birth, as it will appear, I think, on examination, is very doubtful; and as our registers, previous to 1614, were lost or de

*This letter was written in Oct. 1832. It was not till I had nearly completed the present sketch of Drake's life, that I learnt Mr. Southey was about writing it for his Naval History. Had I known this sooner, I should indeed have touched on the subject with reluctance.

stroyed, probably during the troublesome days of Charles I., there is here no record by which we can now ascertain the date with any certainty. That his father's connexions were very respectable, may be inferred by Sir Francis Russel, afterwards Earl of Bedford, standing sponsor to the child at the font, to whom he gave his own christian name.

If Drake's father might have been the vicar of this place, I have not been able to discover; but as Sir Francis Russel held the abbey lands given by Henry VIII., the patronage of our church came likewise to him, and he might have nominated Drake to the living of Tavistock.

It has been generally asserted by historians that our naval hero was born about the year 1545. This, however, I think I shall prove to be incorrect, since it was after his birth that his father fled from Devon to conceal himself in Kent, in consequence of his nonconformity to the fearful Six Articles. Now as these articles became a law in 1539, how could Francis Drake, who, when yet a child, was the companion of his father's flight into Kent, to avoid the danger he incurred by dissent, have been born so long after as 1545?

It may be urged that if Drake held the living of Tavistock (as very likely he did), he might, on the appearance of the Six Articles, throw it up; and retire from the old vicarage in the town, to the poor barn-looking house in Crowndale, in 1539; and might not quit that humble retreat, where he assuredly lived in indigence, till some intimation was conveyed to him that the law would be enforced against him for his disobedience. Admitting this to

be probable, it is not likely he would be suffered to remain unmolested in Crowndale for so long a period as till the year 1545. And another argument may be urged in support of the opinion that his son Francis was born before the articles in question were established by law; namely, that it is most improbable Sir Francis Russel-a man so highly favoured and enriched by Henry, and one who so well understood the character of his benefactor-would have exposed himself to the risk of displeasing his royal master by standing sponsor, and giving his own name to the son of a clergyman who refused compliance with the very articles the king had set up; and one of them under a penalty as cruel as that ordained by Nebuchadnezzar himself in support of his idol-the fiery death, on denial of the same*. This circumstance alone, when duly considered, surely will go far to prove that our Drake was born previous to that memorable epocha in the history of the church; and be it also remembered that Sir Francis Russel, to the last, preserved the favour of Henry, a sure sign he was a cautious man in his conduct towards that tyrant.

I have somewhat dwelt on this point, because in most of the books I have seen about Drake (excepting Johnson's, where no date is given), the authors will have it that he was born in 1545. Where is their authority?

In what manner Drake's father supported himself and his increasing family after his flight into Kent is not known; probably he had friends who assisted

* All persons denying the real presence in the Sacrament were, by the first of Henry's Six Articles, subjected to be burnt alive, and to forfeiture of goods, &c., the same as on a conviction of high treason.