Drake : Fact and Legend
Sir Francis Drake. By James A. Williamson. (Collins. is. 6d.)
A LIFE of Sir Francis Drake is a happy introduction to a new series, entitled " Brief Lives," which Collins is publishing. Legends have grown up round Drake's name since his exploits as the scourge of Spain first excited the imagination of his Protestant countrymen. In particular, his singeing of the King of Spain's beard, his game of bowls and his drum have become part of our national heritage. But only historians are able to separate legend front esfablished fact, and amongst historians Dr. Williamson is eminently qualified to write Drake's life. This is a book full of facts, told simply and attractively by a scholar, and as there is room on most shelves for a new life of Drake it should be assured a warm welcome.
Drake's reputation as a sea-officer, stands high when illumined by the searchlight of 'modern scholarship. He was a resourceful, indeed brilliant leader who cared little for critical colleagues and royal directives. He liquidated critical colleagues and 'excused his harshness by his successful conelusion of 'a difficult enterprise. Thus, howeyer honest the intentions of Thomas Doughty and William Borough may have been (and Dr. Williamson is no advocate for Doughty), they were obstacles to the successful circumnavigation of the globe (" successful " in this case meaning returning to Plymouth Sound laden with Spanish gold) and the raid on Cadiz in 1587. As Drake wrote in a letter to Walsingham, on May 17th, 1587, of which extracts have been stitched together and are known as " Drake's Prayer ": " There must be a beginning of any great matter, but .the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory."
In 1568 Drake survived the treacherous Spanish attack on Hawkins's ships at San Juan de Ulna. He sailed home safely with a few men in the 'Judith ' and made careful preparations both to revenge and recuperate himself. The lanious voyage of 1572 was made in two little ships of 70 and 25 tons manned by 73 men, all save one under 30 years of age. Draki:.ieized -Nombre de Dios, and had brought his men to the mouth of the treasure of the world when he fell, wounded in the foot. He was carried off by his men, but planned a further attack on the mule-train., laden with treasure, winding across the isthmus from Panama. This time he landed with only eighteen Englishmen, and was aided by the Cimaroons, who were escaped slaves. It was then that Drake first sighted the Pacific from the top of a goodly and great high tree. After many adven- tures he got his -gold. Nowonder the congregation flocked from St. Andrew's Church, Plymouth, to welcome Drake home. In future seamen were eager to follow his noble steps for gold and silver (to paraphrase the title page of the book Sir Francis Drake Revived, which describes this voyage).
The voyage of circumnavigation made Drake internationally famous and a favourite of Queen Elizabeth, who knighted him. With her support he led expeditions to the West Indies in 1585 and to Cadiz in 1587, which must have materially weakened the Spanish Arrhada which sailed to conquer England in 1588. Against the Armada Drake was second in command to the Lord Admiral, Howard of Effingham, who captained successfully a difficult team of experienced fighting seamen, several of them of Drake's calibre. Drake was fortunate in capturing .a -Spanish galleon, after slipping away from the fleet one night without saying he was going. When • Medina Sidonia arrived home the children would shout at him that Drake was coming.
After the Armada Drake shared the command of two important expeditions, both failures: He died off Porto Bello in 1596, but
despite these later failures his fame was undimmed. ' Drake and elson had like qualities, such as hatred of the national enemy tempered with humanity after the victory ; each showed superb leadership whilst occasionally disregarding orders and displaying impatieable of making quick deci- Mons, sometimes wrong but generally bringing brilliant victory. Nelson had the advantage of 200 years of the improved administra- tion and discipline of the Royal Navy. (Drake was chronically short of supplies which he trusted to borrow from the enemy.) Probably Nelson was the greater admiral. Dr. Williamson has produced a model biography of Drake. Stow sums up Drake's career and reminds us of Isis giant and legendary stature as imagined by his contemporaries: " In brief, he was as 'famous in Europe and America as Tamburlaine in Asia and Africa." GEORGE P. B. NAISH.
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