Chapter I: Introduction

This is the second of a series of books on a subject of the greatest interest to all young Englishmen--the Naval History of England. To the sea England owes its greatness, and the Anglo-Saxon race its possession of such large portions of the earth. Two-thirds of the surface of our globe are covered with water, and the nations that have the chief command of the seas must naturally have immense power in the world. There is nothing more marvellous in the last century, great as has been the progress in all directions, than the birth of new nations in distant parts of the earth, sprung from our own people, and speaking our own language. England and America bid fair to encompass the world with their influence; because, centuries ago, England became, through the bravery and endurance of her sailors, the chief ocean power.

From the earliest times, the command of the sea was eagerly sought after. The Phœnicians, occupying a position of much importance as a commercial centre between the great regions of Asia on the east and the countries surrounding the Mediterranean on the west, made rapid progress in navigation. The large ships they sent to Tarshish were unequalled for size and speed. Their vessels effected wonderful things in bringing together the varied treasures of distant countries. They used the sea rather for commerce, and the sending forth of colonists through whom they might extend their trade, than for purposes of conquest. With the Romans, who succeeded them in the command of the sea, especially after the fall of Carthage, the sea was a war-path, and the subjugation of the world was the paramount idea, although the vessels brought treasures from all parts to enrich the imperial city. The Anglo-Saxons have used the seas, both east and west, as the Phœnicians used the Mediterranean, for the extension of commerce and the planting of colonies, but also, as the Romans, for the subjugation and civilisation of great empires.

There is a great interest in observing the progress of events for a century after the opening up of the great world by Columbus and others of the same period. It seemed for a time as if Spain and Portugal were to conquer and possess most of the magnificent territories discovered; France seemed also likely to have a fair portion; but England, almost nowhere at first, gradually led the way. This was due chiefly to the wonderful feats and endurance and bravery of her sailors. One country after another fell under our influence, till the great continent of America in all its northern parts became peopled by the Anglo-Saxon race--which has, in later periods, similarly spread over Australia and New Zealand.

With the growth of the maritime power of England is associated a splendid array of heroic names, and many of the humblest sailors were equal in bravery to their renowned commanders. No history is more intensely interesting than that of the daring perils and triumphs of heroic seamen. The heroes, who have distinguished themselves in the history and growth of the British Navy, furnish a gallery and galaxy, bewildering in extent; the events of pith and moment, in which they have been prominent actors, present fields too vast to be fully traversed; they can only be touched at salient points.

CONTENTS

CHAP. WILLIAM, JOHN, AND RICHARD HAWKINS. PAGE

I. THREE GENERATIONS OF ADVENTURERS, 1

CHARLES HOWARD, BARON OF EFFINGHAM, AFTERWARDS EARL OF
NOTTINGHAM.

II. “BORN TO SERVE AND SAVE HIS COUNTRY,” 37

SIR MARTIN FROBISHER, NAVIGATOR, DISCOVERER, AND COMBATANT.

III. THE FIRST ENGLISH DISCOVERER OF GREENLAND, 47

THOMAS CAVENDISH, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER.

IV. THE SECOND ENGLISHMAN WHO CIRCUMNAVIGATED THE GLOBE, 57

SIR WALTER RALEIGH, QUEEN ELIZABETH’S FAVOURITE MINISTER.

V. AMERICAN COLONISATION SCHEMES, 83

SIR WALTER RALEIGH, SAILOR, SCHOLAR, POET.

VI. NAVAL EXPEDITIONS--TRIAL AND EXECUTION, 130

THE PLANTING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN COLONIES.

VII. “TO FRAME SUCH JUST AND EQUAL LAWS AS SHALL BE MOST
CONVENIENT,” 173

OLIVER CROMWELL AND THE SEA-POWER OF ENGLAND.

VIII. A LONG INTERVAL IN NAVAL WARFARE ENDED, 181

ROBERT BLAKE, THE GREAT ADMIRAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

IX. HE ACHIEVED FOR ENGLAND THE TITLE, NEVER SINCE DISPUTED,
OF “MISTRESS OF THE SEA,” 186

GEORGE MONK, K.G., DUKE OF ALBEMARLE.

X. THE FRIEND OF CROMWELL, AND THE RESTORER OF CHARLES II., 230

EDWARD MONTAGU, EARL OF SANDWICH.

XI. NAVAL CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ENGLISH AND THE DUTCH, 253

PRINCE RUPERT, NAVAL AND MILITARY COMMANDER.

XII. THE DUTCH DISCOVER ENGLISH COURAGE TO BE INVINCIBLE, 290

SIR EDWIN SPRAGGE, ONE BORN TO COMMAND.

XIII. THE DUTCH AVOW SUCH FIERCE FIGHTING NEVER TO HAVE BEEN
SEEN, 315

SIR THOMAS ALLEN.

XIV. THE PROMOTED PRIVATEER, 334

SIR JOHN HARMAN.

XV. “BOLD AS A LION, BUT ALSO WISE AND WARY,” 343

ADMIRAL BENBOW.

XVI. THE KING SAID, “WE MUST SPARE OUR BEAUX, AND SEND HONEST
BENBOW,” 346

SIR CLOUDESLEY SHOVEL.

XVII. THE SHOEMAKER WHO ROSE TO BE REAR-ADMIRAL OF ENGLAND, 359

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE CALLING ON HIS COMRADES TO PLAY OUT
THE MATCH, AND TO BEAT THE SPANIARDS TOO, _Frontispiece_

SIR JOHN HAWKINS, 3

ROCHELLE, 11

SIR JOHN HAWKINS PURSUING THE SHIPS OF THE ARMADA, 19

CHATHAM EARLY IN THE 17TH CENTURY, 25

MOUNTAINS AND GLACIERS IN THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN, 33

EARL OF EFFINGHAM, 38

LORD HOWARD DEFEATING A SPANISH FLEET, 43

SIR MARTIN FROBISHER, 49

SIR MARTIN FROBISHER PASSING GREENWICH, 53

THOMAS CAVENDISH, 59

PERILOUS POSITION IN THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN, 67

ROUNDING THE CAPE DE BUENA ESPERANÇA, 75

SIR WALTER RALEIGH, 85

RALEIGH SPREADING OUT HIS CLOAK TO PROTECT THE
QUEEN’S FEET FROM THE MUD, 93

EDMUND SPENSER, AUTHOR OF THE “FAERIE QUEENE,” 103

THE MADRE DE DIOS, 111

RALEIGH ON THE ORINOCO RIVER, 121

RALEIGH AS SAILOR, SCHOLAR, POET, 131

ENGLISH FLEET BEFORE CADIZ, 139

ST. HELIERS, JERSEY, 149

SIR WALTER RALEIGH CONFINED IN THE TOWER, 157

LORD FRANCIS BACON, 167

THE MAYFLOWER, 175

OLIVER CROMWELL, 183

ADMIRAL BLAKE, 193

BATTLE BETWEEN BLAKE AND VAN TROMP, 203

ADMIRAL VAN TROMP, 213

THE DEATH OF ADMIRAL BLAKE, 225

GENERAL MONK, 233

DEFEAT OF THE DUTCH FLEET BY MONK, 241

SEA FIGHT WITH THE DUTCH, 249

EARL OF SANDWICH, DUKE OF YORK--BATTLE OF SOUTHWOLD
OR SOLE BAY, 257

DUNKIRK, 265

CASTLE OF TANGIERS, 273

ACTION BETWEEN THE EARL OF SANDWICH AND ADMIRAL
DE RUYTER, 283

PRINCE RUPERT AT EDGEHILL, 293

DEFEAT OF THE DUTCH OFF LOWESTOFT, 301

ADRIAN DE RUYTER, 309

THE DUTCH FLEET CAPTURES SHEERNESS, 319

ATTACKING A PIRATE OFF ALGIERS, 329

AN ALGERINE CORSAIR, 339

ADMIRAL BENBOW, 351

SIR CLOUDESLEY SHOVEL, 361

CARRICKFERGUS CASTLE, 369

HALF HOURS ON THE QUARTER-DECK.

WILLIAM, JOHN, AND RICHARD HAWKINS.