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] |