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SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.

SUMMARY.

55

King Edward the Sixth was a Protestant, and as he did not wish his sister Mary, who was a Roman Catholic, to be queen when he died, he left the crown to his Protestant cousin, Lady Jane Grey. The people disliked the chief nobleman on the side of Lady Jane, and helped Mary to become queen. Lady Jane and her husband were sent as prisoners to the Tower, and after a time were beheaded.

XXII. SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.

A VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD.

1. On a dull November day, in the middle of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, five small ships might have been seen sailing out of Plymouth Harbour. The largest of the five was called The Pelican. On board of it was Francis Drake, one of the boldest of British seamen, and the commander of the little fleet.

2. Drake had often been on long voyages, and had obtained much money by plundering the Spaniards in South America with whom the English in those days were always at war. He was so well known that he had no difficulty in finding men willing to share the dangers of another voyage, in the hope of getting more of the Spaniards' gold and precious stones.

3. Nine months after leaving England, Drake sailed round the extremity of South America, and found himself in the Pacific Ocean, which the Spaniards thought belonged entirely to themselves.

4. He had become parted from the other vessels of his fleet, but in his own ship, The Pelican, he sailed along the coast, attacking and plundering the

Spaniards whenever he had an opportunity. He went on and on in a north-westerly direction, hoping to find a passage round North America from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean.

5. As he could not do this, he altered his course and sailed right across the Pacific. He passed Java and other islands lying between Australia and Asia, then rounded the Cape of Good Hope, at the South of Africa, and was thus once more in the Atlantic.

6. It was nearly three years after Drake had left England when his little ship again appeared in Plymouth Harbour. The people were much surprised to see him, for they had long thought he must be dead.

7. There was great rejoicing throughout the country when it became known that Drake had sailed round the world, for he was the first Englishman who had ever done so.

8. The queen ordered him to take The Pelican up a little creek near Deptford. Then she went on board, and there was a grand banquet. Before the queen left the ship she knighted its brave captain, and thus he became Sir Francis Drake.

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In the middle of the reign of Queen Elizabeth five small ships, under the command of Francis Drake, sailed from Plymouth Harbour. Nine months after leaving England, Drake sailed round the extremity of South America. By that time he had lost sight of four vessels. He plundered the Spaniards along the coast, and tried to find a passage round North America into the Atlantic. As he could not do that, he sailed across the Pacific, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and thus reached England. He was the first Englishman who sailed round the world. There was great rejoicing on his return, and as a reward for his bravery he was knighted by the queen.

XXIII.-THE ARMADA: 1588

THE SHIPS FROM SPAIN.

1. In the reign of Elizabeth, the King of Spain determined to try to conquer England, and to overpower its queen.

2. He prepared a great fleet of ships, but before they could sail Sir Francis Drake set fire to many of them. He called this "singeing the King of Spain's beard."

3. It took a long time to repair the damage that Drake had done, but at last the great fleet set sail. Altogether there were about one hundred and thirty ships, and most of them were of great size.

4. One summer evening when Lord Howard, the English admiral, was playing at bowls with Drake and some other officers at Plymouth, a sailor rushed to them with the news that he had seen the Spanish fleet coming up the Channel.

5. The English went on board their ships, and sailed to meet the enemy. They soon saw “the Armada," as it was called, sailing slowly along in the form of a half moon.

6. The English ships were few in number and very small compared with those with which they were to engage in battle, but they were manned by brave men and good sailors.

7. The Spaniards sailed grandly along the coast towards the Straits of Dover, while the English fleet kept attacking the great ships one by one. The English admiral was too wise to risk a great battle with the enemy.

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8. Day after day thus passed, and many of the Spanish ships were taken or sunk. The people on the shore eagerly watched the fight as the fleets sailed along, and numbers of vessels of all kinds went forth to strike a blow at the hated Spaniard. 9. When the Spanish fleet reached the Straits of

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Dover, the ships came to anchor. Then the English thought of a good plan to destroy them.

10. In the middle of the night, when nearly all on board the Armada were fast asleep, eight ships filled with things that would readily burn were set on fire, and sent amongst the Spanish vessels.

11. The Spaniards woke in great alarm, and tried to sail away from the burning ships, and to get back to Spain by passing round the North of Scotland.

12. On their way they were caught in a terrible storm which did far more damage than the English had done. Of that great fleet only fifty-three shattered vessels returned to Spain.

13. There was great joy in England when the victory became known. To keep in memory the event, Elizabeth ordered some medals to be made, bearing these words in Latin, "Jehovah blew, and they were scattered."

Adʼmir-al, commander of the
fleet.

Al-arm', fright, terror, fear.
Dam'age, hurt, injury.

The Spanish Armada,

Ea'ger-ly, with great care, anxi-
ously, earnestly.

Re-pair', make good, mend.
Shat'ter-ed, damaged.
Singe'ing, burning.

A.D. 1588.

SUMMARY.

In the reign of Elizabeth the King of Spain tried to conquer England. He got ready a great fleet, but before it set sail many of the ships were burned by Sir Francis Drake. One summer evening the Spaniards were seen sailing up the English Channel. They were attacked by the English, and many ships were destroyed. When they reached the Straits of Dover fire ships were sent amongst them. The Spaniards tried to escape by sailing round the North of Scotland. A terrible storm overtook them, and only a few ships reached Spain.

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