ed achievements have kept his
name conspicuous among his country's foremost sea-fighters.

He began his career in the coasting-trade, sailed with Sir John
Hawkins in 1567, and three years later began privateering operations
against the Spaniards in the New World, by way of making good the
losses which they had inflicted upon him. These depredations on
Spanish possessions were continued through many years, with
occasional attacks upon the coast of Spain itself. "By Spanish
historians," says an English writer, "these hostilities are
represented as unprovoked in their origin, and as barbarous in their
execution, and candor must allow that there is but too much justice
in the complaint."

Whether justifiable or not, these aggressive acts of Drake had much
to do with the desire for revenge upon England which led Philip II
to prepare for a great invasion of that country. Drake, on his
return, in 1580, from the first English circumnavigation of the
globe, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. She now gave him important
commands, and from this period at least his career may be regarded
in connection with the regular service of his sovereign.

In the autumn of 1585 Drake sailed with twenty-five ships against
the Spanish Main, harrying the coasts of the West Indies and of
northern South America. Cartagena, which he captured in 1586, was
the chief port and stronghold of New Granada (now Colombia). By this
feat, as also by his "singeing of the beard of the Spanish King" at
Cadiz next year, he assailed with telling effect the power with
which England was at once to be brought into more serious conflict.

The mill of Philip's purpose went grinding on relentlessly. He invited a
large fleet of English corn-ships to the relief of his famine-stricken
provinces, and then, as they lay unsuspecting in his ports, he seized
them every one. Never once was the growing armada out of his mind. This
atrocious outrage was but to feed his monster, and swift and sharp was
the retribution it earned. It was in the last days of May, and, ere June
was out, far and near the seas were swarming with English privateers,
and "The Dragon" was unchained.

Fortified with letters of marque to release the embargoed vessels, Drake
hoisted his flag at Plymouth on the Elizabeth Bonaventura, and there, by
the end of July, "in all jollity and with all help and furtheran