is important service rendered, he gained information that the _Saint
Philipe_, a Portuguese carrack from the East Indies, was expected at
Terceira, one of the Azores. Though the crews of the squadron were
almost destitute of provisions, by threats and promises he induced them
to continue at sea, and ere long came in sight of and captured the
richest prize ever yet taken; but valuable as was her cargo, still more
so were the papers found on board, for from them the English merchants
acquired so thorough a knowledge of the Indian trade, that they were ere
long able to found that profitable company which established the empire
of Britain in the East.

Returning home, Sir Francis was in the following year appointed
Vice-Admiral under Lord Howard of Effingham. Before long news came that
the Spanish Armada was approaching the coast.

Who does not know how Drake, warping his ships out of Plymouth Harbour,
attacked the haughty Dons, hanging on their rear as they sailed
vauntingly on, harassing, capturing, and destroying them? How he ran
alongside a mighty galleon commanded by Don Pedro de Valdez, which at
the name of Drake surrendered without striking a blow? How the navy of
England did their part, though Heaven gained them the victory?

The war with Spain continuing, Drake, in conjunction with Sir John
Hawkins, took command of an expedition for the purpose of crushing the
power of the Spaniards in the West Indies. The fleet, consisting of six
ships of the navy and twenty-one private vessels, and having on board
twenty-five thousand soldiers and sailors, sailed from Plymouth on the
28th of August, 1595.

It was unfortunate from the commencement. First detained in the Channel
from a false report that another armada was about to be sent against our
shores, no sooner did it arrive off Dominica, than one of the vessels
was captured by the enemy, whom in consequence it was no longer possible
to surprise. The squadron then proceeded to Porto Rico; but Hawkins
died on the evening of their arrival off the place; and shortly
afterwards a shot from the fortress entering the cabin of Drake's ship,
where he and his officers were seated at supper, knocking the stool from
under him, killed Sir Nicholas Clifford and several others.

The place was captured the next day, but the Spaniards having removed
all their treasure, and their women and children, the invaders reaped
but a barren victory.

Several places fell into the hands of