How the pirate Francis Drake became the famous admiral and the English knight? Part 2
Raid along the western coast of America was extraordinary successful. Francis Drake`s ship was overloaded with the richest production, it was time to think of return to England. But the captain did not risk to go to the Strait of Magellan, understanding that there it is already waited by the Spanish ships. Having decided to deceive Spaniards, Drake went to an unknown way through the Pacific Ocean.
He was lucky, weather favored to swimming, and soon he reached the Mariana Islands. In Indonesia at the island of Celebes it was necessary to make a long stop to repair the ship before long raid along coast of Africa. Further swimming took place quietly, and on September 26, 1580 “ Gold fallow deer “ entered into Plymouth port. So the global cruise, the second after Magellan, made by the pirate and the adventurer Francis Drake ended.
In Plymouth the captain was waited by grand welcome. Queen Elizabeth arrived on “ Gold fallow deer “ and directly on the deck made Francis Drake in knights. And the queen was for what to award him, Drake brought the production almost twice exceeding a revenue of the English treasury. By the way, in England during this period only about 300 people had the knight`s rank. It should be taken into account that formally Drake became the first captain who organized and made circumnavigation as Magellan died before the end of swimming, and coast of Spain were reached only by the remains of its crew - only 21 persons.
Drake`s campaign caused large international scandal as the official state of war during this period between England and Spain was not. The Spanish king even demanded that the queen of England approximately punished Drake for piracy, compensated damage and apologized. It is natural that neither to punish Drake, nor the queen Elizaveta was going to indemnify loss. The Spanish king was answered that he cannot “ to prevent visit Indy by British, and therefore the last can make trips there, being put at risk that they will be seized there, but if they come back without prejudice to themselves, its Majesty cannot ask Her Majesty to punish them “.
Drake could rest on laurels now. He received a post of the mayor of Plymouth, became the inspector of the royal commission which was engaged in check of a condition of fleet, and in 1584 was elected the member of the House of Commons. But overland life of Francis Drake obviously weighed. When in the middle of 80 - x years tension of England with Spain was fueled, he offered the queen the services and received the decree to create big fleet for strike against Spain.
In a short space of time Drake who received a rank the general - the admiral, managed to prepare for a campaign 21 ships. In 1585 Drake`s squadron put out to sea. It was impressive force, but Drake did not decide to go to coast of Spain, and and in America thoroughly plundered the Spanish possession on islands, having occupied a number of the large cities, including Santo - Domingo and Cartagena. However, it had to take away the English colonists to whom after leaving of a squadron destruction threatened from America. Drake returned to Plymouth with rich production again.
Rivalry of England and Spain at the sea increased, and the Spanish king decided to strike a pre-emptive strike, having prepared large fleet with a landing - “ Invincible armada “. He hoped to crush completely the English fleet and to force the queen to go to a truce on conditions, favorable to itself(himself). He could not assume that all its plans will be ruined by Drake, and England thanks to the former pirate soon will become “ Empress of the seas “.
Preparing for strike against England, Spaniards concentrated in Cadiz and Lisbon about 150 ships and transport vessels. But preparation of the ships and a landing dragged on, and British struck blow the first. Drake with a small squadron in 13 ships suddenly attacked on April 19, 1587 the Spanish ships in the port of Cadiz. The ratio 60 to 13 did not frighten the former pirate. His seamen acted safely, harmoniously and defiantly. They managed to sink directly in a bay 30 ships, and the part of the ships including and the most powerful 1200 - a ton galleon, to take and take away with themselves. Drake`s squadron even undertook raid to Lisbon, but did not decide to attack the city in which harbor there were fighting ships, having limited to ruin of vicinities and hijacking of merchant ships.
The serious blow was struck to the Spanish fleet, but its power was not undermined yet, and England began to prepare for defense. Contrary to forecasts, the queen in 1588 appointed the commander-in-chief of the English fleet not of Drake (which fleet actually and prepared), and lord Hauard, having charged to Francis to be at it the chief adviser. Despite the begun blockade, the English fleet escaped in the sea and put “ To Armada “ seriously frayed by a storm, several painful defeats, having forced it to begin retreat.
During prosecution Drake ordering part of a squadron at Gravlin crushed on July 29 the most part from the remains of the Spanish fleet. But then he made the serious miscalculation when, without having obsidional tools, he began blockade of Lisbon where the remains " took cover; Armadas “. It did not manage to take the city, and he lost the most part of the forces. Relative failure caused anger of the queen, and Drake was discharged from voyenno - sea affairs, but he continued to remain the mayor of Plymouth and the deputy of parliament. Not to be finally torn off from fleet it during this period based in Chatham a shelter and hospital for the wounded seamen.
In 1594 the skilled admiral was necessary for England again to head defense of the island against the next expedition of Spaniards. The admiral Drake also this time acted successfully, Spaniards were beaten off. And the next year he headed a small squadron from 6 ships and two tens merchant ships to coast of America. But this time the fate changed Drake. Its landing on the Canary Islands was beaten off, attempts to take San - Juan also were unsuccessful. Drake could sink several Spanish ships and plunder settlements on the coast, but bigger it was not succeeded to reach.
Failures pursued a squadron, in crews diseases extended. Fever and at Drake began. It is not fated to cope with the illness to it any more. Near Port - Belyo in the morning on January 28, 1596 the admiral died. By Francis Drake`s tradition, having put a body in a lead coffin, buried in the sea. The squadron remains under Thomas Baskervilya`s command returned to Plymouth without the admiral.
In England revere memory of the admiral Francis Drake. In Plymouth the monument is established to it, the museum of his name, and the recreated ship " is created; Gold fallow deer “ on which he made circumnavigation, again passed the same route and now is tourist sight.
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