❝ imagined. He was the firft man that brought fhips to contemn caftles on fhore, which had ever been thought very formidable, but were difcovered by him to make a noise only, and to fright thofe, "who could rarely be hurt by them. He was the first " that infused that proportion of courage into feamen, "by making them fee, by experience, what mighty "things they could do if they were refolved, and "taught them to fight in fire as well as upon the "water; and, though he has been very well imitated

and followed, was the firft that gave the example of that kind of naval courage, and bold and refolute atchievements.'

To this atteftation of his military excellence, it may be proper to fubjoin an account of his moral character from the author of Lives English and Foreign. "He "was jealous," fays that writer," of the liberty of the "fubject, and the glory of his nation; and as he made "ufe of no mean artifices to raise himself to the high"eft command at fea, fo he needed no intereft but his "merit to fupport him in it. He fcorned nothing "more than money, which, as faft as it came in, was

laid out by him in the fervice of the state, and to "fhew that he was animated by that brave, publick "fpirit, which has fince been reckoned rather roman"tick than heroick. And he was fo difinterested, that "though no man had more opportunities to enrich "himself than he, who had taken fo many millions ❝from the enemies of England, yet he threw it all into

the publick treasury, and did not die 500 l. richer "than his father left him; which the author avers

from his perfonal knowledge of his family and their circumstances, having been bred up in it, and often

"heard

"heard his brother give this account of him. He was religious according to the pretended purity of thefe times, but would frequently allow himfelf to be merry with his officers, and by his tendernefs and "generofity to the feamen had fo endeared himself to "them, that when he died they lamented his loss as "that of a common father."

Inftead of more teftimonies, his character may be properly concluded with one incident of his life, by which it appears how much the fpirit of Blake was fuperior to all private views. His brother, in the laft action with the Spaniards, having not done his duty, was at Blake's defire difcarded, and the fhip was given to another; yet was he not lefs regardful of him as a brother, for when he died he left him his eftate, knowing him well qualified to adorn or enjoy a private fortune, though he had found him unfit to ferve his country in a publick character, and had therefore not fuffered him to rob it.

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.

RANCIS DRAKE was the fon of a clergyman

of the Proteftants, at that time much oppofed by Henry VIII. was obliged to fly from his place of refidence into Kent for refuge, from the perfecution raised against him, and those of the fame opinion, by the law of the fix articles.

How long he lived there, or how he was fupported, was not known; nor have we any account of the first years of Sir Francis Drake's life, of any difpofition to hazards and adventures which might have been difcovered in his childhood, or of the education which qualified him for fuch wonderful attempts.

We are only informed, that he was put apprentice by his father to the master of a small veffel that traded to France and the Low Countries, under whom he probably learned the rudiments of navigation, and familiarifed himself to the dangers and hardships of the fea.

But how few opportunities foever he might have in this part of his life for the exercise of his courage, he *This Life was first printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1749.

gave fo many proofs of diligence and fidelity, that his master dying unmarried left him his little veffel in reward of his fervices; a eircumftance that deferves to be remembered, not only as it may illuftrate the private character of this brave man, but as it may hint, to all thofe who may hereafter propofe his conduct for their imitation, That virtue is the fureft foundation both of reputation and fortune, and that the first step to greatnefs is to be honest,

If it were not improper to dwell longer on an incident at the first view fo inconfiderable, it might be added, That it deferves the reflection of thofe, who, when they are engaged in affairs not adequate to their abilities, pafs them over with a contemptuous neglect, and while they amuse themselves with chimerical chemes, and plans of future undertakings, fuffer every opportunity of smaller advantage to flip away as unworthy their regard. They may learn from the example of Drake, that diligence in employments of lefs confequence is the most fuccessful introduction to greater enterprizes.

After having followed for fome time his mafter's profeffion, he grew weary of so narrow a province, and, having fold his little veffel, ventured his effects in the new trade to the Weft-Indies, which, having not been long difcovered, and very little frequented by the Englifh till that time, were conceived fo much to abound in wealth, that no voyage thither could fail of being recompenfed by great advantages. Nothing was talked of among the mercantile or adventurous part of mankind, but the beauty and riches of this new world. Freth difcoveries were frequently made, new countries and nations never heard of before were daily defcribed, and it may easily be concluded that the relaters did

not

not diminish the merit of their attempts, by fuppreffing or diminishing any circumftance that might produce wonder, or excite curiofity. Nor was their vanity only engaged in raifing, admirers, but their intereft likewife in procuring adventurers, who were indeed easily gained by the hopes which naturally arife from new profpects, though through ignorance of the American feas, and by the malice of the Spaniards, who from the first discovery of thofe countries confidered every other nation that attempted to follow them as invaders of their rights, the beft concerted defigns often mifcarried.

Among those who fuffered moft from the Spanish injuftice, was Capt. John Hawkins, who, having been admitted by the viceroy to traffic in the bay of Mexico, was, contrary to the ftipulation then made between them, and in violation of the peace between Spain and England, attacked without any declaration of hoftilities, and obliged, after an obftinate resistance, to retire with the lofs of four ships, and a great number of his men, who were either deftroyed or carried into flavery.

In this voyage Drake had adventured almost all his fortune, which he in vain endeavoured to recover, both by his own private interest, and by obtaining letters from Queen Elizabeth; for the Spaniards, deaf to all remonstrances, either vindicated the injustice of the viceroy, or at least forbore to redress it.

Drake, thus oppreffed and impoverished, retained at leaft his courage and his induftry, that ardent fpirit that prompted him to adventures, and that indefatigable patience that enabled him to furmount difficulties. He did not fit down idly to lament misfortunes which heaven

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