Drake, the Armada and the Elizabethan sea dogs

1500 to 1699

When Hawkins Brought 300 Dying Men Home Against All Odds, 1568
Most people have never heard of John Hawkins' harrowing 1568 voyage. They should have.
When John Hawkins Freed His Crew and Damned Himself, 1568
John Hawkins is not a household name. Yet, his choice in a single moment changed the course of English maritime history.
The Portrait That Told Elizabeth I's Enemies She Would Never Break
The gray skies of London hung heavy with the promise of rain, the chill of the city creeped through the cobblestone streets, whispering secrets to…
When Martin Frobisher Brought Arctic Ice to England's Queen
Martin Frobisher's voyages are largely forgotten. They shouldn't be.
When Martin Frobisher Faced the Arctic Ice Alone, 1576
July 25, 1576. The cold wind howled unabated across the desolate expanse of the icy Arctic waters. Above, the pale sun hung diffidently in the sky…
When Martin Frobisher Found Gold in the Arctic — And Lost Everything
He sought riches in strange and distant lands, yet he died in staggering debt. Martin Frobisher, an audacious sea captain and privateer, was…
When Sir Martin Frobisher's Arctic Gold Rush Started Three Frozen Wars
In the bitter cold of August 1576, somewhere in the ice-locked waters of what is now Canada's Arctic archipelago, Sir Martin Frobisher held destiny…
The day Martin Frobisher brought Arctic gold to Queen Elizabeth
Picture this: a summer day in 1577, and the Thames is alive with whispers. Three weather-beaten ships creep up the murky river toward London, their…
When Francis Drake Knelt Before the Mast at Plymouth, 1577
He never attended a university. Yet, Francis Drake could navigate the high seas with a precision that belied academia.
When Francis Drake Returned With the World at His Feet
On a drizzling September day in 1580, a lone ship bobbed into Plymouth Harbour, weather-beaten and tired. The townspeople, used to the comings and…
When Francis Drake Sailed Into the Unknown for England, 1577
The wind howled through the rigging, the cold Atlantic spray a merciless baptism as Sir Francis Drake gripped the helm of the Pelican . Raging seas…
When Francis Drake Knelt and Refused to Hang His Own Man, 1578
He was an adventurer entrusted with one of England's most daring naval expeditions. And yet, he would rather kneel than betray his principles. Such…
When Francis Drake Sailed Into the Pacific and Changed Everything
Francis Drake was just another sailor. But his choices carved new paths on the world's oceans and in the minds of his countrymen.
When Martin Frobisher Brought Home a Worthless Mountain, 1578
He was known as a daring adventurer who charted the unknown Arctic waters. Yet Martin Frobisher never smiled wider than when standing atop a pile of…
When Francis Drake Held a Bible and Claimed California, 1579
The salty breeze carried whispers of distant lands as Francis Drake surveyed the rugged coastline. Clutched tightly in his hand, the weight of the…
When Granuaile's Fleet Defied Elizabeth I's Navy in Clew Bay
The morning mist clung to Clew Bay like a shroud as twenty sleek galleys cut through the gray waters, their oars beating in perfect unison. At the…
When Sir Francis Drake Captured Spain's £10 Million Treasure Fleet
The Spanish captain squinted through his spyglass at the distant sail on the horizon, its white canvas barely visible against the azure Pacific sky…
The Day a Tudor Sailor Came Home After Circling the World
As shadows lengthened on the evening of September 26, 1580, the weary residents of Plymouth Harbour witnessed an extraordinary sight: the battered…
The day Francis Drake sailed into Plymouth with Spanish silver
The lookout's cry echoed across Plymouth's windswept harbour on that grey September morning in 1580: "Ship approaching!" But this was no ordinary…
When Francis Drake Circled the World and Came Home, 1580
The salt spray stung Francis Drake's eyes as the Golden Hind lurched underfoot, her timbers groaning in protest. The wind howled and waves crashed…
When Francis Drake Knelt in a Stolen Ship, 1580
Francis Drake was a pirate. Queen Elizabeth I made him a knight.
When Francis Drake Bowed to Elizabeth and Changed History
April 1581. The chill of the Thames River hung in the morning air as mist enveloped the riverbanks.
When Francis Drake Knelt and England Claimed the Sea, 1581
The river Thames lay hushed beneath a rain-drenched sky on that fabled day in April 1581. The air was thick with the smell of the river's brine…
When Francis Drake Knelt and Rose a Knight of England, 1581
April 1581. The salty breeze carried whispers of destiny across the deck of the Golden Hinde.
When Francis Drake Knelt Before a Queen and Defied a King, 1581
Francis Drake was a pirate. Or so said the King of Spain.
When Francis Drake Knelt Before His Queen on a Stolen Ship
April 1581. The salty tang of the River Thames carried on the brisk morning breeze.
When Francis Drake Knelt Before the Mast at Deptford, 1581
The chill of an early April morning hung heavy over the River Thames, wisps of fog curling through the rigging of ships anchored at Deptford. The…
When Richard Grenville Sailed Into the Storm, 1585
The deck pitched sideways under his feet as Sir Richard Grenville steadied himself against the relentless Atlantic, the smell of salt heavy in the…
When Francis Drake Sailed Into Cadiz and Burned Spain's Fleet, 1587
The morning light glinted sharply off the waters of Cadiz harbour, casting long shadows over the bustling fleet of Spanish ships. The air was heavy…
The Day a Tudor Queen Rode to War in Armour
Most people believed Queen Elizabeth would retreat. She had every intention of proving them wrong.
The night Francis Drake finished his game before facing the Armada
Picture this: the most powerful naval force the world has ever seen is bearing down on England's coast, its 130 ships bristling with cannons and…
When HMS Revenge Limped Home From the Armada, 1588
HMS Revenge sailed to face the invincible. It returned barely able to sail at all. This was the paradoxical plight of the ship widely celebrated in…
When Richard Grenville Burned His Ship and Fought Alone, 1591
He was often clad in lavish attire, known for his love of wine and poetry. Yet Sir Richard Grenville was also a man driven by an unyielding code of…
Yi Sun-sin Built a Turtle Ship and Broke Japan's Armada
The morning sea off Korea's southern coast in July 1592 glistened under a bright, uncompromising sun. The waves seemed to dance rhythmically…
When Richard Hawkins Sailed Into a Spanish Trap, 1594
He was thirty-one years old. Richard Hawkins entered combat with just one ship and seventy-five men under his command.
When Richard Hawkins Defied Spain to Free His Men, 1597
He was a prisoner in a foreign land. Yet, Richard Hawkins felt more a captain than captive.
When Hugh O'Neill's Ulster Army Crushed Elizabeth's Forces at Yellow Ford
The morning mist clung to the Blackwater River like a funeral shroud. It was August 14th, 1598, and Marshal Henry Bagenal had no idea he was marching…
The Day a Tudor Queen Walked Into Parliament Alone
The late autumn light sliced through the ancient windows of the House of Commons, casting elongated shadows upon the faces of its members. Outside…
When Captain Thomas Best Defeated the Portuguese Armada with Just Four Ships
The morning mist clung to the Arabian Sea like a shroud as Captain Thomas Best peered through his spyglass at the horizon. What he saw should have…

Drake, the Armada and the Elizabethan sea dogs

1500 to 1699

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