Portobello ruins, today.
In 1589, Queen Elizabeth ordered Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Norreys to seek out and destroy any remaining ships of the Armada, and to help Portuguese rebels in Lisbon that were fighting for independence from Spain.[1] During the raid on Lisbon they seized many merchant vessels, but failed to capture the city or carry out any other aspect of Elizabeth's instructions. The mission was a disaster. While Drake and Norreys were seeking out the Spanish, they were able to destroy a few ships in a Spanish harbour, but at a high cost of both life and property. Drake lost 20 ships and more than 12, 000 men. [2] The amount of losses accumulated from these missions discouraged Drake to the point where he finally abandoned them. He fell out of the queen's favor after that, and received no commands for almost six years. Drake retired to Buckland Abbey in 1593, where for the next several years, he occupied himself with duties as the mayor of Plymouth, and represented Plymouth in the House of Commons.
In 1595, the queen once again called on Sir Francis Drake to re-enter the war on Spain. Drake attacked the Spanish port of Las Palmas on the Grand Canary Island. It did not go well. Drake intended to make it to Puerto Rico, but then decided to attack Las Palmas because he thought it would be an easy target. It proved to be a well-established fort filled with excellent arms and men. The English were surrounded and forced to retreat.
Following that defeat, Drake returned to the Americas, most likely in the hopes of regaining some former glory. Unfortunately, this too was a mistake. Drake suffered one defeat after another. In a final push for success, Drake and his cousin, John Hawkins, were to capture Spain's treasure supply in Panama, in hopes of cutting off revenue and ending the war. Drake and Hawkins were in command of twenty-seven ships, six of which provided by the queen, including the flagships that were captained by each of them. Drake captained the 550-ton Defiance and Hawkins the 660-ton Garland.[3] After a few battles in the Caribbean, the fleet moved farther west and anchored off the coast of Portobello, Panama. Hawkins fell sick and died as the fleet reached the islands. Drake went on, and destroyed several towns. He captured Nombre de Dios but could not seize Panama City.
Drake contracted dysentery and on January 28, 1596, he died off the coast of Portobello, where several Spanish treasure ships had sought shelter.[4] When Drake realised the likelihood of his death, he ordered his drum to be returned to England.[5] He was buried in a lead coffin at sea near Portobello. His coffin has not been found. Drake's years as an explorer and privateer have become an irrevocable part of world history. Considered a hero in England, it is said that if England is ever in peril, beating Drake's Drum will cause him to return from heaven to rescue the country.
[1] Elizabeth rightly believed that if Portugal was separate both countries would be weaker, and if England was to help the Portuguese rebels, England would most likely gain a new ally.
[2] Charles River Editors, British Legends: The Life and Legacy of Sir Francis Drake, (Charles River Editors, 2012) p. 36
[3] Sudgen, John. Sir Francis Drake. (Vintage Digital; New Ed edition, 2006) p.308
[4] Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon
[5] Drake is said to have taken the drum, with his coat of arms on it, with him on his voyages around the world between 1577 and 1580.
In 1595, the queen once again called on Sir Francis Drake to re-enter the war on Spain. Drake attacked the Spanish port of Las Palmas on the Grand Canary Island. It did not go well. Drake intended to make it to Puerto Rico, but then decided to attack Las Palmas because he thought it would be an easy target. It proved to be a well-established fort filled with excellent arms and men. The English were surrounded and forced to retreat.
Following that defeat, Drake returned to the Americas, most likely in the hopes of regaining some former glory. Unfortunately, this too was a mistake. Drake suffered one defeat after another. In a final push for success, Drake and his cousin, John Hawkins, were to capture Spain's treasure supply in Panama, in hopes of cutting off revenue and ending the war. Drake and Hawkins were in command of twenty-seven ships, six of which provided by the queen, including the flagships that were captained by each of them. Drake captained the 550-ton Defiance and Hawkins the 660-ton Garland.[3] After a few battles in the Caribbean, the fleet moved farther west and anchored off the coast of Portobello, Panama. Hawkins fell sick and died as the fleet reached the islands. Drake went on, and destroyed several towns. He captured Nombre de Dios but could not seize Panama City.
Drake contracted dysentery and on January 28, 1596, he died off the coast of Portobello, where several Spanish treasure ships had sought shelter.[4] When Drake realised the likelihood of his death, he ordered his drum to be returned to England.[5] He was buried in a lead coffin at sea near Portobello. His coffin has not been found. Drake's years as an explorer and privateer have become an irrevocable part of world history. Considered a hero in England, it is said that if England is ever in peril, beating Drake's Drum will cause him to return from heaven to rescue the country.
[1] Elizabeth rightly believed that if Portugal was separate both countries would be weaker, and if England was to help the Portuguese rebels, England would most likely gain a new ally.
[2] Charles River Editors, British Legends: The Life and Legacy of Sir Francis Drake, (Charles River Editors, 2012) p. 36
[3] Sudgen, John. Sir Francis Drake. (Vintage Digital; New Ed edition, 2006) p.308
[4] Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon
[5] Drake is said to have taken the drum, with his coat of arms on it, with him on his voyages around the world between 1577 and 1580.