“Sir Francis Drake was nothing but a pirate Villain.” How far do you agree with this statement?
“Sir Francis Drake was nothing but a pirate Villain.” How far do you agree with this statement?
Sir Francis Drake (1545-1596) was a British explorer, slave-trader, privateer (a pirate working for a government) in the service of England, mayor of Plymouth, England, and naval officer (he was an Admiral). Drake led the second expedition to sail around the world in a voyage lasting from 1577 to 1580. Queen Elizabeth I commissioned Drake to command the expedition together with John Winter and Thomas Doughty. They left Plymouth, England, on December 13, 1577, with six ships. In his lifetime, many thought of him with mixed feelings, both at home and abroad. Some English people regarded him as a hero, but he was distrusted by others, who saw him as having risen 'above his station'. Personally I believe that he was nothing but a privateer, but not quite a villain. In this essay I shall look at both point of view and then say whether I agree with the statement.
Francis Drake was a villain as he created enemies for England. As Drake began to plan the voyage home, he knew 'he would face Spanish attacks if he went back the way he came'. Drake made many enemies as he explored the world, but the country he angered the most was Spain-the most powerful country in Europe. Philip II of Spain was furious, and knew that Drake was attacking them in 'the name of England'. Drake also angered Philip as he was also involved in the slave trade. Drake and Hawkins sailed to ‘New Spain’ to sell their captives to settlers (backed by Queen Elizabeth), an action that was against Spanish law. But there slave-trading trip to the West Indies ended with an attack by the ‘Spanish fleet at San Juan de Ulua, near Veracruz, Mexico’. The Spanish did not want the English competing in their ‘highly profitable slave-trading businesses’. When Drake returned after his 3 year voyage Elizabeth knighted him. Phillip II of Spain was insulted. Drake’s voyage may have been triumphant to the English, but for
Sir Francis Drake (1545-1596) was a British explorer, slave-trader, privateer (a pirate working for a government) in the service of England, mayor of Plymouth, England, and naval officer (he was an Admiral). Drake led the second expedition to sail around the world in a voyage lasting from 1577 to 1580. Queen Elizabeth I commissioned Drake to command the expedition together with John Winter and Thomas Doughty. They left Plymouth, England, on December 13, 1577, with six ships. In his lifetime, many thought of him with mixed feelings, both at home and abroad. Some English people regarded him as a hero, but he was distrusted by others, who saw him as having risen 'above his station'. Personally I believe that he was nothing but a privateer, but not quite a villain. In this essay I shall look at both point of view and then say whether I agree with the statement.
Francis Drake was a villain as he created enemies for England. As Drake began to plan the voyage home, he knew 'he would face Spanish attacks if he went back the way he came'. Drake made many enemies as he explored the world, but the country he angered the most was Spain-the most powerful country in Europe. Philip II of Spain was furious, and knew that Drake was attacking them in 'the name of England'. Drake also angered Philip as he was also involved in the slave trade. Drake and Hawkins sailed to ‘New Spain’ to sell their captives to settlers (backed by Queen Elizabeth), an action that was against Spanish law. But there slave-trading trip to the West Indies ended with an attack by the ‘Spanish fleet at San Juan de Ulua, near Veracruz, Mexico’. The Spanish did not want the English competing in their ‘highly profitable slave-trading businesses’. When Drake returned after his 3 year voyage Elizabeth knighted him. Phillip II of Spain was insulted. Drake’s voyage may have been triumphant to the English, but for