ILLUSTRATIONS 



George Clifford, Third Earl of Cumberland, Frontispiece 



George Clifford, third Earl of Cumberland, was born at 

 Brougham Castle in Westmoreland in 1558. He 

 succeeded to the title in January 1569-70. In 

 1 571 he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, and 

 took his M.A. degree in 1576. He is also said to 

 have studied mathematics and geography at Oxford. 

 In 1586 he fitted out his first expedition 'intended 

 for the South Sea ' under the command of Captains 

 Robert Withrington and Christopher Lister. In 

 1588 he commanded the 'Elizabeth Bonaventure' 

 against the Spanish Armada. In 1589 he made an 

 expedition to the Azores and suffered great hardships 

 on the return home (see p. 22). Between 1591 and 

 1595 he fitted out four more expeditions, and in 

 January 1597-8 he fitted out the largest of all, 

 intended for the West Indies, with himself in com- 

 mand on the ' Malice Scourge.' This ship 

 subsequently became famous for her East Indian 

 voyages under the name of the ' Red Dragon.' The 

 expedition, like most of the former ones, was a 

 failure. Cumberland died in London on 30th 

 October 1605. He is said to have been a man of 

 great personal beauty, and stood high in Elizabeth's 

 favour. The portrait, showing the Queen's glove 

 which he wore as a badge in his hat, is reproduced 

 from the original by an unknown painter in the 

 National Portrait Gallery. 

 xi 



