DISCOVERY 



297 



before the outbreak of the recent war there is little 

 to comfort those who, studying the life of Drake as 

 a whole, and finding it morally wholesome, have refused 

 to believe that grapes grow on thorns, or figs on 

 thistles. Happily, however, since the summer of 

 1914, some vital discoveries have been made public 

 which set the whole question in an entirely new 

 light. 



The first of these we owe to Mrs. Zelia Nuttall, a 

 student of Mexican archaeology almost as well known 

 on tliis side of the Atlantic as on the other. She was, 

 she tells us, some years ago making researches in 

 the National Archives of Mexico, and examining In- 

 quisition trials for Aztec practices, when chance led 

 her to a dust-covered volume lying on the floor. She 

 carried it to a window to see what it was, and, turning 

 over its leaves, came across the " Declaration by Nufio 

 da SUva as to how he was taken prisoner by English 

 pirates on his way from Oporto to Brazil, May 23, 1579." 

 An anxious and excited scrutiny soon revealed the 

 name of " Francisco Drac " ; and, under the compelling 

 charm which that name has ever exercised, Mrs. 

 Nuttall tossed aside her Aztec pursuits, and followed up 

 a clue which led her in turn to New York, Simancas, 

 Seville, Madrid, Rome, London, and Oxford. 



The first revelation that closely concerns us was 

 contributed by the archives of Seville. But before 

 examining it, we shall do weU to take the circum- 

 navigator over another reach of his voyage. 



After the execution of Doughty, Drake pushed on ; 

 and, with forces meekly submissive to his leadership, 

 and unanimous in their respect to his authoritj', 

 entered the Strait of Magellan. In seventeen days 

 the passage perilous was passed, and the little fleet 

 entered the Pacific. There they experienced the most 

 terrible weather, and through this the Golden Hind 

 alone emerged with hmbs unbroken and resolution 

 unshattered. The Marygold was devoured by the 

 wolfish waves ; and the Elizabeth returned through the 

 Strait to England. Drake, with a brain of ice and a 

 heart of fire, explored the sesis that threatened to 

 engulf him, and discovered the rolling expanse of 

 oceans to the south of Tierra del Fuego. This momen- 

 tous discovery supplied him with a homeward route 

 alternative to Magellan's Strait, and, with spirit 

 reinforced by joy and gladness, he ran northw^ard 

 into Spanish domains. At Valparaiso, Arica, and 

 Tarapaca, he ballasted his ship with golden ingots ; 

 and on February 13, 1579, ^^^h delightful insouciance 

 dropped anchor amongst the native craft in the harbour 

 of Lima. He was almost immediately detected as 

 an alien corsair, and the hue and cry was raised. The 

 Viceroy of Peru mustered every citizen that could 

 fight, and ordered ships to be prepared for their em- 

 barkation. The word " Inglese " was passed from 



mouth to mouth, and then the blood-curdling hiss. 



El Draque ! " 



But the Viceroy was uncertain who the intruder 

 could be, or where his vessel could hail from. He 

 therefore gave orders to Juan Gutierrez de Ulloa 

 (Chief Clerk of the Holy Office) to examine (with the 

 usual rites) three Englishmen still imprisoned at 

 Lima in the cells of the Inquisition. These were no 

 other than John Oxenham, his pilot, and his master ; 

 and their depositions, dated February 20, 1579, 

 constitute the fortunate find that Mrs. Nuttall has made 

 in the archives of the Indies at Seville.' 



Oxenham 's testimony (when translated) runs as 

 follows : 



" Questioned whether, while in England or since 

 he had left there, he had heard or understood that 

 Queen Elizabeth or any other person had entertained 

 the project to arm a certain number of vessels for the 

 purpose of establishing settlements, or for other pur- 

 poses, on the coast of the ' North Sea,' or in the region 

 of the Strait of Magellan, or on the coast of the ' South 

 Sea," he answered that four years ago an English knight 

 named Richard Grenville, who Uves at a distance of 

 a league and a half from Plymouth, and is very rich, 

 applied to the Queen for a hcence to come to the Strait 

 of Magellan and to pass to the ' South Sea,' in order 

 to search for land or some islands where to found 

 settlements, because in England there are many in- 

 habitants and but httle land. The Queen gave him 

 the licence and witness saw it. It was very large 

 [mny grande). The said Grenville bought two ships, 

 and was about to buy two or three more, when the 

 Queen revoked the Hcence because she had learnt 

 tliat beyond the Strait of Magellan there were settle- 

 ments made by Spaniards, who might do them harm. 

 The said Grenville sold the ships after the licence 

 had been taken from him. Previously to that, he had 

 spoken many times with witness, trying to persuade 

 him to accompany him, but witness did not wish to 

 do so. Grenville 's project was to come and found a 

 settlement on the River Plate, and then pass the 

 Strait and establish settlements wherever a good 

 country for such could be found. 



" Witness thinks that if the Queen were to give a 

 licence to Captain Francis Drake, he would certainly 

 come and pass through the Strait, because he is a very 

 good mariner and pilot, and there is no better one than 

 he in England who could accomplish this. Witness 

 thinks that the Queen will not, as long as she hves, 

 grant the licence, but that after the Queen's death, 

 there will certainly be someone who will come to the 

 Strait. The said Captain Francis had often spoken 

 to witness sajang that, if the Queen would grant him 

 ' Archho General de Iiidias, Ei, Ci, L4-1, No. 32. 



