52 ALL AFLOAT 



struggle with New France. But even before 

 his time, which was just after Champlain had 

 founded Quebec, two great maritime events had 

 encouraged the English to aim at that com- 

 mand of the sea which they finally maintained 

 against all rivals. In 1579 Sir Francis Drake 

 sailed completely round the world. He was 

 the first sea captain who had ever done so, for 

 Magellan had died in mid-career fifty-seven 

 years before. This notable feat was accom- 

 panied by his successful capture of many 

 Spanish treasure ships. Explorer, warrior, 

 enricher of the realm, he at once became a 

 national hero. Queen Elizabeth, a patriot 

 ruler who always loved a hero for his service 

 to the state, knighted Drake on board his flag- 

 ship; and a poet sang his praises in these 

 few, fit words, which well deserve quotation 

 wherever the sea-borne English tongue is 

 known : 



The Stars of Heaven would thee proclaim, 



If men here silent were. 

 The Sun himself could not forget 



His fellow traveller. 



Nine years later the English Navy fought the 

 unwieldy Spanish Armada into bewildered 

 flight and chased it to its death round the 

 hostile coast-line of the British Isles. 



