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John Hawkins. Born 1532 Learned sailing skills working with his father and later fighting the French 30 began first slave trading expedition. Through friendships and family ties Hawkins able to secure backers from the centre of power Treasurer of the Navy – Benjamin Gonson
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John Hawkins • Born 1532 • Learned sailing skills working with his father and later fighting the French • 30 began first slave trading expedition
Through friendships and family ties Hawkins able to secure backers from the centre of power • Treasurer of the Navy – Benjamin Gonson • Traders such as William Garrad • First journey conceived as purely commercial • Allowed Elizabeth I to claim that it contravened no treaty • still freedom on the High Seas
Next problem navigation • Hawkins proficient in techniques of 16th C Navigation • But without • maps • longitude calculations • familiarity of the region • voyage was potentially disastrous • Here Hawkins experience paid off
Over the years developed a partnership with a trader on the Canaries • Juan Martinez • A Spanish Pilot form Cadiz • Knowledge and expertise of both sides of the Spanish Atlantic • profit overcoming loyalty • Hawkins was also meticulous
Journey was long and unhealthy • Offered higher wages than anyone else • He also held out an additional carrot • Possibility to supplement pay through pillage and private trade • Also not be afraid to use the stick • Crew new that discipline would be firm
They also knew that Hawkins would look after them he loaded prodigious supplies • Adequate water • Beer • Biscuit • Fresh beef & salt beef • Fresh and salted fish • Salt, butter, cheese • Also live pets, that later could be used as food
Alongside food Hawkins provided other necessities • Broad cloth and cotton for trade • items to replace broken and lost items and repair the ship • As well as • carpenters • cooks • barber-surgeon • And a company of musicians
Three ships • Salomon, Jonas And Swallow • Spent four moths in Africa • Guinea was a huge area of 2000 miles • Guinea “the land of the black men” in Berber • Initially attempted to gain cargo by capturing slaves • With the help of competing nations • However, this was to change
Hawkins soon worked out how to gain profit more easily • British ships better armed and more maneuverable than Spanish and Portuguese ships • Easier to coast along the coast and find other Europeans • Hawkins began attacking ships as they were leaving port
As one recorder noted Hawkins • “stayed some good time, and got into his possessions, partly by the sword and partly by other means, to the number of 300 Negroes at the least, besides other merchandise, which the country yields” • Gained so much smallest ship • the Swallow • sent back to England with goods • Francis Drake on board
April 1563 Hawkins left Africa and headed across the Atlantic • Only half slaves survived the journey • In poor condition • Despite this Hawkins initially had no trouble selling his cargo • Merchandise was untaxed and therefore cheap
Eventually local authorities began to take notice • Lorenzo Bernáldez • young officer dispatched to confront Hawkins • Facing a much better armed vessel, Bernáldez quickly granted Hawkins a license • Something he had no authority to do
Hawkins quickly off loaded his goods • Profit was huge • Ships were so loaded with • Pearls, gold, silver, hides, ginger and other goods • had too much to sail • Rented two Spanish ships • loaded them up and sent them back to Spain • with instruction to report to an English merchant there
Ships confiscated by the Spanish • Hawkins lost the profit • confiscated because of letters from the Caribbean • One ended with the statement that • “Tomorrow all this land could be come part of England if steps are not taken” • This is the only indication of the value of the trip • Confiscated goods had value of £2000 • $701,372 in today’s money
Upon return to England welcomed as a hero • Despite the loss of the Spanish ships he brought huge profits • for his backers and the men who had sailed with him • Also granted an audience with the Queen • With new support and fame easily able to gain support for a second voyage
Hawkins not only problem for the Spanish • Confiscated ships and news of his trip alarmed the Spanish • Both • piracy of the coast of Africa • trading and undercutting of Spanish authority in the Caribbean • Fellow former Channel pirate, Thomas Stucley was also causing problems
Stucly had been working together with French pirate Ribault • Who had founded the failed French settlement in Florida • In Caribbean with fleet of six ships and over three hundred men • Less well known about because his acts were more provocative
Stucly wrought havoc all over the Caribbean attacking merchants and colonist equally • Elizabeth I had no choice but to issue a warrant for his arrest • She also disowned Stucly • However, she hesitated for a long time before issuing the order • Acts of adventurers were proving very useful to Elizabeth's plans for the rebuilding of England
Actions of Hawkins and Spanish reaction to it • Symptomatic of the worsening relationship of Catholic Spain and Protestant England • The situation came to a head on February 25, 1570 with the publication , by Pope Pius V, of • Regnana in Excelsis
We declare the said Elizabeth heretic and fautress of heretics, and her servants to have fallen under the sentence of anathema, and to be cut of from the unity of the Body of Christ, and her, Elizabeth, to be deprived of her pretended right to the said realm and of all and every dominion, dignity and privilege…
In effect an act of Religious Imperialism • By the time the document had been nailed to the door of Lambeth Palace • Archbishop of Cantebury’s residence in London • It had become an open invitation to assassinate Queen Elizabeth
Declaration of War in the eyes of Elizabeth’s Sea Dogs • The age of hostile commerce • As seen with Hawkins • Was over • now it was time for War • Enter Francis Drake • But First……
In response to the Papal Bull • Drake went to war • To Protect his Queen • To Enrich Himself • Spread the Glory of the English • Decided to hit directly at source of Spanish power • $$Wealth of the Americas
Question: • How had the Spanish brought that wealth home without trouble for so long? • Answer • people had attacked at the wrong place • Rather than attacking the Flota • Attack the Treasure house at Nombre de Díos and the treasure Train
Feb 1571 Drake returned to the Caribbean • knowledge of how to get there as sailed with Hawkins • But no intimate knowledge of the region • Through capture and interrogation of Spanish vessels and their crew • And importantly the help of Cimaroons • Gained the missing knowledge
Drake spent three month on the River Charges and surrounding region attacking shipping • Gained increasing knowledge from each attack • 3 expeditions sent out to capture him • cost of 4000 pesos (approx. $470,000) • Drake’s private/public war netted £66,000 ($23.22 Million)
Drake returned to England • May 24, 1572 he left again for the treasure house of Spain • With explicit blessing of Elisabeth • Beginning of Privateers • state sponsored piracy
Returning to the location from his previous journey, • Which had been found by the Spanish • Drake constructed a base to began his new attacks • After meeting up with a fellow privateer • Raunce • Drake advanced on Nombre de Díos
Drake took 73 men aboard three small boats • made his way to the “Treasure house of the World” • Between 2-3am clouds parted revealing a full moon • Drake ordered the attack
Advantage of surprise Drakes attack was successful • To a degree • Drake hurt • they collected some silver • failed to get into the treasure house • (which they would later find was empty) • Alcalde of Nombre de Díos counted his losses
Sent an envoy to drake Drake Advised the governor to hold open his eyes, before he departed, if God lent him life and leave, he meant to reap some of their harvest, which they get out of the earth
While recovering from wounds became friendly with Diego • former slave • Hatched plan to hit treasure train before it got to Nombre de Díos • Spent time attacking in the region waiting for the next train • Lost some men to Spanish attack • Including his Brother
Moral beginning to drop • Running out of supplies • Recovered somewhat when they captured a 90 ton Spanish supply vessel • Shortly after Drake and remaining men • With 30 cimaroones • headed out again in to the forest
Leader of Cimaroons, Pedro, asked Drake to climb a tree • Puzzled but OK • Sees both sides of the Panama Isthmus • both Atlantic and Pacific Oceans • Spanish get news that Drake is on move • Separate the wealth • Drake stuck made off with limited goods
March 31, 1573 headed back out • This time successful • Adding $23 Million to their haul • Of which $2.13 million belonged personally to Philip
Returning to ships headed back to England • Returning in Plymouth Harbor on Aug 9, 1574 • Drake had now made two successful and profitable journeys • “Singeing the King of Spain’s Beard”
Upon Drakes return to England following his second voyage • Was praised by many • But his deeds had been privately motivated • In order to prove his loyalty without question he was sent to help in the “pacification” of Ireland
Having worked in Ireland for several years • Or he may have been in prison • Or he may have met and married wife • Drake returned to England for his next venture • Conceived while at the top of a tree in America • Perfectly timed • Several factors came together to make his next voyage not only possible but probable
Second cousin and man who had first taken him to America • John Hawkins • On November 18, 1577 • Was appointed as “treasurer for marine courses” • Basically head of Navy and naval affairs
In addition Martin Frobisher and his promoter Michael Lok • pushing the (false) news that during trip to North America • Frobisher had discovered Gold • Spain’s wealth may now be countered by gold for England? • International exploration was booming
In addition British trade into the region known as the Barbary coast had grown from 1572 • Elizabeth was promoting the trade and encouraging voyages to the region • And in 1576 an important and influential book was to be published by Dr. John Dee
Within book was a shorter piece called • “A Petty Royal Navy” • Dee laid out a 13 point plan for a standing navy to act as Britain’s defense • also first to refer to the British Empire • Planned for a fleet of 75 ships • Claiming that pirates of good character would be happy to join this fleet • It would also provide work for vagrants • Dee went on to write that
“This Petty Navy Royal is thought to be the only Master Key wherewith to open all the locals that keep or hinder this incomparable British Empire from enjoying . . . such a yearly revenue of Treasure . . . with so great ease” • All things seaborne were in favor at this time • A third voyage for, the already successful, Drake was assured
All things seaborne were in favor at this time • A third voyage for, the already successful, Drake was assured
Drake permitted audience with the Queen • She permitted him the use of a ship and supplied a cash investment • That is she invested personal not government funds • Also agreed to his terms that included that • “the Queen’s Majesty may be made privy to the truth of the voyage, and yet the color [cover] to be given out to Alexandria”
True intent of Drake’s voyage • Attack the Spanish in what was known as the “Spanish Sea” • Pacific • July 1577, Elizabeth decided that Drake would be allowed to go to Alexandria
Drake set sail with five ships • Pelican • Elizabeth • Marigold • Swan • Christopher • Leaving Plymouth he headed south for Africa
Captured Portuguese ship • Santa Maria – renamed the Mary • Took navigator, Nuño de Silva to aid his voyage • Worked his way down coast of Africa • instead of heading east he headed west • Course was clear and crew now knew for certain what they may have only suspected before • They were not heading for Alexandria • On April 5, 1578 they reached Brazil
En route he renamed the Pelican the Golden Hind • In honor of his main benefactor Sir Christopher Hatton • His Coat of Arms was topped by the image of a Golden Hind