DRAKES VOYAGES

Blurb

Drake's voyages are set in the period of intense maritime activity which occurred in the latter half of the sixteenth century. Kenneth Andrews presents the voyages in
a new light by stressing the aggressive and predatory features of Elizabethan maritime expansion. Drake's projects and exploits themselves provide a dramatic commentary on the close kinship of trade and plunder in Elizabethan oceanic policy. English maritime aggression — and particularly Drake's own West Indies raid in 1585-6 — played an important part in precipitating war with Spain. Open sea-war with Spain nevertheless produced disappointing results, and the study of Drake's later voyages throws considerable light upon the reasons for this comparative failure to follow up the successes of the years 1585-8. In respect of strategic thought and naval organisation Drake's last two voyages epitomize the failure of English sea-power to outgrow its adolescence in the final phase of Elizabeth's reign. Privateering remained the characteristic form of maritime warfare, and the sea-war was in fact fought in the mnanner and spirit of Drake, who first and last was 'a prince of corsairs'.

Illustrated with 7 maps

The author

Kenneth Andrews is a Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Hull. He is a member of the council of the Hakluyt Society, and is preparing for them a collection of materials relating to Drake's last voyage. His previous works include : English Privateering Voyages to the West Indies 1588-95, and Elizabethan Privateering.