ir safe return.

Sebastian del Cano, escaping the fate which befell so many Spanish
navigators, was handsomely received and rewarded, letters patent of
nobility being bestowed upon him, with a globe for a crest, having the
motto, "Primus me circum dedisti"--"You first encompassed me."

The vessel herself, after becoming the theme of poets and historians,
who declared that she deserved a shrine of gold, was ignominiously lost
on her passage from Saint Domingo.

Putting aside the conduct on many occasions of the explorers, we must
give due praise to the leader of the expedition who conducted it so
nearly to a successful termination.  By it was demonstrated without
doubt the spherical form of the earth.  The passage from the Atlantic to
the Pacific was discovered, with numerous hitherto unknown islands, and
the way thus opened to the several voyagers who subsequently sailed
forth to explore the wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean.



CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

VOYAGE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE ROUND THE WORLD--A.D. 1577.

Drake introduced to Queen Elizabeth--Describes his birth, education,
early voyages, adventures with Hawkins, capture of treasure, and first
sight of the South Sea--Exploit and death of Oxenham--Drake's
liberality--His plan unfolded--The Queen's sanction--A squadron of five
vessels equipped--Sails on 15th of November, 1577--Puts into Mogador--
visited by Moorish chiefs--A seaman carried off by the Moors--Small
prizes taken--Drake's generosity--Touches at the Cape de Verdes--The
inhabitants fly--Expedition on shore--No provisions to be obtained--A
Portugal ship taken, and the pilot, Nuno da Silva, detained--The
Portugals liberated, and a pinnace given them--Captain Doughty's
misconduct--The coast of Brazil sighted--Native alarm fires seen--A
tempest--The _Christopher_ separates--Squadron enters Rio de la Plata--
The _Christopher_ returns--Sails along the coast--Another storm--Caunter
lost sight of--Approach of winter--The Admiral in danger--Rescued by
Captain Thomas of the _Marigold_--Lands--Natives fly--Their huts
v