1577 Drake's Voyage around the World. 37 him to let those Indians go, and from that time forward not to follow so evil a practice. The two men were presently ordered to be let loose that they might return to their homes; but one of them refused to leave, alleging that he did not wish to remain in the power of one who, without cause, condemned him to die, and that he who had saved his life he desired to serve so long as he should live. De Soto's property was ordered by Moscoso to be sold at public outcry. It consisted of two male and three female slaves, three horses, and seven hundred swine." 1 53. While the eastern and southern parts of North America were being explored, the western part was not neglected. Expeditions sent by Cortez, the conqueror of Mexico, examined the California peninsula; and Coronado Other ex(ko-ro-nah'-do) "with an army of three hundred plorations. Spaniards, most of them mounted," sent by the governor of Mexico, wandered for three years, extending his excursion as far as the western part of Kansas (1540-1543). His courage and skill should have secured for him the approbation of King Charles instead, "his failure to find a northern Peru threw him out of favor."2 The most memorable enterprise, however, in connection with the early Western explorations was that commanded by the English navigator, Francis Drake, during his "career of splendid piracy." 54. On the 13th of December, 1577, Drake sailed from Plymouth, England, with five small vessels which had been procured and armed by himself and others, age around ostensibly for a voyage to Egypt, but really for a Drake's voy; the world. The remnant of De Soto's followers, having in vain tried to reach Mexico through the forests, built seven frail barks, and sailed down the Mississippi and along the coasts of Mexico, till they reached a Spanish settlement. 2 2 Alarcɔn (ah-lar'-son), sent up the coast with two ships, to aid Coronado, discovered the Colorado of the west, and sailed up it nearly a hundred miles above the present boundary of the United States. In 1542, Cabrillo (kab-reel'-yo), sailing from Mexico, explored the coast as far as San Francisco bay; but, dying, his pilot, Fer-re'-lo, continued the explorations as far north, probably, as the latitude of the forty-third degree. cruise against the dominions and subjects of Spain. The governments of England and Spain were then indeed at peace with each other; but mutual hatred prevailed between the two nations, and the principles of general law or morals were not at that period so refined as to prevent Queen Elizabeth from favoring Drake's enterprise. 55. "For some months after leaving England, Drake roved about the Atlantic without making any prize of value. He then refitted his vessels at a port on the eastern coast of Patagonia, and succeeded in conducting three of them safely through the dreaded strait of Magellan into the Pacific. Scarcely, however, was this accomplished ere the little squadron was dispersed by a storm; and the chief of the expedition was left with only a schooner of a hundred- tons' burden and about sixty men to prosecute his enterprise against the power and wealth of the Spaniards on the western side of America. 56. Nothwithstanding these disheartening occurrences, Drake did not hesitate to proceed to the parts of the coast occupied by the Spaniards, whom he found unprepared to resist him either on land or on sea. He accordingly plundered their towns and ships with but little difficulty; and so deep and lasting was the impression produced by his achievements that, for more than a century afterward, his name was never mentioned in those countries without exciting feelings of horror and detestation. 57. At length, in the spring of 1579, Drake, having completed his visitation of the Spanish American coasts by the plunder of a town on the south side of Mexico, and filled his vessel with precious spoils, became anxious to return to England; but having reason to expect that the Spaniards would intercept him if he should attempt to repass Magellan's strait, he resolved to seek a northern route to the Atlantic. Accordingly, on quitting the coast he steered west and northwest; and, having sailed in those directions about fourteen hundred leagues, he had, in the beginning of June, advanced beyond the forty-second degree of north latitude, where his 1579 Drake's Voyage around the World. 39 men, being thus speedily come out of the extreme heat, found the air so cold that, being pinched with the same, they complained of the extremity thereof.' 58. Thinking it best to seek the land, he soon made the American coast, and endeavored to approach it so as to anchor; but finding no proper harbor there he sailed along the shore southward until the seventeenth of the month when 'it pleased God to send him into a fair and good bay, within thirty-eight degrees towards the line.' In this bay (San Francisco, or Bo-de'-ga), the English remained five weeks, employed in refitting their vessel, and obtaining such supplies for their voyage as the country offered. 6 59. The natives, having their houses close by the water's side,' at first exhibited signs of hostility; but they were soon conciliated by the kind and forbearing conduct of the strangers; and their respect for Drake so increased that, when they saw him about to depart, they earnestly implored him to continue among them as their king. The naval hero, though not disposed to undertake, in person, the duties of sovereignty over a tribe of naked or skin-clad savages, nevertheless 'thought not meet to reject the crown because he knew not what honor or profit it might bring to his own country; whereupon, in the name and to the use of her majesty, Queen Elizabeth, he accepted the crown, sceptre, and dignity of the country, wishing that the riches and treasure thereof might be so conveniently transported for the enriching of her kingdom at home.' The coronation accordingly took place with most ludicrous solemnity, and Drake bestowed on his dominions the name of New Albion. 60. The vessel having been refitted, Drake erected on the shore a pillar bearing an inscription commemorating the fact of this cession of sovereignty; and on the 22d of July he took leave of his worthy subjects to their great regret. Having, however, by this time abandoned all idea of seeking a northern passage to the Atlantic, he sailed directly across the Pacific, and thence through the Indian seas, and around the Cape of Good Hope, to England, where he arrived on the 26th of September, 1580."1 61. Four years later the celebrated courtier, Walter Paleigh, having obtained from Eliza beth a grant of land on the eastern RALEIGH. their return to England that Elizabeth declared the event to be the most glorious in her reign. As a memorial of her unmarried state she named the country Virginia. Upon Raleigh she conferred the honor of knighthood.2 1 Elizabeth received Drake with the most distinguished honor. His vessel was brought to the Thames, and a banquet was held on board, at which Elizabeth was present, and the occasion was used to give Drake the honor of knighthood. 2 Attempts, by direction of Raleigh, were afterward made to plant permanent settlements on Roanoke island, but they proved unsuccessful. The tobacco plant was first carried to England by some of Raleigh's returning colonists, and he introduced the habit of smoking it. It is related that when his servant entered his room with a tankard of ale, and for the first time saw the smoke issuing from his master's mouth and nostrils, he cast the liquor in his face. Terribly frightened, he alarmed the household with the intelligence that Sir Walter was on fire." The death of Elizabeth (1603) proved fatal to Raleigh's fortunes. He was tried on a false charge of treason, convicted, and imprisoned. During his imprisonment he wrote a History of England. Being released, in order that he might point out a gold mine which he said existed in the northern part of South America, and having failed in the expedition, he was, on his return, beheaded, under the sentence which had been almost forgotten (1618). He met death with the most heroic indifference. Before he laid his head upon the block he felt the edge of the axe, and said, with a smile upon his face, that it was a sharp medicine, but would cure the worst disease. When he was bent down, ready for death, he said to the executioner, finding that he hesitated,' What dost thou fear? Strike, man!' So the axe came down and struck his head off, in the sixty-sixth year of his age.' 1608 Marquette on the Mississippi. 41 Explorations by the French. 62. "The French competed without delay for the New World." Cartier (car-te-ā') made two voyages, discovered the St. Lawrence river, and, in the name of his king, took possession of all the country he saw. Later, Port Royal, now Annapolis, in Nova Scotia, was settled; and, later still, Champlain (sham-plain') founded the city of Quebec, and explored the lake which bears his name (1608). To the region now included in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick the French gave the name A-ca'-di-a. They extended their efforts at settlement to Carolina and Florida, but without permanent success. No expeditions, however, were marked with more heroism and selfsacrifice than those conducted by the French Catholics in their efforts to explore the country in the region of the great lakes and along the Mississippi river, and to convert the Indians to their faith. Marquette on the Mississippi. 63. Prominent among these heroic men was Marquette (mar-ket'). "In the spring of 1673, he, with Joliet (zhuh-lyā) for his chieftain, and five other Frenchmen, embarked at Mackinaw in two frail bark canoes. With paddle in hand, and full of hope, they soon glided merrily over the crystal waters of Lake Michigan. Before entering the Wisconsin, they looked back a last adieu to the waters which, great as the distance was, connected them with Quebec and their countrymen. They knelt on the shore to offer, by a new devotion, their lives, their honor, and their undertaking to their beloved mother, the Virgin Mary Immaculate. Then, launching their boats on the broad river, they sailed slowly down its current amid its vineclad isles, and its countless sand-bars. No sound broke the stillness, no human form appeared, and at last, after sailing seven days, they happily glided into the great river-the Mississippi. 64. Joy that could find no utterance in words filled the grateful heart of Marquette. The broad river of the Conception, as he named it, now lay before them, stretching away |