1-272-812 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Letter from Sir Francis Drake to William Cecil, Lord High treasurer, 26th July 1586. Letter informing Cecil that the whole Spanish treasure from the Indies for the last year only, escaped Drake by twelve hours, but that there is a very great gap opened, very little to the liking of the King of Spain, referring him to the bearers for all that has passed, and asking for £6000 in order to pay off the poorer sort of his men, in return for which bullion shall be sent (Plymouth) on board the Elizabeth Bonaventure. The letter was written on Drake's return from an expedition to the West Indies. He set out, in command of twenty-five vessels, on 14th September 1585, captured and put to ransom the Spanish towns of San Domingo and Cartagena, and reached Portsmouth on his return on 28th July 1586, bringing back with him the colonists of Virginia. From the fourth series of Facsimiles of royal, historical, literary and other autographs in the Department of Manuscripts, British Museum: Series I - V, (London, 1899).