It was a Stormy morning in the month of May, 1572; and the

fishermen of the little village of Westport, situate about five miles

from Plymouth, clustered in the public house of the place; and

discussed, not the storm, for that was a common topic, but the fact

that Master Francis Drake, whose ships lay now at Plymouth, was

visiting the Squire of Treadwood, had passed through the village

over night, and might go through it again, today. There was not one

of the hardy fishermen there but would gladly have joined Drake’s

expedition, for marvellous tales had been told of the great booty

which he, and other well-known captains, had already obtained from

the Dons on the Spanish Main.