John Hawkins by Roger Pocock (1927)
John Hawkins, by Roger Pocock, recounts the career of the English mariner John Hawkins, a trader's son who grew up familiar with the Guinea coast of Africa. Entrusted by London merchants with three small ships and a crew of a hundred men, Hawkins sailed in 1562 to the West African coast, where his men were alarmed by crocodiles, and by force and other means secured three hundred enslaved Africans. Defying the Spanish king's prohibition on Protestant trade with his colonies, Hawkins sailed directly to Hispaniola and exchanged his captives with settlers for hides, ginger, sugar, and pearls. On his second voyage, Hawkins attempted to enslave an entire city near Sierra Leone but was driven off by its inhabitants and forced to conduct his raids elsewhere. Arriving at Venezuela with a fleet loaded with enslaved people, he found Spanish merchants too frightened to trade with him openly, so he went ashore with brass falcons mounted in his boats and a hundred men in plate armor, persuading the Spaniards that commerce was the wiser course. On his third voyage, Hawkins found the Spanish colonists more willing, but severe weather forced him to seek shelter and repairs at San Juan d'Ullua, the port of Mexico. A new viceroy, Don Martin de Henriquez, arrived with thirteen large ships to claim the same anchorage, and Hawkins agreed to admit him on the viceroy's sworn honor. Don Martin then positioned his ships alongside the English vessels, concealed troops below decks, trained guns upon the English, and when his treachery was discovered, sounded a trumpet as the signal for attack. The English on the island were massacred save for three survivors, the queen's ship Jesus of Lubeck was abandoned, and only two small vessels, the Minion and the Judith, escaped. Four Spanish galleons were lost in the fighting. The two English ships were separated by a storm. The Judith fared better, commanded by Francis Drake, who brought word to England that Hawkins was at sea on the Minion with more than two hundred men and no food or water. After fourteen days wandering in unknown waters, hunger compelled Hawkins to seek land, the crew reduced to eating birds, rats, cats, mice, and dogs. One hundred fourteen men then volunteered to go ashore on the coast of Mexico, unarmed. These men were stripped by native inhabitants and subsequently taken by the Spaniards, marched to the city of Mexico, and after long imprisonment those still living were sold as slaves. Spanish gentlemen, clergy, and monks treated them with some kindness, and in time a number rose to positions of trust on mines and ranches, some becoming wealthy despite their slave status. Then the Inquisition arrived to examine the condition of their souls. Nearly all were imprisoned and tortured on the rack, then publicly flogged with five hundred lashes. Even the ten gentlemen Hawkins had landed as hostages for his good faith shared the fate of the mariners, being condemned eventually to the galleys in Mexico and Spain alike, while those who held to their faith were burned alive. From that time, whatever peace treaties existed in Europe, there was no peace in the Spanish Indies. All honest Englishmen, the narrative declares, remained at war with Spain until the Inquisition was extinguished and the British had helped drive the Spaniards from the last acre of their American empire. Returning to England, Hawkins found Mary Queen of Scots held there as a prisoner. He went to Elizabeth's minister Lord Burleigh and proposed a scheme by which he entered into a treaty with the Scottish queen, offering to help the Duke of Alva invade and overthrow England. The Spanish king was so gratified that he compensated Hawkins for his losses at San Juan d'Ullua and freed such English prisoners as could be found. Hawkins then declared his loyalty once more, and Queen Elizabeth knighted him for having so thoroughly deceived her enemies.
By Roger Pocock · First published 1927 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Maritime/Nautical Fiction · 1,090 words
First lines
A. D. 1588
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is centered on actual historical events and figures from the 16th century, specifically John Hawkins' voyages and encounters, presented in a storytelling format that dramatizes real historical occurrences.
- Adventure — The work features perilous sea voyages, dramatic encounters with hostile forces, shipwrecks, narrow escapes, and high-stakes action sequences that define adventure literature.
- Maritime/Nautical Fiction — The entire narrative revolves around seafaring expeditions, naval battles, ship management, and oceanic perils, making maritime themes central to the work.
- Biography — The work presents a chronological account of John Hawkins' life, voyages, and significant actions, functioning as a biographical narrative of the historical figure.
Tags
adventure · historical fiction · maritime · naval history · exploration · 16th century · England · sea voyage · biography · action · historical adventure · buccaneer
What this Textopian page supports
John Hawkins is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Roger Pocock, dated 1927 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Historical account
- Author: Roger Pocock
- Date: 1927 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Maritime/Nautical Fiction, Biography, Political Intrigue
- Length: 1,090 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for John Hawkins by Roger Pocock
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