The History of Sir Francis Drake
Encyclopedia
The History of Sir Francis Drake was a hybrid theatrical entertainment, a masque
or "operatic tableau" with an English libretto
written by Sir William Davenant
and music by Matthew Locke
. The masque was most likely first performed in 1659 and produced by Davenant. As with his earlier The Siege of Rhodes
(1656
) and The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru
(1658
), Davenant cast The History of Sir Francis Drake as a musical drama to avoid the Puritan
prohibition of stage plays during the English Commonwealth era. The three Davenant works were important in the evolution of English opera and musical theatre, and heralded the coming revival of drama with the Restoration
of 1660.
. Drake was first published in quarto
in 1659
, and most likely staged in that year or in late 1658. Drake is generally seen as a companion piece to The Cruelty; the first editions of the two works (1658 and 1659), both issued by Henry Herringman
, were published with the same frontispiece
, and both works were furnished with the same subtitle, Exprest by Instrumentall and Vocall Musick, and by the Art of Perspective in Scenes, &c. — since both stage productions employed the scenery and painted backdrops that had previously been used in courtly masques but not in the public theatre.
It is uncertain how long either The History of Sir Francis Drake or The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru ran at the Cockpit; but Anthony Wood
wrote that Davenant's version of operatic drama "delighted the eye and ear extremely well", and "was much frequented for many years" (Athenae Oxonienses, Vol. 2).
The 1659 quarto labels its work as "the first part" of The History of Sir Francis Drake, but no second part is known. In 1663
, Davenant used his text of Drake as Act III of The Playhouse to Be Let
(the text of The Cruelty was Act IV).
, for its value as anti-Spanish propaganda. (The English had been at war with Spain since 1655.) Davenant exploited Drake as an English national hero and a symbol of an expansionist foreign policy. He drew his narrative materials from Philip Nichols's Sir Francis Drake Revived (1626; reprinted 1652).
Davenant's text deals with Drake's adventures on the northeastern coast of South America during his expedition of 1572. At one point, Davenant shows Drake allying himself with the "Symerons" or Cimaroons
, escaped slaves of Surinam who had formed their own independent society. (Though Davenant's Drake has been classified as "pseudo-history," this part of the story is based on fact — though Davenant displaces the Cimaroons to Peru.) As in The Cruelty, the English in Drake are presented as a humane alternative to the brutal and rapacious Spanish.
. Locke was one of the composers who worked on The Siege of Rhodes, and perhaps on The Cruelty too.
Masque
The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment which flourished in 16th and early 17th century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the intermedio...
or "operatic tableau" with an English libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
written by Sir William Davenant
William Davenant
Sir William Davenant , also spelled D'Avenant, was an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned both the Caroline and Restoration eras and who was active both before and after the English Civil...
and music by Matthew Locke
Matthew Locke (composer)
Matthew Locke was an English Baroque composer and music theorist.-Biography:As a boy, Locke was trained in the choir of Exeter Cathedral, under Edward Gibbons, the brother of Orlando Gibbons...
. The masque was most likely first performed in 1659 and produced by Davenant. As with his earlier The Siege of Rhodes
The Siege of Rhodes
The Siege of Rhodes is an opera written to a text by the impresario William Davenant. The score is by five composers, the vocal music by Henry Lawes, Matthew Locke, and Captain Henry Cooke, and instrumental music by Charles Coleman and George Hudson...
(1656
1656 in literature
The year 1656 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*September - performance of The Siege of Rhodes, Part I by Sir William Davenant, the "first English opera"* November 12 - John Milton marries Katherine Woodcock....
) and The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru
The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru
The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru was an innovative 1658 theatrical presentation, a hybrid entertainment or masque or "operatic show", written and produced by Sir William Davenant...
(1658
1658 in literature
The year 1658 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:* Molière arrives in Paris to act at the Louvre.* Edward Phillips continues the Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Romans' Government unto the Death of King James to this date.-New books:* Sir Thomas Browne -...
), Davenant cast The History of Sir Francis Drake as a musical drama to avoid the Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
prohibition of stage plays during the English Commonwealth era. The three Davenant works were important in the evolution of English opera and musical theatre, and heralded the coming revival of drama with the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
of 1660.
Performance and publication
Like The Cruelty before it, Drake was acted at the Cockpit TheatreCockpit Theatre
The Cockpit was a theatre in London, operating from 1616 to around 1665. It was the first theatre to be located near Drury Lane. After damage in 1617, it was christened The Phoenix....
. Drake was first published in quarto
Book size
The size of a book is generally measured by the height against the width of a leaf, or sometimes the height and width of its cover. A series of terms is commonly used by libraries and publishers for the general sizes of modern books, ranging from "folio" , to "quarto" and "octavo"...
in 1659
1659 in literature
The year 1659 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:* Andrew Marvell becomes a member of Parliament.* Méric Casaubon edits John Dee's journal of angel magic.-New books:*Richard Baxter - The Holy Commonwealth...
, and most likely staged in that year or in late 1658. Drake is generally seen as a companion piece to The Cruelty; the first editions of the two works (1658 and 1659), both issued by Henry Herringman
Henry Herringman
Henry Herringman was a prominent London bookseller and publisher in the second half of the 17th century. He is especially noted for his publications in English Renaissance drama and English Restoration drama; he was the first publisher of the works of John Dryden...
, were published with the same frontispiece
Book frontispiece
A frontispiece is a decorative illustration facing a book's title page. The frontispiece is the verso opposite the recto title page. Elaborate engraved frontispieces were in frequent use, especially in Bibles and in scholarly books, and many are masterpieces of engraving...
, and both works were furnished with the same subtitle, Exprest by Instrumentall and Vocall Musick, and by the Art of Perspective in Scenes, &c. — since both stage productions employed the scenery and painted backdrops that had previously been used in courtly masques but not in the public theatre.
It is uncertain how long either The History of Sir Francis Drake or The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru ran at the Cockpit; but Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood or Anthony à Wood was an English antiquary.-Early life:Anthony Wood was the fourth son of Thomas Wood , BCL of Oxford, where Anthony was born...
wrote that Davenant's version of operatic drama "delighted the eye and ear extremely well", and "was much frequented for many years" (Athenae Oxonienses, Vol. 2).
The 1659 quarto labels its work as "the first part" of The History of Sir Francis Drake, but no second part is known. In 1663
1663 in literature
The year 1663 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*February - The Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres is founded in Paris....
, Davenant used his text of Drake as Act III of The Playhouse to Be Let
The Playhouse to Be Let
The Playhouse to be Let is a Restoration stage play, a dramatic anthology of short pieces by Sir William Davenant that was acted in August 1663 at the theatre at Lincoln's Inn Fields, and first published in the 1673 collected edition of Davenant's works...
(the text of The Cruelty was Act IV).
History and propaganda
Like The Cruelty, Davenant's Drake was not only tolerated but even encouraged by Lord Protector Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, for its value as anti-Spanish propaganda. (The English had been at war with Spain since 1655.) Davenant exploited Drake as an English national hero and a symbol of an expansionist foreign policy. He drew his narrative materials from Philip Nichols's Sir Francis Drake Revived (1626; reprinted 1652).
Davenant's text deals with Drake's adventures on the northeastern coast of South America during his expedition of 1572. At one point, Davenant shows Drake allying himself with the "Symerons" or Cimaroons
Maroon (people)
Maroons were runaway slaves in the West Indies, Central America, South America, and North America, who formed independent settlements together...
, escaped slaves of Surinam who had formed their own independent society. (Though Davenant's Drake has been classified as "pseudo-history," this part of the story is based on fact — though Davenant displaces the Cimaroons to Peru.) As in The Cruelty, the English in Drake are presented as a humane alternative to the brutal and rapacious Spanish.
Music
Only one piece of music from the score of Drake has survived — a "Symeron" dance composed by Matthew LockeMatthew Locke (composer)
Matthew Locke was an English Baroque composer and music theorist.-Biography:As a boy, Locke was trained in the choir of Exeter Cathedral, under Edward Gibbons, the brother of Orlando Gibbons...
. Locke was one of the composers who worked on The Siege of Rhodes, and perhaps on The Cruelty too.