1. ACTIVITY 2: HOT SEAT RESOURCES
Francis Drake: Pirate,
Explorer or Privateer?
ACTIVITY 2: HOT SEAT RESOURCES

2. Key Stage 2 – Francis Drake: Pirate, Explorer or Privateer?
What is a
pirate?
Most pirates targeted ships for their treasure and any other valuables.
Some pirates also launched attacks on coastal towns.
What is a pirate?
Possible enquiry questions
What makes a pirate different from a thief?
Name two or three traits you need to be a good pirate
A pirate is a robber who travels by water.
Though most pirates targeted ships, some also launched attacks on coastal towns.
The most famous pirates had terrifying reputations, which meant victims often surrendered their valuables very quickly, often without a fight. Drake himself had a fearsome reputation.
Even at the time of Drake’s circumnavigation pirates had been around since ancient times, threatening trade routes of Greece and Rome.
From the 16th century, many pirates operated in the Caribbean sea and areas off the coast of America. After Christopher Columbus established contact with the ‘new lands’ of the Americas, Spain quickly developed its empire in these areas and discovered they were a source of gold, silver and precious gems.
Large Spanish ships loaded with riches headed for Europe were a target for pirates. The Spanish ships, called galleons, were forced to sail together in fleets with armed vessels as protection.
As Spanish settlers set up new towns on the Caribbean islands and the American mainland, these too came under pirate attack.
Source information
Title: Spanish engagement with Barbary pirates
Object no: BHC0747
Barbary pirates attack a Spanish ship in the 17th century

3. Key Stage 2 – Francis Drake: Pirate, Explorer or Privateer?
What is an explorer?
Possible enquiry questions
Name two or three traits a good explorer should have
The ‘East’ was the source of valuable goods and markets. Where is the ‘East’?
Why do you think people set sail in such dangerous conditions?
An explorer is someone who travels through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it.
In Francis Drake’s day Europeans set sail looking for new lands and new routes to the fabulous wealth of ‘the East’.
Portugal had led the way in terms of maritime exploration in the 15th century. Its motives included wanting to find new sources of wealth, raw materials and slave labour – as well as new routes to the treasures of the East.
By the time Elizabeth I came to the throne in England, Spain and Portugal dominated the world’s oceans. Both had also laid claim to lands in the Americas, Africa and Asia.
The ‘East’ was China and southeast Asia, a source of valuable spices and other luxury goods that could not be sourced anywhere else. It was also a market for European goods, and so important for domestic economies.
Finding new maritime routes via the Atlantic Ocean and the Americas to this market was desirable because it would allow a country like England access without having to pay the high taxes charged for goods coming via the overland route, but also avoid the Spanish and Portuguese controlled waterways.
Source information
Title: Printed world map by Abraham Ortelius, 1570
Artist/maker: Abraham Ortelius
Date made: 1570
What is an explorer?
In Francis Drake’s day, explorers from many countries in Europe set sail looking for new lands and new routes to the fabulous wealth of ‘the East’.
Map by Abraham Ortelius, 1570

4. Key Stage 2 – Francis Drake: Pirate, Explorer or Privateer?
What is a
privateer?
A privateer is a private person or ship given permission by a government to attack foreign shipping.
What is a privateer?
Possible enquiry questions
Why might Queen Elizabeth give permission to private ships to attack foreign ships?
Why might disrupting the trade of Spain benefit England?
Which is worse in your view – pirates or privateers?
A privateer is a private person or ship authorised by a government to attack foreign shipping.
Permission was usually given by ‘letters of marque’, a government license. This allowed them to capture merchant vessels without being charged with piracy.
Privateering allowed governments to mobilise armed ships and sailors without having to pay for them using tax money.
The cost was met by investors hoping to profit from treasure and prize money earned from captured cargo and vessels.
Privateers were of great benefit to smaller naval powers like England because they disrupted commerce of the enemy, and forced the enemy to deploy warships to protect merchant trade.
The profits from privateering were distributed among the privateer’s investors, officers and crew.
Source information
Title: Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I
Artist/maker: British school
Date made: c1590
Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I

5. Welcome to Tudor Question Time Welcome to Tudor Question Time
Key Stage 2 – Francis Drake: Pirate, Explorer or Privateer?
Welcome to
Welcome to Tudor Question Time
Tudor Question Time

6. Francis Drake: pirate, explorer
Key Stage 2 – Francis Drake: Pirate, Explorer or Privateer?
Today’s question
Francis Drake: pirate, explorer
or privateer?
Today’s question: Francis Drake: pirate, explorer or privateer?

7. Our panel Our hot-seating panel
Key Stage 2 – Francis Drake: Pirate, Explorer or Privateer?
Our panel
Sir Christopher Hatton © National Portrait Gallery
Our hot-seating panel
Map of Spain © iStockphotos

8. Elizabeth I, Queen of England
Key Stage 2 – Francis Drake: Pirate, Explorer or Privateer?
Elizabeth I, Queen of England
About you
You and your country need new sources of wealth and new markets for English goods.
How do you know Francis Drake?
You paid him £10,000 and gave him a knighthood when he returned from circumnavigating the globe.
Some people in your government certainly support him and invest in his voyages.
People think you probably invested in his circumnavigation, but you don’t really talk about that – if the Spanish got wind of it, it could start a war.
What do you think of him?
He’s an English hero.
He helped give England a strong reputation as a maritime power.
Print out and give to a student to play Queen Elizabeth I in hot-seating activity

9. Dan Pew, Crew member of Golden Hinde
Key Stage 2 – Francis Drake: Pirate, Explorer or Privateer?
Dan Pew, Crew member of Golden Hinde
About you
You are a sailor and a privateer. You make your living going on journeys that are paid for by wealthy investors.
If you bring back valuable goods – then you get paid!
How do you know Francis Drake?
You sailed with him on his famous voyage around the world.
You joined him on raids of Spanish ships where you took all the treasure.
You were there when he tried to find the North West Passage and claimed a new territory for the Queen called Nova Albion, or ‘New England’.
What do you think of him?
He’s a privateer, like you. That’s how you make a living.
Print out and give to a student to play Dan Pew in hot-seating activity

10. Sir Christopher Hatton, Investor
Key Stage 2 – Francis Drake: Pirate, Explorer or Privateer?
Sir Christopher Hatton, Investor
About you
You’re a wealthy courtier and close to the Queen.
You invest your money in the arts and maritime adventures.
How do you know Francis Drake?
You invested money in his famous voyage around the world. You also sent your secretary Thomas Doughty to make sure you got your money’s worth.
Drake and Doughty didn’t get along and Drake had Doughty executed for mutiny.
Then Drake renamed his ship in your honour, after your family’s coat of arms – the Golden Hinde.
Drake returned a massive profit on your investment when he got back.
What do you think of him?
He’s a very good privateer.
Print out and give to a student to play Sir Christopher Hatton in hot-seating activity
Sir Christopher Hatton © National Portrait Gallery

11. Philip II, King of Spain About you How do you know Francis Drake?
Key Stage 2 – Francis Drake: Pirate, Explorer or Privateer?
Philip II, King of Spain
About you
You are the world’s most powerful man, head of the world’s richest country.
Your country has territories in the Americas. Your ships bring back a lot of valuable gold and silver from those countries.
How do you know Francis Drake?
He’s been sacking Spanish ports in the Americas and stealing from your treasure ships.
After he stole a lot of your treasure on his circumnavigation, the English agreed to return some of it.
You suspect the Queen of England has been encouraging him to attack your ships. You’re not happy about it.
What do you think of him?
He’s a pirate – there’s no excuse for his behaviour.
Print out and give to a student to play Philip II in hot-seating activity

12. San Juan de Anton, Spanish ship captain
Key Stage 2 – Francis Drake: Pirate, Explorer or Privateer?
San Juan de Anton, Spanish ship captain
About you
You were the captain of a Spanish treasure ship, nicknamed the Cacafuego.
How do you know Francis Drake?
Francis Drake came across your ship off the west coast of South America.
He stole all your treasure and took you prisoner.
Before he stole all the treasure he gave your crew 30 or 40 pesos each.
And he gave you some silver, as well as a pass that made sure no other English ships would bother you.
What do you think of him?
You’d call him a pirate. But you respect him.
Map of Spain © iStockphotos
Print out and give to a student to play San Juan de Anton in hot-seating activity