In 1588, King Philip II of Spain attempted to return England to the Catholic fold by force of naval arms. The Spanish Armada confidently set sail for what became one of the most crushing defeats in history, due in part to the efforts of Sir Francis Drake. During the previous century, Europe had fully emerged from its Dark Ages, and its explorers ventured to all corners of the globe. Inevitably, these new world powers came into conflict with one another over economic, dynastic, and religious issues. In the midst of this upheaval, Francis Drake, who was motivated as much by his intense hatred of Catholic Spain as he was by his devotion to plunder and to his Protestant queen, etched a name for himself in the annals of naval history. Drake was born a commoner, but his exploits of raiding the Spanish Main elevated him to the nobility and the councils of Queen Elizabeth. Drake was a hero to the English people, but his superiors and rivals often considered him little more than a common pirate. Wade Dudley’s penetrating look at this complex man serves as an introduction to Drake’s life and provides a concise account of the religious and dynastic disputes that would affect Europe for the next three centuries.