History Plays for the Grammar Grades Part 3

INTRODUCTION:

Sir Francis Drake was the English "Dragon" who sailed the Spanish Main and who "singed the King of Spain's beard." He was a most daring seaman. From boyhood he had been a sailor. The first act will be Drake at the Court of Queen Elizabeth.

ACT I.

QUEEN ELIZABETH AND COURT

FIRST MAID OF HONOR: Francis Drake has returned from his voyage around the world.

QUEEN: Tell me about this Francis Drake.

SECOND MAID OF HONOR: He is a cousin of Captain Hawkins and was with him when he had command of a ship against Mexico. The Spaniards killed many of the sailors and took all they had.

COURT: He hates the Spanish because he thought they were plotting to kill your Majesty.

QUEEN: Bring me to Francis Drake. I will visit him on his ship.

(Enter Queen and Court.)

QUEEN: How do you do, Francis Drake. They tell me you have made a voyage around the world.

DRAKE: Yes, your Majesty.

QUEEN: Tell me of your trip.

DRAKE: (Map and pointer showing the trip). We left England and sailed straight for the Strait of Magellan. I was determined to sail the Pacific. We entered this harbor. This is where Magellan spent a winter when he made his trip around the world. One of my men will tell you what happened here.

MAN: We sailed safely through the Strait but a terrible storm arose.

One of our ships were lost and one sailed for England. We went from here, south and here we saw the first great treasure ship. We captured four hundred pounds of gold.

DRAKE: Week after week we sailed northward until we reached Peru, Pizarro's conquered land.

MAN: Here we saw another great treasure ship. We pursued her and captured more than twenty tons of silver bars, thirteen chests of silver and a great store of precious gems.

DRAKE: We sailed northward and back again southward and spent a time in this beautiful bay. I named the country New Albion and took possession in your Majesty's name.

MAN: The natives believed Francis Drake a G.o.d and begged us to stay with them always.

DRAKE: We sailed on until we saw the island where Magellan had been.

We sailed on through the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope and back to England.

QUEEN: Kneel Francis Drake (Drake kneels and is knighted by Queen).

Arise, Sir Francis Drake.

ACT II.

Drake again went to fight the Spaniards. He sailed boldly for the coast of Spain. He captured shipload after shipload of treasure. He made the Spanish King very angry by his actions and the King resolved to crush England. Drake sailed right into the harbor of Cadiz. He burned so many Spanish ships that it took Spain another year to get the fleet ready.

The next act will be Drake and others talking to the Queen after the Spanish Armada had been destroyed.

QUEEN: My brave and n.o.ble Sir Francis Drake, you have crushed the Spanish power on the sea for all time I think.

n.o.bLE: He has certainly more than singed the King of Spain's beard this time.

DRAKE: The terrible storm that came up helped us to destroy the Spanish Fleet.

QUEEN: From now on our power on the sea will grow greater and greater.

We can now go to America without danger from the Spanish.

_End of Play._

PILGRIMS

ACT I.

INTRODUCTION:

The Pilgrims were persecuted for their religion in England. They went first to Holland. After a time they decided to come to America because they wanted their children to grow up in their own language and customs.

They set sail for America in the Mayflower. They had a long and dangerous journey, but on November 20, 1620 they found themselves looking with glad hearts upon the sandy but heavily-wooded sh.o.r.es of Cape Cod. They signed an agreement as to the government of the Colony and elected John Carver their first Governor.

Captain Standish was their captain. The first act will be Captain Miles Standish and his sixteen men returning from an exploring party.

ACT I.

CLa.s.s: The people on Mayflower.

PEOPLE: Here come Miles Standish and his men! Welcome back to the Mayflower! What have you found, Standish?

STANDISH: We have tramped for three days through the forests, up and down hills along the coast but found no suitable place.

FIRST ONE OF MEN: We found this. (Corn). We decided to take it up and later we will pay the Indians double.

SECOND MAN: While we were examining an Indian snare, Bradford (points to Bradford) found himself swinging by one leg in the air--(much laughter). We have found a new way to catch game.

STANDISH: The second trip was no better but this time I think we have found a good place. I think it is the same place found by Capt. John Smith and named Plymouth by him.

GOVERNOR CARVER: I think this will be a good place to land. Shall we land here?

PEOPLE ABOARD MAYFLOWER: We will get ready to land.