‘Queen of all the Seven Seas ‘
Elizabeth 1st, Armada portrait, circa 1588.
Whether this fine drinking song is actually an Elizabethan (1558-1603) is not known, but the Queen of all the Seven Seas refers to Queen Elizabeth the First, who augmented her navy with extra boats called Privateers. She enlisted them to help bring piracy under control on the High Seas. The additional boats were privately owned merchant ships, equipped at their own expense, commissioned by the Crown to raid, and capture any enemy governments vessels. Any proceed from the captured ships were then divided between the owners, Captains, and crew, plus a percentage of the takings for the Government.
Elizabeth organised her own branch of Privateers called Sea Dogs, to sail around, and attack the Spanish Fleet. She tended to knight most of the notable ones. Sir John Hawkins, Sir Martin Frobisher, Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh were all Elizabeth’s Sea Dogs.
