'Drake Attacking the Spanish Treasure Ship', c1578, (c1880). Sir Francis Drake (c1540- 27 January 1596) was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Drake captured a Spanish ship laden with 25,000 pesos of Peruvian gold, amounting in value to 37,000 ducats of Spanish money (about £7m by modern standards ). From British Battles on Land and Sea, Vol. I, by James Grant [Cassell Petter & Galpin, London, Paris & New York, c1880].