Page:A book of the west; being an introduction to Devon and Cornwall.djvu/439

Rh The importance of Plymouth as a starting-point for discovery, and as the cradle of our maritime power, must never be forgotten.

Old Carew says:—

It is indeed no exaggeration to say that in the reign of Elizabeth Plymouth had become the foremost port in England.

The roll of Plymouth's naval heroes begins with the Hawkins family, and one looks in vain in modern Plymouth for some statue to commemorate the most illustrious of her sons.

These Hawkinses were a remarkable race. "Gentlemen," as Prince says, "of worshipful extraction for several descents," they were made more worshipful by their deeds.