An illustrated narrative history of English seafaring in the late Tudor period, recounting early voyages of discovery, the rise of naval practice and life aboard ships, and the exploits of leading navigators and privateers. It follows the careers of figures who opened routes to the Americas, describes major raiding expeditions and a global circumnavigation, details naval actions against Spanish power including the Armada, explores colonial ventures and personalities connected with western expansion, and closes with assessments of later voyages and technical notes on Tudor ships.