In 1577, Drake was commissioned by the queen to start and command an expedition against the Spanish on the Pacific coast of the Americas. The voyage was funded by a number of inventors, one of the investors was Drake’s old commander, John Hawkins. There is a belief that Queen Elizabeth may have also been an investor. Drake left from Plymouth, England on November 15th with five ships and Drake’s ship, The Pelican as the flagship. However, a storm delayed his voyage. Drake and his fleet took refuge in Falmouth, Cornwall.[1] When the weather cleared up, Drake and his fleet made their way back to Plymouth for repairs. They set sail again, almost a month later, on December 13th.
On January 30th, 1578, Drake captured the Spanish ship, Mary (formerly Santa Maria) off the North-Western coast of Africa, near the Cape Verde Islands. He also captured its captain, Nuno Da Silva. Drake added him to his crew because of his considerable knowledge of navigating in South American waters.
While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, Drake lost a significant amount of men to disease. Without enough men to handle the ships, Drake was forced to scuttle both the Christopher and the Swan.[2] They stopped in the bay of San Julian, in what is now Argentina. There they discovered that the Mary had rotting timbers. Because of its incapability of being able to sail safely, they burned it. Drake decided to remain in San Julian for the year.
On the 20th of August, Drake and his three remaining ships departed towards the Strait of Magellan.[3] Two days were spent at the opening of the passage waiting for a favourable wind. While anchored, Drake named three nearby islands after Queen Elizabeth, St. George, and St. Bartholomew.[4] Drakes navigational skilled aided him greatly during his passage through the 300-mile waterway. He made the trip in just fourteen days.[5]
Drake traveled north along the Pacific coast, attacking and raiding numerous Spanish ports. Drake also used the more accurate Spanish charts and maps that he had captured. Further north, off the coast of Lima, Drake captured a Spanish ship in the port of Callo. The ship was filled with Peruvian gold, amounting to 37 000 ducats of Spanish money (approximately 11 million dollars, by today’s standards). Drake also received word of another Spanish ship sailing west, the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (Our Lady of the Conception). Drake was in no mood to stop plundering, so he began sailing after it. He eventually caught up and captured it. It proved to be his most profitable capture. Drake found 80lbs of gold, a golden crucifix, jewels, and 26 tons of silver.
On the 17th of June, 1579, Drake landed north of Spain's northern-most claim at Point Loma, in Alta California. There he found a good port and repaired his ships. Drake claimed the land for England and dubbed it Nova Albion, which is Latin for “New Britain”. There are claims that he left some men behind to colonize New Britain. These claims about when he reached his the Moluccas with fewer men than expected.[6] Drake made his way through the Pacific Ocean seemingly without a problem. He made multiple stops on his way toward the tip of Africa, but eventually reached the familiar coast of Guinea by July 22nd 1580.
By the end of September Drake sailed into Plymouth with his treasure laced cargo that he was to split with the queen. Her share of the cargo exceeded the rest of the crown's income for that entire year. The Queen gave Drake a jewel, on one side is was a portrait of Queen Elizabeth, on the other was a regal woman and an African male. Today the jewel is known as “Drake’s Jewel”.
[1] Falmouth is approximately 60 kilometres from Plymouth, by ship.
[2] Scuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into the hull.
[3] Sudgen, John. Sir Francis Drake. (Vintage Digital; New Ed edition, 2006) p. 107
The Strait of Magellan is a navigable sea route immediately south of mainland South America. The waterway is the most important natural passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, but it is considered a difficult route to navigate because of the unpredictable winds and currents and the narrowness of the passage.
[4] Ibid p. 108
[5] Magellan himself, took thirty-seven days to get through the passage.
[6] The Moluccas are a group of islands in Indonesia.
On January 30th, 1578, Drake captured the Spanish ship, Mary (formerly Santa Maria) off the North-Western coast of Africa, near the Cape Verde Islands. He also captured its captain, Nuno Da Silva. Drake added him to his crew because of his considerable knowledge of navigating in South American waters.
While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, Drake lost a significant amount of men to disease. Without enough men to handle the ships, Drake was forced to scuttle both the Christopher and the Swan.[2] They stopped in the bay of San Julian, in what is now Argentina. There they discovered that the Mary had rotting timbers. Because of its incapability of being able to sail safely, they burned it. Drake decided to remain in San Julian for the year.
On the 20th of August, Drake and his three remaining ships departed towards the Strait of Magellan.[3] Two days were spent at the opening of the passage waiting for a favourable wind. While anchored, Drake named three nearby islands after Queen Elizabeth, St. George, and St. Bartholomew.[4] Drakes navigational skilled aided him greatly during his passage through the 300-mile waterway. He made the trip in just fourteen days.[5]
Drake traveled north along the Pacific coast, attacking and raiding numerous Spanish ports. Drake also used the more accurate Spanish charts and maps that he had captured. Further north, off the coast of Lima, Drake captured a Spanish ship in the port of Callo. The ship was filled with Peruvian gold, amounting to 37 000 ducats of Spanish money (approximately 11 million dollars, by today’s standards). Drake also received word of another Spanish ship sailing west, the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (Our Lady of the Conception). Drake was in no mood to stop plundering, so he began sailing after it. He eventually caught up and captured it. It proved to be his most profitable capture. Drake found 80lbs of gold, a golden crucifix, jewels, and 26 tons of silver.
On the 17th of June, 1579, Drake landed north of Spain's northern-most claim at Point Loma, in Alta California. There he found a good port and repaired his ships. Drake claimed the land for England and dubbed it Nova Albion, which is Latin for “New Britain”. There are claims that he left some men behind to colonize New Britain. These claims about when he reached his the Moluccas with fewer men than expected.[6] Drake made his way through the Pacific Ocean seemingly without a problem. He made multiple stops on his way toward the tip of Africa, but eventually reached the familiar coast of Guinea by July 22nd 1580.
By the end of September Drake sailed into Plymouth with his treasure laced cargo that he was to split with the queen. Her share of the cargo exceeded the rest of the crown's income for that entire year. The Queen gave Drake a jewel, on one side is was a portrait of Queen Elizabeth, on the other was a regal woman and an African male. Today the jewel is known as “Drake’s Jewel”.
[1] Falmouth is approximately 60 kilometres from Plymouth, by ship.
[2] Scuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into the hull.
[3] Sudgen, John. Sir Francis Drake. (Vintage Digital; New Ed edition, 2006) p. 107
The Strait of Magellan is a navigable sea route immediately south of mainland South America. The waterway is the most important natural passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, but it is considered a difficult route to navigate because of the unpredictable winds and currents and the narrowness of the passage.
[4] Ibid p. 108
[5] Magellan himself, took thirty-seven days to get through the passage.
[6] The Moluccas are a group of islands in Indonesia.