| Next it was the
Cape Verde Islands, where more stores were gathered before the final
push across the Atlantic. The voyage was shrouded with gloom and seemed
ill omened. By the time they reached River Plate superstition and
mistrust were rife among the crew and it became clear that the cause
of this was the dissent of Thomas Doughty. Finally
his treason came to light and Drake's fury boiled over. He ordered
trial for sedition. Doughty was tried by jury, convicted of mutiny
and sentenced to death. Doughty asked for communion which he took
with Drake, then they drank and dined together before Doughty was
beheaded.
They lay for
the next six weeks at Port St. Julian. Reorganising for the next
stage of the journey and building up moral which had been lacking
up to this point.
They weighed
anchor on August 17th 1578 and within three days arrived at the
dreaded opening of the Magellan Straits. It was here that Drake
renamed the Pelican and christened her the Golden Hind as a tribute
to his friend Christopher Hatton whose crest featured a hind.
The passage
was torturous. The charts were unreliable and every day was critical.
They completed this hazardous journey in just sixteen days and finally
Drake realised his dream and sailed into the Pacific. The door into
the treasure house of Spain seemed ajar. Then a huge gale hit them
and a storm raged for a fortnight, in the midst of which occurred
a lunar eclipse. Finally Drake discovered that Marigold had foundered.
The other ships waited in a sheltered harbour but another storm
parted them and the Elizabeth re-entered the straits and returned
to England believing the others lost. Thus Drake and the Golden
Hind were all that remained.
He headed north
to Valpariso and captured a large ship and haul of gold. Then Drake
set sail for the Port of Lima seeking the King of Spain's greatest
ships. They entered the harbour silently and relieved a number of
ships lying at anchor of their spoils. There also they heard that
the Lady of the Conception had recently departed - a famous ship
and a worthy prize. They set out in pursuit and with surprise on
their side captured it with barely a shot fired.
Then they proceeded
northwards in search of the mythical north west passage. They continued
seeking a safe harbour where their ship could be repaired and restocked.
They finally arrived at Nova Albion, believed to be the site of
Drakes bay in California. They departed from here five weeks later
in the knowledge that they now had no choice but to cross the Pacific
and circumnavigate the globe if they were to arrive home safely.
Drake had the
foresight to take a Chinese pilot with them to aid navigation and
they departed on July 23rd. They did not sight land again until
the Pelew islands, here they were the victims of a hostile people
who stole some of their bounty. They eventually proceeded to Ternate
where they met with the Sultan who treated them well, offering the
position to trade their goods in competition with the Portuguese.
This was a treaty of much importance for Great Britain later when
the East India Company developed its trade in the Far East.
Heading home
from there the ship was struck by winds and grounded on a reef.
Miraculously they were freed by a change in the wind and they sailed
on. Moving cautiously in the treacherous reefs and shoals. Finally
on 8th February they were on their way to Java. Here again they
were hospitably entertained by the local Rajahs, however news of
the approach of other ships caused Drake to set course for home.
They rounded the Cape of Good Hope without incident and finally
on 26th December 1580 sailed into Plymouth Sound.
Much can be
said of what happened afterwards but in brief Drake sailed the Golden
Hind to London where he was Knighted and dined with the Queen aboard
the ship. He dressed his ship in great banners, some of which can
still be seen at Buckland Abbey in Devon. |
