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Journey
to the New World with Sir Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral (1540 – 27 January 1596) was
an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan
era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command
of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the second
circumnavigation of the world, from 1577 to 1580.
His exploits were legendary, making him a hero to the English but a pirate to the
Spaniards to whom he was known as El Draque, 'Draque' being the Spanish pronunciation of
'Drake'. His name in Latin was Franciscus Draco ('Francis the Dragon').
There is much written about Drake but here are a few highlights of
his life:
* At age twenty-three, Drake made his first voyage to the New World, sailing with his
second cousin, Sir John Hawkins, on one of a fleet of ships owned by his relatives, the
Hawkins family of Plymouth. In 1568 Drake was again with the Hawkins fleet when it was
trapped by the Spaniards in the Mexican port of San Juan de Ulúa. He escaped along with
Hawkins.
* His first raid was late in July 1572. Drake and his men captured the town and
its treasure. When his men noticed that Drake was bleeding profusely from a wound, they
insisted on withdrawing to save his life and left the treasure.
* Queen Elizabeth awarded Drake a knighthood aboard Golden Hind in Deptford on 4 April
1581; the dubbing being performed by a French diplomat, Monsieur de Marchaumont, who was
negotiating for Elizabeth to marry the King of France's brother, Francis, Duke of Anjou.
By getting the French diplomat involved in the knighting, Elizabeth was gaining the
implicit political support of the French for Drake's actions.
* In September 1581, Drake became the Mayor of Plymouth, and was a
Member of Parliament in 1581, for an unknown constituency (possibly Camelford), and again
in 1584 for Bossiney. and Plymouth in 1593. In 1580 Drake purchased Buckland Abbey, a
large manor near Yelverton in Devon. He lived there for fifteen years, until his final
voyage, and it remained in his family for several generations.
* Drake was vice admiral in command of the English fleet (under
Lord Howard of Effingham) when it overcame the Spanish Armada that was attempting to
invade England in 1588. As the English fleet pursued the Armada up the English Channel in
closing darkness, Drake broke off and captured the Spanish galleon Rosario, along with
Admiral Pedro de Valdés and all his crew. The Spanish ship was known to be carrying
substantial funds to pay the Spanish Army in the Low Countries. Drake's ship had been
leading the English pursuit of the Armada by means of a lantern. By extinguishing this for
the capture, Drake put the fleet into disarray overnight. On the night of 29 July, along
with Howard, Drake organized fire-ships, causing the majority of the Spanish captains to
break formation and sail out of Calais into the open sea.
Links:
Bio - Sir Francis Drake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Drake
The 1586 raid of Sir Francis Drake on St. Augustine, FL.
http://www.historiccity.com/2011/staugustine/news/florida/1586-raid-sir-francis-drake-15372
Elizabethan Costuming
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/
Elizabethan Culture
http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-times.htm
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Cutlasses and
Corsairs Activities include: |
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* Shire of Castlemere's 35th Anniversary
* Light Weapons Competition
* Heavy Weapons Competition
* Youth Combat Competition
* Archery Competition
* Children's Activities
* Tavern Brawl
* Live Chess Match
* Gaming Hall
* Bard of Castlemere Competition
* Warrior Bard of Trimaris Competition
* Classes on the history of pirates, privateering and much more.
* Court of THRs Prince Gunnar and Princess Bryndis
* Merchants welcome and encouraged to come and share in the excitement |
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