Drake in California
Encyclopedia
In 1579, Francis Drake
sailed out in the Pacific, then turned east
seeking the Strait of Anián (a water passage from the Pacific to
the Atlantic, known in the reverse direction as the Northwest Passage
),
or for a place to repair his ships.
After reaching land in Oregon
, at the Oregon Dunes, near
Coos Bay
, Drake headed south, seeking a safe
harbor.
Like most early explorations, Drake's harbor was not marked by a large, permanent marker that could be found by future visitors. Instead, smaller pieces of physical and documentary evidence lead to the identity of Drake's landing site. Scholars find uncertainty over Drake's landing site "a little strange since most of the voyage and layovers are described in such satisfying detail by Francis Fletcher." The pieces of evidence include
or 38 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude.
2. The bay is in Coast Miwok territory.
3. The Islands of Saint James are not far without the bay.
4. There is no strait leading into the continent, nor currents at sea
suggesting one.
5. White banks and cliffs resemble counterparts along the English
Channel.
6. The climate was cold, very foggy and windy from 27 June through 2
August (new style dates).
7. The bay is the second in a charted sequence of two bays when
traveling south.
8. Drake found the bay unexpectedly, as by godsend and "fell with"
a harbor within the bay.
9. The bay faces south, with depths from six to eight fathoms
within a prominent point, diminishing gradually to three fathoms
on a course leading northeasterly into the bay toward an anchorage
off a river or estuary in the north end.
10. A fertile and hospitable inland region contrasts sharply with
the barren, cold and foggy haven at the shore.
11. Artifacts attributable to the Drake expedition are in Native-
American village sites.
Drake's Cove in Drakes Bay
fits these criteria.
identify the location of Drake's landing site:
1. "A latitude of 38 degrees
was given six times in contemporary
accounts as the latitude where Drake came ashore."
2. "Not farre without this harborough did lye certain lands (we
called them the Islands of Saint James)" The only islands in the vicinity of
38 degrees north latitude
are the Farallone Islands. They are visible
only as far north as Point Reyes.
Upon leaving his landing site, Drake was reported "from thence setting
his course southwest."
Working backwards, from the Farallone Islands, heading northeast, takes
one directly into Drakes Bay
.
3. "White bancks and cliffes, which lie toward the sea" are prominent features of Drakes Bay
. The cliffs
face both south and west, "toward the sea." These are similar to the white
cliffs of Dover along the English Channel, hence the name "Nova Albion."
recognizes ten specific additional keys beyond the eleven, above :
12. Agreement with the Dudley Charts
13. A Fair and Good Bay
14. Indian Houses Close by the Waterside
15. No Choice of Havens
16. Flora and Fauna
17. Agreement with the Portus Novae Albionis Inset
18. Indian Village Three Quarters of a Mile from Encampment
19. Hills in Relation to Encampment
20. The Nature of the Fort
21. Relation of the Montanus Engraving.
http://www.drakenavigatorsguild.org/
Drake's latitude determinations in California http://www.longcamp.com/portus.html
Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral 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...
sailed out in the Pacific, then turned east
seeking the Strait of Anián (a water passage from the Pacific to
the Atlantic, known in the reverse direction as the Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
),
or for a place to repair his ships.
After reaching land in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, at the Oregon Dunes, near
Coos Bay
Coos Bay
Coos Bay is an S-shaped inlet where the Coos River enters the Pacific Ocean, approximately 10 miles long and two miles wide, on the Pacific Ocean coast of southwestern Oregon in the United States. The estuary is situated south of the Salmon River. The city of Coos Bay, once named Marshfield, was...
, Drake headed south, seeking a safe
harbor.
Like most early explorations, Drake's harbor was not marked by a large, permanent marker that could be found by future visitors. Instead, smaller pieces of physical and documentary evidence lead to the identity of Drake's landing site. Scholars find uncertainty over Drake's landing site "a little strange since most of the voyage and layovers are described in such satisfying detail by Francis Fletcher." The pieces of evidence include
Eleven Keys
1. The bay is within one-half degree (thirty nautical miles) of 38 degrees38th parallel north
The 38th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean...
or 38 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude.
2. The bay is in Coast Miwok territory.
3. The Islands of Saint James are not far without the bay.
4. There is no strait leading into the continent, nor currents at sea
suggesting one.
5. White banks and cliffs resemble counterparts along the English
Channel.
6. The climate was cold, very foggy and windy from 27 June through 2
August (new style dates).
7. The bay is the second in a charted sequence of two bays when
traveling south.
8. Drake found the bay unexpectedly, as by godsend and "fell with"
a harbor within the bay.
9. The bay faces south, with depths from six to eight fathoms
within a prominent point, diminishing gradually to three fathoms
on a course leading northeasterly into the bay toward an anchorage
off a river or estuary in the north end.
10. A fertile and hospitable inland region contrasts sharply with
the barren, cold and foggy haven at the shore.
11. Artifacts attributable to the Drake expedition are in Native-
American village sites.
Drake's Cove in Drakes Bay
Drakes Bay
Drakes Bay is a small bay on the coast of northern California in the United States, approximately 30 miles northwest of San Francisco at approximately 38 degrees north latitude. The bay is approximately 8 miles wide...
fits these criteria.
The Three Most-Important Keys
Robert Allen recognizes three of these items as the keys thatidentify the location of Drake's landing site:
1. "A latitude of 38 degrees
38th parallel north
The 38th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean...
was given six times in contemporary
accounts as the latitude where Drake came ashore."
2. "Not farre without this harborough did lye certain lands (we
called them the Islands of Saint James)" The only islands in the vicinity of
38 degrees north latitude
38th parallel north
The 38th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean...
are the Farallone Islands. They are visible
only as far north as Point Reyes.
Upon leaving his landing site, Drake was reported "from thence setting
his course southwest."
Working backwards, from the Farallone Islands, heading northeast, takes
one directly into Drakes Bay
Drakes Bay
Drakes Bay is a small bay on the coast of northern California in the United States, approximately 30 miles northwest of San Francisco at approximately 38 degrees north latitude. The bay is approximately 8 miles wide...
.
3. "White bancks and cliffes, which lie toward the sea" are prominent features of Drakes Bay
Drakes Bay
Drakes Bay is a small bay on the coast of northern California in the United States, approximately 30 miles northwest of San Francisco at approximately 38 degrees north latitude. The bay is approximately 8 miles wide...
. The cliffs
face both south and west, "toward the sea." These are similar to the white
cliffs of Dover along the English Channel, hence the name "Nova Albion."
Additional Keys
Raymond AkerRaymond Aker
Raymond Aker was a U.S. historian who was noted as an authority on the voyages of Francis Drake in the late 16th century. Aker served as president of the Drake Navigators Guild in California, which promotes Drake and his explorations...
recognizes ten specific additional keys beyond the eleven, above :
12. Agreement with the Dudley Charts
13. A Fair and Good Bay
14. Indian Houses Close by the Waterside
15. No Choice of Havens
16. Flora and Fauna
17. Agreement with the Portus Novae Albionis Inset
18. Indian Village Three Quarters of a Mile from Encampment
19. Hills in Relation to Encampment
20. The Nature of the Fort
21. Relation of the Montanus Engraving.
See also
- Drake's Plate of BrassDrake's Plate of BrassThe so-called Drake's Plate of Brass is a forgery that purports to be the brass plaque that Francis Drake posted upon landing in Northern California in 1579. The hoax was successful for forty years, despite early doubts. After the plate came to public attention in 1936, historians immediately...
, a forgery of a plate purported to have be posted by Drake in California - New AlbionNew AlbionNew Albion, also known as Nova Albion, was the name of the region of the Pacific coast of North America explored by Sir Francis Drake and claimed by him for England in 1579...
- Drake Navigators GuildDrake Navigators GuildThe Drake Navigators Guild is the historical research group which has used multi-disciplinary methods to research Francis Drake’s visit to the west coast of North America in 1579 and related maritime explorations. Founded in 1949, the Guild’s research supports the long-standing conclusion that...
External links
Drake Navigators GuildDrake Navigators Guild
The Drake Navigators Guild is the historical research group which has used multi-disciplinary methods to research Francis Drake’s visit to the west coast of North America in 1579 and related maritime explorations. Founded in 1949, the Guild’s research supports the long-standing conclusion that...
http://www.drakenavigatorsguild.org/
Drake's latitude determinations in California http://www.longcamp.com/portus.html