Wall tablet in Deptford, London commemorating Sir Francis Drake d. 1596
Location
Deptford, London, England
Transcript
"SIR FRANCIS DRAKE
IN 1581, QUEEN ELIZABETH 1 COMMANDED THAT FRANCIS DRAKE'S SHIP, THE GOLDEN HIND, BE DRAWN INTO A CREEK NEAR HERE AT DEPTFORD AS A PERPETUAL MEMORIAL FOR HAVING "CIRCUITED ROUND THE WHOLE EARTH".
ON 4 APRIL 1581, SHE BANQUETED ON BOARD THE GOLDEN HIND AND "CONSECRATED IT WITH GREAT CEREMONIE, POMPE, AND MAGNIFICENCE ETERNALLY TO BE REMEMBERED" AND FORTHWITH KNIGHTED DRAKE ON HIS SHIP IN RECOGNITION OF THE HONOUR THAT HE HAD BROUGHT TO ENGLAND BY HIS DISCOVERIES AND CIRCUMNAVIGATION IN THE YEARS 1577-1580.
HIS ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDED DISCOVERY OF OPEN SEA FROM ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC BELOW SOUTH AMERICA; OPENING OF ENGLISH TRADE IN THE FAR EAST; AND THE CLAIM TO THE WESTERN REGION OF NORTH AMERICA FOR ENGLAND, NAMING IT NOVA ALBION (NEW ENGLAND), AND THEREBY LINKING IT WITH CLAIMS TO THE EAST COAST AND ENCOURAGING SUBSEQUENT COLONIZATION OF THE EASTERN SEABOARD.
DRAKE'S VOYAGE FOSTERED THE PRINCIPLE EXPRESSED BY THE QUEEN THAT THE VSE OF THE SEA AS OF THE AYRE IS COMON TO ALL, AND THAT THE PUBLIQUE NECESSITIE PERMITS NOT IT SHOULD BE POSSESSED."
"PRESENTED BY THE DRAKE NAVIGATORS GUILD, CALIFORNIA, QUADRICENTENNIAL, 4TH APIRL 1981"
Details
Position: Near foreshore
Date Erected: 1981
Vessel: Golden Hind,
People
Age:
Date of Death: 1596
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation: