Chapter XXIV: Appendix: B

THE MUTINY OF THE _GOLDEN LION_

On the 19th April 1587, Drake with the _Bonaventure_, _Lion_, _Dreadnought_, _Rainbow_, and _Spy_, of the Queen’s, and some twenty armed merchantmen attacked Cadiz, with results disastrous to Spain. Borough was vice-admiral and in command of the _Lion_. The fleet left Cadiz harbour on 21st April, and on the 30th Borough addressed a long and vigorously worded letter to Drake[1532] protesting that the councils of war called were only nominal consultations where the admiral declared his will, or else merely entertained his visitors who departed ‘without any consultacyon or counsell holden.’ Drake’s answer was to supersede him. All we know further is that on 27th May the _Lion’s_ company put their new captain, Marchant, on the _Spy_, and sailed away for England with Borough who afterwards declared that he was in daily fear of his life, and therefore had no great reason to try and stop their action. If Borough did not incite them to mutiny the men of the _Lion_ must have been for some time full of discontent and ready to desert. The chase of the Bark of Lyme, which took them from under the guns of the rest of the fleet, gave them their opportunity. On 30th May, Drake constituted a court-martial on the _Bonaventure_, of himself and the other superior officers, at which most of the mutineers were condemned to death in their absence. The account of this inquiry gives a vivid picture of the modes of thought among the men, and their ideas of their rights and duties.

Although time has settled the historical perspective in which we view Drake and Borough, it must be said for the latter that, in 1587, the admiral was only to him, one of half-a-dozen great seamen with whom Borough, and doubtless his contemporaries, thought he could claim equality. He was an experienced commander and one of the four Principal Officers of the Navy; he was, here, second in command to Drake, and it was contrary to all the traditions of the service that the admiral should undertake any enterprise without the advice and consent of his captains. In this matter Drake was one of the first expedition leaders to strike out a line of his own, and Borough, tenacious of custom and what he considered his rights, at once came into collision with him. It was long before Drake’s principle of accepting sole responsibility was generally followed. In a private note of farewell to Burghley in 1596, and perhaps with this incident in his mind, Howard, when leaving for the Cadiz voyage wrote,

‘I have no meaning to ronne any rash or unadvysed course nor to
settell any thyng for Her Maiesties servyce upon my own jugment
but to yeald to those that shall show best reson.’[1533]

After their return an inquiry was held at which the vice-admiral was charged with neglect of duty at Cadiz.[1534] No actual result followed, but Borough came off with the honours of war since he was not disgraced, and remained one of the chief Officers of the Navy. Burghley appears to have been on his side, and Borough wrote subsequently an effusive letter thanking him ardently for his support.[1535] From one passage in this letter in which he says that he had hoped that after the inquiry his innocence would be proclaimed, but that ‘I have suppressed my greefe in respect of the comandment and charge given me,’ it may be inferred that the finding was actually favourable to Borough but not made public, perhaps from a desire not to offend Drake. One other point is worth noticing: if the crew of the _Lion_ voiced the general feeling among English seamen, Drake was certainly not loved by them.

ADD. MSS., 12,505, f., 241.[1536]

=A generall courte holden for the service of her Maᵗⁱᵉ abourde
the _Elizabeth Bonaventure_ the xxxth day of Maye before Sir
Ffrauncis Drake, knighte, generall of Her Maᵗⁱᵉˢ fleete; Thomas
Fennard, Vice-Admirall; Anthony Plotte, Leivetenant-generall;
John Marchant, serjant-major, and the reste of the captaines
and masters of the fleete as followeth,=

The generall, att this courte, called in question and
judiciallye demaunded of Captayne Merchaunt howe he colde
discharge himselfe to answere the departure of Her Maᵗⁱᵉˢ
shippe the _Golden Lyon_ which he latelye gave him in charge?

Captayne Marchaunt protestinge, with all earnest affeccon,
his innocencye alledged and declared,—That there was a great
Mutynie growen amonge the Company of the _Lyon_ the 27 of this
month; as sone as we had given over the chase undertaken,
understandinge that she was the Barke of Lyme,[1537] when I
requyred the Master that we mighte lye close by the wynde to
recover our generall, the Master answered, ‘Well, Captaine,
we will.’ But presentely one of the quartermasters came and
delivered me a lettere in the behalfe of the whole company as
followeth:—

‘Captayne Marchaunt, Captayne of the _Golden Lyon_ appoynted
by Sir Ffrauncis Drake, generall of this fleete,—Wee, the
Quenes, and yours at this tyme desyre that, as you are a man
and beare the name of a captayne over us, so to weighe of us
like men, and lett us not be spoyled for wante of foode, for
our allowaunce is so smale we are not able to lyve any longer
of it; for when as three or foure were wonte to take a charge
in hande, nowe tenne at the leaste, by reason of our weake
victuallinge and filthie drinck, is scarce able to discharge
it, and yet growe rather weaker and weaker; which suerly if
it be not loked into, will growe to greate dishonour on your
parte, and to a lastinge shame on our sydes, by reason of
the moste worthie and the moste honorable challendge of our
generall at Caste Calleys[1538] in daringe the kinges deputie,
or the kinge himselfe if he were in place, or the proudest
champyon he had to come fourthe and chaunge a Bullett with him;
but none durste once adventure to come forthe unto him, but
the Cowardlike knightes sayde they were not readye for him: a
moste worthye enterprise, deservinge lastinge fame to come to
the gates of his Courte, yea the strongest holde of his lande,
and dare him fourthe. Our hartes were then so boldened and our
stomackes so coragiouslye bente, that if theye had byn Tenne to
one we rather wished to fighte than to goo to dynner. But nowe,
most unfortunate and unluckie chaunce fallen amongest us by
weakeninge of our Lymes, and feblenes of our bodyes, we are not
able to abyde the force of them as nowe, and thoughe they be
but one to one, the more is our greife; for what is a piece of
Beefe of halfe a pounde amonge foure men to dynner or halfe a
drye Stockfishe for foure dayes in the weeke, and nothing elles
to helpe withall—Yea, wee have helpe, a litle Beveredge[1539]
worse than the pompe water. Wee were preste by her Maᵗⁱᵉˢ
presse to have her allowaunce, and not to be thus dealt
withall, you make no men of us, but beastes. And therefore wee
are not determyned to goe any further, but as we broughte the
_Lyon_, with our Master’s helpe, fourth, so wee will carye her
home agayne by the helpe of God, for as the wynde is faire and
home we will. And thus Captayne Marchaunt thinke of us as you
will and lett us have more victualles to bringe us home, for as
longe as it please God this wynde to blowe we will not alter
our corse, but home straighte and so thinck of us as you please.

The Quenes men and yours homewardes to our powers.’

* * * * *

And there withall came the Master unto me sayinge, That there
was not a man that wolde sett his handes to the saylles.

Noe Master, quoth I, what is it you can not comaunde them to
doe, beinge Master of the shippe! Strike the sayles, but it
colde not be don for the yeardes weare alonge[1540] before
hande, and the Toppes and Shrowdes manned, and the Master sayde
they wolde doe nothinge for him.

* * * * *

To appease this Mutanie I came amonge them myselfe saying,
My masters, what soden Mutaine is this amonge you? colde not
this have byn spoken of when we were neare the generall, yf any
thinge had byn amys there yt had byn redressed; I wolde wishe
you take a better corse then this for yt will not be answered.
Wherewith for the whole company spake one Crowe, that they
wolde not loose the wynde which was fayre and further theye
wolde not goe.

I showed them also that for theire victualles there was in the
shippe by the confession of the Pursur sufficient for 30 dayes,
assuringe them also on my life that as sone as they came to the
generall they sholde have a monthes victuall put abourde them
presentlye.[1541] But theye cryed alowde they wolde all home,
excepte some xii or xvi gentlemen and officers.

To perswade them the rather to staye I said moreover unto
them, My Masters, I will nowe imparte unto you a matter which
I thoughte to have secreyted untill another tyme, That there
is an Island of greate ritches promysed to be delivered to our
generall without the losse of one man, I praye you therefore
staye and talke with him, and he will laye you downe such
reason as shalbe to the contentacon of you all. Whereat one
Cornelius one of the gunners said, Well, Captayne, at your
requeste we will staye till nighte to speake with the generall,
for the which I thanked them all hartylie; howbeit they
presentely layde theire heades togither agayne and came with
one voyce sayinge, the wynde is good, we will not staye, we
will awaye, all! all! all! When I sawe the Mutaine so farre
growen I requested Mr Boroughes that he wolde worke a meane
with them to cause them staye, untill they cam to the generall
that they might acknowledge him and departe in good order from
him. They answered presentely that they wolde not staye for the
generall for they knewe what order he wolde take with them.

In the moste of their mutanie I saide unto them, What! is there
no honest man will acknowledge their generall, and therewith
willed as many as wolde so doe to holde up their hands, which
aboute xii or xvi gentlemen and officers did; the reste cryed,
home! home!

Then I said, My masters, this plate[1542] hath byn layde before
now by the principalles, not by the common sorte which will not
be answered. Why, quoth Mr Boroughes, howe speake you that,
meane you me? I answered, I wolde I knewe it were you, then
wolde I sone tell you of it, but I am suer it is don by the
principalles.

Whereupon I requested then I mighte be sett aborde the Quenes
pinnis. They tolde me, Noe, that they colde carye me as safe
into England as Sir Ffrauncis Drake colde. I answered I wolde
never be caryed into England by such a company of unhonest
persons as theye were.

Then I requested Mr Borughes that he wolde deale with the
Company that I mighte departe for I knewe he might do it. My
masters, said he, what unreasonable men are you, will you
neither staye for the admyrall nor lett the man departe! Lett
him departe for shame or elles staye for the admyrall, doe one
of the two. Then said Crowe, well Captayne, if you saye the
worde you shall goe; with that theye were contente.

Then once more I requested Mr Borughes as he was a gentleman
and tendred the accon[1543] that he wolde deale once more with
the company, for I knewe he might doe it, and promysed as I was
a Christian that there sholde not one here of theire heddes
perishe, Soe as theye wolde staye and speake with the generall.

He retorned to me agayne this answere, Captaine Marchaunt I
have talked with them and theire answere is this, They have had
many promises and little performance, therefore they will staye
noe longer.

When I sawe them so bent I called to Captaine Clifforde who was
in the Quenes pynnis desyringe him to take me in and bringe me
to the generall, for that I wolde not be caried into England by
a company of such unruly persons.

He cryed unto me that he wolde have me in or elles come abourde
for me himself, but theye manned theire Boate and sett me
aboarde, which, when one of those in the toppe perceaved, he
cryed with an othe, What! will you let him goe! Yf he fetche
up the Admyrall before nighte he will overtake us and then you
shall see what worke he will make with us.

In the middest of the mutinie I callid the Pursur unto me and
demaunded of him for what cause the company had stinckinge
beveredge to drincke, as there were in the shippe 15 tounes
of beare, sayinge, that if theye had any such theye sholde
have it in thende and drincke the beare as longe as it lasted.
Whereupon the company with one voyce cryed, Yea, Captaine, God
save your life, yt is your will we knowe that we sholde have
it; but we have it not.

The daye before theis matters brake forthe I ymparted my
mynde to Mr Borughes, tellinge him that scince the generall
is bounde for the Ilandes the next fayre daye that cometh, I
will goe abourde him and geve him to understand in what case
we stande for victualles that we maye be the better provyded
whatsoever befall. Nay, said he, the pursur hath byn with him
and he understandeth it alreadye for that wilbe a meane yf he
be not mynded to goe for the Ilandes to make him goe thither.
And therefore if he will runn into the Indies lett him run,
he knoweth alreadye what we want, never goe to him at all for
any thinge. Then, I said, when the Pursur was with him he was
so busie as he cold not have any leasure and therefore willed
him to resorte unto him at another tyme. He[1544] answered as
he did at the firste. The same tyme that the _Raynebowe_ had
her mayne sayle taken from the yearde by weather the Captaine
of her desired me to beare up with the generall to give him
to understand of his distres. Then quoth Mr Boroughes, The
generall seeth in what case he is and beareth all the sayle he
can and stayeth not for him, let us staye by him and helpe him.
But his desyre is, quothe I, that the generall sholde knowe it
presentlye and that his foremast is spent. Thereto Mr Boroughes
answered, The Captaine is a foole and he knoweth not what
belongeth to it so well as I doe.

* * * * *

Captaine Clifford sayth and testifieth that a such tyme as he
came nere the _Golden Lyon_ to take in Captaine Marchaunte he
callid to the master of the same shippe, wishinge him to have
care of himselfe, to bringe backe the shippe to the generall
and to appease the companye, for that he knewe he was a man
colde doe much amonge them, addinge further that he was not
able to answere it at his cominge home. He answered he colde
not doe withall and the company were resolved to goe home. The
master of the same pinnisse spake unto him in like manner, or a
greate deale more.

Then Captaine Clifforde called to the company and tolde them
that if theye wente awaye with her Maiesties Shippe some of
them wolde be hanged, upon which wordes Captayne Marchaunt hard
them call Capteine Clifforde, Arrant villane.

* * * * *

Upon dewe consideracon whereof the generall sayde:—Althoughe
I am not dobtefull what to doe in this case, or yet want any
aucthoritie, but myselfe have from Her Maiestie sufficient
Jurisdiccon to correcte and punnishe with all severitie as
to me in discretion shalbe meete, Accordinge to the Qualitie
of the offences, all those sceditious persons which sholl be
in the whole fleete, yet for the confidence I have in your
discretions, as also to wytnes our agreament in Judgement in
all matters, I praye you lett me heare your severall opynions
touching this facte which hath byn declared in your hearinge
this daye; In my judgement it was as fowle and untollerable a
mutanye as ever I have knowne. Captyne Marchant hath discharged
his dutie faythefull as a true servitor unto her Maiestie; all
the rest of that shippe, exceptinge only those 12 or 16 which
helde up theire handes to wytnes theire wyllingnes to retorne
to our company have deserved a shamfull deathe in that theye
have forsaken her Maiesties standerd and conyssyon and forsaken
her Maiesties Shippes Royal beinge distressed, and as much as
in them lyeth hindreth the service in hande for the honor and
saffetye of her Maiesties realmes and domynyons. And therefore
my fiynall and diffinityve sentence is this—That the master of
the said Shippe, the boteswaine, and Mr Boroughe, and Crowe,
the pryncipall contryvers and workers of this mutanie, shall,
assone as I come by them, wheresoever I find them within my
power, abyde the paynes of Death; yf not theye shall remayne
as deade men in lawe. All the rest shall remayne also at her
Maiesties mercye as accessaryes to this treacherous defection.
And thoughe it shall please her Majestie to looke upon them
with mercye, yett my sentence is theye shall all come to the
Corte gate with halters aboute theire neckes for an example of
all such offendours. The whole Councell approved this sentence
as iuste and necessarye for avoydinge the like hereafter,
which elles muste needes growe to the utter dissolucon of all
her Maiesties service for the sea hereafter.

God save the Quene.

The next paper (f. 243, et seq.), is endorsed

=‘The voluntary confession of William Bigatt, Master of the
_Lion_, under Captain Wm. Burrowes, June 1587.’=

Bigatt, of course, desired to clear himself and Borough; but the paper is of interest from the side-lights it throws on naval customs and discipline. Modern punctuation has been inserted where necessary.

The xxvii of Maye 1587 beinge Satterdaye assone as yt was
dayelighte wee sawe a sayle a heade of us, which was north
northeaste from us as farr as wee coulde well see her; unto
the which we gave chase by the comaundement of our captaine,
captaine Marchaunte, for that wee thought her to be a Spanierd
or Portingall, the winde beinge at weste southweste, our
generall with those shipps which were with hime beinge then
in sighte of us, and not then farr from us; but the generall
kepinge nearer the winde then wee did, for that wee followed
chase after the sayle which we sawe as aforesayd, wee lost the
sight of the generall with the reste of those that were with
him, then beinge abowte eighte of the clocke in the morninge,
then beinge with us in companie the _Spie_ of her Maiesties,
both of us still followinge the chase. And abowte eleven of the
clock before none, beinge then but three houres after wee had
lost sight of the generall, wee sett up the sayle and spake
with him, yt was one of our owne companie, a Barke of Lyme, but
shee departed from us a five dayes before with others for to
come home for England.

As sone as wee had spoken with this Barke I called unto
the companye as yt is the use of sea menn for to doe, and
willed them to take in our sprett sayle but they awnswered
me not that I hearde anie thinge att all at that time; but
I thinkinge that it had bin doun according as I willed them
which was that they should gett yt in. A little while after I
came forewardes againe to the mayne maste, and asked, What?
is your sprett seyle in? but none awnswered, neither that yt
was in, nor that it was not in, and John Terrye, beinge one
of our quartermasters, walkinge afore the maste, I called
unto him and willed that the Sprett Sayle shoulde be got in
that wee might kepe our loofe;[1545] he awnswered me that the
companie said theye would not take yt in. No! said I, what is
the cawse? Whoe be they that saye they will not? He awnswered,
they all in generall saye soe; I demaunded, Whie will they not?
he awnswered that the captaine, captaine Marchaunt, knew the
cawse, and that the cawse whie was delivered him in writinge.
Then I went unto the captaine, he, with his lieftenaunte Mr
Nicholls, beinge then readinge the letter which was delivered
the captaine; I also seinge parte of the bill read, wente
forwarde againe to the maste and called unto them and willed
them that they should gett in theire sprett sayle and haile
afte our shoowtes[1546] that wee might goe unto our generall
and the reste of the fflete, but none of them would goe abowte
to doe yt by anie sayinge that I coulde saye unto them. Then I
wente unto the captaine, captaine Marchaunte, and toulde him
that I had willed the companie to gett in the Sprett Sayle
and hale after our showttes, but I could gett none of them
to doe yt by anie meanes; he himself then goinge forwarde to
the mayne maste, demaunded, whie they did not as the master
comaunded them, and, as yt will be proved he comaunded them
in her maiesties name to doe yt. The moste parte of them
awnswered hime that they would not, but that they would goe for
England, for the winde is nowe good, and that they would not
goe backe againe and be starved for wante of victualls; the
captaine awnsweringe them againe sayd, Contente yourselves,
what victualls soever are in the shipp you shall have yt, and
therefore holde yourselves contente untill wee mete with our
generall. They said againe, they have had manye faire woordes,
but nothing performed in dedes. Then I myself, perswaded them
that theye would contente themselves and that they woulde hale
afte the showttes, that wee might tarrye and not goe home,
but that the generall shoulde knowe of theire goinge, and not
for to goe awaye in that sorte, not makinge him acqueinted
of the departure of the shipp, and soe likewise did captaine
Marchaunte requeste them that if theye woulde nedes goe that
they would stay but untill nighte to see yf wee coulde possible
mete with the generall, yf not that then they might doe as
they thought good; and Mr Burrowes did likewise intreate with
them that they, would staye and not goe awaye in that order;
then Cornelius the Gonner intreated with the reste of the
Gonners and parte of the companie to tarrie untill nighte to
see yf wee could mete with the generall, and with mutch adoe
had almoste gott them to staye. And then I willed them to hale
afte our showttes, and willed hime to putt the healme to Lee,
and keep his Loofe, but yt was not donn as I willed them; then
I wente afte to see yf the helme were a Lee as I willed hime
to putt yt, and looked downe at the Skuttle, and there I sawe
one bearinge the helme on the contrarye syde which was on the
weather syde which was one Crowe. Then I called unto him and
willed him to putt on the Lee, but he would not doe yt by anie
meanes; then I called unto him againe and asked him, Whie
doest thou not as I bidd thee, you wilbe Master belike, will
you! said I unto him, whoe awnswered me, Yea, that I will, and
Captaine to for a tyme, untill there be other order taken! so
that neither the helme was putt alee not yet I coulde gett the
showttes haled afte.

Then I wente and certified the Captaine what awnswer was made
me by Crowe: and then saide the companie we will not staye
to speake with the generall; the cawse was asked by me whie
the would not staye, (of Cornelius the gonner because he did
saye unto the captaine that he would perswade them to tarrye
untill nighte to speake with the General), then Cornelius
awnswered that they said theye would not staye for feare that
the generall would take them owte of the _Lyon_, and shifte
them into other shipps, and then use suche punishemente unto
them as he thought good, and therefore they would not tarrie
but go home for England, for they would rather truste to the
Quenes mercye then unto the curteseye of the generall, and
that they would awnswer yt at home that they had donn. When
Captaine Marchaunte sawe that by no perswasioun they would
alter there mynds he was verye angrye, and said that this was
no newe matter begonn, but that yt bin begoon to have bin
practised before this tyme by somme of the beste and not of the
worste. Then I replied againe and said that I, for my part,
am ignoraunte and never knewe of the matter before this tyme,
nether did I ever knowe whoe did beginn yt, and therefore Sir
I praye you doe not chardge me with anie suche thinge, ffor
tryall whereof I called the companie and certified them of the
woorde that Captaine Marchaunte spake, and they generallie (I
meane those men that were at this broyle) confessed and saide
that as God shoulde iudge them that neither I nor Mr Burrowes
was ever consentinge unto the matter, but that yt was theire
owne doinge and that theye would awnswer yt.

Then Captaine Marchaunt and I fell to perswadinge them again
to tarrie but by no meanes they woulde at our requeste yelde
unto yt; then the captaine tolde them that he would not goe for
England but that he would rather leape into the sea then goe
home. Then John Tippett standinge by the mayne maste drewe oute
his kniffe and cutt the halliardes of the mayne Toppsayle that
yt might comme downe but theye had slonge the yarde alofte soe
that the sayle coulde not comme downe. Then Captaine Marchaunte
prayed them that yf by noe meanes theye would staye for the
Generall untill nighte that theye would sett him aboorde of
the _Spie_ her Maiesties pinnase who was all this while with
us, and with mutche adoe gott them at the laste to doe yt, and
I myself did offer the captaine to goe with hime aboord the
generall but he was not willinge that I shoulde, and yett I
offered to goe with hime twise.

And Captaine Clefforde, captaine of the _Spie_ sawe all this
broyle in our shipp; he called unto me and said, Master, have
a care of your creditt; I awnswered him againe, Alack sir! I
am but one mann, I have donn as muche as I can to perswade
them but by noe intreatye can make them to tarrie. Then
Captaine Clefforthe called unto them and saide, Take hede
what you doe for you wilbe hanged all of you! Then one of our
gouners standing uppon our poope awnswered Captaine Clefforthe
againe, and saide, Cutt hose! cutt hose! where were you when
the _Samaritane_ was aground uppon the rock? And one of our
quartermasters did saye, I thancke you Sir for your sharpe
judgmente, yt is a harde fought feeld were none escapethe! And
when our captaine was in the boate at shipp sterne Mr Burrowes
fell to perswadinge them againe to staye untill nighte but
theye would not in anie case staye. Then our captaine, captaine
Marchaunte went aboord of the _Spie_ and soe she went awaye
from us, and wee laye by the Lee for our boate; and in the
meane tyme, whyle the boate was awaye, I said unto them, Sirs,
what have you donn, you have donn you knowe not what, you care
not, but I knowe that I and Mr Burrowes shalbe brought to be
in all the faulte; yf you would have donn thus and goe awaye
in this order, whie did you not tell neither the captaine nor
me the other daye when as we spake with the Generall, that wee
might have given him to understand that you woulde goe for
England, that he might have provided more victualls for you
yf that you shoulde staye, and not thus to goe awaye? But noe
perswasiouns woulde serve but home they would and soe they
haled abowte the sayles and homewards theye came. And this was
not the doinge of one or twoe of them but the consente of them
in generall, or the moste parte of them, as well souldiers as
maryners excepte those that were sicke at that tyme; and this
is the trewithe and nothinge but the trewithe as yt shalbe
proved.