Research Items

Abstract

New Light on Drake's Voyage.—Two documents discovered by Miss E. G. R. Taylor in the British Museum throw much light on the plans of Drake's voyage of 1577. One of these documents, reproduced in part with an article in the Geographical Journal for January, is a draft plan for the voyage. Unfortunately, the document is mutilated, but careful examination reveals that the ships were to go and return by Magellan's Straits, that unknown shores not in the possession of any Christian prince were to be visited, and that the voyage was to be extended to 30°. Miss Taylor believes that the coast to be examined was not that of western America, which was already in Spanish possession between 40° S. and 35° N., but that of Terra Australis as shown on the Ortelius map of 1570. This coast ran north-west from the Strait of Magellan across the Pacific to the Moluccas. The second document is John Winter's report made on his return to England after losing touch with Drake in the South Seas. Winter's report shows that the westerly winds of the South Pacific made a westerly course impossible for him and no doubt encouraged Drake to turn north to harry the Spaniards and accept the alternative plan of seeking for the Strait of Anian. On his failure to find this strait in lat. 48° N., he turned to his original destination of the Moluccas.