Volume 13 — 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.