[MR] Wikipedia: Drake Claims California for England

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends,

On this day in 1579 Francis Drake (not yet knighted) claimed California 
for Queen Elizabeth. He is known to have landed on the Pacific Coast 
somewhere north of San Francisco, possibly in Marin County. He named the 
territory "New Albion" or "Nova Albion": 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Albion .

Richard Hakluyt's account of the landing mentions a "monument" which 
included a plate of metal upon which was engraved Drake's claim: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake%27s_Plate_of_Brass . "Drake's Plate 
of Brass" was "rediscovered" in 1936, and caused a great stir among 
historians, some of whom pretty much bet their professional reputations 
on its authenticity. As a youngster, I remember seeing a duplicate 
proudly displayed at the California State Fair. The plate turned out to 
be an elaborate hoax perpetrated by members of the Ancient and Honorable 
Order of E Clampus Vitus, a rather irreverant West Coast fraternal 
organization known for marching in local parades, lots of drinking, and 
cheeky commemorations of the embarrassing parts of western history: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Clampus_Vitus . ["Clampers" put up 
heart-shaped plaques at the sites of brothels at several locations in 
California.]

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Who Loves a Good Hoax