[MR] Wikipedia: Drake Claims California

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1579 Francis Drake (he wasn't knighted yet) landed in 
what is likely now Northern California and claimed the land for England 
as New Albion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Albion . Drake's claim 
was a somewhat defiant stick-in-the-eye to Spain, and was never followed 
up with a settlement.

A number of artifacts possibly relating to Drake have been found in 
Northern California, including a mortar, an English six-pence, and 
shards of Chinese pottery (a common luxury in England at the time). Most 
prominent among them was the so-called "Drake's Plate of Brass", a metal 
tablet with an inscription relating to the claim. This was later proven 
to be a hoax perpetrated by members of the Ancient and Honorable Order 
of E Clampus Vitus, a lodge organization devoted to irreverent 
celebration of Western history, local parades, and copious consumption 
of adult beverages: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake%27s_Plate_of_Brass . The Clampers, 
as they are informally called, are also noted for . . . uh . . . 
erecting two infamous monuments commemorating gold rush-era brothels. 
These cheeky guys are among my heroes: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Clampus_Vitus .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot