[MR] Wikipedia: Drake Lands in California

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1579, Francis Drake (not yet "Sir") made landfall in what
is today Marin County, California. Most scholars today agree that he landed
at what became known as "Drake's Bay" on the Point Reyes Peninsula somewhat
north of San Francisco.

After plundering Spanish shipping along the coast of South America, Drake's
ship, the Golden Hind, was in bad shape. He chose the secluded bay far to
the north of any Spanish settlements to beach and careen the ship for hull
repairs. Drake stayed until 23 July 1579 when the repairs were completed,
then sailed west to reach England and successfully circumnavigate the globe.

During his stay, Drake and his crew made contact with the native Coastal
Miwok people. Drake and his officers wrote descriptions of the Miwoks and
their culture, which later became important evidence for pinpointing the
site of his landing.

While in California, Drake claimed the area for Queen Elizabeth and named
it Nova Albion. He documented his presence by having a metal plate cut with
the claim engraved on it, and a six-pence coin with Elizabeth's likeness
mounted in a hole. The plate was affixed to a pole. Sorry kids, but the
plate has never been found. It was Drake's claim that formed the legal
basis for later English colonization of North America. The story is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Albion .

Ah, yes! The brass plate. I wrote about this here several years ago, but it
is a juicy tale that I love, so you get a rerun.

An engraved brass plate with the appropriate hole was found in the early
1930s, and was declared authentic by UC Berkeley history professor Herbert
E. Bolton. For years it was thought to be the real deal. In reality, the
plate was a rather transparent forgery by members of a "historical" and
drinking lodge known as "The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus
Vitus". Bolton was a member, and may have been in on the hoax from the
start, or he may have been the butt of a joke by other members.

The plate was held by the prestigious Bancroft Library, and was trotted out
for public display from time to time. I remember seeing it (or a copy) at
the California State Fair when I was around ten years old (and already
steeped in its significance by my 4th grade state history textbook, which
IIRC featured an illustration of Drake and his men around said pole and
plate): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake%27s_Plate_of_Brass .

The Drake plate was officially discredited in 2002 after scientific
testing. It is still on display in the Bancroft Library, now a historical
relic in its own right, though its tale is a cautionary one:
https://bancroft.berkeley.edu/Exhibits/permanent.html#nogo .

E Clampus Vitus lodges (aka "The Clampers") are still in business. The
members march in local parades throughout California and the west, put up
more plaques to commemorate lost bawdy houses, get royally smashed, and
have a great time until their hangovers hit the next morning:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Clampus_Vitus .

Never take life too seriously.

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆