Sir Francis Drake's Famous Voyage Round the World

The account begins with Drake’s fleet of five ships and 164 men leaving Plymouth in November 1577, claiming a voyage to Alexandria. A sudden storm drives them into Falmouth, then back to Plymouth for repairs after a mast is lost and the Marigold is driven ashore. Undaunted, they set out again in December, reaching the Barbary coast and the island of Mogador, where tentative exchanges with locals quickly turn tense, offering a glimpse of the hazards ahead.

Soon the sailors chase down Spanish fishing canters, capture a few, and seize a Portuguese caravel bound for Cape Verde. At Cape Blanco they take an anchored ship, spend several days training their men on shore, and barter with fishermen for supplies. These early encounters—both hostile and friendly—establish the daring, resourceful spirit that will drive the expedition around the world.