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'''New Albion''' was the name given twice to areas in [[North America]]. The first, in [[1579]], to an area on the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] coast near modern-day [[Whale Cove, Oregon]], by |
'''New Albion''' was the name given twice to areas in [[North America]]. The first, in [[1579]], to an area on the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] coast near modern-day [[Whale Cove, Oregon|Whale Cove]] in [[Oregon]], by [[Francis Drake|Sir Francis Drake]] ([[1545]]–[[1596]]). The second was to an area of modern-day [[New Jersey]], [[Pennsylvania]] and [[Maryland]] in the [[United States of America|United States]] where colonization was unsuccessfully attempted under [[Sir Edmund Plowden]] under the authority of a charter granted by [[Charles I]] in [[1634]]. |
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''[[Albion]]'' is an archaic name for the islands of [[Great Britain]]. |
''[[Albion]]'' is an archaic name for the islands of [[Great Britain]]. |
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[[Image:FrancisDrake.jpg|thumb|200px|Sir Francis Drake [[1545]]–[[1596]].]] |
[[Image:FrancisDrake.jpg|thumb|200px|Sir Francis Drake [[1545]]–[[1596]].]] |
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During his famed [[circumnavigation]] of the globe ([[1577]]–[[1580]]) in which he was ordered to destroy the [[Spain|Spanish]] flotillas in the [[New World]] and plunder settlements, [[Francis Drake|Sir Francis Drake]] landed on the western coast of [[North America]] and claimed the area for [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth I]] as [[New Albion]]. While historians continue to dispute the exact location of his landing, new evidence suggests that it was in present-day [[Whale Cove, Oregon|Whale Cove]], [[Oregon]]. |
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The coast had partially been explored in [[1542]] by [[Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo]] who sailed for the |
The western coast of [[North America]] had partially been explored in [[1542]] by [[Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo]] who sailed for the [[Spain]], but as [[England]] was in conflict with Spain and there were no existing Spanish claims yet on the land, Drake decided the area could be claimed. |
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[[Image:Drake_newalbion_map.gif|thumb|150px|Map Detail of New Albion, c. 1600]] |
[[Image:Drake_newalbion_map.gif|thumb|150px|Map Detail of New Albion, c. 1600]] |
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Upon his return to England on [[4 April]] [[1581]], Francis Drake was knighted by [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth I]] for his deeds against the Spanish during the circumnavigational voyage. However, in order to keep an uneasy peace with Spain, and to avoid having Spain threaten England's claims in the New World, Drake's logs, charts, and other writings were confiscated. Thus, the discovery and claim on New Albion was ordered by the Queen to be considered a state secret. Drake and his crew were sworn to silence on pain of death. Only decade later, after the English forces destroyed the [[Spanish Armada]] in [[1588]] (in which Drake played a significant role), did Queen Elizabeth allow an official account of Drake's voyage by Richard Hakluyt to be published—though with many of the details obfuscated. |
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However, Drake was always uneasy with the misrepresentations in the "official" account, and in 1592, he wrote Queen Elizabeth in reference to "the certain truth concealed, as I have thought it necessary myself." and requesting that the account be rewritten accordingly. The Queen denied his request. |
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| ⚫ | After Elizabeth's death, maps began to mark the area of North America above [[New Spain]] and New Mexico as ''Nova Albion,'' although the boundaries and locations greatly differ among maps. However, Drake's claiming land on the Pacific coast became the legal basis for subsequent colonial charters granted by English monarchs that claimed lands from "sea to sea" (i.e. from the Atlantic where English colonies were first settled, to the Pacific). However, despite these claims, the English did not establish a colonial presence on the west coast of North America until the [[19th century]] in the [[Oregon Country]]. |
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Here's a quote: |
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''"Our necessary business being ended, our General with his company travelled up into the country to their villages, where we found herds of deer by a thousand in a company, being most large, and fat of body. We found the whole country to be a warren of a strange kind of coneys; their bodies in bigness as be the Barbary coneys, their heads as the heads of ours, the feet of a want,13 and the tail of a rat, being of great length. Under her chin is on either side a bag, into the which she gathereth her meat, when she hath filled her belly abroad. The people eat their bodies, and make great account of their skins, for their king's coat was made of them. Our General called this country Nova Albion, and that for two causes; the one in respect of the white banks and cliffs, which lie towards the sea, and the other, because it might have some affinity with our country in name, which sometime was so called. There is no part of earth here to be taken up, wherein there is not some probable show of gold or silver.'' |
''"Our necessary business being ended, our General with his company travelled up into the country to their villages, where we found herds of deer by a thousand in a company, being most large, and fat of body. We found the whole country to be a warren of a strange kind of coneys; their bodies in bigness as be the Barbary coneys, their heads as the heads of ours, the feet of a want,13 and the tail of a rat, being of great length. Under her chin is on either side a bag, into the which she gathereth her meat, when she hath filled her belly abroad. The people eat their bodies, and make great account of their skins, for their king's coat was made of them. Our General called this country Nova Albion, and that for two causes; the one in respect of the white banks and cliffs, which lie towards the sea, and the other, because it might have some affinity with our country in name, which sometime was so called. There is no part of earth here to be taken up, wherein there is not some probable show of gold or silver.'' |
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''Coming soon!'' |
''Coming soon!'' |
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==Related Links== |
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* [http://www.whalecove.com/drake.html Sir Francis Drake's Lost Harbor found at Whale Cove] |
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[[Category:British Empire]] |
[[Category:British Empire]] |
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Revision as of 12:10, 10 November 2004
New Albion was the name given twice to areas in North America. The first, in 1579, to an area on the Pacific coast near modern-day Whale Cove in Oregon, by Sir Francis Drake (1545–1596). The second was to an area of modern-day New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland in the United States where colonization was unsuccessfully attempted under Sir Edmund Plowden under the authority of a charter granted by Charles I in 1634.
Albion is an archaic name for the islands of Great Britain.
Sir Francis Drake's visit: 1579
During his famed circumnavigation of the globe (1577–1580) in which he was ordered to destroy the Spanish flotillas in the New World and plunder settlements, Sir Francis Drake landed on the western coast of North America and claimed the area for Queen Elizabeth I as New Albion. While historians continue to dispute the exact location of his landing, new evidence suggests that it was in present-day Whale Cove, Oregon.
The western coast of North America had partially been explored in 1542 by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo who sailed for the Spain, but as England was in conflict with Spain and there were no existing Spanish claims yet on the land, Drake decided the area could be claimed.
Upon his return to England on 4 April 1581, Francis Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I for his deeds against the Spanish during the circumnavigational voyage. However, in order to keep an uneasy peace with Spain, and to avoid having Spain threaten England's claims in the New World, Drake's logs, charts, and other writings were confiscated. Thus, the discovery and claim on New Albion was ordered by the Queen to be considered a state secret. Drake and his crew were sworn to silence on pain of death. Only decade later, after the English forces destroyed the Spanish Armada in 1588 (in which Drake played a significant role), did Queen Elizabeth allow an official account of Drake's voyage by Richard Hakluyt to be published—though with many of the details obfuscated.
However, Drake was always uneasy with the misrepresentations in the "official" account, and in 1592, he wrote Queen Elizabeth in reference to "the certain truth concealed, as I have thought it necessary myself." and requesting that the account be rewritten accordingly. The Queen denied his request.
After Elizabeth's death, maps began to mark the area of North America above New Spain and New Mexico as Nova Albion, although the boundaries and locations greatly differ among maps. However, Drake's claiming land on the Pacific coast became the legal basis for subsequent colonial charters granted by English monarchs that claimed lands from "sea to sea" (i.e. from the Atlantic where English colonies were first settled, to the Pacific). However, despite these claims, the English did not establish a colonial presence on the west coast of North America until the 19th century in the Oregon Country.
"Our necessary business being ended, our General with his company travelled up into the country to their villages, where we found herds of deer by a thousand in a company, being most large, and fat of body. We found the whole country to be a warren of a strange kind of coneys; their bodies in bigness as be the Barbary coneys, their heads as the heads of ours, the feet of a want,13 and the tail of a rat, being of great length. Under her chin is on either side a bag, into the which she gathereth her meat, when she hath filled her belly abroad. The people eat their bodies, and make great account of their skins, for their king's coat was made of them. Our General called this country Nova Albion, and that for two causes; the one in respect of the white banks and cliffs, which lie towards the sea, and the other, because it might have some affinity with our country in name, which sometime was so called. There is no part of earth here to be taken up, wherein there is not some probable show of gold or silver.
At our departure hence our General set up a monument of our being there, as also of her Majesty's right and title to the same; namely a plate, nailed upon a fair great post, whereupon was engraved her Majesty's name, the day and year of our arrival there, with the free giving up of the province and people into her Majesty's hands, together with her Highness' picture and arms, in a piece of six pence of current English money, under the plate, whereunder was also written the name of our General.
It seemeth that the Spaniards hitherto had never been in this part of the country, neither did ever discover the land by many degrees to the southwards of this place."
Whale Cove, Oregon lies just one mile north of Cape Foulweather where Captain Cook first sighted the American coast two centuries later. He described it in his log, with unknowing accuracy, as "the long-looked for coast of New Albion". Cook sailed on to Friendly Cove on Vancouver Island, to be given credit for discovering western Canada, credit that rightly belonged to Sir Francis Drake.
Lord Plowden and New Albion: 1634
Coming soon!