He nothing common did or mean
   Upon that memorable scene.

’And so bidding the whole company farewell he laid his head on the block.’  ‘Lo! this is the end of traitors!’ said Drake as the executioner raised the head aloft.

Drake, like Magellan, decided to winter where he was, in Port St. Julian on the east coast of Patagonia.  His troubles with the men were not yet over; for the soldiers resented being put on an equality with the sailors, and the ‘very craftie lawyer’ and Doughty’s brother were anything but pleased with the turn events had taken.  Then, again, the faint-hearts murmured in their storm-beaten tents against the horrors of the awful Straits.  So Drake resolved to make things clear for good and all.  Unfolding a document he began:  ’My Masters, I am a very bad orator, for my bringing up hath not been in learning, but what I shall speak here let every man take good notice of and let him write it down; for I will speak nothing but I will answer it in England, yea, and before Her Majesty, and I have it here already set down.’  Then, after reminding them of the great adventure before them and saying that mutiny and dissension must stop at once, he went on:  ’For by the life of God it doth even take my wits from me to think of it.  Here is such controversy between the gentlemen and sailors that it doth make me mad to hear it.  I must have the gentleman to haul with the mariner and the mariner with the gentleman.  I would know him that would refuse to set his hand to a rope!  But I know there is not any such here.’  To those whose hearts failed them he offered the Marigold.  ’But let them go homeward; for if I find them in my way, I will surely sink them.’  Not a man stepped forward.  Then, turning to the officers, he discharged every one of them for re-appointment at his pleasure.  Next, he made the worst offenders, the ‘craftie lawyer’ included, step to the front for reprimand.  Finally, producing the Queen’s commission, he ended by a ringing appeal to their united patriotism.  ’We have set by the ears three mighty Princes [the sovereigns of England, Spain, and Portugal]; and if this voyage should not have success we should not only be a scorning unto our enemies but a blot on our country for ever.  What triumph would it not be for Spain and Portugal!  The like of this would never more be tried.’  Then he gave back every man his rank again, explaining that he and they were all servants of Her Majesty together.  With this the men marched off, loyal and obedient, to their tents.

Next week Drake sailed for the much dreaded Straits, before entering which he changed the Pelican’s name to the Golden Hind, which was the crest of Sir Christopher Hatton, one of the chief promoters of the enterprise and also one of Doughty’s patrons.  Then every vessel struck her topsail to the bunt in honor of the Queen as well as to show that all discoveries and captures were to be made in her sole name.  Seventeen days of appalling