Motives for the voyage

Drake wanted to return to the Americas for several reasons. (Historians disagree about which were most important to him!):

Desire for wealth (for him and for his investors).
Desire for social status that wealth and success would give him.
Hatred of the Spanish - he was keen to seek revenge for his humiliation at San Juan de Ulúa.
Patriotism - he wanted to strengthen England and serve his Queen.
Trade: make new trade treaties and find new routes (perhaps the North-West passage which Frobisher claimed to have found in 1576).
Adventure: sail on the Pacific Ocean that he had seen.

Drake was given permission by Elizabeth I in 1576 to plan a new voyage to the Americas. She insisted, however, that he keep it secret (even from her chief adviser, William Cecil) because she didn't want Spanish spies at Court to find out about it.

The Fleet

Drake put together a fleet of 5 ships:

The Pelican (later renamed the Golden Hinde) captained by Drake.
The Elizabeth captained by Captain Winter.
The Marigold captained by Captain Thomas.
The Swan captained by Captain Chester.
The Christopher supply ship captained by Captain Moore.

In total there were:

Five ships including a supply ship;
A crew of 164 men and 41 cannon;

The main leaders were Drake, Doughty and Winter. A key member of the crew was Diego who had joined Drake in 1572 and who spoke Spanish.

The crew were told that they would be sailing to Egypt to pick up dried fruit - a far shorter and safer expedition than he had planned. Some were furious when they found out the truth after they had left.

GCSE Elizabethan England 1568-1603 AQA

Drake's Motives for the 1577 Voyage