Sir Francis Drake's Famous Voyage Round the World

An eyewitness narrative chronicles an English circumnavigation beginning in late 1577, describing departure from Plymouth, an early storm and repairs, and a long Atlantic passage that includes stops off North African coasts and Atlantic islands. The account records tense encounters with islanders, the construction of a pinnace, the capture of Spanish and Portuguese vessels, and careful mustering of crews. Detailed observations note island resources and climates—goats, salt, and fruits such as the coconut—along with landscape, provisioning efforts, and occasional skirmishes as the expedition pushes onward toward the southern seas and beyond.