Thursday 27 June 2019

George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland | Timeline

Earl of Cumberland, 1588
(detail: The Queen's glove in his hat)
Sir George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, 13th Baron de Clifford, 13th Lord of Skipton, KG (8 August 1558 – 30 October 1605), was an English peer, naval commander, and courtier of Queen Elizabeth I of England. He was notable at court for his jousting, at the Accession Day Tilts, which were highlights of the year at court. Two famous survivals, his portrait miniature by Nicholas Hilliard (c. 1590, now National Maritime Museum) and a garniture of Greenwich armour (now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art), reflect this important part of his life. In contrast, he neglected his estates in the far north of England, and left a long succession dispute between his heirs. (Intro from Wikipedia)

August 8, 1558 - Brougham Castle, Westmorland - George Clifford, is born
January 3, 1569 - Battle, England - Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, writes the Queen asking permission to have the wardship of George Clifford in case his father (who was gravely ill) died, and also to marry the boy with one of his daughters
January 8, 1569 - (While in Battle) - While visiting his uncle and aunt in Battle, southern England, His father, Henry Clifford, 2nd Earl of Cumberland, dies back at Brougham Castle
January 12, 1569 - (While in Battle) - Lord Burghley writes a letter to Lord Montague (the boy's uncle) on the Queen's behalf giving ward of the young Earl of Cumberland to the Earl of Bedford
May 9, 1571 - Cambridge - Cumberland matriculates and takes residence in the Trinity College, Cambridge
May 1(?), 1574 - Oxford - Cumberland migrates to the University of Oxford to study geography
November 15, 1576 - Oxford - Cumberland finishes his "M.A. Degree"
June 24, 1577 - St.Mary Overy's Church, Southwark - Cumberland marries Lady Margaret Russell, daughter of the Earl of Bedford, with presence of the Queen
August(?) 1(?), 1577 - Skipton, Yorkshire - After his marriage, Cumberland spends most of his time at his mother's house at Skipton
June 29, 1579 - Skipton - Granted formal authority to enter his estates
January 28, 1580 - Skipton - Granted formal authority to enter his estates
July 30(?), 1581 - Skipton - His mother, Anne Dacre, dies aged 60. Cumberland in full possession of his inheritance
July 31, 1581 - Skipton - Attends his mother's funeral
August 20(?), 1581 - Skipton - Cumberland purchases the manor of Wevendrewath in Westmorland which adjoined his principal residence there, Brougham Castle, for £1,600
September(?) 1(?), 1581 - Brougham Castle, Westmorland - With his mother's death, Cumberland takes residence in Brougham Castle
January(?) 1(?), 1582 - Brougham Castle, Westmorland - Exchanges his manors of East and West Marton in Craven with Christopher Marton for Eshton, a larger property than Marton, at the head of the Aire Valley, bordering Flasby to the south and west
June(?) 1(?), 1583 - London - Cumberland exchanges his residence at Skipton and the environment of his estates for life at Court =(START)
March 1(?), 1584 - Furseys, near Harnham Hall - Shortly after borrowing £400, Cumberland attends a race at the Furseys, near Harnham Hall, with Warwick, Pembroke and Essex, the Howards and Lord Chandos, and wins a golden bell valued at £50 given by the Mayor and City of Salisbury
May 1(?), 1584 - London - Cumberland receives orders from the Privy Council to provide 300 horse soldiers for protection against Scotland
June 1(?), 1584 - London(?) - Authorises his commissioners to sell all the Derbyshire estates
July 1(?), 1585 - London(?) - Empowers his commissioners to sell his manors of Hart and Maltby and his other land at Welham, Sutton Broomfleet, Staynton, Hutton and Idle
August 1(?), 1585 - London(?) - Cumberland mortgages Maltby for £1,000
September 14, 1585 - Chenies, Buckinghamshire - Appears as "chief mourner" at Lord Bedford's funeral
November 27, 1585 - London(?) - Borrows £400 for a year
December 7, 1585 - London(?) - Borrows £900 for eight months
December 31, 1585 - London(?) - Borrows £700
January(?) 1(?), 1586 - London(?) - Begins selling property to meet the large debts with he accumulates while living at Court
March 1(?), 1586 - London(?) - Cumberland sells the manor house of Maltby to his solicitor Anthony Wright for £320 and the manor itself to Edward Stanhope for £1,480
April 19, 1586 - London(?) - Mortgages his manor of Hart for £3,000. Cumberland's debts now rise to £9,000 and the interest on them amounted to £790 a year
April 20, 1586 - London(?) - Redeems Cowthorpe only to pledge it again for a bigger sum, £2,500
June 8, 1586 - London(?) - Borrows £500
June 17, 1586 - London(?) - Borrows £1,000
June 26, 1586 - Gravesend - An expedition financed by Cumberland sails from Gravesend. The ships are the "Red Dragon"(260-tons, 130 men), commanded by Robert Withrington, and the "barke Clifford"(130-tons, 70 men), commanded by Christopher Lister
June 30, 1586 - Gravesen(?) - Borrows £1,000. On the same day mortgages his manor of Gargrave for two years for £1,000
July 24, 1586 - (While in London?) - The expedition reaches Plymouth. There they are joined by the "Roe" (captain Hawes) and the pinnace "Dorothie" (property of Walter Raleigh)
August 17, 1586 - (While in London?) - Facing westerly winds, the expedition doesn't sail until August 17th
August 20, 1586 - (While in London?) - Withrington's fleet meets with 16 Hamburg ships sailing from Lisbon. From their commanders the english learn that there were 7 richly laden ships in Lisbon
August 22, 1586 - (While in London?) - Contrary winds force the fleet to put into Darmouth
August 29, 1586 - (While in London?) - After 7 days at Dartmouth, the expedition sails from England once more
September 17, 1586 - (While in London?) - Withrington reaches the Coast of Morocco
September 21, 1586 - (While in London?) - Withrington lands in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. There they learn about the taking of Lanzarote by the turks
September 23, 1586 - London(?) - Letter to Lord Burghley, asking if the Queen could lend him £10,000
September 25, 1586 - (While in London?) - Withrington anchors at Rio de Ouro (South coast of Western Sahara)
October 21, 1586 - (While in London?) - Withrington reaches the Coast of Guinea
October 23, 1586 - (While in London?) - Withrington anchors at Sierra Leone to obtain water, wood and fish 
November 4, 1586 - (While in London?) - In Sierra Leone, the english land in a small town in Sierra Leone and burn it, taking 15 tons of rice and other provisions with them
November 17, 1586 - (While in London?) - Withrington sets sail from Sierra Leone directly to the Strait of Magellan
November 24, 1586 - London - At Court, running at the Tilt
January 2, 1587 - (While in London?) - Withrington reaches Brazil, off Desterro (Florianópolis)
January 10, 1587 - (While in London?) - At River Plate, a small portuguese ship is captured by Withrington. Its pilot, one Abraham Cook, is english and the admiral sends him home to London
February 7, 1587 - (While in London?) - The commanders and masters of the ships deliberate about their next destination: It is decided to sail to Bahia, according with Lord Cumberland's instructions
Earl of Cumberland, as the
Queen's tilting champion
April 5, 1587 - (While at Court in London running at the Tilt) - Withrington reaches the coast of Bahia off Camumu (between Ilhéus and Salvador), and is supplied by one of the "most important portugals" in the region
April 11, 1587 - (While in London?) - Withrington sails to Bahia and is received by cannon fire. He finds 8 ships and a caravel at anchor, one of them, a ship from Flushing (Holland) with 24 cannons
April 12, 1587 - (While in London?) - At Bahia, Withrington takes 4 of those 8 ships at anchor
April 18, 1587 - (While in London?) - At Bahia, a storm rises. While the crew is busy trying to keep the cables of their prizes from breaking, two spaniards taken in River Plate escape throught the cabin windows and swim to the shore
April 19, 1587 - (While in London?) - At Bahia, the storm ceases. Withrington moves to Itaparica Island, All Saint's Bay, away from the cannon shots, where he lands on 20th. The carpenters begin assembling a pinnace they had brought aboard
April 23, 1587 - (While in London?) - At Bahia, the indians attack. Some sailors are wounded but none dies
April 26, 1587 - (While in London?) - The pinnace is launched at Itaparica Island. Skirmishes with the portuguese and the indians
May 2, 1587 - (While in London?) - Withrington goes ashore with 14 men and are attacked by 300 indians. They manage to escape with just two dead
May 5, 1587 - (While in London?) - Withrington goes ashore to get supplies, but they are attacked in their ships. The english inflict heavy casualties to the assaulters
May 16, 1587 - (While in London?) - Withrington raids houses and sugar mills at Itaparica Island
May 19, 1587 - (While in London?) - Withrington sails to Bahia anchorage with a flag of truce to try to recover the four english that the portuguese had taken, but he's received with gunfire again
May 23, 1587 - (While in London?) - Withrington sails to an island 12 leagues SW of Bahia (Tinharé Island) to load wood and fresh water
May 26, 1587 - (While in London?) - Withrington takes a portuguese ship hidden in a creek with 14 chests of sugar
June 1(?), 1587 - (While in London?) - Cumberland is named General of a Fleet which was being prepared to relieve Drake at Cadiz, but it did not sail
June 6, 1587 - (While in London?) - While at Tinharé Island, Lister asks Withrington to let him proceed to the Pacific Ocean in the "Barke Clifford" but is denied
June 16, 1587 - (While in London?) - With no condition to return to the Strait, Withrington leaves Bahia, planning to sail to the Azores or the East Indies to obtain the profits for the Earl of Cumberland. He continues voyage to Pernambuco
July 1(?), 1587 - Portsmouth - Departs to Sluys in a frigate, hoping to assist Sir Roger Williams in the defence of that town against the Duke of Parma. Meanwhile, in Brazil, Withrington sails North off Maceió
July 7, 1587 - (While in London?) - Withrington reaches Pernambuco. He is so close that he can see the ships anchored there, however, contrary winds making it impossible to raid the anchorage
July 20, 1587 - (While in London?) - Not far from Natal, the winds make it harder and harder to stay close to Pernambuco, so Withrington decides to return to England
July 24, 1587 - (While in London?) - Not far from Natal, Withrington summons everyone together for consultation about the next course: West Indies or back to England. Most of the crewmembers choose England.
July 26, 1587 - (While in London?) - Withrington briefly sights Fernando de Noronha Island, but is unable to reach it
August 1, 1587 - (While in London?) - In a calm, at 5°North, the Flushing ship is separated from the others and burns by a negligence. Nothing could be done to save the men
September 4, 1587 - (While in London?) - Withrington faces contrary winds North of the Azores
September 29, 1587 - (While in London?) - Withrington returns to Gravesend
July 29, 1588 - Off Gravelines, France - Participates in the Battle of Gravelines, but not on the first line
August 1, 1588 - Tilbury - Cumberland is the first to arrive at Tilbury to give the Queen the news of the victory over the Spanish Armada
October 4, 1588 - Plymouth - Cumberland departs on a small expedition with the "Golden Lion"(560-tons) and captures a ship from Dunkirk
October 23, 1588 - Plymouth - Cumberland runs into storms and decides to return to Plymouth to water
October 29, 1588 - Marlborough - Letter to Sir Francis Walsingham
February 1(?), 1589 - (While in Marlborough?) - Mortgages Nesfield and West Hall for £1,800
June 18, 1589 - Plymouth - Undeterred by his failures, Cumberland departs to the Azores with 4 ships, Monson and Lister as lieutenants. John Davis goes on the expedition. The ships are the "Victory"(694-tons), the "Margaret"(60-tons - a ship which soon had to be sent home for not "being able to endure the Sea"), the "Meg"(60-tons) and a small caravel of 40 tons
June 21, 1589 - W. of Brest - Cumberland captures 3 french ships sailing from Newfoundland. Their cargo of fish is distributed amongst the fleet
July 13, 1589 - Coast of Spain (Portugal?) - Cumberland captures 11 ships after a short fight. These ships were carrying pepper and cinnamon, £4500 property of a jew in Lisbon. Seven of the crew agree to join the english and inform them that they missed nearly £20,000 of goods in the search, but by then, the ships were far
August 1, 1589 - Off St. Miguel Island, Azores - Cumberland captures 3 small merchants laden with wine and olive oil, under the cover of a spanish flag. A while later, another ship is taken, having 30-tons of Madeira wine and textiles aboard
August 7, 1589 - Off Terceira Island - Pursues a ship to Terceira Island
August 14, 1589 - Flores Island, Azores - Cumberland anchors at Flores Island for water and food. They receive information that spanish carracks were at anchor at Terceira Island
August 27, 1589 - Off Faial Island - Off Faial, they sight the ships at anchor in Horta harbour
August 31, 1589 - Off Terceira Island - Arrival at Terceira and rescue 8 englishmen who had escaped the Island on a a small sailing boat
September 9, 1589 - Pico Island - In calms, Cumberland spends two days almost hovering Off Pico Island
September 11, 1589 - Horta, Faial Island - Cumberland captures Horta, in Faial - Without looting and behaving with great restraint towards the town
September 20(?), 1589 - Graciosa Island, Azores - After a ransom of 2,000 ducats is paid, the english capture 58 pieces of iron ordnance. After this, Cumberland invites the inhabitants to dinner aboard the "Victory", but only four accept his invitation. These he entertained handsomely and solemnly dismissed them with "sounde of drumme and trumpets and peale of ordnance", delivering to them all a letter requesting all other englishmen to abstain from molesting them. Cumberland then sails to Graciosa Island to resupply
September 28(?), 1589 - Off Santa Maria Island, Azores - Cumberland captures a ship from Brazil laden with sugar, after a fierce combat - The english loose 2 men and 16 others are wounded, including Cumberland and Lister
October 4(?), 1589 - Off Angra, Terceira Island - Cumberland looks for water at Terceira Island and reconnoiters the ships at Angra
October 17(?), 1589 - St. Jorge Island - Cumberland waters at the Island of St. Jorge, then sets sail to Portugal
October 24(?), 1589 - W. of Lisbon - Cumberland captures another ship bringing 410 chests of sugar and a large quantity of exotic brazilian wood
October 26, 1589 - W. of Lisbon - Cumberland captures a spanish ship from Mexico laden with supplies
November 22, 1589 - On the way to England - After many sailors die, a heavy rain saves the survivors from dying of thirst
December 1, 1589 - Bantry Bay, Ireland - Cumberland arrives almost miraculously at Ireland, after terrible storms
December 20, 1589 - Bantry Bay, Ireland - After watering, Cumberland sails to England
December 25, 1589 - Falmouth - Unable to get out of the storm, they put in Falmouth where they spend Christmas. The 14 prizes that Cumberland took, realised a profit of twice the cost of equipping the expedition
January(?) 1(?), 1590 - London - Spends most of the year of 1590 in London, living at Warwick House, detained in London on account of the business arrangements for paying off the mariners. Cumberland becomes the Paladin of the Queen in tilting tournaments - He starts wearing the queen's glove in his hat in sign of favor
January 5, 1590 - Warwick House, London - Letter to his wife Margaret
January 30, 1590 - Skipton Castle - His daughter Anne is born
February 22, 1590 - Skipton - Baptism of Anne Clifford
April 1, 1590 - London - Letter to his wife Margaret, about the preparations of his fourth expedition in 1591
June 19, 1590 - London - Bath House, London - Letter to Sir Julius Caesar, judge of the Admiralty Court
February 1(?), 1591 - Plymouth(?) - Borrows £2,500
March 1(?), 1591 - Weymouth - The Earl of Cumberland sails to Plymouth with his fleet; the "Tiger"(600-tons, a ship from St.Malo), his ship "Samson", The "Golden Noble", the "Moonshine"(John Middleton) and the "Discovery"(last two ships, both of 50-ton, are sent ahead as a scouting party with "Moonshine"'s captain John Middleton in command)
March 22, 1591 - Plymouth - Still detained for "want of money", since the "a great part of the preparation is at his own charges"
March 23, 1591 - Plymouth - Mortgages Brancepeth for £3,000
May 1(?), 1591 - Plymouth - Cumberland departs in his 4th expedition, with the "HMS Garland"(600-tons), the "Samson"(260-tons, John Morton), the "Golden Noble"(260-tons, Edward Partridge), the "Golden Dragon"(150-tons), the "Allagarta"(a french 80-ton ship captured in Cumberland's "Victory voyage"(Captain Baylie), the frigate "Discovery"(50-tons) and a small pinnace (Nicholas Lynche)
July(?) 1(?), 1591 - Off Cape St Vincent, Portugal - Cumberland reaches his planned area of patrol
July(?) 10(?), 1591 - Off Lisbon, Portugal - Cumberland captures two small dutch ships sailing out of Lisbon, laden with portuguese products
July 15, 1591 - Off Berlengas Islands, Portugal - Battle of the Berlengas - Spanish victory. The "Golden Noble" is captured with 150 sailors and Monson, who is taken to Cascais. Both small dutch ships are also recovered. Cumberland is unable to help the ship due to contrary winds.
July 16, 1591 - Off Berlengas Islands, Portugal - Letter to his wife Margaret. Cumberland sends a pinnace to warn Howard that the spanish were going to the Azores
September 1(?), 1591 - Plymouth(?) - Cumberland and the "HMS Garland" return to England
September 9, 1591 - Plymouth(?) - Letter from Queen Elizabeth I
March 5(?), 1592 - Dartmouth - Ready to depart in Sir Walter Raleigh's fleet, Cumberland is held at port with poor weather
May 6, 1592 - Dartmouth - Cumberland is so disheartened with the prolonged delay that he changes his mind about following the "Moonshine" to the West Indies, transfering the chief command to Captain Norton, and returning to London
June 1(?), 1592 - (While in London?) - John Middleton's "Moonshine" reaches the West Indies
June 22, 1592 - (While in London?) - Burrough sights the galleon "Santa Cruz" with 3 of Cumberland's ships - "Dainty"(John Norton), "Foresight"(Robert Crosse), "Golden Dragon"(Christopher Newport) exchanging broadsides. At night, the portuguese decide to run the ship aground and burn it, however, the english manage to land and extinguish the fire, being able to recover a substancial part of the cargo. The ship's factor is subject to torments and confesses that another 3 ships were sailing from India behind the "Santa Cruz" (only one, as 2 ships were lost at Mozambique)
June 25, 1592 - London - Created Knight of the Garter. On the same day, after 5 week waiting, Burrough takes the 1600-ton "Madre de Deus", one of the biggest galleons ever, after a naval combat in which his "Roebuck" miraculously is not sunk
September 7, 1592 - London - Burrough returns to Dartmouth with the enormous "Madre de Deus", while the other ships slip off to Portsmouth to sell some of the plunder. The "Tiger" and "Samson" escort the "Madre de Deus" to Dartmouth
September 27, 1592 - Oxford - While at Oxford, he is given the degree of M.A. The Queen attends the ceremony
May 1(?), 1593 - Plymouth(?) - Cumberland eventually receives £36,000 from the "Madre de Deus", a small part compared to what he would receive if he was in command. With is investment of £19,000 in preparing the expedition, his profit was £17,000. In May he redeems Nesfield
June 23, 1593 - Plymouth - Cumberland departs for another expedition. Monson as vice-admiral - "Golden Lyon"(560-tons), "Bonaventure", "Samson", "Barke Chalden", "Anthony"(250-tons, James Langton), "Pilgrim"(100-tons, Francis Slingsby), and "Discovery" (last 3 are sent directly to the West Indies)
August 1(?), 1593 - Off Corvo Island, Azores - Cumberland falls sick and Captain Monson lands at Corvo Island to secure a cow to supply milk to the Earl. Meanwhile, the 3 small ships under command of James Langton arrive at Martinique
September 4, 1593 - (While returning to Plymouth?) - Langton's 3 privateers appear off Punta de Araya (Venezuela) after capturing a small portuguese vessel
September 25, 1593 - (While returning to Plymouth?) - Having refreshed on Aruba and Curaçao, Langton appears outside Ríohacha (Colombia), only to find its defenders alerted and all valuables and noncombatants sent inland. He decides to depart northwards two days after
October(?) 1(?), 1593 - Plymouth(?) - The expedition is shortened because of Cumberland's illness and the english return to Plymouth, capturing another ship on the way. However, the Earl makes 3 times more profit than what he had invested
November(?) 1(?), 1593 - While in London(?) - The 3 ships detached from Cumberland's expedition reach Margarita Island and raid the pearl fisheries there. After it, 38 men land at night and pillage the town, capturing £2000 worth of pearls
November(?) 2(?), 1593 - While in London(?) - Next morning they hold the town of El Macanao to ransom, and it was redeemed for more pearls, worth 2,000 ducats. Then the english are forced to retire due to the proximity of spanish ships
December 1(?), 1593 - (While in London?) - After refreshing at Cape Tiburón (SW Haiti) and slowly coasting clockwise around Hispaniola, Langton appears at the Soco River mouth and leads a boat party 12-15 miles upstream to plunder spanish ranches. The English then return to their ships and shift operations to Caucedo Point at the eastern side of Santo Domingo Bay, mounting a two-and-a-half-month blockade that nets nine small prizes
January 15, 1594 - Windsor Castle - Masque in Windsor Castle for the 34th Coronation anniversary. The Earl of Cumberland delivers a speech
February 1(?), 1594 - (While in London?) - In Jamaica, Langton captures two barks laden with hides, which he sends to England (however, one of them is captured on the way by a french catholic league privateer out of Le Havre)
March 10(?), 1594 - (While in London?) - After having separated from Langton's "Anthony" off SW Cuba, the "Pilgrim" sails to England
March 16, 1594 - (While in Plymouth?) - Captain James Langton raids the Port of Puerto Caballos, Honduras, and burns 6 spanish ships
April 6, 1594 - Plymouth - Cumberland's 8th expedition departs from Plymouth. The Squadron consisted of the "Royal Exchange"(250-tons, George Cave), "Mayflower"(250-tons, William Anthony), "Sampson"(260-tons, Nicholas Downton), a caravel and the pinnace "Violet"
April 18, 1594 - Off Cape Finisterre, NW Spain - Cumberland reaches Cape Finisterre
April 25, 1594 - Off Viana do Castelo, Portugal - Cumberland takes a barque laden with galician wine
May 11, 1594 - W. of Lisbon(?) - Cumberland receives intelligence from flemish ships that a spanish fleet was being prepared to sail to the Azores. With that information, Cumberland changes course to the Azores
May 14, 1594 - (While sailing West of Lisbon?) - The "Pilgrim" returns safely to Plymouth
May 15, 1594 - (While sailing West of Lisbon?) - The "Anthony" returns to Plymouth with her prizes
June 12, 1594 - Off St.Miguel Island, Azores - Cumberland sights St.Miguel Island, Eastern Azores
June 22, 1594 - Off Faial Island - Cumberland reaches Faial Island. The "Mayflower" sees a huge carrack and the english pursue it
June 23, 1594 - Off Faial Island - The English approach the ship, none other than the 2,000-tons carrack "Cinco Chagas"(Five Wounds), the biggest ship in the world at the time. The english attack her on all sides with large casualties on both sides. Unable to take her by the cannon, the English take start boarding the ship. In two attempts, captains Anthony and Cave are killed and the four ships in combat begin having fires on board. A while later, the surviving Portuguese have to jump ship when the flames become unextinguishable. Frustrated to lose the wealth of the huge carrack, the English kill everyone in the water except for two nobles: Nuno Velho and Brás Correia. At night, during a desperate last attempt to extinguish the fire and keep the ship afloat, the flames reache the powder magazine of the "Cinco Chagas", killing all who were on board in a big explosion, including at least 35 englishmen
June 29, 1594 - Flores Island, Azores - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil (a letter dated June 29, 1594 is sent to Sir Robert Cecil, probably in the "Violet")
July 9, 1594 - Flores Island, Azores - After 16 days waiting, the english find another huge 1500-tons carrack, the "São Filipe". Initially the english attack her with their 3 ships, but when a shot takes down the foremast of the "Sampson", with such a shortage of men and the 3 ships in poor condition after the fight with the "Cinco Chagas", the english decide to sail to England
August 6, 1594 - River Thames - The "Mayflower" and the "Royal Exchange" arrive in the River Thames, being thoroughly searched when they arrive by the Queens troops, a consequence of the mass theft from the "Madre de Deus" two years earlier
September 1(?), 1594 - Portsmouth - The "Sampson" arrives at Portsmouth
January(?) 1(?), 1595 - Deptford - Launched at Deptford Dockyard for the Earl of Cumberland, a ship of 600-tons with a crew of 202 men. Queen Elizabeth I baptizes her as "Malice Scourge" or "Malescourge". According to Purchas, "this was the best ship that ever before had beene built by any subject"
January 16, 1595 - Deptford, aboard the "Malescourge" - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil
March 1(?), 1595 - London - The Earl of Essex, the Earl of Cumberland and Robert Dudley participate in a tilting tournament
March 28, 1595 - London - The Queen grants Cumberland a commission under Great Seal permitting him "to victual and arm for sea the Malescourge and such other ships and pinnaces"...."not exceeding 6"...and commanding that "all prizes that shall be taken by you or by any person or persons appointed by you are to be brought into the most convenient haven without breaking bulk of making any distribution of shares until our further pleasure is known"
April 1, 1595 - London - The Queen grants Cumberland another commission under Great Seal ordering him "to weaken the force of those who are hostilely disposed against us and to destroy the forces of the subjects of the King of Spain"
May 9, 1595 - London - The Queen grants Cumberland a patent by which she gives him permission "to provide, victual, furnish and arm to sea in hostile and warlike manner the Malice Scourge"..."which he had built at great charge"
June 2, 1595 - Plymouth - Cumberland mortgages his manors of Eshton, Gargrave and Flasby for £4,600
June 6, 1595 - Plymouth - Cumberland takes up loans of £500, £500 and £3,500, and mortgages Nesfield for £1,000
June 9, 1595 - Plymouth - Eight ships of the fleet come into Plymouth with Captain Goddard, one of Cumberland's servants, bringing news that one of the precious carracks had been met at Cape Roca and captured by Hawkins who had secured great treasure. He also said that on the report of Drake's coming, the Canaries and the Azores were being refortified, and all shipping was stayed in Portuguese ports for 3 months
June 30, 1595 - Tavistock - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil - The Queen is informed that a spanish squadron is waiting for Cumberland off Roca Cape and she recalls the Earl when he is about to sail
July(?) 1(?), 1595 - (While travelling to London) - Ninth expedition (Captain Langton with the "Malice Scourge"(600-tons), the "Alcedo"(400-tons), the "Anthony" and the "Frigate". William Monson, who was going to be vice-Admiral under Cumberland, is resented when Langton is chosen to command the expedition
December 1(?), 1595 - Plymouth(?) - Provisioning his ships for another voyage
December 8(?), 1595 - Plymouth(?) - Borrows two separate sums of £1,000
January 16, 1596 - Plymouth - Cumberland is still in port with the "Malice Scourge" and the "Dreadnought"(450-tons), held up by adverse winds
March 1(?), 1596 - Plymouth - Unrelenting bad weather forces Cumberland to cancel his voyage
June 13, 1596 - Plymouth - A powerful fleet of 150 english and dutch ships, with 7,360 soldiers and 6,772 sailors under the command of Charles Howard (of Effingham). Other commanders are Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, Lord Thomas Howard, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland and Sir Francis Vere. Letter to Sir Robert Cecil before departing. This time, Cumberland sails in command of the "Quittance"
June 30, 1596 - Cadiz - The powerful english fleet arrives at Cadiz. Combat with the spanish heavy galleons
July 2, 1596 - Cadiz - After 32 ships are sunk, the english take the city and pillage it
July 14, 1596 - Cadiz - The powerful english fleet departs from Cadiz
July 25, 1596 - Faro, Portugal - On its return trip to England, the fleet disembarks at Faro, Portugal, and burns it
August 8, 1596 - Plymouth - Raleigh, Howard of Effingham and Thomas Howard return to England
August 12(?), 1596 - West of England - His health improves and he is able to do some hunting in West England
August 15, 1596 - Tilford, Surrey - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil
August 25, 1596 - Oxford - Reaches Oxford. Letter to Sir Robert Cecil
September 25, 1596 - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil
October 1(?), 1596 - Bath - Reaches Bath
November 28, 1596 - Letter to his wife Margaret
December 21, 1596 - Portsmouth - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil
January 20, 1597 - (While in London?) - State Paper in Burghley's handwriting: "The Earl of Cumberland's offer is to be considered as also a plan by the Earl of Essex for by one of these projects the attempt is to be made. The attempt is specially to be taken in hand to hinder the intended assailing of Ireland by the spaniards"
March 6, 1597 - Plymouth - Cumberland departs in his 10th expedition (5th in person) with the "Malice Scourge" and the "Dreadnought"(450-tons). His preparations were known to the portuguese, who avoid sailing out of Lisbon for that year
March 8(?), 1597 - 40 leagues from Plymouth - In a storm 40 leagues from Plymouth, the "Malice Scourge" looses her main mast and is made unserviceable for the voyage. He sends the "Ascension"(400-tons, 34 guns) under command of Francis Slingsby, looking for ships coming out of Lisbon
March 10(?), 1597 - Plymouth - Cumberland returns to Plymouth aboard the "Dreadnought"
April 26, 1597 - London(?) - Letter to Lord Burghley
May 7, 1597 - London(?) - Comes to an agreement with his creditors after raising over £8,000 from his tenants in Craven
May 14, 1597 - London(?) - Redeems Brancepeth
July 20, 1597 - (While in London?) - Letter from Sir Robert Cecil to the Earl of Essex: "Lord Cumberland is a suitor to go a royal journey in October. The plot is very secret between her Majesty and him; it is to be wished that his spirit which loves action should be well cherished’
September 11, 1597 - London(?) - Redeems Eshton, Gargrave and Flasby
September 13, 1597 - London(?) - Redeems Nesfield
October 23, 1597 - Whitehall, London - Lord Admiral Howard of Effingham is created Earl of Nottingham. The Queen makes a speech and puts on him the sword, cap and gold coronet. Lord Cumberland carried his sword
October 24, 1597 - Westminster Abbey, London - Opening of Parliament. Presence of the Earl of Cumberland
November 17, 1597 - Whitehall, London - Accession Day Tilt tournament
December 20, 1597 - London(?) - Disposes of Brancepeth for £5,200
January 18, 1598 - Southampton - Letter to his wife Margaret
February 1(?), 1598 - Portsmouth - The next expedition begin assembling in Portsmouth
March 6, 1598 - Portsmouth - After the repairs are completed, Cumberland sets Sail for the Caribbean with 20 ships and 1,000 soldiers. Sir John Berkeley as vice-admiral
March 10, 1598 - Plymouth - Stop at Plymouth after trading supplies with a fleet of 12 dutch ships
March 16, 1598 - Berlengas Islands, Coast of Portugal - Cumberland anchors at the Berlengas Islands to fish and strenghten the main mast of the "Malice Scourge" with ropes
March 20, 1598 - Cape Roca (westernmost point of Europe) - Cumberland patrols in wait for the carracks to sail out of Lisbon
April 4, 1598 - Cape Roca (westernmost point of Europe) - Cumberland leaves Cape Roca towards Cape St.Vincent and the Canary Islands
April 8, 1598 - Between Portugal and Canary Islands - Two empty dutch ships are taken but released afterwards
April 13, 1598 - Lanzarote, Canary Islands - Cumberland anchors at Lanzarote
April 22, 1598 - La Gomera Island, Canary Island - Cumberland anchors at La Gomera
April 25, 1598 - La Gomera Island - Cumberland sets sail for the Caribbean
June 1, 1598 - Dominica - Cumberland reaches Dominica with his 20 ships
June 11, 1598 - Virgin Islands - Landing at Virgin Islands
June 16, 1598 - Cangrejos Bay, E San Juan de Puerto Rico - Cumberland lands his troops in the Condado area, near the San Juan Islet’s Eastern side. The next day the English attacked the area where the San Antonio Bridge is, the only land access to the San Juan islet. The Spanish at the Boquerón Battery held the English at bay until the next day. the English were able to silence the defensive outpost and march on San Juan.
June 18, 1598 - San Juan de Puerto Rico - The English are able to silence the defensive outpost and march on San Juan.
August 13, 1598 - San Juan de Puerto Rico - With a huge amount of sick men, Cumberland departs for the Azores to intercept the Mexico Fleet. Sir John Berkeley, too sick to travel, only departs to England on September 23rd
August(?) 30(?), 1598 - Off Flores Island, Azores Islands - Cumberland arrives off the Azores and waits a few days for the rest of his fleet, aswell as for the spanish Mexico fleet (which had passed the Azores already). After 13 days of great calm, Cumberland's fleet is scattered by a storm with "waves like mountains"
September 15, 1598 - Flores Island, Azores Islands - The storm is over. The "Sampson" and a frigate rejoin Cumberland, who sends a portuguese and an african ashore with a flag of truce to purchase food from the islanders under the promise that he would pay for it and not use force. They explain to Cumberland that a few days earlier, a powerful spanish fleet anchored there and depleted almost all the island supplies
September 16(?), 1598 - Flores Island, Azores Islands - With the information that a spanish fleet was close, Cumberland sets sail to England. As he is about to do it, to his great satisfaction, the "Merchant", the "Ascencion",the "Consent" and the "Pegasus" join him
September 23, 1598 - Portsmouth - Cumberland returns to Portsmouth with 15 ships, apparently making a very fast voyage
October 1, 1598 - Blackwall - Cumberland docks at Blackwall
October 8, 1598 - Cambridge - Cumberland is called in to quiet a brawl that arose between the students and some of the merry-makers at Sturbridge Fair. Letter to Lord Burghley reporting it
December 9, 1598 - London(?) - Cumberland buys a 140-ton ship, the "Elizabeth Guiana" for £500 and sends it out to prey on shipping in the Channel.
December 31, 1598 - London - Letter to the Earl of Essex, "from home"
April 18, 1600 - London(?) - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil
May 3, 1600 - London(?) - Cumberland is consulted by the Queen concerning a further expedition
May 5, 1600 - London(?) - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil, about his conversation with the Queen
July 14, 1600 - London(?) - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil, complaining that he got only 1/3 of the Queen's share of the "Madre de Deus" profits
August 2, 1600 - London - Masque at Court. Cumberland takes part under the character of a "pensive and discontented knight"
September 27, 1600 - London(?) - The "Malice Scourge" is offered to the East India Company by Richard Staper, on behalf of Cumberland, at a meeting of the Court
October 3, 1600 - London(?) - At a meeting, it is found that more shipping is needed for the proposed voyage than was at first supposed, it is decided that Lord Cumberland's ship should be taken into the docks, examined and surveyed, and six persons, Captains Lancaster and Middleton and Messrs Burrell, Chambers, Harry son, and Wyseman, with such carpenters as they might deem necessary, are requested to "search into all her defects," and report in due course
October 4, 1600 - London(?) - The Committee must have gone into the matter with extraordinary promptitude, made some enquiries at once and inspected the ship's papers, for at a Court the very next day they were present, and it was stated that "having perused the inventory of the said ship and made some estimate of her value" the Court offered to Lord Cumberland "for the said ship and all her ordnance, sails, cables, anchors and all her furniture, as she is now, the sum of ,£3000." Letter to his wife Margaret, concerning his health
October 7, 1600 - London(?) - The price of the "Malice Scourge" is agreed upon as £3700. 
October 16, 1600 - London - Present at the Court
November 6, 1600 - London - Present at the Court
November 17, 1600 - London(?) - "Speech to the Queen"
November 28, 1600 - London - Present at the Court
December 31, 1600 - Westminster, London - The East India Company is formed by Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I
February 13, 1601 - Woolwich - Cumberland invests £1,500 in the First East India Company voyage. James Lancaster sails from Woolwich with 4 ships: "Red Dragon"(600-tons, James Lancaster), "Hector"(300-tons, John Middleton), "Ascencion"(203-tons, William Brand) and the "Susan"(John Heyward). The "Red Dragon" is Lancaster's flagship, with John Davis as Pilot
February 19, 1601 - London - The Earl of Essex is tried before his peers on charges of treason
February 25, 1601 - Tower of London - Cumberland is one of the peers present at the beheading of the Earl of Essex
April 1(?), 1601 - London(?) - Letter to Sir Julius Caesar
September 7, 1601 - Clerkenwell, London - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil
February 23, 1602 - London(?) - Letter to Sir Julius Caesar
July 16, 1602 - Skipton - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil
August 26, 1602 - Skipton - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil: "How I am busied this bearer can inform you; most days doing nothing but making" bargains with my tenants, who now (though it were long ere I could draw them to it) are yielding to so good a course as I hope will effect the purpose I came down for and clear my debts."
September 30, 1602 - Skipton - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil
October 12, 1602 - Skipton - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil, about his return to London. He mentions that he felt from a horse and injured his arm in a way that made it impossible to continue tilting
October 17, 1602 - Skipton - His share of money and goods is delivered from Henry Middleton's last expedition
November 7, 1602 - London - Returns to London
March 14, 1603 - London(?) - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil
March 15, 1603 - London(?) - Letter to the Privy Council
April 5, 1603 - Edinburgh, Scotland - Departs with the royal party to London
April 15(?), 1603 - York - With King James I in York
April 16, 1603 - York(?) - Receives a letter from King James I making him a member of the Privy Council, awarding him "some gifts of profits upon him in part of recompense for the great services he had done for England in his many sea voyages"
May 7, 1603 - London - Arrives with the royal party in London
June 8, 1603 - London(?) - King James appoints the Earl of Cumberland Governor of the Scottish Marches
July 25, 1603 - Westminster Abbey, London - Cumberland and wife attend the coronation of King James I
February 12, 1604 - Whitehall, London - Cumberland participates in the grand procession from the "Tower" to Whitehall
The Earl of Cumberland, 1603
February 19, 1604 - London(?) - He obtains a grant from the Crown, of Nichol Forest in Cumberland, and of three manors, those of Arthuret, Lyddall and Radhng-ton, together with the sole privilege of the fishing in the Esk and "being sore pressed for money," he proceeded to farm these out. 
August 16, 1604 - The position of Governor of the Scottish Marshes is revoked because of the union between the two crowns. In compensation, he is created Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of Westmoreland and Northumberland,  and of the free town and county of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
January 12, 1605 - Assists in the ceremony when Prince Charles is created Knight of the Bath and carries the golden rod before the prince when he is created Duke of York
August 16, 1605 - Grafton (Regis), Northamptonshire - Cumberland entertains King James and Queen Anne in his old house at Grafton, Northamptonshire, until August 20th
August 30, 1605 - Oxford - With King James I in Oxford
October(?) 1(?), 1605 - The Savoy, Middlesex - Cumberland falls ill with "flux"
October 30, 1605 - The Savoy, Middlesex - George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, dies aged 47 =(END)

Bibliography
HAKLUYT, Richard - "The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English"
MARLEY, David F - "Wars of the Americas : a chronology of armed conflict in the new world, 1492 to the present"MONTEIRO, Saturnino - "Batalhas e Combates da Marinha Portuguesa", Vol.IV
TURFITT SPENCE, Richard - "The Cliffords, Earls of Cumberland, 1579-1646s a study of their fortunes based on their household and estate accounts", 1959

Thursday 20 June 2019

James Lancaster | Timeline

James Lancaster (Basingstoke, Hampshire, 1554 - London, June 6, 1618) was a prominent merchant and privateer from the Elizabethan Era, remembered for leading the first English expedition to India for East India Company and establishing a trade post in Asia.

Note: About Lancaster's voyage of 1591-94, there is an incorrect version in most of the websites about the English navigator. Some dates and places are incorrect, and from the moment Lancaster arrives at Mona Island in 1593, it all goes wrong. With the precision of what was written by someone and copied to dozens of other sites, I believe it isn't the result of creativity but rather of some confusion with another navigator, especially because guiding myself by Hakluyt books (XVI century writer) and by the voyage's logbook, I have no margin to escape from what really happened, despite how realistic the wrong version might seem, even to the most experienced student of Naval History.

January(?) 1(?), 1554 - Basingstoke, Hampshire - James Lancaster is born
January(?) 1(?), 1580 - Portugal - Young James Lancaster is sent to Portugal to learn the language and the merchant trade. He probably developed his fighting skills in service of D.António, Prior of Crato, a claimant to the throne of Portugal
February 1(?), 1587 - England - After spending years in Portugal as a soldier and merchant, James Lancaster returns to England =(START)
February 21, 1588 - Plymouth - Preparations for the defense of England begin in Plymouth
July 21, 1588 - Eddystone Rocks, off Plymouth - Engages the spanish in combat in Francis Drake's squadron, aboard the "Elizabeth Bonaventure"
July 23, 1588 - Off Portland (Weymouth) - Another battle between the english and the spanish
July 29, 1588 - Off Gravelines, France - Battle of Gravelines
April 10, 1591 - Torbay, Devon - Lancaster departs aboard the "Elizabeth Bonaventure" with George Raymond and Samuel Foxtrot commanding the "Penelope" and "Merchant Royall"
April 25, 1591 - Gran Canaria, Canary Islands - The three ships anchor at Gran Canaria
April 29, 1591 - Gran Canaria - Lancaster continues voyage
May 2, 1591 - Tropic of Cancer - Lancaster sails past the Tropic of Cancer
May 5, 1591 - Cape Blanco - Passage by Cape Blanco (Mauritania/western Sahara border)
May 8, 1591 - Cape Verde Islands - Lancaster sails past Cape Verde islands
June 6, 1591 - Line of the Equator - Lancaster crosses the Line of the Equator
July 29, 1591 - Saldanha Bay, South Africa - Lancaster reaches Saldanha Bay
August 1, 1591 - Table Bay, South Africa - Lancaster anchors in Table Bay with many sailors suffering from scurvy
August 10(?), 1591 - Table Bay - With so many sick sailors, Lancaster decides to send home the "Merchant Royal" with 50 men under Captain Abraham Kendal. Six days later, he sets sail to the Cape with the "Penelope" and the "Edward Bonaventure"
September 12, 1591 - Cape Correntes, Mozambique - A storm separates the ships off Cape Correntes. The "Edward Bonaventure" is hit by a lightning which splits its mainmast, killing 4 sailors and temporarily blinding most of the crew
November 7, 1591 - Zanzibar - Arrival at Zanzinbar. The squadron rests and refits
February 15, 1592 - Zanzibar - Lancaster leaves Zanzibar
May 1(?), 1592 - Cape Camorin (southern tip of India) - Lancaster rounds Cape Camorin
June 1(?), 1592 - Off Aceh - Lancaster sights the NW tip of Indonesia
June 4(?), 1592 - Penang, Malaysia - Arrival at Penang, in the Malay Peninsula
September 1(?), 1592 - Penang, Malaysia - Departs from Penang, where in 3 months the english plunder all the ships they find
October 6, 1592 - Perak, Malaysia - After 16 days in Perak, where two portuguese ships were taken, Lancaster continues to Ceylon
November 21, 1592 - Nicobar Islands - Lancaster Loads food supplies, mostly coconuts
December 3, 1592 - South Ceylon - Lancaster anchors at Ceylon
December 8, 1592 - South Ceylon - Lancaster is forced by the crew to return to England
February 1(?), 1593 - Maputo Bay, Mozambique - Lancaster arrives in Mozambique, having sailed by the Maldives and Madagascar
March 1(?), 1593 - Cape of Good Hope - Lancaster rounds the Cape of Good Hope
April 3, 1593 - St.Helena Island - Arrival to the Island of St.Helena, where they stay for 9 days
April 12, 1593 - St.Helena Island - Lancaster sets sail towards Pernambuco (Brazil), influenced by an english castaway they find in the island
June 5(?), 1593 - Gulf of Paria (Between Trinidad and Venezuela) - Unpredictable winds and currents take Lancaster to Trinidad, and to miss the island
June 20(?), 1593 - Mona Island (between Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic) - After 8 days in the Gulf of Paria, Lancaster arrives at Mona Island and anchors for 15 days to refit the ships. During the stay, a french ship from Caen, under command of Charles de Barbotière supplies Lancaster with bread and other provisions
July 5(?), 1593 - Cape Tiburon, SW tip of Haiti - While rounding the Cape, a gust of wind carries away all sails from the ship's yards. They are helped by la Barbotière again
July 19(?), 1593 - "Gonnany, Haiti" (Gonaives? Gonave Island?) - Lancaster follows la Barbotière to "Gonnany", just north of Cape Tiburon, where he negociates canvas and provisions. 15 days they stay with the french captain
August(?) 5(?), 1593 - "Gonnany, Haiti" (Gonaives? Gonave Island?) - During the night, some crewmembers set sail for Europe, leaving the others, including Lancaster, behind
August 12, 1593 - "Gonnany, Haiti" (Gonaives? Gonave Island?) - Still not far from the french ship, Lancaster asks La Barbotière if he could take him to Europe, which the french captain agrees
November 30, 1593 - "Laguna", Hispaniola - La Barbonière departs to Europe, via Newfoundland, with Lancaster aboard
December 17, 1593 - NW Bermuda - About midnight, La Barbotière's pilots get drunk and make a mistake in calculations on the approaches to Bermuda. The ship is wrecked on the northwest part of the Island, Lancaster is one of the 50 survivors
May 11, 1594 - NW Bermuda - The castaways depart to Newfoundland, after building an improvised barque during 5 months, carrying 13 turtles and rain water in two great chests
May 20, 1594 - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia - Arrival at Cape Breton. They are received by natives clothed in furs and quickly trade for wood, water and ballast
June(?) 1(?), 1594 - Newfoundland Banks - A barque from Falmouth appears. The captain of the barque agrees to take Lancaster back to England, and so he bids farewell to Charles La Barbotière and his castaway companions.
August 1(?), 1594 - Falmouth - James Lancaster returns to England
September 1(?), 1594 - London - James Lancaster is appointed Admiral of an expedition to Brazil, of 3 ships and 275 men
October 1(?), 1594 - Blackwall - James Lancaster departs to Brazil in command of 3 ships, the "Consent"(240-tons), the "Salomon" (170-tons) and the "Virgin"(60-tons), with 275 men
November(?) 1(?), 1594 - Dartmouth - A storm in the west of the English Channel breaks the mast of the "Salomon", forcing Lancaster to put into Dartmouth for repairs
November 30, 1594 - Dartmouth - With the "Salomon" refitted, Lancaster finally departs to Brazil
December 1, 1594 - Off Dartmouth - Not 50 leagues from the coast, another storm scatters the ships, leaving the "Consent" alone
December(?) 12(?), 1594 - Tenerife, Canary Islands - Lancaster arrives at the Canary Islands, waiting in hope that the other ships survived the storm. A spanish ship carrying 40 tons with wine is taken
December(?) 20(?), 1594 - Cape Blanco (Mauritania/Western Sahara border) - While sailing to Cape Blanco, Lancaster rejoins with the "Virgin", which informs him that the "Salomon" survived the storm but returned to England in need of a new mast again. Both ships continue voyage and to surprise and joy of all, they find "Salomon" at Cape Blanco, having plundered 24 portuguese fishing vessels
December(?) 23(?), 1594 - Maio Island, Cape Verde - They spend 3 weeks on the Island in repairs. Two more english ships, the "Peregrine" and the "Welcome" join the fleet
January(?) 13(?), 1595 - Brava Island, Cape Verde - Fresh water is loaded in Brava Island, and without delay Lancaster sails towards Pernambuco, Brazil
March(?) 28(?), 1595 - S. of Cape St. Augustine, Pernambuco, Brazil - Arrival in Brazil. Lancaster immediately sails to Recife
March 29, 1595 - Recife, Brazil - Lancaster invades the harbour of Recife and stays 31 days looting the products produced there
April(?) 27(?), 1595 - Paraíba (João Pessoa) - Lancaster leaves Recife and loads fresh water 40 leagues to the north, at Paraíba (João Pessoa)
July 1(?), 1595 - The Downs, English Channel - Lancaster returns to England. While saluting the Queen's ships, one of the gunner's sets a powder barrel on fire, which explodes, blowing up the captain's cabin and killing 5 crewmembers
July 5(?), 1595 - Blackwall - Return to Blackwall
October 3, 1600 - At a meeting, it is found that more shipping is needed for the proposed voyage than was at first supposed, it is decided that Lord Cumberland's ship should be taken into the docks, examined and surveyed, and six persons, Captains Lancaster and Middleton and Messrs Burrell, Chambers, Harry son, and Wyseman, with such carpenters as they might deem necessary, are requested to "search into all her defects," and report in due course
December 15(?), 1600 - Lancaster is appointed the commander of the "Malice Scourge"
December 31, 1600 - Westminster, London - The East India Company is formed by Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I
February 13, 1601 - Woolwich - Lancaster sails from Woolwich with 4 ships: "Red Dragon"(600-tons, James Lancaster), "Hector"(300-tons, John Middleton), "Ascencion"(203-tons, William Brand) and the "Susan"(John Heyward). The "Red Dragon" is Lancaster's flagship, with John Davis as Pilot Major
April 12, 1601 - The Downs - After staying in the River Thames a long time for lack of winds, Lancaster stops to stock up on bread and other provisions for 6 days
April 22, 1601 - Torbay, Devon -The first East India Company expedition departs from England
May 5, 1601 - In sight of Alegranza, Canary Islands - Arrival to the Canary Islands. Lancaster sails between Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria, to load fresh water in the south of the island
May 7, 1601 - South coast of Gran Canaria - Departs from Gran Canaria
May 20, 1601 - Coast of Guinea - Off the coast of Guinea until June 20 with calms and contrary winds
June 21, 1601 - Coast of Guinea - Lancaster takes a Portuguese ship full of important supplies for the trip
June 30, 1601 - Line of the Equator - Lancaster crosses the line of the Equator
July 24, 1601 - Tropic of Capricorn - Lancaster crosses the Tropic of Capricorn
September 1, 1601 - Virtually all sailors of the expedition fall sick with scurvy, except aboard the "Red Dragon"
September 9, 1601 - Saldanha Bay, South Africa - Lancaster anchors at Saldanha Bay. There he takes conclusions about his experience with the health of his crew - by reducing the salt in the meat and having 3 spoons of lemon juice in the morning, his crew reached Saldanha Bay in perfect health, unlike the other ships
October 29, 1601 - Robben Island - Lancaster embarks again and sails by Robben Island, where penguins and seals are visible
November 1, 1601 - Cape of Good Hope - Lancaster rounds the Cape of Good Hope
November 26, 1601 - E. Faux-cap, southern tip of Madagascar - Lancaster sails past the southern cape of Madagascar
December 17, 1601 - Saint-Mary's Island, NE Madagascar - Lancaster arrives to Saint-Mary's Island and replenishes his ships
December 25, 1601 - Antongil, Madagascar - Puts into the Bay of Antongil to load fresh water
March 6, 1602 - Antongil, Madagascar - Lancaster sets sail to India
March 30, 1602 - Chagos Islands, Diego Garcia - Near Diego Garcia, Lancaster sails through shallows and orders to fathom the bottom of the Sea
May 9, 1602 - Nicobar Islands - Lancaster visits the Nicobar Islands
May 20, 1602 - Nancowry Island, Nicobar - After resupplying his ships, Lancaster sets sail but the wind forces him in the opposite direction
May 29, 1602 - Nancowry Island, Nicobar - Lancaster sets sail to Sumatra
June 2, 1602 - In sight of Aceh - Lancaster sights Aceh
June 5, 1602 - Banda, Aceh - Lancaster anchors at Aceh
September 11, 1602 - Banda, Aceh - After much diplomacy with locals and the Dutch, Lancaster departs for Malacca
October 3, 1602 - Strait of Malacca - Hovering in the Strait of Malacca, Lancaster takes a passing portuguese ship
October 21, 1602 - Strait of Malacca - Lancaster sails to Aceh with Joris Van Spilbergen
October 24, 1602 - Banda, Aceh - Lancaster returns to Aceh
November 9, 1602 - Banda, Aceh - Lancaster sets sail to Bantam
December 4, 1602 - Pariaman, Java - Lancaster reaches Pariaman where he finds the "Susan" completely laden. He dispatches it to England in command of Henry Middleton
December 15, 1602 - Strait of Sunda - Passage through the Strait of Sunda
December 17, 1602 - Bantam - Landing at Bantam
February 20, 1603 - Bantam - Lancaster weighs anchor and sets sail to England
February 23, 1603 - Strait of Sunda - Passage through the Strait of Sunda
April 14, 1603 - South of Madagascar - Sailing south of Madagascar, according to the calculations aboard
April 24, 1603 - Not far from the Cape of Good Hope - First of two major storms that practically destroy the ships
May 3, 1603 - Not far from the Cape of Good Hope - A second major storm sinks the ship's rudder - terror aboard. Wind blowing to SE
June 3, 1603 - Tropic of Capricorn - Lancaster sails past the Tropic of Capricorn and finally out of stormy weather
June 16, 1603 - St.Helena Island - Arrives to the island of Santa Helena
July 5, 1603 - St.Helena Island - With the ship refitted and men recovered from diseases, Lancaster embarks and continues voyage
July 13, 1603 - Ascension Island - Lancaster sails by Ascension Island, an island without drinking water but with plenty of fish
July 24, 1603 - 50 leagues from the coast of Guinea - Lancaster calculates to be 50 leagues from the coast of Guinea
July 29, 1603 - Off Maio Island, Cape Verde - Lancaster sights Cape Verde. During 5 days of calms, he is unable to sail north
August 12, 1603 - Tropic of Cancer - Lancaster sails past the Tropic of Cancer
August 29, 1603 - Off Santa Maria Island, Azores - Sailing north off the Azores
September 7, 1603 - NW Brest - They calculate that they are just 40 leagues from Torbay
September 11, 1603 - Torbay, Devon - James Lancaster returns to England
October 1(?), 1603 - Hampton Court Palace, London - Lancaster is knighted by King Charles I
April 18, 1618 - London(?) - Sir James Lancaster signs his Last Will and Testament
June 6, 1618 - London - Sir James Lancaster dies, aged 64 =(END)

Bibliography
HAKLUYT, Richard - "The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English"
MONTEIRO, Saturnino - "Batalhas e Combates da Marinha Portuguesa, Vol.IV"