Although time has settled the historical perspective in which we view Drake and Borough, it must be said for the latter that, in 1587, the admiral was only to him, one of half-a-dozen great seamen with whom Borough, and doubtless his contemporaries, thought he could claim equality. He was an experienced commander and one of the four Principal Officers of the Navy; he was, here, second in command to Drake, and it was contrary to all the traditions of the service that the admiral should undertake any enterprise without the advice and consent of his captains. In this matter Drake was one of the first expedition leaders to strike out a line of his own, and Borough, tenacious of custom and what he considered his rights, at once came into collision with him. It was long before Drake’s principle of accepting sole responsibility was generally followed. In a private note of farewell to Burghley in 1596, and perhaps with this incident in his mind, Howard, when leaving for the Cadiz voyage wrote,
‘I have no meaning to ronne any rash or unadvysed course nor to settell any thyng for Her Maiesties servyce upon my own jugment but to yeald to those that shall show best reson.’[1533]
After their return an inquiry was held at which the vice-admiral was charged with neglect of duty at Cadiz.[1534] No actual result followed, but Borough came off with the honours of war since he was not disgraced, and remained one of the chief Officers of the Navy. Burghley appears to have been on his side, and Borough wrote subsequently an effusive letter thanking him ardently for his support.[1535] From one passage in this letter in which he says that he had hoped that after the inquiry his innocence would be proclaimed, but that ‘I have suppressed my greefe in respect of the comandment and charge given me,’ it may be inferred that the finding was actually favourable to Borough but not made public, perhaps from a desire not to offend Drake. One other point is worth noticing: if the crew of the Lion voiced the general feeling among English seamen, Drake was certainly not loved by them.
ADD. MSS., 12,505, f., 241.[1536]
A generall courte holden for the service of her Maᵗⁱᵉ abourde the Elizabeth Bonaventure the xxxth day of Maye before Sir Ffrauncis Drake, knighte, generall of Her Maᵗⁱᵉˢ fleete; Thomas Fennard, Vice-Admirall; Anthony Plotte, Leivetenant-generall; John Marchant, serjant-major, and the reste of the captaines and masters of the fleete as followeth,
The generall, att this courte, called in question and judiciallye demaunded of Captayne Merchaunt howe he colde discharge himselfe to answere the departure of Her Maᵗⁱᵉˢ shippe the Golden Lyon which he latelye gave him in charge?
Captayne Marchaunt protestinge, with all earnest affeccon, his innocencye alledged and declared,—That there was a great Mutynie growen amonge the Company of the Lyon the 27 of this month; as sone as we had given over the chase undertaken, understandinge that she was the Barke of Lyme,[1537] when I requyred the Master that we mighte lye close by the wynde to recover our generall, the Master answered, ‘Well, Captaine, we will.’ But presentely one of the quartermasters came and delivered me a lettere in the behalfe of the whole company as followeth:—
‘Captayne Marchaunt, Captayne of the Golden Lyon appoynted by Sir Ffrauncis Drake, generall of this fleete,—Wee, the Quenes, and yours at this tyme desyre that, as you are a man and beare the name of a captayne over us, so to weighe of us like men, and lett us not be spoyled for wante of foode, for our allowaunce is so smale we are not able to lyve any longer of it; for when as three or foure were wonte to take a charge in hande, nowe tenne at the leaste, by reason of our weake victuallinge and filthie drinck, is scarce able to discharge it, and yet growe rather weaker and weaker; which suerly if it be not loked into, will growe to greate dishonour on your parte, and to a lastinge shame on our sydes, by reason of the moste worthie and the moste honorable challendge of our generall at Caste Calleys[1538] in daringe the kinges deputie, or the kinge himselfe if he were in place, or the proudest champyon he had to come fourthe and chaunge a Bullett with him; but none durste once adventure to come forthe unto him, but the Cowardlike knightes sayde they were not readye for him: a moste worthye enterprise, deservinge lastinge fame to come to the gates of his Courte, yea the strongest holde of his lande, and dare him fourthe. Our hartes were then so boldened and our stomackes so coragiouslye bente, that if theye had byn Tenne to one we rather wished to fighte than to goo to dynner. But nowe, most unfortunate and unluckie chaunce fallen amongest us by weakeninge of our Lymes, and feblenes of our bodyes, we are not able to abyde the force of them as nowe, and thoughe they be but one to one, the more is our greife; for what is a piece of Beefe of halfe a pounde amonge foure men to dynner or halfe a drye Stockfishe for foure dayes in the weeke, and nothing elles to helpe withall—Yea, wee have helpe, a litle Beveredge[1539] worse than the pompe water. Wee were preste by her Maᵗⁱᵉˢ presse to have her allowaunce, and not to be thus dealt withall, you make no men of us, but beastes. And therefore wee are not determyned to goe any further, but as we broughte the Lyon, with our Master’s helpe, fourth, so wee will carye her home agayne by the helpe of God, for as the wynde is faire and home we will. And thus Captayne Marchaunt thinke of us as you will and lett us have more victualles to bringe us home, for as longe as it please God this wynde to blowe we will not alter our corse, but home straighte and so thinck of us as you please.
The Quenes men and yours homewardes to our powers.’
And there withall came the Master unto me sayinge, That there was not a man that wolde sett his handes to the saylles.