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Primary sourceDocument1587

William Borough Chart of Cadiz

William Borough · 1587

A manuscript map of the 1587 Cádiz raid, drawn by Drake's vice-admiral, documenting their joint and troubled campaign.

Documents the 1587 Cádiz raid, highlighting Drake's leadership and his conflict with vice-admiral Borough.

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Hand-drawn antique manuscript map of the Bay of Cadiz with Cadiz peninsula, Puerto Real, Santa Maria, and the Guadalete river, with numbered and lettered notes and a ship-and-fleet legend. Signed Borough and marked with a royal seal.
William Borough, Chart of Cadiz, 1587.

About this source

What it is

This hand-drawn manuscript map shows the Bay of Cadiz, including the Cadiz peninsula, Puerto Real, Santa Maria, and the Guadalete river. It includes numbered notes and a ship-and-fleet legend, signed by Borough.

Why it matters

The map was created by William Borough, Drake's vice-admiral, during the 1587 raid on Cádiz, known as 'singeing the King of Spain's beard.' It reflects the complex relationships and tensions within Drake's own fleet during significant military operations.

Look closer

  • What does the map's detail suggest about its purpose, whether strategic or decorative?
  • Why might a map be signed and marked with a royal seal?
  • What does the map not reveal about the personal conflicts between Drake and Borough?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Sir Francis Drake on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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