The Drake
Memorial at Musbury Church
Devonshire
The Drake
Memorial Devon's churches are full of treasures, this monument at Musbury Church near Axminster is truly astounding! KNEELING IN PRAYERS, THREE KNIGHTS fully armed and dressed in their best attire, wives at their side. This solemn monument must have served as a sober and constant reminder to future Drakes, both of their illustrious ancestors and their mortality. You have to ask yourself if there's a connection between these ancient Drakes of Aishe (or Ayshe, Ashe) and Sir Francis Drake, born near Tavistock. The effigies at Musbury
Church (near Axminster) are certainly lavish and expensive, and all three Drakes on the memorial were knights of the realm. They're an important ancient family with their own coat of arms. Sir Francis on the other hand, inherited no coat of arms and his humble beginnings were at Crowndale Farm, Tavistock. More about this overleaf. If you're a Drake from this illustrious family, we'd love to hear from you.
The Drake memorial at the church of St Michael, Musbury, near Axminster The Drake family memorial (right) was built in 1611. It includes Sir John Drake and wife Amy, Sir Barnard Drake and wife Garthrud, and Sir John Drake with wife Dorothye. Ashe (De Esse or Aishe/Ayshe) House was nearby, which was the seat of the Drake family. Tragically Aishe House was destroyed in the civil wars, it's now a farmhouse.
The link between the Drakes of Aishe and that famous seafarer Sir Francis Drake? ..read overleaf..
The Drake Memorial, one of South East Devon’s greatest treasures!
Another Drake tomb at St Lawrence church, Southleigh The plaque (right ) is that of Robert Drake and wife Elizabeth Prideaux. Robert lived at Wiscombe Park and was the brother of Sir Bernard Drake of Colcombe Castle, Colyton ( you may have seen the pub in
the square bearing the Colcombe Castle name).
Robert's parents were John Drake and Amy Granville of Stowe. Robert's son and daughter in law were William Drake of Wiscombe and Philippa Dennis of Holcombe. Robert's grandson was Thomas Drake of Wiscombe and wife, Helen Walker of Bampton.
The
DRAKE MEMORIAL built in 1611
Above right: Sir John Drake & wife Amie Middle: Sir Barnard Drake & wife Garthrud Far right: Sir John Drake with wife Dorothye
Sir Francis was, and probably remains, Devon's greatest achiever!
The spat at Queen Elizabeth's Court... When Sir Francis Drake received his knighthood, the next step he took was to adopt the Drake of Aishe (Ash or Ayshe) arms (presumably, he didn't have his own), which were argent, a wyvern, wings displayed and tail nowed gules (see illustration below). Distinguished sailor, Sir Bernard Drake, rejected this claim by Sir Francis of kinship and refuted his right to bear the Drake of Aishe family arms. The dispute resulted in a "box in the ear" being given by Sir Bernard to Sir Francis at Queen Elizabeth's court (recorded in "Worthies of Devon" by John Prince). Subsequently, Queen Elizabeth awarded Sir Francis his own coat of arms to assuage matters (see below left).
Prominent feature of the Drake of Aishe arms - a wyvern (winged
creature with a dragon's head and reptilian body), wings displayed and tail nowed (knotted ) gules (red tincture/coloured ).
Seems a bit obsessive I know, but remember there was no youtube, TV, radio or internet in those days, you had to do something in your spare time!
Sir Walter Raleigh's awarded arms Sable a fess wavy between two pole-stars (Arctic and Antarctic) argent, and for his crest, a ship on a globe under ruff, held by a cable with a hand out of the clouds; over it this motto, Auxilio Divino; underneath, Sic Parvis Magna; in the rigging whereof is hung up by the heels a wyvern, gules, which was the arms of Sir Bernard Drake." "Worthies of Devon" (1697 - John Prince)
Drake of Aishe arms Argent, a wyvern (winged creature with a dragon's head and reptilian body) Gules (red tincture/colour) with the crest a dexter arm grasping a battle axe Sable (tincture of black), headed Argent ( Argent being the tincture of silver - a kind of silver leaf ) and tail nowed (knotted ) gules
These were the arms that Sir Francis, after being knighted, attempted to adopt, claiming he was kin of the Drakes of Aishe, living at Musbury, near Axminster.
The Drake Arms
Important for advancement, a coat of arms was an important addition to your credibility.
Sir Barnard DR AKE The chap who boxed Sir Francis Drake's ear over the disputed Aishe family arms whilst at Queen Elizabeth's court
Above: The beautiful window in memory to Robert Hamlyn Mervyn Drake (1970) which faces the Drake monument. Left: A wall monument erected by a relative of the Drake family. Right: Plaque in memory to Francis Richard Drake .(1935)
Below: Sir John Drake & wife Amie
Sir Barnard Drake & wife Garthrud
The
Sir John Drake with wife Dorothye
DRAKE MEMORIAL
The plaque below reads: The Drakes of Ashe, Descendants of the sixth, seventh and eighth generation of John Drake of Mount Drake and Exmouth. This monument was restored in 1926 by Louis Stoughton Drake of Boston, USA, a descendant in the seventeenth generation through Thomas Drake of Colyton in this county and of Weymouth, Massachusetts, USA.
Sir
Francis Drake
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE is famous for
made the first English slave-trading
Queen Elizabeth (amongst other
navigation by Drake, Magellan had
his successful circumnavigation
expeditions.
sponsors), commissioned Drake to
previously navigated the globe,
of the world between 1577-1580.
Many English privateers dreamt
circumnavigate the globe. So, on
although he'd died in the process.
The first attempt by Portuguese
of capturing one of the Spanish
the Golden Hind, Drake sailed the
What Drake's expedition had
mariner Ferdinand Magellan
vessels returning to Spain with
Straits of Magellan in the Pacific
achieved, was to capture an
was successful, but Magellan
silver mined from the Andes. The
and raided Spanish treasure
estimated ÂŁ600,000 worth of
ultimately paid with his life and
Isthmus of Panama was the place
ships, before travelling up to
treasure, ÂŁ300,000 of which
did not finish a complete personal
to ambush Spanish ships, as the
the Americas, where he landed
went directly to the crown (more
circumnavigation
cimarrones (slaves who'd escaped
in what's now called California,
than the crown's income for a year).
Regarded with mixed feelings,
Spanish capture) were keen to halt
which he named Nova Albion (New
Subsequently, Drake was knighted
at home and abroad, in England,
the Spanish ships. Drake was
England).
by Queen Elizabeth and also made
many regarded Francis Drake with
fortunate enough with the help of
Drake then cut west and stocked his
Mayor of Plymouth.
mistrust, having through guile,
the cimarrones, to ambush a ship
ship with spices in the East Indies,
Drake had obviously enraged the
risen above his station. Others
laden with silver and returned to
after which he returned to England.
Spanish, due to his raid on Cadiz,
admired Drake as a hero. I think
England a very wealthy man.
he's what you'd call a go-getter, being ruthless and fearless would help in his tough day-and-age. Francis's father John, was born in
Achievements
This was an extraordinary feat of
where he occupied the town for 3 days and destroyed 26 enemy ships and much of the Spanish stores. The Spanish Armada was sighted in 1588 on the 19th of July, whilst
1490 and acquired a lease from
Drake was famously, playing bowls
the Russell family on a farm called
on the Hoe. He's thought to have
Crowndale, outside Tavistock. The
finished his game of bowls before
two families must have developed
making chase to the Armada,
a close relationship, as John's
capturing the Rosario.
grandson, Francis, was named
Dra ke subsequent ly led a n
after the second Earl of Bedford.
u nsucces sf u l ex ped it ion to
Sir Francis was profoundly
destroy the Armada (at the request
religious and held twice daily
of Elizabeth), and was in disgrace
religious services on board ship.
after returning empty handed.
The Royal Navy's website says of
Dra ke subsequent ly led a n
Drake: "he was the greatest sailor
expedition to the West Indies
of his generation, the navigator
company with his friend Hawkins
Francis Drake went to sea aged
and died of yellow fever in Panama.
13 whilst living at Chatham as an apprentice on a small trading ship.
References: National Maritime
The master left the ship to Drake,
Museum, Greenwich and the Royal
who sold it and sailed with his
Navy's website.
cousin, Sir John Hawkins. They