"Sir Francis Drake 'had the happiness to live under the reign of a princess who never failed to distinguish merit, and what was more, to reward it. He was always her favourite, and she gave an uncommon proof of it in respect to a quarrel he had with his countryman, Sir Bernard Drake, whose arms Sir Francis assuming, the other was so provoked, that he gave him a box on the ear; upon this the queen took up the quarrel, and gave Sir Francis a new coat.' 
Prince's Worthies of Devon

Sir Bernard said to Sir Francis,
'You're making a grave mistake
If, now you're a knight,
You think you've a right
To the wyvern gules of Drake.'

Sir Francis said to Sir Bernard,
'Your wyvern gules you can keep.
At the Queen's behest
I'll have such a crest
As will make your arms look cheap.'

Queen Elizabeth said to the heralds,
'Draw Frankie a coat of worth,
And thereon between
Pole Stars be seen
His wavy course round the earth;

And upon a globe on his helmet
The good ship Golden Hind show,
With a dragon to fame
El Draco's name.'
And the heralds made it so.

Sir Francis said, 'Look, Sir Bernard !'
And Sir Bernard proudly spake,
'Grand arms you've got,
I allow, but they're not
The ancient wyvern of Drake.'

Sir Bernard Drake's arms were: Argent, a wyvern gules, wings displayed and tail nowed. The arms granted to Sir Francis Drake were: Sable, a fess wavy between two stars argent; crest: upon the terrestrial globe a ship under sail drawn round the same with golden hawsers by a hand appearing from clouds proper, and in the ship a dragon gules, its wings spread, looking towards the hand; motto : Auxilio Divino."

Home