John Hopkins

Listen today by joining Noisa+.

It is a bright spring day in April 1581, at the Royal Docks at Deptford, on the banks of the River Thames, just outside London.

Monsieur de Marchemont, the French ambassador to the English court, alights from a carriage, richly dressed in a blue velvet doublet.

Shading his eyes, he takes in the enormous crowd that has gathered at the docks.

Not for him, but for the occupant of the vehicle ahead.

The door of the lead carriage now opens, and, to an almighty cheer, Elizabeth, Queen of England, emerges into the spring sunshine.

The light catches on the innumerable jewels stitched onto her scarlet gown, turning her distinctive red hair into a fiery halo, and she raises a gracious hand in acknowledgement of her subjects.

Then she beckons to Marchmont.

Hurrying to her side, he escorts her through the crowd, with her pale hand tucked into the crook of his elbow.

They head towards a sailing ship, sitting in the dry dock and draped with royal banners in shades of red, blue and gold.

It is the Golden Hind, freshly returned from a perilous three-year circumnavigation of the globe.

Marchmont guides Elizabeth along the wooden boards that have been laid over the stinking mud of the riverbank, to where a gangplank leads up to the ship itself.

A stately train of courtiers follow, and behind them the raucous mass of onlookers, eagerly pushing aboard the famous vessel.

Once Marchmont and Elizabeth are safely on the ship's deck, an ear-splitting crack sounds from behind them.

The ambassador whirls round, just in time to witness the gangplank splintering.

Dozens tumble onto the muddy riverbank below.

He starts forward in concern, but those on the ground are already laughing and picking themselves up.

It seems no one has been harmed, beyond perhaps some wounded pride and grubby clothes.

Relieved, he returns to the queen and accompanies her across the deck to a carved wooden throne.

There, a stout, strong-looking man with a pointed, reddish-blonde beard is already sweeping into a deep bow.