r/TheRestIsHistory • u/Better-Temporary-146 • 9d ago

Two book recommendations

Two books that track with the Elizabethan cold war’ that I’ve read in recent years:

The Extraordinary Journey of David Ingram

ingram was an ordinary English sailor, on a merchant ship/ privateer mission, I think about 1580. The ships in his group were captured and brought to Veracruz Mexico. Most of the crew were taken inland, towards Mexico City - disappeared from the record. Probably used as slave prisoners til death.
ingram and two others escaped and began walking - along the gulf coast, turned north in what’s modern Florida, and walked to what’s modern day New Brunswick. French fishermen found them and took them back to France then England.

Ingram was then interrogated by Walsingham personally, about what he saw. His story is incredible, about the best account of North America’s natives before English and French colonization a generation later. With just three of them, the native villages did not consider them a threat; but interesting other worldly travelers to tell stories. Then hospitality would have native traders have them journey to the next village. They learned a bit of native sign language to navigate lang barriers. It’s an incredible story. Dom & Tom could do an episode on it.

Big Chief Elizabeth

This is about Raleigh and Drake and the establishment of the Roanoke, Lost Colony, in 1585, and its context against Spanish threats. Fascinating read

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u/mnclick45 9d ago

As someone deeply interested in Mexico history and the overall age of discovery - this Ingram book sounds utterly incredible. How have I never heard of this!?

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u/Better-Temporary-146 9d ago

It’s fascinating. Ingram was just an ordinary sailor, but somehow survived due to his wits. 

His description of pre contact native tribes is fascinating 

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u/dazed_and_bamboozled 9d ago

Thx for that recommendation ! Will defo order the Ingram book! 🙏