Crossing the line of demarcation 

They took a passage to the west 

Dead reckoning they doubled back 

Into the north they anchored for bad weather 

San Martin and Magellan almost lost sight of the flagship 



The Santiago and Victoria led 

No sign of land altered the course 

Why not return for winter? 

No violation of direct royal orders 

The men, the officers, all cried "return" 

No captains that had discipline- 

rode the high seas in storms and mutiny (with the enemy) 

Desperately they sought a haven in an age of discovery... 



Extra precautions, setting anchor as they did 

Terrified, the crews made pledges back to Spain for pilgrimage 

Lighting fires at night to signal shipmates-at last deliverance 

from the fury of this godforsaken place they named the "bay 

of travail"- 



Ride the high seas in storms and mutiny (with the enemy) 

Desperately they sought a haven in an age of discovery... 



Genius or madman? So elusive were the straits 

Battered were the ships and men 

A stop for repairs in St. Julian 

The crew wanted to know the route they'd begun 

despite stirring exhortations for loyalty from Magellan 



Onboard Concepcion there was mutiny in demand 

And they moved to take the fleet at night 

with the knowledge there was blood on their hands 

But the tables turned-the remaining crew blocked the exit 

to the sea 

A sudden advantage for the general using ruthless strategy... 



Target chosen shrewdly of three vessels controlled by the 

mutineers 

High numbers of neutral foreigners on Victoria would not 

rise up against him. 



Pulling hard against an ebb 

Rebellion muted the message read: 

"No mistreatment, I'll do what's right" 

No heavy hand will rule the night 



On the mainmast high, we'll raise his flag 

court martial pending on Trinidad 

Condemned to death were forty more 

Mendoza "quartered" upon the shore 



Poetic justice coming swift and severe 

But how could he lose so many men? 

Commute the sentence for the sin 

Confined to quarters and distasteful labor 

Convicted conspirators fallen in his disfavor 



Philosophers and scholars began to challenge 

The true dimensions of the earth (new evidence uncovered) 

Finding the straits Magellan died triumphant 

but no vindication came in time 

No statesman, no royalty- 



Rode the high seas in storms and mutiny (with the enemy) 

Desperately they sailed the globe in a voyage of treachery 



Circumnavigation returning Victoria with twenty-one 

Determined by storms and mutiny 

he conquered the sea 

Though honor followed, a witness he would not be......