ABSTRACT
John Chidley was a young gentleman of Devon, born in 1565 into an old and well connected family. His venture was evidently favoured in high quarters, for a special commission for the voyage was obtained from the Queen and an order from the Privy Council prevented the appropriation of Chidley's victuals by the provisioned of the Portugal expedition. It is clear from all accounts that Chidley hoped to repeat the recent successes of Cavendish in the South Seas and to return home via the East Indies. Chidley commanded the admiral, the Wildman, in which John Ellis sailed as master, while in the White Lion Thomas Polwhele was captain and Benjamin Wood master. The successive desertions of Wood and Kendall—two seamen who proved their capacity in later voyages—suggests that whoever remained in nominal command after Chidley's death intended to continue operations and perhaps to resume the southward course.
