Sic Parvis Magna
Sic Parvis Magna—Francis Sees Hawkins's Affairs (Chapter 2)
An errand in chapter two gives Francis a closer view of William Hawkins's business and influence in Plymouth.
Sic Parvis Magna—History of Hawkins (Chapter 2)
In chapter two, William Hawkins's maps and accounts of distant voyages introduce Francis to the possibilities of a merchant's life at sea.
Sic Parvis Magna—First Impressions of Plymouth (Chapter 2)
Chapter two, House of Hawkins, opens with Francis's arrival in Plymouth after the flight from Tavistock. The unfamiliar port offers Francis and his family a new beginning.
Sic Parvis Magna—Escape from Tavistock (Chapter 1)
Chapter one closes with the Drake family's hurried flight from Crowndale as an approaching mob threatens their home.
Sic Parvis Magna—Family Dinner (Chapter 1)
Francis returns to the family home seeking the end of the strange day, but receives no reprieve.
Sic Parvis Magna—The Heretic (Chapter 1)
In chapter one, a childhood friend turns on Francis, bringing the religious divisions around Tavistock painfully close to home.
Sic Parvis Magna—Going on Delivery (Chapter 1)
The opening scene of chapter one follows young Francis Drake on an ordinary errand into Tavistock, while the world is already shifting around him.
1555 Philip and Mary Shillings
Few artifacts capture the complex political and religious landscape of 16th-century England as vividly as the Philip and Mary shilling. Issued during the reign of Mary I of England and her husband, Philip II of Spain, these coins are a reminder of religious upheaval and intense power struggles that marked Francis Drake's passage into adulthood.
Who Was Francis Drake? Privateer, Explorer, and Elizabethan Legend
Discover the real Francis Drake behind the legend — a man of daring voyages, ruthless ambition, and moral complexity. This in-depth historical fiction profile explores Drake's rise from humble beginnings to privateer, circumnavigator, and Spanish nemesis. His life inspires the adventures in my historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna, where Tudor politics, personal ambition, and the harsh realities of the Age of Discovery collide. Dive into Drake's world of high-seas adventure, betrayal, and shifting loyalties that helped shape England's naval empire.
Villain Sketch: Pirate Captain Guy Alfonse Guichenot
Discover the historical fiction villain Captain Guichenot from Sic Parvis Magna. This behind-the-scenes character sketch reveals how the ruthless 16th-century privateer was originally crafted to challenge Francis Drake, embodying the brutal world of early modern piracy. Explore the creative process, historical details, and psychology that shaped this dark figure from the novel.
Sic Parvis Magna Meaning: Francis Drake's Motto Explained
In this post, I look at how the phrase became linked to Drake, what it suggests about his rise, and why it became the title of my Tudor-era historical fiction novel.
Historical Fiction Villain Sketch of James Reynard
Historical fiction thrives on complex characters shaped by real events. In this exclusive character sketch from Sic Parvis Magna, explore the troubled past of James Reynard—a fictional villain born amid the brutal upheavals of Tudor England. Inspired by history, Reynard's personal tragedy, betrayal, and violent path offer a gripping portrait of survival, ambition, and revenge in a world torn by religious and political turmoil.