John Thaw as Francis Drake

Charlotte Cornwell as Elizabeth I

Paul Darrow as Thomas Doughty

Terence Budd as John Drake

David Ryall as Sir Francis Wisingham

Paul Alexander as Ned Bright

Peter Cellier as Sir Christopher Hatton

Michael Turner as Lord Burghley

Michael Stroud as Admiral Winter

Esmond Knight as John Dee

Alan Downer as Nuno DelSilva

Roger Adamson as Fletcher, the Chaplain

Michael Irving as Vicary

Colin Matthews as English Gentleman