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'MILITARY HISTORY, 1485-1603.
[1598.

the occasion comprised no fewer than twenty sail of ships,[1] none of which belonged to the navy, and it formed a force more formidable than had ever been assembled by a subject. It sailed from Plymouth on March 6th, 1598. The first intention of the commander-in-chief appears to have been to proceed to the West Indies; but, learning soon after he had put to sea that certain rich Spanish carracks were about to cross the Atlantic in company with twenty merchantmen bound for Brazil, he lay in wait for a time for the convoy. The Spaniards, however, apprised of his presence off their coasts, kept their ships in port; and the Earl's only captures at the beginning of his voyage were a Hamburger, with a miscellaneous cargo of contraband goods, a Frenchman laden with salt, and two Flamands full of corn.

Convinced that the carracks would not venture out while he was in the neighbourhood, Cumberland steered for the Canaries,

Ships Commanders
Scourge of Malice The Earl of Cumberland, "Admiral."
John Watts.
(later) James Langton.
Merchant Royal[1] Sir John Berkeley, "Lieut.-General and Vice-Admiral."
Ascension[1] Robert Flicke, "Rear-Admiral."
Samson
Henry Clifford (died).
Christopher Colthurst
Alcedo[1]
John Ley.
(later) Thomas Cotch.
Consent[1] Francis Slingsby.
Prosperous
James Langton.
(later) John Watts.
Centurion[1]
Henry Palmer.
(later) William Palmer.
Contance, gallion[1] Hercules Foljambe.
Affection — Fleming.
Guiana
Christopher Colthurst.
(later) Gerald Middleton.
Scout Henry Jolliffe.
Anthony[1]
Robert Careless (died).
Andrew Andrews.
Pegasus[1][2] Edward Goodwin.
Royal Defence Henry Bromley.
Margaret and John John Dixon.
Barkley Bay (? later) John Ley.
Old frigate[3] William Harper
And two barges[1][4] for landing troops.
  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Left with Sir John Berkeley at San Juan de Puerto Rico.
  2. Lost, returning, on the Goodwin Sands.
  3. Lost, returning, off Ushant.
  4. One barge was sunk at Puerto Rico, the other was wrecked on the Bermudas.