£2,500,000 Sterling. The capture of the treasure-fleet of Spain had long been the fervent desire and ambition of the great English Admirals Drake and Hawkins, and for which Queen Elizabeth, even in old age, had yearned, with hope deferred, and, finally never realized.
Admiral Marten Tromp commanded fleets that
THE "AMELIA" FLAGSHIP OF ADMIRAL TROMP, 1639
were victorious in no less than thirty-two battles, which were fought upon the sea; while Admiral Michiel Ruyter, in 1636, commanded a privateer, built by the merchants of Flushing, with which he drove the French pirates from the coast of Holland. In 1640, Ruyter was appointed rear-admiral of a fleet that had been fitted out to assist Portugal in her struggle against Spain, and greatly distinguished himself at the battle of St. Vincent, No-
