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,

A table should appear at this position in the text. See Help:Table for formatting instructions.

Ships. Commanders,

The Earl of Cumberland, "Admiral." John Watts, (later) James Langton.

Sir John Berkeley, "Lieut.-General and Vice-Admiral." Robert Flicke "Rear-Admiral."

Henry Clifford (died). Christopher Colthurst.

John Ley. (later) Thomas Cotch.

Francis Slingsby.

James Langton. (later) John Watts.

Henry Palmer. (later) William Palmer.

Hercules Foljambe.

— Fleming.

Christopher Colthurst. (later) Gerald Middleton.

Henry Jolliffe.

Robert Careless (died). (Andrew Andrews.

Edward Goodwin.

Henry Bromley.

John Dixon.

(? later) John Ley.

William Harper.

Scourge of Malice Merchant Royal 1 Ascension 1 Samson Alcedo 1 Consent 1 Prosperous Centurion 1 Constance, gallion 1 Affection Guiana Scout Anthony 1 Pegasus 1 2 Royal Defence Margaret and John Barkley Bay Old frigate 3

And two barges 1 4 for landing troops.

1 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.