H66 Eli£, Naval Expeditions 7 &c of the English, Book it

1598,

The Ships and Commanders for the Sea-Service, were as follows

Ships andCotnmanderi

S H i P s.

Commandeers.

The Scourge of Malice, Ad-

The Earl himself, and un-

Names.

miral*

der him, Captain JohnWats, outwards, and CaptainJames Langton, homewards.Sir John Berkley.

Merchant-Royal, Vice-Admiral.

Ascension, Rear-Admi-ral.

Captain Robert Flicke.

Samson,

Captain Henry Clifford, andafter his Death, CaptainChristopher Colthurst.

Alcedo,

Captian John Ley, and home-wards, Capt. Thomas Catch.

Consent,

Captain Francis Slingsby.

Prosperous,

Captain James Langton , andhomewards, Captain JohnWatts.

Centurion,

Captain Henry Palmer, andhomewards his Son, Wil-liam Palmer.

Gallion Constance,

Captain Hercules Folyambe.

Assertion,

Captain j Clemming.

Guiana,

Captain Christopher Colthurst ,and homewards, Captain

Gerard Middleton.

Scout,

Captain Henry J oil iffe.

Anthony,

Captain Robert Careless, andafter his Death, Captain.

''

Andrew Andrews.

Pegasus,

Captain Edward Goodwin.

Royal Defence,

Captain Henry Bromley.

Margaret and John,

Captain John Dixon.

Barkley Bay,

Captain John Ley.

Old Frigat.

And two Barges for landingMen.

Captain William Harper.

There was, besides, a noble Trainof Commanders and other Gentlemen,for the Land Service, the principal ofwhom (next to the Earl, who command-ed in Person,) was Sir John Bark ley, hisLieutenant-General; As for the Rest, Ishall not trouble the Reader with theparticular Names of them, unless someextraordinary Action, in which theysignalized themselves, lay us under anObligation of so doing.

The Fleet Th e v set Sail from Plymouth, on thedeparts. sixth of March, and had not been longat Sea, before they had an Account offive Carracks, that were speedily to setSail, with greater Riches than ever be-fore had went to the Indies, and thatthey were to be accompanied by fiveand twenty Ships bound for Brazil .They made the necessary Preparationsfor meeting and attacking them ; But

they were in vain; For soon after they A noblegot Intelligence, that the Spaniards,having Notice of the Earl’s being out, ven ted-with a good Fleet, had dispatched Cara-vels of Advice, all along the Coast toprevent them, and all other Ships ofImportance, from going out of theirHarbours. He had, however, beforethis, taken a Hamburg-Ship ,* laden bvf gwith Corn, Copper, Powder, and other ^ pp rend*prohibited Goods; And a French Ship ship tak en 'laden with Salt.

T h FEarl, finding it would be in vainto wait any longer for the Carracks orRnz/iy-Ships, set Sail with his wholeFleet for the South-Cape. But, beforehis Departure from the Coast of Spain,took two Flemmings laden with Corn.

Having made the Canaries, they cameup with the Island of Lancerota, whichthey took and ravaged. It was then

commanded