battle known azores capture describes series naval engagements took place august battle expedition english fleet initially led sir expedition involved capture number portuguese spanish ships including large portuguese long naval battle island azores expedition particularly capture great financial military success rich cargo aboard time nearly half size royal annual revenue subject mass theft arrived england followed shares prize expedition formative consequences english financially future english exploration background virtue joined crowns portugal spain fallen anglo spanish war ongoing portuguese shipping fair target royal_navy sir having released tower london received commission queen elizabeth expedition west_indies outfitted sixteen ship naval squadron belonged queen expedition expedition private venture like expedition supported limited assistance subsidies crown objective spanish portuguese ships atlantic spanish coast caribbean profit queen portion large sum appointed vice admiral joined commission knowledge maritime affairs earl cumberland largest stake expedition helped finance gather fleet majority fleet owned investors ship example owned captained fleet included captain captain golden dragon expedition launched setting sail delays bad weather planned voyage west_indies hold supplies depleted delay instead fleet intended head azores intercept spanish treasure fleet portuguese heading initially commanded following day fleet overtaken disdain given letters queen ordering immediate recall england took command storm struck scattering majority fleet small ships sunk nearly nearing cape vincent portuguese coast fleet split sections ordered headed azores lie wait spanish portuguese ships cruised strategy pin spanish fleet lee coast engagements fleet sailed south end encountered armed ton spanish english captured ship heavy resistance taking goods spanish failed retrieve burnt hull carrying large valued sailing freight destined west_indies capture fleet separated leaving prize goods hands fleet continued south cape early june took spanish long chase brought near spanish coast master revealed great fleet prepared having received intelligence fitted strong force west_indies spain provided large fleet oppose escort rich port brother captain general pursue intercept fleet men burning spanish fleet spotted having rejoined fleet soon sailed azores north portugal position captured prize fresh brazil laden sugar heading lisbon june days later captured spanish group returned england having missed fleet south battle wait long june scout ships spotted large vessel approaching near northernmost azores vessel ton portuguese pursued cumberland ships storm arrived forced english away lee shore beached coast following morning storm passed portuguese disembarked set nearby taking cargo burning vessel immediately dispatched soldiers ashore easily dispersed guarded shore resistance site captured portuguese fled cargo burnt inside ship salvaged english prisoners taken including ship foreign gunners threat torture confessed days arrive island fleet departed headed lisbon consisted jesus admiral largest fleet thirty gun vessel tons portuguese crown greatest largest sailing ships built news english ships waited raided villages supplies month july english ships formed picket line spaced miles apart north south axis southern flank near order ships golden dragon tiger spanish fleet sighted briefly longer threat major orders headed west allowing english reach area interception august sighted large ship heading directly drew nearer enormous size apparent far larger fully times size england biggest ship attacked smaller midday newport golden dragon followed bigger fraction joined followed hour intervals evening foremast shot away battle hours english hoped avoid sinking opponent prevent running aground damage defences bow rigging disabled sent crashed followed moved directly main guns english boarded dark tiger repaired came support english took ship bloody hand hand combat bloody decks bodies especially helm nearly destroyed cabin caught fire quick english action saved prize spared captain rest wounded sending ashore trying afloat sustained damage crashed came aboard claimed prize queen stop sailors stripped stolen goods proved temporary quickly repaired heavily guarded ships expedition set sail england closed english late leagues pursued english vain returning spain fleet reached early september incident aftermath fleet sailed england produced inventory report mentions gods great favor nation putting purchase hands discovered secret trades indian hitherto lay strangely hidden concealed filled gold silver coins bolts highest quality cloth fine tons pepper tons tons tons tons benjamin highly tons precious red tons inventory taken drugs colors pepper drugs benjamin alto cloth gold china silk silk white twisted silk book broad white fine course white brown broad brown course course course like added pearl amber rest number value elephants teeth vessels china nuts hides black jet cloth trees strange matter artificial document printed containing valuable information china japan trade observed enclosed case sweet cedar wood fine cloth jewel entered harbor september ships town small houses sailed vessel guarding great ship vessels slipped portsmouth sell like seen england frame stern feet long breadth deck feet draft feet arrival decks consisted main main decks forecastle deck floors length keel feet main mast feet partners feet main yard feet long mass theft attracted manner traders dealers thieves miles far london seeing huge vessel broke townspeople visited floating castle sought drunken sailors buying stealing fighting local fishermen ventured aboard cargo english law time provided large share owed sovereign discovered extent theft sent reclaim money punish swore meet coming heath way mean strip naked born majesty robbed rare things time restored order cargo estimated half million pounds nearly half wealth english treasury time second largest treasure ransom reduced needed carry treasure coast river thames london expedition yielded elizabeth fold return investment disappointed given investors contested share received special compensation queen allotted sum consideration money venture compensation bitter continued leading fatal duel years later consequences despite having greater fleet failed intercept english ship lost large contrast english learned fleet divide capturing making effective force later ships brought thames unloading dress suits canvas pockets reduce opportunities theft taste east english interest region forerunner end establishing newly formed company end trading factory
Battle of Flores (1592)