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Azores Voyage of 1589
The Azores Voyage of 1589, also known as Cumberland's Third Voyage, was a series of conflicts in the Azores islands between August and September 1589 by an English military joint stock expedition led by George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, during the Anglo–Spanish War. All the islands were attacked either for provisions or the attainment of Spanish and Portuguese prizes. A number of Portuguese and Spanish ships were captured and also included a battle at Faial, which resulted in the capture of the fort and the main town, which was subsequently sacked and burned. The English were able to return home unmolested with a total of thirteen prizes – the expedition was a success and with a good profit for the investors although many people died to disease and storms.
The expedition was also a scientific one in that the eminent mathematician and cartographer Edward Wright carried out navigational studies that, for the first time, explained the mathematical basis of the Mercator projection.
By virtue of the Iberian Union, the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 was in abeyance, and as the Anglo–Spanish War was still ongoing, Portuguese shipping was a fair target for the Royal Navy. As a result, the Azores and the Cape Verde islands were also subject to attack – this was partly due to the influx of Spanish traders to the islands as a result of the Union but also a place for the Spanish treasure galleons to replenish for victuals before the final leg of their journey to Spain.
With the English Armada being organised at the same time, a breakaway expedition to the Azores was also authorised by Queen Elizabeth I. George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, was put in command of a private venture of which he set up a number of ships which included the Victory, Meg, Margaret, a caravel and two other support vessels. William Monson, a 20 year old at the time, was second in command as captain of the Margaret. Cumberland set off on 18 June 1589 from Plymouth and headed to the coast of Spain.
On his approach to the Spanish coast Cumberland's ships seized a number of French Catholic League and Flemish vessels with Newfoundland fish stock to the value of £4,500 which were bound to a rich merchant in Lisbon. Cumberland sailed on and reached the Azores islands on 1 August and then positioned themselves where they awaited the passage of the galleons from Spanish America. Within a few days Cumberland then decided to attack the group of islands for supplies and any ships that were there.
Cumberland's first call came at São Miguel. He flew a Spanish flag to fool the Iberian forces there and proceeded to the capital Ponta Delgada, where he surprised and captured four small Portuguese carracks just offshore. These were laden with olive oil and 30 tuns of Madeira wine, besides woollen cloth, silk, and taffeta.
On August 14 the fleet put in at the island of Flores for water and food, but while there they received intelligence of certain Spanish and Portuguese ships that were at anchor at Terceira Island. After some quick repairs and a gathering of victuals unmolested, the English at once set sail for that island.
Upon his arrival Cumberland sailed into Angra Bay, sighted, trapped, and then immediately launched an attack on the Spanish and Portuguese ships. He was assisted by another English ship, the Barke of Lyme, which was one of Sir Walter Raleigh's vessels commanded by Captain Marksburie which happened to be in those parts. An attempt on a large heavily armed Portuguese carrack failed which then managed to escape. Another, a Portuguese carrack, however, which had come from Malacca and India, was captured when the English sailors boarded her. Overall seven ships were captured and these included the Spanish ships Nuestra Señora del Loreto, San Juan, El Espiritu Sanctu, and the San Cristobal coming from Spanish America. The riches included silk, gold, silver, and porcelain. From two Portuguese ships Cumberland took cargoes of elephants teeth, grain, coconuts, and Guinean goat skins. Whilst the battle was raging English captives on the island managed to escape, stole a small boat, and were subsequently rescued by the Margaret. After the capture and destruction of the vessels the English ships gathered some water further round the island and set sail to Faial Island.
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Azores Voyage of 1589
The Azores Voyage of 1589, also known as Cumberland's Third Voyage, was a series of conflicts in the Azores islands between August and September 1589 by an English military joint stock expedition led by George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, during the Anglo–Spanish War. All the islands were attacked either for provisions or the attainment of Spanish and Portuguese prizes. A number of Portuguese and Spanish ships were captured and also included a battle at Faial, which resulted in the capture of the fort and the main town, which was subsequently sacked and burned. The English were able to return home unmolested with a total of thirteen prizes – the expedition was a success and with a good profit for the investors although many people died to disease and storms.
The expedition was also a scientific one in that the eminent mathematician and cartographer Edward Wright carried out navigational studies that, for the first time, explained the mathematical basis of the Mercator projection.
By virtue of the Iberian Union, the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 was in abeyance, and as the Anglo–Spanish War was still ongoing, Portuguese shipping was a fair target for the Royal Navy. As a result, the Azores and the Cape Verde islands were also subject to attack – this was partly due to the influx of Spanish traders to the islands as a result of the Union but also a place for the Spanish treasure galleons to replenish for victuals before the final leg of their journey to Spain.
With the English Armada being organised at the same time, a breakaway expedition to the Azores was also authorised by Queen Elizabeth I. George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, was put in command of a private venture of which he set up a number of ships which included the Victory, Meg, Margaret, a caravel and two other support vessels. William Monson, a 20 year old at the time, was second in command as captain of the Margaret. Cumberland set off on 18 June 1589 from Plymouth and headed to the coast of Spain.
On his approach to the Spanish coast Cumberland's ships seized a number of French Catholic League and Flemish vessels with Newfoundland fish stock to the value of £4,500 which were bound to a rich merchant in Lisbon. Cumberland sailed on and reached the Azores islands on 1 August and then positioned themselves where they awaited the passage of the galleons from Spanish America. Within a few days Cumberland then decided to attack the group of islands for supplies and any ships that were there.
Cumberland's first call came at São Miguel. He flew a Spanish flag to fool the Iberian forces there and proceeded to the capital Ponta Delgada, where he surprised and captured four small Portuguese carracks just offshore. These were laden with olive oil and 30 tuns of Madeira wine, besides woollen cloth, silk, and taffeta.
On August 14 the fleet put in at the island of Flores for water and food, but while there they received intelligence of certain Spanish and Portuguese ships that were at anchor at Terceira Island. After some quick repairs and a gathering of victuals unmolested, the English at once set sail for that island.
Upon his arrival Cumberland sailed into Angra Bay, sighted, trapped, and then immediately launched an attack on the Spanish and Portuguese ships. He was assisted by another English ship, the Barke of Lyme, which was one of Sir Walter Raleigh's vessels commanded by Captain Marksburie which happened to be in those parts. An attempt on a large heavily armed Portuguese carrack failed which then managed to escape. Another, a Portuguese carrack, however, which had come from Malacca and India, was captured when the English sailors boarded her. Overall seven ships were captured and these included the Spanish ships Nuestra Señora del Loreto, San Juan, El Espiritu Sanctu, and the San Cristobal coming from Spanish America. The riches included silk, gold, silver, and porcelain. From two Portuguese ships Cumberland took cargoes of elephants teeth, grain, coconuts, and Guinean goat skins. Whilst the battle was raging English captives on the island managed to escape, stole a small boat, and were subsequently rescued by the Margaret. After the capture and destruction of the vessels the English ships gathered some water further round the island and set sail to Faial Island.
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