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 capture the treasure ships was made by a squadron of seven vessels of the Royal Navy, with six victuallers and some pinnaces, under Lord Thomas Howard, who sailed to Flores, in the Azores, and remained in the neighbourhood for six months. He narrowly escaped being surprised there by Don Alonso de Bazan, who had been sent out with a fleet of fifty-three ships to meet and convoy home the expected carracks. The Earl of Cumberland, as has been mentioned above, had happened to learn of the fitting out of this fleet at Corunna, and had, with much foresight, ordered Mr. Middleton, master of the Moonshine pinnace, to discover its force and object, and then, if necessary, to proceed with all speed and warn Lord Thomas. Middleton kept the Spaniards in sight until there was no longer any doubt of their intentions; and thereupon set all sail for Flores, arriving very little ahead of the enemy. This was on August 31st.

Howard at once weighed. His second in command, Sir Richard Greynvile, of the Revenge, had a number of men ashore, and, according to some accounts, waited for them. Camden, and others, have it that he refused to turn his back upon the enemy, and so allowed himself to be hemmed in between the Spaniards and the island. Some also suppose that he mistook the squadron of Don Alonso for the expected treasure ships, and therefore disobeyed the orders of his commander-in-chief. But, be this as it may, he was presently surrounded and attacked by practically the whole of the best part of the Spanish fleet. Howard, with the remaining six men-of-war, seems to have been engaged for a considerable time with the enemy, but not in such a position as to afford any support to Greynvile. The Foresight made a serious effort to assist the Revenge, but, owing to the wind, could not get very near her.

The Revenge fought against these overwhelming odds for fifteen hours; and Greynvile, no matter whether he was, as has often been asserted, or was not, blameworthy as being rash, stubborn, and