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 in 1599 as in 1896. The constitution of this memorable Elizabethan fleet is given below.

In 1600, commissioners met at Boulogne to treat for peace between England and Spain. They separated in consequence of disputes concerning precedence, and effected nothing. Elizabeth and her ministers, foreseeing the probability of a lame issue of the sort, and altogether distrustful of Spanish sincerity, meanwhile quietly fitted out the Repulse, Sir Richard Leveson, Admiral of the Narrow Seas, Warspite, Captain Troughton, and Vanguard, Captain Somers, as if intending them to cruise against the Dunquerque corsairs on the westen coasts. When it was no longer doubtful that the Boulogne negotiations were destined to fail, Sir Richard was suddenly ordered to proceed with his little squadron to the Azores, there to lie in wait for, and endeavour to capture, the homeward-bound Spanish carracks and the Mexico fleet.

Spain was equally wary. In view of the failure of negotiations she equipped a squadron of eighteen ships, and sent them also to the islands. The two squadrons heard of, but never sighted, one another; nor did Leveson sight the treasure ships. Having exhausted his supplies, he returned to England. The only good effected by this expedition was the casual relief of some distressed home-coming Dutch East-Indiamen."