Page:Voyages and adventures of the renowned Admiral Drake.pdf/19

19 with a view to interrupt the preparations they were making to invade England, and to destroy, if possible, the Spanish shipping, ammunition, and provisions, in their ports. On the 19th of April, he arrived in the bay of Cadiz, where he was opposed by 12 Spanish gallies, of which he sunk two, and forced the others to retire under the castles. He then, under a dreadful fire from the forts and batteries, burnt one ship of 1500 tons, another of 1200, and 31 more from 1000 to 200 tons; besides carrying away 4 ships laden with provisions, designed for the expedition against England. Drake sent an account of what he had done to Lord Burleigh: and at the same time acquainted him with the prodigious preparations making in all the ports of Spain for invading England, and of his further plans to frustrate their designs. After this, he demolished several forts on the coast of Spain, without much opposition from the Spanish Admiral, whom he insulted in their harbours. From thence he sailed for the Azure Islands, and took the Don Pedro, a ship reckoned worth 200,000 crowns, bound for Portugal from the East Indies. This capture was of great advantage to the English in several respects; because, besides the money they took, they learnt two important things; first, that those large hulks were not invincible; secondly, that the East India trade was very valuable: And this put them on the first thoughts of establishing an East India Company.

In 1588, Admiral Drake signalized himself, in the defence of his country against the Spanish Armada, being appointed Vice Admiral under Lord High Admiral Howard. A little before this formidable Spanish armament put to sea,