y took one vessel, the first English ship of war that had yet fallen
into the hands of the Spaniards.[***] [33]The rest of the squadron
returned safely into England frustrated of their expectations, but
pleasing themselves with the idea that their attempt had not been
altogether fruitless in hurting the enemy.

* Camden, p. 562.

** Rymer, vol. xvi. p. 151, 168, 171, 173

*** See note GG, at the end of the volume.

The Indian fleet had been so long detained in the Havana from the
fear of the English, that they were obliged at last to set sail in an
improper season, and most of them perished by shipwreck ere they reached
the Spanish harbors.[*] The earl of Cumberland made a like unsuccessful
enterprise against the Spanish trade. He carried out one ship of the
queen's, and seven others equipped at his own expense; but the prizes
which he made did not compensate the charges.[**]

[Illustration: 1-527-raleigh.jpg SIR WALTER RALEIGH]

The spirit of these expensive and hazardous adventures was very
prevalent in England. Sir Walter Raleigh, who had enjoyed great favor
with the queen, finding his interest to decline, determined to recover
her good graces by some important undertaking; and as his reputation was
high among his countrymen, he persuaded great numbers to engage with him
as volunteers in an attempt on the West Indies.

{1592.} The fleet was detained so long in the Channel by contrary winds,
that the season was lost: Raleigh was recalled by the queen: Sir Martin
Frobisher succeeded to the command, and made a privateering voyage
against the Spaniards. He took one rich carrack near the Island of
Flores, and destroyed another.[***] About the same time, Thomas White, a
Londoner, took two Spanish ships, which, besides fourteen hundred chests
of quicksilver, contained above two millions of bulls for indulgences;
a commodity useless to the English, but which had cost the king of Spain
three hundred thousand florins, and would have been sold by him in the
Indies for five millions.

{1593.} This war did great damage to Spain; but it was attended with
considerable expense to England; and Elizabeth's ministers computed,
that since the commencement of it, she had spent in Flanders and France,
and on her naval expeditions, above one million two hundred thousand
pounds;[****] a charge which, notwithstanding her extreme frugality, was
too burthensome for her narrow revenues to support.

* Monson, p. 16