ondly, the special service
for which the smaller galleots and brigantines were particularly
destined, the descents upon the Spanish coasts was to some degree
obstructed by the final expulsion of the last of the Moors from
Andalusia in 1610.[66] That stroke deprived the Corsairs of the ready
guides and sympathisers who had so often helped them to successful
raids, and larger vessels and more fighting men were needed if such
descents were to be continued. Moreover, the Barbary rovers were
ambitious to contend with their old enemies for golden treasure on the
Spanish main itself; the science of navigation was fast developing;
and they felt themselves as equal to venturing upon long cruises as
any European nation. Now a long cruise is impossible in a galley,
where you have some hundreds of rowers to feed, and where each pound
of biscuit adds to the labour of motion; but sails have no mouths, and
can carry along a great weight of provisions without getting tired,
like human arms. So sails triumphed over oars. The day of the galley
was practically over, and the epoch of the ship had dawned. As early
as 1616 Sir Francis Cottington reported to the Duke of Buckingham that
the sailing force of Algiers was exciting general alarm in Spain: "The
strength and boldness of the Barbary pirates is now grown to that
height, both in the ocean and the Mediterranean seas, as I have never
known anything to have wrought a greater sadness and distraction in
this Court than the daily advice thereof. Their whole fleet consists
of forty sail of tall ships, of between two and four hundred tons a
piece; their admiral [flagship] of five hundred. They are divided into
two squadrons; the one of eighteen sail remaining before Malaga, in
sight of the city; the other about the Cape of S. Maria, which is
between Lisbon and Seville. That squadron within the straits entered
the road of Mostil, a town by Malaga, where with their ordnance they
beat down part of the castle, and had doubtless taken the town, but
that from Granada there came soldiers to succour it; yet they took
there divers ships, and among them three or four from the west part of
England. Two big English ships they drove ashore, not past four
leagues from Malaga; and after they got on shore also, and burnt them,
and to this day they remain before Malaga, intercepting all ships that
pass that way, and absolutely prohibiting all trade into those parts
of Spain." The other squadron was doing the sa