THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA – PART FOUR On 31 July night fell, and as Drake was the most experienced navigator in the English fleet he was instructed to follow the Armada with a light on the stern of his ship so that the rest of the fleet could follow. In an astonishing example of dereliction of duty, Drake extinguished his light and took off with some of his own privateers and captured the stricken Spanish treasure ship, transferring the Armada’s pay into his own vessel. When he eventually re-joined Howard he made excuses for his conduct which would have had him arrested, court martialled and, at the very least, cashiered had he been just any old captain. But Drake was England’s best known naval hero and Howard felt that he could not take action against him. Because of Drake’s disobedience, however, the English fleet had fallen far behind the Armada which was now off the Devon coast.
THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA - PART FOUR
THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA - PART FOUR
THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA - PART FOUR
THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA – PART FOUR On 31 July night fell, and as Drake was the most experienced navigator in the English fleet he was instructed to follow the Armada with a light on the stern of his ship so that the rest of the fleet could follow. In an astonishing example of dereliction of duty, Drake extinguished his light and took off with some of his own privateers and captured the stricken Spanish treasure ship, transferring the Armada’s pay into his own vessel. When he eventually re-joined Howard he made excuses for his conduct which would have had him arrested, court martialled and, at the very least, cashiered had he been just any old captain. But Drake was England’s best known naval hero and Howard felt that he could not take action against him. Because of Drake’s disobedience, however, the English fleet had fallen far behind the Armada which was now off the Devon coast.