Sir Francis Drake: A Pictorial Biography by Hans P. Kraus

The Cadiz Raid, 1587

No single campaign of Drake better illustrates his qualities as a commander than the famous "singeing of the beard" of King Philip II of Spain, in his enormously successful attack on the port of Cadiz. Queen Elizabeth and her government had become convinced that a war with Spain was inevitable, and so Drake was sent out from Plymouth, on April 12, 1587. He appeared before Cadiz on April 29th, and late in the afternoon of that day he sailed boldly into the harbor, completely surprising the defenders, and throwing the Spanish land and naval forces there into a panic. All the remainder of the day, and all the next day, Drake cannonaded, plundered and burned. Thirty-seven naval and merchant vessels were destroyed with only small losses on his side. During the next month he sailed back and forth on the Iberian coasts between Lisbon and Cape St. Vincent, capturing ships and destroying supplies being sent to Lisbon for the Spanish Armada.

Among these supplies were barrel staves to the quantity of 1600-1700 tons, according to Drake's own estimate, sufficient to make barrels for 25-30,000 tons of provisions and water. The well-known difficulties of the Armada with its supplies of food and water the next year may be attributed in large part to this destruction of the barrel staves and hoops, and their probable replacement by unseasoned and therefore bad wood, if in fact this quantity could be all replaced.

The following dispatch from King Philip to the Duke of Medina Sidonia is apparently unpublished and unknown to historians.

We reproduce on the left the first paragraph and the postscript in Philip's own handwriting, before his sign-manual "Yo el Rey". The letter was written on May 4, two days after the arrival of the devastating news of the attack. He mentions that he has heard that the English have sailed out of Cadiz, but that they were reported to be sailing back in again with augmented forces (this report was false). He orders Medina Sidonia out of Cadiz; he was to leave Don Augustin Mexia in charge there, and to busy himself with raising infantry and cavalry to repel the supposed new attack. The King's autograph postscript at the end reads (trans.):

I would be more greatly worried about this situation if you were not in charge; therefore I expect it will have a good outcome.

The letter most vividly reflects the state of disorganization and confusion to which Drake succeeded in reducing his Spanish adversaries time after time. It is a most important and valuable source document.

When it became apparent that Drake was not going to return to Cadiz, King Philip and Medina Sidonia began to fear that he might sail to the West Indies again and repeat his destructive raids of 1585-1586. A dispatch was drawn up summarizing the events of the Cadiz raid and of the following days, up to May 12th. Drake was then off the port of Lagos, on the south Iberian coast west of Cadiz. As there is no mention in the dispatch of Drake's landing at Lagos (May 14th), we may assume that it was sent on or shortly after the 12th. It is reproduced on the following two pages.

The dispatch went to the Governors of Havana, Florida (specified as Pedro Menéndez), Cartagena and Puerto Rico; to the Audiencias of Santo Domingo and Panama; to the islands of Margarita and Jamaica, and to Alvaro Flores, General of the annual American convoys.

It may be that Drake was hoping to intercept the American convoy when he left the shores of Spain on June 1, bound towards the Azores. This he failed to do, but he did capture the great carrack Sño Felipe , bound from Goa to Lisbon, which was valued at £114,000; Drake's personal share of this prize was £14,000, and the Queen took over £40,000.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE WARNING TO AMERICA

Como escribí a v. mi en los avisos que de aqui han salido, el haber llegado Francisco Draque a la bahía de Cádiz a los 29 del mes pasado, con 27 navíos y quemado y echado a fondo en aquella bahía, 23, y que, al no hallarse las galeras de España a la sazón en la dicha bahía hubiera sin duda saqueado la ciudad facilísimamente, por no haber resistencia en ella, después de haber hecho vela a los 2 de éste, no se tuvo nueva de la Armada, creyéndose que iba camino de las Indias, ha parecido al contrario; pues, a los 5 de éste, se descubrió sobre el Cabo de San Vicente, que se ha detenido allí de una vuelta y otra, hasta que, a los 12, vino a surgir a la bahía de Lagos, donde aún queda al presente. Y puédese entender que uno de sus intentos, sea estorbar e impedir el paso de las naves que aquí se cargan de bastimentos para el Armada de Lisboa, y de las demás naos en el paraje del Cabo de San Vicente. Y aunque, de allí, podría caminar la vuelta de las Indias, todavía ha estado bien que se detenga, para que estén avisadas como se ha hecho con los navíos que de aquí han partido. Y éste, lleva el triplicado y los demás despachos de S. M.; y no tengo que añadir a ésto, pues lo que es el hallarse v. m. prevenido y presto para lo que se pueda ofrecer, entiendo lo habrá hecho con la puntualidad, cuidado y diligencia que acostumbra; y así lo encargo de nuevo; pues, si ya ese Corsario no fuese ahora por allá, se podrá creer que lo haga después de salidos los galeones de esa costa, pues quedará tan sola y desabrigada; aunque a ésto manda S. M. que se atienda de manera que brevemente llegará por allí Armada que asegure mucho esas costas y ande de

Al Armada de Lisboa, se dá mucha priesa; y a la que de aquí se ha de juntar. Encamine Nuestro Señor los buenos sucesos al fin y intento que se desea, pues es y se pretende para tanto servicio suyo que guarde a v. m.

En Sanlúcar,...de Mayo de 1587.

• Governador de la Havana
• Governador de Cartagena
• Governador de la Florida Pedro Melendez (Menéndez)
• Governador de Puerto Rico
• Audiencia de Santo Domingo
• Audiencia de Panama
• A la Isla de Jamayca Al Cales
• A la isla de la Margarita
• A alvaro Flores