HMS Bonaventure (1567)
Encyclopedia
Bonaventure (also known as Elizabeth Bonaventure) was a 47-gun galleon
purchased by the Royal Navy in 1567. She was the third vessel to bear the name. She was commanded by Sir Francis Drake
during his 1587 attack on Cadiz
, and a year later was part of the fleet to face the Spanish Armada
.
decided that it was time to invade England, and started to prepare his armada. The Elizabeth Bonaventure, under the command of Francis Drake
was sent as flagship
of the English fleet to try to prevent and/or delay the armada. The fleet numbered roughly twenty-six vessels, which included three more of the Queen's ships in addition to the Elizabeth Bonaventure; the Golden Lion
, Dreadnought
and Rainbow
, three tall ships of the Levant Company
, seven men-of-war of 150–200 tons and eleven or twelve smaller vessels. His orders from the Queen
were:
She immediately changed her mind and issued less aggressive orders, however Drake had set sail from England on 12 April 1587 before receiving these orders, and thus acted upon the first. Having heard that the ships were gathering in the harbour at Cádiz, Drake decided to hunt them there. On his arrival seventeen days later, they discovered the inner and outer harbours full of the enemy vessels. After a short discussion with his vice-admiral, Captain William Borough
, Drake decided against waiting until the following morning, and led his fleet in. A squadron of galleys commanded by Don Pedro de Acuña
were in a state of readiness, and spread across the harbour while one of their number sailed to challenge Drake's oncoming fleet. Before it could get close enough to hail the English, the Elizabeth Bonaventure and possibly some of the other vessels close opened fire, sending cannons balls in the direction of the Spanish galleon
. Any one of the four Queen's vessels carried more fire-power than all of Don Pedro's galleys combined, and the Spanish commander was forced to concentrate on delaying the English fleet to give the other Spanish vessels time to prepare. In time however, the resistance faded and Drake gained control of the bay.
Over the next month, the fleet sailed up and down the Iberian coast between Lisbon
and Cape St Vincent, destroying supplies being sent to Lisbon for the armada. Included in these supplies were a large quantity of barrel staves, according to Drake's personal estimate, enough for over 25,000 tons of provisions and water.
, was part of the English fleet to battle the Spanish Armada
. During this battle, she carried 51.5 tons of ordnance, totalling over 8% of her maximum tonnage. When surveyed on 25 September 1588, the only damage listed from the battle was to the sails, which were "shot full of holes".
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
purchased by the Royal Navy in 1567. She was the third vessel to bear the name. She was commanded by Sir Francis Drake
Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the...
during his 1587 attack on Cadiz
Singeing the king of Spain's beard
Drake's 1587 expedition took place in the Bay of Cádiz, in April and May 1587. The English privateer, Francis Drake, led a military expedition against the Spanish naval forces assembling at Cádiz. Much of the Spanish fleet was destroyed, and substantial supplies were destroyed or captured. There...
, and a year later was part of the fleet to face the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
.
Attack on Cadiz (1587)
After the execution in February 1587 of Mary, Queen of Scots, Philip II of SpainPhilip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
decided that it was time to invade England, and started to prepare his armada. The Elizabeth Bonaventure, under the command of Francis Drake
Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the...
was sent as flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the English fleet to try to prevent and/or delay the armada. The fleet numbered roughly twenty-six vessels, which included three more of the Queen's ships in addition to the Elizabeth Bonaventure; the Golden Lion
HMS Lion (1557)
Golden Lion The 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the Eighteenth Century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was a ship of the English Royal Navy, launched in 1557. She was rebuilt for the first time in 1582.By the time of her second rebuild, in 1609, she was known as Lion...
, Dreadnought
HMS Dreadnought (1573)
DreadnoughtThe 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was a 41-gun galleon of the English Navy Royal, built by Mathew Baker and launched in 1573. Like HMS Dreadnought of 1906, she was a radical innovation over contemporary ships...
and Rainbow
HMS Rainbow (1586)
RainbowThe 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was a galleon of the English Royal Navy, built at Deptford Dockyard by Peter Pett , and launched in 1586...
, three tall ships of the Levant Company
Levant Company
The Levant Company, or Turkey Company, was an English chartered company formed in 1581, to regulate English trade with Turkey and the Levant...
, seven men-of-war of 150–200 tons and eleven or twelve smaller vessels. His orders from the Queen
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
were:
"to prevent the joining together of the King of Spain's fleet out of their different ports. To keep victuals from them. To follow them in case they should come out towards England or Ireland. To cut off as many of them as he could, and prevent their landing. To set upon the West Indian ships as they came or went."
William Borough
William Borough was a British naval officer and the younger brother of Stephen Borough. He participated in the British attack on Cádiz in 1587...
, Drake decided against waiting until the following morning, and led his fleet in. A squadron of galleys commanded by Don Pedro de Acuña
Pedro Bravo de Acuña
Pedro Bravo de Acuña was a Spanish military officer and colonial official in the New World and the Philippines. From 1602 to 1606 he was governor of the Philippines.-Early career and arrival in the Philippines:...
were in a state of readiness, and spread across the harbour while one of their number sailed to challenge Drake's oncoming fleet. Before it could get close enough to hail the English, the Elizabeth Bonaventure and possibly some of the other vessels close opened fire, sending cannons balls in the direction of the Spanish galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
. Any one of the four Queen's vessels carried more fire-power than all of Don Pedro's galleys combined, and the Spanish commander was forced to concentrate on delaying the English fleet to give the other Spanish vessels time to prepare. In time however, the resistance faded and Drake gained control of the bay.
Over the next month, the fleet sailed up and down the Iberian coast between Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
and Cape St Vincent, destroying supplies being sent to Lisbon for the armada. Included in these supplies were a large quantity of barrel staves, according to Drake's personal estimate, enough for over 25,000 tons of provisions and water.
Spanish Armada (1588)
The following year, the Elizabeth Bonaventure, commanded by George Clifford, 3rd Earl of CumberlandGeorge Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland
Sir George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, KG was an English peer, as well as a naval commander and courtier in the court of Queen Elizabeth I.-Background:...
, was part of the English fleet to battle the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
. During this battle, she carried 51.5 tons of ordnance, totalling over 8% of her maximum tonnage. When surveyed on 25 September 1588, the only damage listed from the battle was to the sails, which were "shot full of holes".