#gentlemenadventurers

[mutineerbay]

#Repost @thisdateinpiratehistory ・・・ • 4 November • On #thisdateinpiratehistory in 1587, Thomas Cavendish captured and sacked the Spanish treasure galleon Santa Ana. Cavendish was patrolling the coast of Baja California in command of two vessels; his flagship Desire, and the smaller Content. During a resupply near Cabo San Lucas, they spotted a sail on the horizon, weighed anchor, and gave chase. The sails belonged to the 700-ton treasure galleon Santa Ana, which was so laden with treasure that the English privateer and his ships quickly overtook their quarry, greeting them with a flourish of broadsides. The Santa Ana boasted over 150 men, significantly more than were aboard the two English ships. However, it was so full of cargo that it’s cannons were below the water line and therefore useless. It’s captain, Tomas de Alzola, armed his men with arquebuses, swords, and even large rocks in an attempt to repel the boarders. The battle was fierce, with both sides sustaining losses, but in the end Cavendish and his English privateers overtook the Santa Ana and the Spanish crew, despite their valiant effort, ultimately surrendered. After the battle, the Santa Ana was sailed to shore where Cavendish and his crew would spend several days sacking the ship. All told, Cavendish and his crew took between 400,000 and 800,000 pesos. It was the largest loss ever suffered by a galleon during the two-plus centuries of Manila-Acapulco trade. Afterward, they beached the Santa Ana and set it afire; it burned four days before dying out. Cavendish and his crew turned their attention West, setting a course across the Pacific toward the Moluccas. . . . . #piratehistory #piratehistorypodcast #pirates #privateers #gentlemenadventurers #elizabethanseadogs #seadogs #englishpirates #treasuregalleon https://www.instagram.com/p/CV47_NnLQB6/?utm_medium=tumblr