The Strategic Context of 1587

The year 1587 marked a critical juncture in the escalating tensions between England and Spain. As Philip II of Spain prepared his formidable Armada for invasion, Queen Elizabeth’s most daring sea captain, Francis Drake, launched a preemptive strike that would significantly alter the balance of naval power. This campaign, occurring between May 21 and June 18, 1587, demonstrated England’s growing maritime capabilities and revealed the vulnerabilities in Spain’s imperial logistics system.

The English fleet, anchored at Sagres on Portugal’s southern coast, represented Elizabethan England’s determination to challenge Spanish dominance. The strategic importance of their position at Cape St. Vincent cannot be overstated – this promontory controlled access to both the Mediterranean and Atlantic sea routes, making it the perfect location to intercept Spanish reinforcements and supplies bound for Lisbon.

Naval Hygiene and Health Challenges

The conditions aboard Elizabethan warships after weeks at sea were appalling by modern standards. The Elizabeth Bonaventure, Drake’s flagship, carried 250 men in cramped quarters where sanitation was primitive at best. Contemporary understanding recognized the correlation between filth and disease, though the scientific basis remained unknown. The fleet’s medical situation had deteriorated significantly, prompting drastic measures:

Sick crew members were systematically evacuated to shore
Captured vessels were repurposed as hospital ships for the worst cases
Remaining ships conducted coastal patrols to eliminate potential threats
This focus on health maintenance, while rudimentary by today’s standards, demonstrated a pragmatic approach to preserving fighting strength that gave English crews an advantage over their Spanish counterparts.

Economic Warfare Against Spanish Logistics

Drake’s campaign targeted not just Spanish warships but the entire infrastructure supporting naval operations. His systematic destruction of fishing villages, boats, and nets along the Algarve and Andalusian coasts served multiple strategic purposes:

Disrupted local food supplies for Spanish forces
Eliminated potential sources of naval intelligence
Undermined civilian morale and support for the war effort
The most significant economic blow came from the destruction of barrel-making materials – iron hoops, staves, and related components destined for Cadiz and Gibraltar. Drake’s calculated decision to burn these materials (totaling 1,600-1,700 tons) would have far-reaching consequences:

Eliminated capacity for 25,000-30,000 tons of barrel production
Compromised Spanish ability to store provisions properly
Contributed to later spoilage of food and water aboard the Armada
This targeting of logistical infrastructure represented a sophisticated understanding of naval warfare’s economic dimensions that would characterize England’s emerging maritime strategy.

The Psychological Impact on Spanish Preparations

Drake’s presence at Cape St. Vincent created paralyzing uncertainty in Spanish command circles. The Marquis of Santa Cruz in Lisbon found his forces immobilized by:

Critical shortages of sailors and soldiers
Inadequate artillery and supplies
Disrupted reinforcement convoys from Mediterranean ports
Philip II’s reaction demonstrated the campaign’s psychological success. His daily countermanding of orders to the Duke of Medina Sidonia revealed how Drake’s mobility created strategic confusion:

When Drake appeared, Spanish movements halted
When Drake withdrew, frantic preparations resumed
This cat-and-mouse game delayed Spanish mobilization by at least a month, buying England precious time to strengthen its defenses.

The Pivotal Capture of the San Felipe

The campaign’s climax came with the interception of the Portuguese carrack San Felipe near the Azores on June 18. This merchant vessel represented the wealth of Portugal’s eastern empire, carrying:

Spices (pepper, cinnamon, cloves)
Luxury goods (Indian cotton, silk, ivory)
Precious metals and jewels (valued at £114,000)
The capture’s strategic importance extended beyond its monetary value (which tripled the worth of all previous prizes taken at Cadiz). It revealed several key aspects of Elizabethan naval warfare:

The vulnerability of treasure ships despite their size
The importance of intelligence networks in targeting valuable prizes
The blending of national strategy and private profit motives
The division of spoils followed established patterns, with Drake receiving £17,000 and the Queen £40,000 – funds that would significantly bolster England’s naval capabilities.

Assessing the Campaign’s Legacy

Drake’s 1587 campaign produced multifaceted consequences that extended far beyond the immediate military results:

### Strategic Impacts

Delayed the Spanish Armada’s departure by at least a year
Disrupted Spanish naval logistics and supply chains
Demonstrated England’s ability to project power into Spanish home waters

### Economic Consequences

Severely strained Philip II’s already precarious finances
Provided England with crucial funds for naval expansion
Highlighted the vulnerability of Spain’s treasure fleets

### Tactical Innovations

Pioneered the concept of economic warfare at sea
Demonstrated the value of preemptive strikes
Established patterns for future English naval strategy

The campaign’s success rested on Drake’s understanding of maritime power’s broader dimensions – not just ship-to-ship combat, but the economic foundations and logistical networks that sustained naval forces. His actions in those crucial weeks of 1587 weakened Spain’s invasion plans while strengthening England’s position, setting the stage for the climactic confrontation of 1588.

The capture of the San Felipe, while controversial in some modern assessments, was entirely consistent with 16th century practices where the line between national service and private gain remained deliberately blurred. This episode underscores how Elizabethan England’s maritime ascendancy was built on a combination of strategic vision, tactical daring, and the promise of substantial rewards – a formula that would shape naval warfare for centuries to come.