ve results of this Spanish procrastination were indicated in these
words:

"The last advices from Spain and Paris have caused great consternation
here. The treasure and other goods brought by the said fleet are of
such consequence to Spain, and in particular to this province, that
most of our traders are ruined if this fleet is taken and destroyed."

While the English and their allies, the Dutch, were making ready to
take this treasure fleet bottled up in Vigo Bay, the officials of Spain
were so entangled in red tape that there seemed to be no way of
unloading the galleons. A Spanish writer of that era thus describes
the lamentable state of affairs:

"The commerce of Cadiz maintained that nothing could be disembarked in
Gallicia,--that to unload the fleet was their privilege, and that the
ships ought to be kept safe in the harbor of Vigo, without discharging
their cargoes, till the enemies were gone away. In addition to this,
the settlement of the matter in the Council of the Indies was not so
speedy as the emergency demanded,--both through the slowness and
prudence natural to the Spaniard, and through the diversity of opinions
on the subject."

Don Modesto Lafuento, a later Spanish historian, gravely explains that
"as the arrival of the fleet at this port was unexpected and contrary
to the usual custom, there was no officer to be found who could examine
merchandise for the payment of duties, without which no disembarkation
could be lawfully made. When notice of this was at length sent to the
Court, much discussion arose there as to who should be sent. They
fixed upon Don Juan de Larrea, but this councillor was in no hurry
about setting out on his journey, and spent a long time in making it,
and when he arrived he occupied himself with discussion about the
disposition of the goods that had come in the fleet. This gave the
opportunity for the Anglo-Dutch fleet, which had notice of everything,
to set out and arrive in the waters of Vigo before the disembarkation
was effected."

Surely never was so much treasure so foolishly endangered, and although
a small part of it was taken ashore, notwithstanding the asinine
proceedings of the government and Don Juan de Larrea, the English
_Post_ newspaper of November 2, asserted that "the Spaniards, being
informed that the enemy's fleet was returned home, sent aboard a great
quantity of their plate which they had carried to land for fear of
them."

Admiral Sir Cloudesle