the Lords Grey, Cromwell, and Rich, with
several other persona of distinction, embarked as volunteers. Essex
declared his resolution either to destroy the new armada which
threatened England, or to perish in the attempt.

This powerful fleet set sail from Plymouth; but were no sooner out of
harbor than they met with a furious storm, which shattered and dispersed
them; and before they could be refitted, Essex found that their
provisions were so far spent, that it would not be safe to carry so
numerous an army along with him. He dismissed, therefore, all the
soldiers, except the thousand veterans under Vere; and laying aside all
thoughts of attacking Ferrol or the Groine, he confined the object of
his expedition to the intercepting of the Indian fleet which had at
first been considered only as the second enterprise which he was to
attempt.

The Indian fleet in that age, by reason of the imperfection of
navigation, had a stated course, as well as season, both in their going
out and in their return; and there were certain islands at which, as
at fixed stages, they always touched, and where they took in water and
provisions. The Azores being one of these places where about this time
the fleet was expected, Essex bent his course thither; and he informed
Raleigh, that he, on his arrival, intended to attack Fayal, one of these
islands. By some accident, the squadrons were separated; and Raleigh,
arriving first before Fayal, thought it more prudent, after waiting
some time for the general, to begin the attack alone, lest the
inhabitants should, by further delay, have leisure to make preparations
for their defence. He succeeded in the enterprise; but Essex, jealous of
Raleigh, expressed great displeasure at his conduct, and construed it
as an intention of robbing the general of the glory which attended that
action: he cashiered, therefore, Sidney, Bret, Berry, and others, who
had concurred in the attempt: and would have proceeded to inflict
the same punishment on Raleigh himself, had not Lord Thomas Howard
interposed with his good offices, and persuaded Raleigh, though
high-spirited, to make submissions to the general. Essex, who was
placable, as well as hasty and passionate, was soon appeased, and both
received Raleigh into favor, and restored the other officers to then
commands.[*] This incident, however, though the quarrel was seemingly
accommodated, laid the first foundation of that violent animosity which
afterwards took