Thirty-nine colonists had spent the winter of…

Thirty-nine colonists had spent the winter of 1610–1611 in the Cuper's Cove colony in eastern Newfoundlan, where they have built and fortified the settlement, explored the area and planted crops.

John Guy, a member of Bristol's Common Council who had been appointed governor of the first settlement at Cuper's Cove, had arrived at the settlement (now Cupids) din August of that year with colonists, grain and livestock.

Guy had returned to England in 1611 (leaving his brother-in-law in charge) and returned the following year with more livestock and female settlers.

The actions of the pirate Peter Easton persuade Guy to abandon a second colony established at Renews in the spring of this year and strengthen the fortifications at Cupers Cove.

With Mainwaring away from his main base in La Mamora, on Atlantic coast of present day Morocco, a Spanish fleet under Don Luis Fajardo, sailing from Cádiz on August 1, 1612, had reduced the town.

Mainwaring's relations with the Moors were such that he had been able to secured the release of their English prisoners.

So feared was his pirate fleet that Spain had offered Mainwaring a pardon and high command in return for his services under the Spanish flag.