John Hawkins had become Treasurer and Comptroller…

John Hawkins had become Treasurer and Comptroller of the Royal Navy in 1573.

He is determined that his navy, as well as having the best fleet of ships in the world, would also have the best quality of seamen, and so has petitioned and won a pay increase for sailors, arguing that a smaller number of well motivated better paid men would achieve substantially more than a larger group of disinterested men.

His Navy financial reforms have upset many who had vested interests—principally Baker and Pett—and these concoct a Royal Commission on Fraud against him in 1583, but Hawkins is found innocent.

Meanwhile, Gilbert has now set about organizing a more ambitious colonizing expedition.

He sails from Plymouth on June 11, 1583, on what is to be his final voyage.