John Hawkins on his third voyage—in which…
September 1568 CE
John Hawkins on his third voyage—in which his kinsman Francis Drake again takes part, commanding his own ship—as again traded for enslaved Africans with local leaders, and also augmented his cargo by capturing the Portuguese slave ship Madre de Dios (Mother of God) and its human cargo of about four hundred, which he has taken across the Atlantic.
Although his destination is in his enemy's port at Veracruz, it is conventional for the Spanish to 'surrender' for a few hours in order to purchase slaves.
He is, however, chanced upon by a strong Spanish force that is bringing the new viceroy to the colony here, and Hawkins’ small fleet is ambushed and almost annihilated in September 1568 in a major battle with a Spanish fleet at San Juan de Ulúa, off the coast of Mexico.
He loses many of his men and ships: only the Minion, commanded by Hawkins, and the Judith, carrying Drake, escape.
Drake, who had survived the attack in large part because of his ability to swim, has come away with even greater determination to have his revenge upon Spain and the Spanish king, Philip II.