Santa Cruz das Flores Azores Portugal

The Islands Voyage, an English campaign against the Portuguese colonies in the Azores in 1597 as part of the Anglo–Spanish War, is led by Essex with Sir Walter Raleigh as his second in command—other participants include Jacob Astley and Robert Mansell.

Essex defies Elizabeth's orders, pursuing the treasure fleet without first defeating the Spanish battle fleet, and so the voyage proves a failure.

It is thus the last major expedition sent to sea by Elizabeth and contributes to Essex's decline in favor with the queen.

The Battle of Flores (July 25, 1747) – Glorioso’s Daring Stand

By 1747, the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) had intensified at sea, with Spain and France struggling to maintain their transatlantic trade against Britain’s naval supremacy. One of the most dramatic episodes of this maritime conflict unfolded when the Spanish ship of the line Glorioso, launched in Havana in 1740, attempted to return to Spain from the Americas, carrying an immense treasure—four million silver dollars—critical to Spain’s war effort.

The Encounter off the Azores

On July 25, 1747, as Glorioso, under the command of Captain Pedro Messía de la Cerda, approached the Azores, it sighted a British merchant convoy through the fog near Flores Island. By noon, as the fog cleared, de la Cerda realized the convoy was escorted by three British warships:

• HMS Warwick, a sixty-gun ship of the line
• HMS Lark, a forty-gun fifth-rate frigate
• A twenty-gun brig

Recognizing the danger but unwilling to risk his precious cargo, de la Cerda cleared for action while maneuvering to windward, attempting to avoid battle. However, the British warships, intent on seizing the treasure-laden vessel, immediately began pursuit.

The Running Battle

By 9 PM, the British sloop—the fastest of the pursuers—managed to catch up with Glorioso, initiating a brief exchange of fire, but the engagement was largely ineffective.

At 2 PM the following day, a sudden squall momentarily robbed Glorioso of its wind, allowing the larger British warships to close the distance. The convoy’s escort commander, John Crookshanks, ordered HMS Lark to attackwhile sending the brig to protect the merchant ships.

As HMS Lark engaged, Glorioso’s superior firepower quickly took its toll. The Spanish broadside battered the British frigate, severely damaging her hull and rigging, forcing her to break off the engagement.

HMS Warwick then moved in, determined to bring down the Spanish ship. However, Glorioso, despite fighting alone against superior numbers, inflicted heavy damage, completely dismasting Warwick and forcing her to withdraw from battle.

The Spanish ship did not escape unscathed—four cannonballs struck her hull, and her rigging suffered damage. Casualties on Glorioso included five dead (including two civilians) and forty-four wounded, but the vessel remained seaworthy. The British, despite suffering severe damage, recorded relatively few losses—four seamen killed and twenty wounded aboard HMS Warwick.

The Aftermath and Court-Martial of Crookshanks

The Battle of Flores was a remarkable defensive victory for Spain. Despite being outnumbered, Glorioso had fended off an entire British squadron, preserving both her treasure cargo and combat effectiveness.

The British Admiralty, upon receiving news of the encounter, reacted with fury. Commander John Crookshanks was court-martialed for failure to provide effective assistance and negligence in combat. Found guilty, he was dismissed from the Royal Navy, though curiously, he was permitted to retain his rank.

Despite Glorioso’s success at Flores, her journey was far from over. In the coming months, she would face multiple battles against the Royal Navy, leading to one of the most legendary last stands in Spanish naval history.