Whereupon Sir WALTER RALEGH finding that the season of the year was too far gone to proceed with the enterprise which he had upon Panama, having been held on the English coast from February till May [1592], and thereby spent three months' victuals; and considering withal that to lie upon the Spanish coast, or at the Islands [of the Azores], to attend the return of the East [Indian], or West Indian Fleets, was rather a work of patience than aught else: he gave directions to Sir JOHN BURROUGH and Sir MARTIN FROBISHER to divide the Fleet in two parts. Sir MARTIN with the _Garland_, Captain GEORGE GIFFARD, Captain HENRY THIN, Captain GRENVILLE, and others, to lie off the South Cape [_Cape St. Vincent_]; thereby to amaze the Spanish Fleet, and to hold them on their own coast, while Sir JOHN BURROUGH [in the _Roebuck_], Captain [Sir] ROBERT CROSSE [in the _Foresight_,] Captain THOMSON [in the _Dainty_], and others, should attend the Islands for the Carracks [from Goa] or any other Spanish ships coming from Mexico or other parts of the West Indies. Which direction took effect [_was effectual_] accordingly. For the King of Spain's Admiral, receiving intelligence that the English Fleet was come on the coast, attended to defend the south parts of Spain, and to keep himself as near Sir MARTIN FROBISHER as he could, to impeach [_hinder_] him in all things which he might undertake: and thereby neglected the safe conduct of the Carracks; with whom it fared as hereafter shall appear. * * * * * [Sidenote: The _Santa Clara_, a Biscayen ship of 600 tons, taken.] Before the Fleet severed themselves, they met with a great Biscayen on the Spanish coast, called [the] _Santa Clara_, a ship of 600 tons. The noise of the artillery on both sides being heard; immediately they drew to their Fleet. Where, after a reasonably hot fight, the ship was entered and mastered: which they found fraighted with all sorts of small ironwork, as horse-shoes, nails, plough-shares, iron bars, spikes, bolts, locks, gimbols, and such like, valued by us at £6,000 or £7,000 [=£24,000 _to_ £30,000 _now_] but worth to them treble the value. This Biscayen was sailing towards San Lucar [de Barrameda, the Port of Seville], there to take in some further provision for the West India. This ship being first rummaged, and after sent for England: our Fleet coasted along towards the South Cape of St. Vincent. And, by the way, about the Rock [_Cape da Roca_] near Lisbon, Sir JOHN BURROUGH in the _Roebuck_ spying a Sail afar off, gave her present chase: which, being a Fly-boat and of good sail [_a good sailer_], drew him far southwards before he could fetch her; but at last she came under his lee, and struck sail. The Master of which Fly-boat coming aboard him, confessed, that the King [PHILIP II.] indeed had prepared a great Fleet in San Lucar [de Barrameda] and Cadiz; and, as the report in Spain was current, for the West Indies.