In the following year, three merchant ships set sail for the East Indies, and in the course of their voyage took several Portuguese vessels.
A powerful Spanish fleet still kept the seas, and in 1591 they conquered the noble Sir Richard Grenville at the Azores--fifteen great Spanish galleons against one Queen's ship, the Revenge.

In 1593, two of the Queen's ships, accompanied by a number of merchant ships, sailed for the West Indies, under Burroughs, Frobisher, and Cross, and amongst their other captures they took the greatest of all the East India caracks, a vessel of 1600 tons, 700 men, and 36 brass cannon, laden with a magnificent cargo.

She was taken to Dartmouth, and surprised all who saw her, being the largest ship that had ever been seen in England.

In 1594, Captain James Lancaster set sail with three ships upon a voyage of adventure.

He was joined by some Dutch and French privateers.