The English also carried slaves from Africa and sold them to the Spanish colonies, although they were forbidden to do so.
Elizabeth expressed her regret to the Spanish Emssadon, who knew well, that the English pirates gave her a share of their profits and that she had knighted one of her leaders Francis Drake. England also sent help to the Protestant Dutch who were in revolt against the Spanish king. In 1588 Philip II. tried to invade England and to take throne by force. A great fleet called Armada crossed the chanel but luckily for the English, the stormy weather wrecked for many ships. Many other ships were destroyed by English guns. The rest sailed into the North sea and round Scotland island to Spain. By this battle England won supremacy in sea power for herself. In 1579 Walter Daleigh explored the eastern coast of North Americam and in 1584 he founded there the first English colony - Virginia, on honour to the Queen. .