The most famous Englishman of the XVI century, no doubt, was Francis Drake. An English navigator, pirate, Vice Admiral (1588). Which played a decisive role in the defeat of the Spanish "Invincible Armada".
Francis Drake decided to do his own pirate craft. He began attacking Spanish ships carrying treasures. For 12 years, Captain Drake has accumulated a considerable maritime experience and some capital, which allowed him to offer the Queen and her approximate project pirate expedition to Spanish colonies on the Pacific coast of America.
The English Queen was sympathetic to Drake's plans and even made a contribution to the expedition's financial support.