As part of the Expedition, Bonaventure, captained by the veteran seaman Thomas Fenner, was present for Drake's assaults on Santo Domingo, Cartagena de Indias and San Augustin.

[1] After the execution in February 1587 of Mary, Queen of Scots, Philip II of Spain decided that it was time to invade England, and started to prepare his armada.

[6] A squadron of galleys commanded by Don Pedro de Acuña were in a state of readiness, and spread across the harbour while one of their number sailed to challenge Drake's oncoming fleet.

[10] The following year, Bonaventure, commanded by George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland,[11] was part of the English fleet to battle the Spanish Armada.

[14] Under the command of James Lancaster she left England in April 1591 with two other ships (Penelope and Marchant Royal) and then sailed around Cape Comorin and on to the Malay Peninsula.

[16] This is this ship referred to in Letitia Elizabeth Landon's poem "The Sailor's Bride, or The Bonaventure" in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book (1839).