[3] By then, in the Caribbean there was armed aggression between British and Spanish ships due to the clandestine trade of the former;[8][9] this increased with the outbreak of the War of the Quadruple Alliance.

[4] At the end of February 1720, the Spaniards from Havana delivered their long delayed attack upon New Providence and sailed through the Florida Straits to reach the island.

[11] The Spanish sailed to attack New Providence from the north – the two large warships Principle and Hercules sat out in the deeper water where they dropped anchor.

[7][12] The Spanish appearance in Nassau caught the British by surprise, but Cornejo, however, did not directly attack the port due to the presence of Delicia and Flamborough.

[12] On the night of 25 February the Spaniards attempted to land three columns on the backside of Hog island and cross the narrow eastern channel in small boats.

[5] The Spanish in the boats realised that surprise was lost; in confusion and panic they fell back, disembarked and then rowed hard to get out of range.

After causing some considerable damage to outlying property,[4] this attack was also repelled which eventually degenerated into a minor skirmish until the Spanish again withdrew.

[12][2] Later that day, another storm hit the Spaniards which eventually forced their withdrawal; the San Cristoforo was found by militia to be wrecked on the Bahama Banks.

He also says that while the Spanish assault was a success, since the settlers were repulsed into the countryside and the artillery of the fort, 100 slaves and other things were captured, that did not offset the raid expenses.