English ship Quittance (1590)
Quittance (1590)
Quittance was a small galleon of the English Navy Royal. Built on the Thames, probably at Deptford, under Master Shipwright Mathew Baker, she was launched in 1590.
She spent her early career on expeditions such as the voyage to Cadiz and later served in the English Channel Guard during Spain’s attempts to invade England. She remained with the Channel Guard for several years, then joined Monson’s squadron before returning to service in the English Channel. Quittance was condemned in 1618.
General characteristics
- Class and type: Small galleon
- Tonnage: 216–270 tons burthen
- Length: 64 ft (keel)
- Beam: 26 ft
- Depth of hold: 13 ft
- Propulsion: Sail
- Sail plan: Ship-rigged
- Complement: About 100 men (in 1603)
- Armament (1603): 21 guns — 6 x demi-culverins, 7 x sakers, 6 x minions, 2 x falcons, plus 2 fowlers
Service history
- 1590: Commissioned under Captain Francis Burnell for Hawkins’ and Frobisher’s expedition
- 1594: Captain Henry Savile commanded, assigned to Frobisher’s squadron
- 1596: Captain Sir George Clifford commanded for a voyage to Cadiz, Spain
- 1599–1601: Captain Humphrey Reynolds with Sir Richard Leveson’s Channel Guard
- 1602: Captain Bryan Brown (until Sep 1602), then Captain Peter Beeston with Monson’s squadron
- 1603: Captain Francis Howard in command for service in the English Channel
- 1618: Condemned
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 16:10 (CET).