The series, 1588 to 1589, is composed of papers relating to the expedition of Sir Francis Drake (1540?-1596) and Sir John Norris (1547?-1597) to destroy the shipping on the coasts of Spain and Portugal. It includes an order, signed by Lord Burghley (1520-1598) and Sir Francis Walsingham (1530?-1590), jointly addressed to Sir Henry Billinsley (d.1606), Peter Osborne (1521-1592) and Edward Fenton (d.1603), instructing them to supervise the expenditure of the expedition. This is accompanied by various accounts and a list of the men assigned to take part in the action.