By Elizabethan times the Spanish were collecting lots of gold and other goods from the Americas. The coastal area from which they left America to go back to Spain was known as the Spanish Main.
Some of Elizabeth's captains suggested taking the gold from the ships as they journeyed back. They wanted to be official pirates. Francis Drake was the best known of these men.
Elizabeth agreed with them but could not say so openly. These adventurers were known as privateers.
