Effingham's force gathered privateers, explorers, aristocratic appointees, and maritime entrepreneurs who were accustomed to independent authority and whose interests could diverge. His task resembled placing a government representative over a collection of forceful chief executives. Allegiance itself could be fluid: Walter Raleigh had considered using Ark Raleigh, later Ark Royal, to enter Spanish service if that offered greater reward. Threats and execution could not solve every disagreement without making accidental disobedience impossible to distinguish from defiance. Effingham had to build consensus while remaining accountable to the Queen for failures committed by men he could not simply control by rank.
Chapter · 23:52-31:55
Commanding independent maritime entrepreneurs
Privateers, gentleman adventurers, appointees, and shipowners accustomed to running their own enterprises presented Effingham with an unusual command problem.