Whats everyones thoughts on the gold in Tobermory bay? Highly unlikely? Some sources say it was a troop ship others that it was a treasure ship.

Whats meant to have happened was that after the defeat of the Spanish Armada the surviving ships sailed around the north of Scotland to escape the English. One of these ships is now at the bottom of Tobermory bay on the isle of Mull. It is said that they stopped there to take on provisions but were about to leave without paying, a local Maclean then boarded the ship and detonated the powder barrels. The survivors were then imprisoned in Duart Castle before returing to Spain.

I must add that no sign of the ship has ever been found.

seems a bit unlikely a treasure ship was with the armada...

yea I doubt a treasure ship laden with gold sailed with the armada

The most likley explanation is that the ship was a treasure galleon that was taken by the Spanish and used as a troop ship. Any records will show that the ship the 'Almirante di Florencia' was a gold ship before being converted for the Armada, so some people think she was still carrying gold.

what about the theory that she was a 'pay' ship carrying gold for the soldiers and sailors?

I have addressed that theory in a short article on the subject: www.scotsmag.com/articles/tobermorygold.htm

Some sources claim she was the Armada paymasters ship, however she made it back to Spain.

Yea, it was the paymasters ship I read about, but It got back to Spain so it must be the troop ship!

I believe a cannon from the ship was recovered in Tobermory bay.