She played a key part in the action against the Spanish Armada in 1588. She was commanded by Martin Frobisher in 1594 and by Sir Robert Mansell in 1596. She was taken to pieces in 1599 and rebuilt for the first time. In 1615 she was rebuilt for a second time, at Chatham, as a great ship. During actions against Algerian pirates in 1620, Vanguard flew the flag of Sir Richard Hawkins. Vanguard was broken up in 1630. Some of her timbers were used in the construction of the next Vanguard, launched the following year, and officially recorded as a rebuild of the first Vanguard.