noon
The Spaniards turn and face the English . They must mean to stand off and on until the wind shall change , and then to try for the Needles . At least , they shall have some work to do before they round Purbeck Isle . The English go to the westward again : but it is only to return on the opposite tack ; and now begin a series of manoeuvres , each fleet trying to get the wind of the other ; but the struggle does not last long , and ere noon the English fleet have slipped close-hauled between the Armada and the land , and are coming down upon them right before the wind . And now begins a fight most fierce and fell . `` And fight they did confusedly , and with variable fortunes ; while , on the one hand , the English manfully rescued the ships of London , which were hemmed in by the Spaniards ; and , on the other side , the Spaniards as stoutly delivered Recalde being in danger . '' `` Never was heard such thundering of ordnance on both sides , which notwithstanding from the Spaniards flew for the most part over the English without harm .