noon
The rest of the English fleet lay still because Drake had neglected to carry a lighted lantern in the poop of his vessel as had been commanded . At break of day , having a prosperous north wind , the Spaniards bore down upon the English , but the English , to take advantage of the wind , turned westward . And then began a series of maneuvres in which each fleet contended to deprive each other of the benefit of the wind . The contest did not last long and before noon the English having slipped between the Armada and the land bore down upon them right before the wind . And then began a fierce fight which was waged with varying success . For , while in one place the English valiantly rescued the ships of London which were hemmed in by the Spaniards , in another Recaldo , being in danger , was disengaged with no less resolution by the Spaniards . Never before was such lightning and thunder of artillery heard , most of which , notwithstanding , went vainly from the Spanish , flying clear over the English ships .