eight
o'clock
The sufferings of the last three months were forgotten . The numbers and magnitude of the Spanish ships counted as nothing . The sailors of the west country had met the Spaniards on the Indian seas and proved their masters , and doubted not for a moment that they should do so again . There was scarce a breath of air when day broke , but at eight o'clock a breeze sprang up from the west , and the Armada made sail and attempted to close with the English ; but the low , sharp English ships sailed two feet to the one of the floating castles of Spain , and could sail close to the wind , while the Spanish ships , if they attempted to close haul their sails , drifted bodily to leeward . Howard 's flagship , the Ark Raleigh , with three other English ships , opened the engagement by running down along their rear line , firing into each galleon as they passed , then wearing round and repeating the manoeuvre . The great San Mateo luffed out from the rest of the fleet and challenged them to board , but they simply poured their second broadside into her and passed on . The excellence of the manoeuvring of the English ships , and the rapidity and accuracy of their fire , astonished the Spaniards .