noon
The two fleets lay idle all day three or four miles apart , and the next morning , as the wind was still from the east , the Spaniards bore down upon Howard to offer battle . The English , however , headed out to sea . Encouraged by seeing their assailants avoid a pitched battle the Spaniards gave chase . The San Marcos , the fastest sailer in the fleet , left the rest behind , and when the breeze headed round at noon she was several miles to windward of her consorts , and the English at once set upon her . She fought with extreme courage , and defended herself single handed for an hour and a half , when Oquendo came up to the rescue , and as the action off Plymouth had almost exhausted his stock of powder , and the Brixham sloop had not yet come up , Howard was obliged to draw off . The action of this day was fought off Portland . During the three days the British fleet had been to sea they had received almost hourly reinforcements .