Protestantism in England From the Times of Henry VIII - James Aitken Wylie

amount of treasure, and a supply of ammunition
which had not ignited.[7] On the very first day of
conflict the Armada had lost two flagships, 450
officers and men, the paymaster of the fleet, and
100,000 ducats of Spanish gold. This was no
auspicious commencement of an expedition which
Spain had exhausted itself to fit out.
On the following day (Monday, 1st August) the
Armada held its way slowly up-channel, followed
by the fleet under Howard, who hovered upon its
rear, but did not attack it. Next morning (Tuesday)
the Armada was off St. Alban's Head; and here the
first really serious encounter took place. As the
morning rose, the wind changed into the east,
which exactly reversed the position of the two
fleets, giving the weather-gauge to the Armada.
Howard attempted to sail round it and get to
windward of it, but Medina Sidonia intercepted
him by coming between him and the shore, and
compelled him to accept battle at close quarters.
The combat was long and confused. In the evening
the Spanish ships gathered themselves up, and
forming into a compact group, went on their way.
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