Why did the Armada fail and could it succeed? Philip II believed he was the instrument of god's purpose, acting in the name of a higher destiny of the Catholic King. He saw the Armada as the last crusade with the aim to remove Elizabeth I.
20th July 1588; The first beacon was lit, at the Lizard, across the sea, horizon to horizon a slow and mighty force was moving towards England. The story of England's defence against the Armada has been buried under centuries of myth.
The English coast was too long to defend with a standing army was not large enough. The local militia would to be the first line of defence. The English engaged the Armada for two months but a decisive wind change spread the Spanish fleet.