The Calais delay and eight English fireships

The Armada anchored tightly off Calais on 7 August, but Parma's army had fallen to about 16,000 men and received its movement orders too late. It needed at least six more days to assemble at Dunkirk, forcing the fleet to hold an exposed position for nearly a week. Reinforcements under Edward Seymour and William Winter brought Howard's force to about 140 ships, while additional powder, shot, food, and drink sustained the attack. Howard refused to wait for purpose-built craft and instead secured eight volunteered vessels, including Drake's 200-ton Thomas and Hawkins's 150-ton bark Bond. The English packed them with pitch, brimstone, tar, and other flammables before sending them downwind into the anchorage. Spanish boats intercepted three, but the five that continued toward the fleet were feared to be Antwerp-style explosive hellburners. Most Spanish vessels therefore cut their anchors and scattered even though none was burned.