The Armada passed Plymouth while wind and tide restricted the English fleet, creating an apparent chance for a decisive attack. Yet the port concentrated forts, armed sailors and soldiers, and the trained bands of Devon and Cornwall. Landing roughly 18,000 troops into that defence could wreck the invasion force before it delivered the hoped-for blow against the English fleet. Offloading men and equipment under fire also risked trapping the ships in a disastrous amphibious operation. Medina Sidonia's choice to obey his orders and continue toward Parma was a rational rejection of that gamble.
Notable Point · 26:25-28:13
Why Medina Sidonia did not gamble on Plymouth
Wind and tide constrained the English fleet, but Plymouth's forts, armed seamen, trained bands, and hostile shoreline made a direct landing an extreme risk.