The year is 1588. King Philip II of Spain is angry that English pirates have been attacking Spanish ships all over the world.
He has sent the mighty Spanish Armada, or fleet of warships, to attack England. A huge army of 30,000 Spanish soldiers is waiting to invade England. The English will have little chance against this force.
But Queen Elizabeth I of England is crafty, with a network of spies and a system of warning beacons. These give the English plenty of time to get ready for the attack. And they have another trick. As the Spanish fleet waits to meet up with the Spanish army, the English light eight ships on fire and send them into the middle of the armada. The Spanish captains cut their anchors and scatter. They are trying to keep their ships from catching fire. The English go on to defeat the disorganized armada.
