<P> Most military historians hold that the battle of Gravelines reflected a lasting shift in the balance of naval power in favour of the English, in part because of the gap in naval technology and cannon armament it confirmed between the two nations, which continued into the next century . In the words of Geoffrey Parker, by 1588 "the capital ships of the Elizabethan navy constituted the most powerful battlefleet afloat anywhere in the world". The English navy yards were leaders in technical innovation, and the captains devised new battle formations and tactics . Parker argues that the sleeker full - rigged ship, amply cannoned, was one of the greatest technological advances of the century and permanently transformed naval warfare . </P> <P> English shipwrights introduced designs in 1573, first demonstrated in Dreadnought, that allowed the ships to sail faster and manoeuvre better and permitted heavier guns . Whereas before warships had tried to grapple with each other so that soldiers could board the enemy ship, now they more often stood off and fired broadsides that could sink the enemy vessel . Superior English ships and seamanship had foiled the invasion . The English also took advantage of Spain's overly complex strategy that required coordination between the invasion fleet and the Spanish army on shore . But the poor design of the Spanish cannon meant they were much slower in reloading in a close - range battle, allowing the English to take control . Spain still had numerically larger fleets, but England was catching up . </P> <P> In England, the boost to national pride from the defeat of the Spanish invasion attempt lasted for years, and Elizabeth's legend persisted and grew long after her death . Repulsing the Spanish naval force may have given heart to the Protestant cause across Europe and the belief that God was behind the Protestants . This was shown by the striking of commemorative medals that bore variations on the inscription, "1588 . Flavit Jehovah et Dissipati Sunt"--with "Jehovah" in Hebrew letters ("God blew, and they are scattered"), or He blew with His winds, and they were scattered . There were also more lighthearted medals struck, such as the one with the play on the words of Julius Caesar: Venit, Vidit, Fugit (he came, he saw, he fled). The victory was acclaimed by the English as their greatest since Agincourt . </P> <P> The English attempted to press home their advantage the following year, when the Drake--Norris Expedition of 1589, with a comparable fleet of English privateers, sailed to establish a base in the Azores, attack Spain, and raise a revolt in Portugal . This expedition, led by Sir Francis Drake and John Norreys raided Corunna but withdrew from Lisbon after failing to coordinate its strategy effectively with the Portuguese . </P>

Results of the defeat of the spanish armada
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