The King of Spain - Phillip II - after his morning prayers one day in the 1500's starts issuing letters. He assembles 150 ships, has a bunch of merchant ships converted for war and says, or rather, writes, "Let's convert those heathen Brits to Catholicism!" He appoints a commander Medina Sidonia, again via letter. Sidonia writes back, "Uh-huh, I mostly just ride around here in my ranch. I've never been to battle and I got sea sick one time after 4 minutes in a canoe. Thanks for the thought though".
Phillip writes back something like, "No matter, God told me you will lead us to victory"
The English had nimble ships built for speed, sea warfare. The English cite everything from God's hand to racial superiority for devastating the Spanish Armada, but bad weather was just as responsible. If you read it from the English perspective it's not too suprirsing, but going through the Spanish letters sent back and forth in something like The Voyage of the Armada is astonishing.