1556 CE - 1598 CE: Reign of Philip II of Spain.

1558 CE - 1603 CE: Reign of Elizabeth I of England.

1559 CE: Elizabeth I of England rejects the marriage proposal of Philip II of Spain.

1570 CE: The Pope excommunicates Elizabeth I of England.

1587 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots, guilty of plotting against Elizabeth I of England, is executed.

1587 CE: Sir Francis Drake attacks Cadiz.

1588 CE: The Spanish Armada of Philip II of Spain leaves Lisbon.

1588 CE: The Spanish Armada of Philip II of Spain is defeated in its attempt to invade England.

1588 CE: The Spanish Armada of Philip II of Spain is sighted off the coast of Cornwall.

1588 CE: The English fleet sails from its homeport of Plymouth to engage the Spanish Armada of Philip II of Spain.

1588 CE: The Spanish Armada of Philip II of Spain retreats to find anchorage off Calais.

1588 CE: Francis Drake sends fireships into the Spanish Armada of Philip II of Spain.

1588 CE: The English fleet attacks the Spanish Armada of Philip II of Spain at the Battle of Gravelines, forcing the Spanish to retreat homewards via the Scottish coast.

1588 CE: Elizabeth I of England visits her land army at Tilbury which was assembled to repel the invasion of the Spanish Armada of Philip II of Spain.