The tonnage of the Spanish ships is taken from the official figures. Mr. Julian Corbett thinks that the Spanish system of measurement gave results much higher than those of the English, but after studying and applying the English and Spanish rules to the same ship-dimensions, the authors have come to the conclusion that the discrepancy in this respect was non-existent. The Revenge by English measurement was 441 tons burden; by Spanish rules, apparently, 430. The main deduction, therefore, to be made from the Spanish figures is in respect of the difference between the Seville tonelada (53·44 cubic feet) and the English ton (60 cubic feet). But even here it cannot be said that this can be applied to any but the Andalucian ships. On the whole, if a fair comparison be needed, perhaps about 10 per cent. should be deducted from the official Spanish figures; but nothing definite can be said.
THE ENGLISH FLEET
| Type of Ship. | Name of Ship. | Tonnage (Burden + ¼ Approx.). | Guns (Approx.). |
| Royal galleons (21) | Triumph | 1,000 | 64 |
| White Bear | 900 | 60 | |
| Elizabeth Jonas | 850 | 60 | |
| Victory | 750 | 56 | |
| Ark Royal | 700 | 56 | |
| Vanguard | 550 | 44 | |
| Revenge | 550 | 44 | |
| Hope | 550 | 44 | |
| Nonpareil | 550 | 44 | |
| Elizabeth Bonaventure | 550 | 44 | |
| Golden Lion | 550 | 44 | |
| Marie Rose | 550 | 44 | |
| Rainbow | 480 | 44 | |
| Antelope | 480 | 44 | |
| Dreadnought | 450 | 40 | |
| Swiftsure | 450 | 40 | |
| Swallow | 400 | 36 | |
| Foresight | 375 | 36 | |
| Aid | 300 | 32 | |
| Bull | 200 | 24 | |
| Tiger | 200 | 24 | |
| Royal barks, or small galleons (3) | Tramontana | 150 | 20 |
| Scout | 120 | 20 | |
| Achates | 100 | 20 | |
| Armed private ships and barks (73) | 2 | 400 | — |
| 4 | 300 | — | |
| 5 | 250 | — | |
| 19 | 250-200 | — | |
| 19 | 200-150 | — | |
| 24 | 100-150 | — | |
| Pinnaces and small craft (83) | 18 of Royal Navy | 20-100 | — |
| 65 private | — | — | |
| Total vessels | 180, excluding vessels fitting out. | ||
Of these, some 35 were detached or paid off on account of sickness, 145 were present at Calais, 8 were burnt as fireships, leaving 137 in action at Gravelines.
| Total crews | about 14,000 men. |
| Commander-in-Chief | Lord Howard of Effingham (Lord High Admiral of England). |
| Vice-Admiral | Sir Francis Drake. |
| Rear-Admiral | Mr. (afterwards Sir John) Hawkins. |
| 2nd Rear-Admiral | Mr. (afterwards Sir Martin) Frobisher. |
| Admiral of Channel Guard | Lord Henry Seymour. |
THE SPANISH FLEET
Of these, apparently 3 large ships and 14 small craft parted company or were captured in the Channel, so that at Calais the total number was 124.
| Total of seamen | about | 7,500 |
| Total of soldiers | about | 17,000 |
| Total of volunteers, gentlemen, etc. | about | 1,000 |
| Total of galley slaves | about | 1,000 |
| Grand total | 26,500 |