Historian Lloyd concludes, "Sixty-four ships were lost and over 10,000 men before the remnant of the Invincible Armada found refuge in the harbours of Northern Spain" (Lloyd 30). This marked the pinnacle of the British Navy's power and prestige. After they beat Spain, they ruled the waves, and that continued until the 18th century.

In conclusion, the rise of the British Royal Navy during the Renaissance period is still legendary in naval circles and in history. The British Navy was powerful, formidable, and managed the seas of the globe. Much of the Royal Navy's success is founded in the practice of privateering, and had it not been for men like Sir Francis Drake, the British Empire might not have had the funds to develop their navy, and dominate the world's oceans for so long. The Navy was not initially formed to defend the country, but rather to defend the privateers,...
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