 The Battle of the Narrow Seas , also known as the Battle of the Goodwin Sands or Battle of the Dover Straits was a naval engagement that took place on the 3 – 4 October 1602 during the Anglo @-@ Spanish War of 1585 and part of the Dutch Revolt . An English fleet under Sir Robert Mansell intercepted and attacked six Spanish galleys under the command of Federico Spinola ; in the Dover Straits and was fought all the way off from the coast of England and finally off the Spanish Netherlands . The English were soon joined by a Dutch fleet under Jan <unk> Cant and they completed the destruction . 
