How did English fire ships disrupt the Spanish Armada at Calais?

At midnight on August 7–8, 1588, the English fleet disrupted the Spanish Armada while it was anchored off Calais by launching eight fire ships into the fleet’s midst.1

Driven by the wind and tide, these burning vessels forced the Spanish ships to cut or slip their anchor cables to avoid catching fire, which caused the Armada’s defensive formation to break apart completely. This tactical maneuver left the Spanish fleet disorganized, allowing the English to launch a decisive attack the following morning off Gravelines, where the Spanish ships sustained significant damage from English artillery.12