Question

When english ships were firing on the spanish why did the spanish try to get closer

Answer 1

the spectacular but unsuccessful attempt by King Philip II of Spain to invade Elizabethan England in 1588. The Armada is for the English the classic foreign threat to their country and a powerful icon of national identity

Answer 2

I'm not certain but their routine attacks were to fire cannons on the enemy ship then board them they couldn't change their attack due to the lack of firepower in their weapons. That being said I'd have to say they were attempting to board them.

Hope this helps.