But the most definite news came from England. Twenty-five ships, all that were left of the English fleet, had taken refuge in the mouth of the Thames. On August 13th there had been a battle off Scotland. Drake had attempted to board the San Martín and been captured. At least fifteen English galleons had been sunk and others taken, while many of the rest had been so damaged that it was likely that they had gone down in the ensuing storm. The storm had prevented the pursuit and destruction of the surviving remnant, and the duke had put into a Scottish haven to refit and take on water and stores while he waited for a fair wind to take him back to the straits. Meanwhile the English were stricken with panic. It was forbidden to write or say anything about the fate of the fleet. There was widespread fear of an uprising by the English Catholics, and the Queen had betaken herself for safety to the army.

Garrett Mattingly, The Defeat of the Spanish A…, loc. 803