But although Winter and Seymour were much disappointed at their enforced return, there was less enthusiasm among the sailors of the fleet.

Pursuing the Spaniards without powder or fire, and without beef and bread to eat, was not thought amusing by the English crews.

Howard had not three days' supply of food in his lockers, and Seymour and his squadron had not food for one day.

Accordingly, when Seymour and Winter took their departure, "they had much ado," so Winter said; "with the staying of many ships that would have returned with them, besides their own company." Had the Spaniards; instead of being panic-struck, but turned on their pursuers, what might have been the result of a conflict with starving and unarmed men?
Howard, Drake, and Frobisher, with the rest of the fleet, followed the Armada through the North Sea from Tuesday night (9th August) till Friday (the 12th), and still, the strong southwester swept the Spaniards before them, uncertain whether to seek refuge, food, water, and room to repair damages, in the realms of the treacherous King of Scots, or on the iron-bound coasts of Norway.

Medina Sidonia had however quite abandoned his intention of returning to England, and was only anxious for a safe return: to Spain.