4 key turning points in Western history

[Doc Dutch]

One of the most remarkable elements of the story I recently heard is that the Spanish could not retreat back through the English Channel, so they had to head north to Scotland into the treacherous waters of the North Sea, then down into the North Atlantic around past Ireland, before making it back to Spain.

Supposedly, more Spanish ships were lost on this ill fated attempt to get back to Spain, than were lost in the battle itself.

Agreed on all points. Again, was it bad luck or piss poor planning? Poor planning would mean the Spanish were aware of the geography and seasonal weather.

A missing part of that story is that hundreds of Spaniards washed up on the shores of Ireland where Elizabeth had ordered all of them executed on sight although it's suspected some remained alive and settled in Ireland.

https://www.theirishstory.com/2015/0.../#.Ye_8lP7MK00
Crawling ashore, half drowned, malnourished and in no fit state to resist, the survivors, about 300 men, were massacred at Spanish Point by both Irish forces raised by the O’Briens and English soldiers led by the Sherriff, Boetius Clancy.