Don Alonso de Leyva was secretly charged with taking over command of the Armada should anything happen the Duke of Medina Sidonia.  He was a young and chivalrous noble and the favourite of King Philip, who was devastated by his loss.  All of Spain went into mourning to honour him. 

De Leyva had gathered together the crew of three wrecked Armada ships on board the Girona at Killybegs, in a bid to make it to sanctury in Scotland on the unseaworthy galleas.  He, along with 1300 others, was drowned at Lacada Point.