Audacious and Révolutionnaire fight themselves out of the campaign

Howe's fast ships caught the French rear on 28 May, where Révolutionnaire dropped back without orders to protect the slower ships ahead. Several British 74s damaged the French first rate's rigging before HMS Audacious stayed in close action after Howe recalled the flying squadron. The two ships remained entangled until late evening and both emerged severely damaged. Parker and his crew later claimed that Révolutionnaire had struck her colours, explaining that nine French vessels on the horizon prevented them from taking possession. That explanation is disputed on the grounds that Parker's pursuit of honour and prestige would have made a surrendered first rate an irresistible prize. The nine-ship French squadron did not intervene because the action lay outside its orders. The following morning, another British opportunity to secure Révolutionnaire passed before French reinforcements arrived. The French Audacieux towed her home, while the British Audacious escaped pursuers in a rain squall and reached Plymouth on 3 June. Révolutionnaire's captain was arrested for leaving before the decisive battle despite having delayed the British pursuit.