Philip himself first framed the defeat as the winds of God

Evidence

‘We are bound to give praise to God for all things which He is pleased to do. Now I give thanks to Him for the mercy He has shown. In the storms through which the Armada sailed, it might have suffered a worse fate, and that its ill-fortune was no greater must be credited to the prayers for its good success, so devoutly and continuously offered.’ And he tells the bishops gently that the prayers may be discontinued. No more ships were likely to come home. As early as this, then, the defeat of the Armada began to be ascribed in Spain to the winds of God. — Garrett Mattingly, The Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 878

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Garrett Mattingly, The Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 878
• XREF: connects to: Philip resolved to rebuild the Armada within weeks of defeat — Garrett Mattingly, The Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 877; Philip II’s urgency in 1588 came from a new conviction of divine destiny — Garrett Mattingly, The Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 461; Philip rebuked presumption of knowing God’s will as blasphemy — Garrett Mattingly, The Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 884 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Europe framed the Armada battle as a judicial duel with God as judge #expands (0.70) — Garrett Mattingly, The Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 897