 The French captured just 15 merchant ships from the hundreds in the convoy, as most made English ports before their pursuers could catch them.Briefly a prisoner in France, Balchen, as an officer, was allowed to return to England on parole, where a court martial exonerated him for the loss of his ship and commended him for a brave defence.In 1709, he was formally exchanged for a French officer and returned to naval service, receiving command of the newly built 60-gun HMS "Gloucester" in August.