Before the Arrival of Admiral Evertsen , it was agreed between the Two Nations , That the Hollanders should have the Van-guard , which was in all likelyhood to do them Honour ; but at the bottom , to conceal Torrington's Designs , after they had been under Sail about Two or Three Hours , they were obliged to come to an Anchor , by reason of the Foggs and bad Weather : But soon after they perceived the French Fleet to bear up towards them , with the Wind at East-Immediately they weighed Anchor , and endeavoured to gain the Weather-gage , which they did with that success , that Torrington gave the Signal for the first Squadron to Engage , but the French thought fit to retire . The 6 , 7 8 , and 9th . the Two Fleets were always in view of one another ; but in regard the French Fleet was much the stronger , both for Number and biguess of Ships , it was judged most proper not to fight in the open Sea , and Torrington did his part so well , that he avoided engaging till he was come to the Bevesier , which was favourable for his Purpose . And there it was that he received the Queen's Orders , not to delay Engaging , if the Wind and Weather would permit , which was the Reason that upon the 10th . by break of day , we went to seek the Enemy , who expected us in order of Battel , and so by nine of the Clock , the Engagement began between the Blew Squadron of the French , and the Van-guard of the Dutch ; and both sides fired desperately for Three Hours together , till the French Squadron not liking their Entertainment , bore away with all the tack they could make ; but about one there happened a Calm , which not only prevented the Hollanders Pursuit , but put them into a little Disorder ; upon which , the French ( whom the same Calm hindred from getting away , were constrained to begin the Fight again , which lasted till five a Clock in the Evening , with an incredible Fury . As for what concerns the English , most certainly , unless it were some few Vessels that fought against Torrington's Order , the rest did nothing at all : So that the main Body of the French fell into the Rear of the Dutch Fleet ; so that having fought from Morning till Evening , and having defended themselves so long against such a prodigious Number of the Enemy , that assailed them on every side , they were so very much batter'd , that hardly Three were capable of making any Defence ; which constrained them to make their way through the French Fleet , and bear away to the Coast of England , between Bevesier and Ferly ; Admiral Frackel , Jean Dick , and Captain Northey were slain ; the Vreislandt having lost all her Masts , and not being to be towed off by reason of the Calm , was taken towards the end of the Fight . Admiral Evertsen gave this Testimony of all the Dutch Officers and Soldiers , That there was not one that did not exactly perform his Duty ; and as for the Admiral himself , though he would not speak his own Praise , in his Letter to the States ; yet all Men give him this Character , That he signalized himself by the greatest Actions that a true Valour could inspire , and which deserve an equal Fame with that of Trump or de Ruyter . In short , it was never heard that ever Twenty two Ships fought so long against Fourscore and Two , of which Seventeen carried no less than some Fourscore and some an hundred Guns .

As for what concerns the English , had we known no more than what the Admiral of Holland out of his Modesty writes , we had known nothing at all : But in a Letter which a person of Honour in England wrote to the Lord Dursly , there is this Expression , which better informs us , That the Holland Squadron behaved themselves with so much Bravery , that if the Lord Torrington had done his Duty , in all probability we had won an absolute Victory . The English had but Two Captains slain , and Three Ships disabled , which are thought to be the only Ships that fought without the Lord Torrington's Order .