Being joined by De Witt with four more ships, Tromp with his small force made a resolute attack upon the enemy.

The fight lasted till four P.M., when the Spanish admiral took refuge in the Downs.

Tromp determined to engage if they should come out; but Oquendo with his powerful fleet, many of which carried from sixty to a hundred guns, suffered himself to be blockaded; and the English admiral told Tromp he was ordered to join the Spaniards if hostilities began.
Tromp sent home for instructions, and the action of England only served to call out the vast maritime powers of the Dutch.

Tromp was rapidly reinforced to ninety-six sail and twelve fire-ships, and ordered to attack.

Leaving a detached squadron to observe the English, and to attack them if they helped the Spaniards, he began the fight embarrassed by a thick fog, under cover of which the Spaniards cut their cables to escape.