Great as was the first blunder of the English, and serious as was the disaster, there can be no doubt that the consequences would have been much worse but for the high spirit and skill with which the plans of Monk were carried out by his subordinates, and the lack of similar support to Ruyter on the part of the Dutch subalterns.

In the movements of the English, we hear nothing of two juniors turning tail at a critical moment, nor of a third, with misdirected ardor, getting on the wrong side of the enemy's fleet.

Their drill also, their tactical precision, was remarked even then.

The Frenchman De Guiche, after witnessing this Four Days' Fight, wrote:-- "Nothing equals the beautiful order of the English at sea.

Never was a line drawn straighter than that formed by their ships; thus they bring all their fire to bear upon those who draw near them....