A blow at the English fleet in its own waters, by a superior force, before its ally arrived, was a correct military conception; judging from the after-history of this war, it might well have produced a profound effect upon the whole course of the struggle.

Ruyter finally got to sea and fell in with the allied fleets, but though fully intending to fight, fell back before them to his own coast.

The allies did not follow him there, but retired, apparently in full security, to Southwold Bay, on the east coast of England, some ninety miles north of the mouth of the Thames.

There they anchored in three divisions,--two English, the rear and centre of the allied line, to the northward, and the van, composed of French ships, to the southward.

Ruyter followed them, and on the early morning of June 7, 1672, the Dutch fleet was signalled by a French lookout frigate in the northward and eastward; standing down before a northeast wind for the allied fleet, from which a large number of boats and men were ashore in watering parties.