The ships engaged were, French seventy, English and Dutch according to their own account fifty-six, according to the French sixty.

In the allied line of battle the Dutch were in the van; the English, commanded in person by Herbert, in the centre; and the rear was made up partly of English and partly of Dutch ships.

The stages of the battle were as follows:-- 1.

The allies, being to windward, bore down together in line abreast.
As usual, this manoeuvre was ill performed, and as also generally happens, the van came under fire before the centre and rear, and bore the brunt of the injury.
2.

Admiral Herbert, though commander-in-chief, failed to attack vigorously with the centre, keeping it at long range.