It may be conceded that an admiral who, from inferior numbers, cannot spread as long and close a line as his enemy, should not let the latter overlap the extremities of his fleet; but he should attain his end not, as Herbert did, by leaving a great opening in the centre, but by increasing each interval between the ships refused.

The allied fleet was thus exposed to be doubled on at two points, both van and centre; and both points were attacked.
3.

The commander of the French van, seeing the Dutch close to his line and more disabled than himself, pressed six of his leading ships ahead, where they went about, and so put the Dutch between two fires (Plate VI.

B).
[Illustration: Pl.VI.LA HOUGUE MAY 29, 1692.Pl.VIa.

BEACHY HEAD JULY 10, 1690.] At the same time Tourville, finding himself without adversaries in the centre, having beaten off the leading division of the enemy's centre, pushed forward his own leading ships, which Herbert's dispositions had left without opponents; and these fresh ships strengthened the attack upon the Dutch in the van (B).
This brought about a _melee_ at the head of the lines, in which the Dutch, being inferior, suffered heavily.