Editing Four Days' Battle (section)

==Battle==
===First day, morning===
[[File:Four Days' Battle.svg|thumb]]
[[File:De krijgsraad aan boord van de 'De Zeven Provinciën', het admiraalschip van Michiel Adriaensz de Ruyter, 10 juni 1666 (Willem van de Velde I, 1693).jpg|thumb|''Battle council on the [[Dutch ship De Zeven Provinciën (1665)|De Zeven Provinciën]]'' by [[Willem van de Velde the Elder]], 1666]]
[[File:Veroverde Engelse schepen na de Vierdaagse Zeeslag Rijksmuseum SK-A-439.jpeg|thumb|HMS ''Swiftsure'', ''Seven Oaks'' and ''Loyal George'' captured and flying Dutch colours, by [[Willem van de Velde the Younger]]]]
Albemarle reorganised the squadrons of his fleet on account of the detachment of Rupert's ships and made the consequent changes in flag-officer appointments at a council of war in 30 May.<ref>Fox, p. 182</ref> The next day, when the Dutch fleet was north of [[Nieuwpoort, Belgium|Nieuwpoort]], de Ruyter also called his captains to his flagship to receive their final orders.<ref>Fox, p. 189</ref> When the Dutch fleet anchored that evening, it was only 25 miles from the English fleet. On the morning of 1 June, both fleets set sail early and, around 7am, some Dutch ships were sighted by the English fleet. During the course of the morning it became clear to Albemarle that there were at least 80 Dutch warships: he consulted his flag-officers and they decided that, as it would be difficult to withdraw into the Thames estuary with the Dutch in close pursuit, they would have to fight.<ref>Fox,  pp. 190-2</ref> However, as the high winds and rough sea were disadvantageous for fighting, they expected to do so only after the weather improved. Albemarle also sent a message to Rupert by the ''Kent'' to rejoin him if possible.<ref>Fox, pp. 193-4</ref>

The weather conditions in the morning had caused the Dutch fleet to anchor, and around noon Albemarle, realising that the Dutch fleet was at anchor and unprepared, decided to exploit the opportunity to attack the Dutch rear squadron under Lieutenant-Admiral [[Cornelis Tromp]] despite the adverse weather, in the hope it could be crippled before the Dutch centre and van could intervene.<ref>Fox, p. 195</ref> The English fleet was not in regular battle order, but at 12.30 Albemarle ordered it to attack, with his red squadron and [[George Ayscue]]'s white squadron mixed together in the lead and [[Thomas Teddiman]]'s blue squadron forming the rear.<ref>Fox,  pp. 195-6</ref> De Ruyter, who did not expect the English fleet would attack in wind and sea conditions in which many of its ships could not safely operate their lower gun batteries,<ref>Van Foreest and Weber, p. 9</ref> was taken completely by surprise by this attack, but Tromp who was closest to the English fleet ordered his ships to cut their cables, and they sailed to the south-east, followed by the rest of the Dutch fleet.<ref>Fox, p. 197</ref>

The Dutch fleet had been anchored in a line running north east from Tromp in the rear to its [[Vanguard|van]] under [[Cornelis Evertsen the Elder]], so only 30 or 40 ships of its rear under Tromp and some from its centre under de Ruyter could initially form a battle line against the whole English fleet.<ref>Fox,  pp. 198, 200</ref> As the English fleet held the [[weather gage|weather gauge]], it could have pressed an attack on the initially outnumbered Dutch but many English ships failed to come into close action. This failure, and Tromp's prompt action in getting his division [[underway]], frustrated Albemarle's attempt to put Tromp's squadron out of action. After three hours during which neither side inflicted much damage in the other, Evertsen's squadron started to come into action and, by sailing through gaps in the English blue squadron or crossing its wake, gained the weather gauge against that part of the English fleet.<ref>Fox, pp. 201-3</ref>

===First day, afternoon===
By 5pm, the advantage of numbers had passed to the Dutch fleet, which was attacking the English blue squadron in the rear on both sides. Around this time, two Dutch ships caught fire, the ''Hof van Zeeland'' of Evertsen's squadron and the ''Duivenvoorde'' of Tromp's. Both were lost with most of their crews and two other Dutch ships had to deal with serious fires. Some survivors later claimed that these ships had been hit by "fiery bullets", and a type of ammunition consisting of hollow brass balls filled with a flammable substance did exist, however other Dutch eyewitnesses thought that flaming wads from the two ships' own guns, blown back by the strong wind, had caused the fires.<ref>Fox, pp. 203-4</ref>

As both fleets were heading for the shallow waters off the Flemish coast, and as his blue squadron was under heavy attack, Albemarle ordered ships of the red and white squadrons to wear to the northwest at around 5.30pm. Most of the red squadron saw the signal and wore in succession. The white squadron, with some red squadron ships in support, under Vice-Admiral Sir [[William Berkeley (Royal Navy officer)|William Berkeley]] continued on a south-easterly course for another hour, as it had its own problems to deal with. By 6.30, Albemarle was leading the white squadron followed by the blue squadron northwest against Evertsen's squadron sailing southeast and engaged it at close range. De Ruyter's squadron facing no opponents, used the respite to make temporary repairs, and Albemarle and Evertsen's ships did the same after passing each other.<ref>Fox, pp. 204-6</ref>

To the southeast, Tromp's ship ''Liefde'' was in collision with ''Groot Hollandia'', and both fell out of line. Vice-Admiral Sir [[William Berkeley (Royal Navy officer)|William Berkeley]] saw this as an opportunity to redeem his reputation, damaged by accusations of cowardice at Lowestoft, and attacked with his own ship,  {{HMS|Swiftsure|1660|6}}, with little support from other English ships<ref>Fox,  pp. 207-8</ref> Immediately, ''Callantsoog'' and ''Reiger'' came to the rescue of their commander, destroying the rigging of the English ship with chain shot; the ''Reiger'' then managed to board the ''Swiftsure'' after first being repulsed. Berkeley was fatally wounded in the throat by a musket ball, after which the ''Swiftsure'' was captured. The ship's lieutenant was found in the powder room with his throat cut; it was claimed that he had tried to blow up the ship but, after his own crew had drenched the powder, he had cut his own throat rather than being taken prisoner.<ref>Fox, pp. 208-9</ref>

Two other ships from the white squadron shared the fate of the ''Swiftsure''. The ''Loyal George'' had tried to assist the ''Swiftsure'' but was also captured and the damaged HMS ''Seven Oaks'' (the former ''Sevenwolden'') was captured by the ''Beschermer'' The embalmed body of Berkeley, after being displayed in [[The Hague]], was later returned to England under a truce, accompanied by a letter of the [[States General of the Netherlands|States General]] praising the Admiral for his courage. HMS ''Rainbow'', one of the scouts who had first spotted the Dutch fleet, became isolated and fled to neutral [[Ostend]], chased by twelve ships from Tromp's squadron.<ref>Fox, pp. 210-2</ref>

By 7pm, De Ruyter's squadron had completed its repairs and it advanced with the support of Evertsen and Tromp to attack Albemarle's ships, which had been reinforced by the white squadron. The reunited fleets twice engaged each other, with the Dutch fleet first sailing southeast then northwest, with the English fleet sailing in the opposite directions.<ref>Fox,  pp. 213-4</ref> One English ship, the ''Henry'', the flagship of Rear-Admiral Harman, was badly damaged losing two masts and left behind when the rest of Albemarle's fleet turned northwest. It was attacked by Dutch fireships after she had undertaken repairs and had tried to rejoin the fleet. The ''Henry'' managed to fight off three fireships although being set aflame and a third of her crew jumping overboard in panic. Harman refused an offer by Evertsen to surrender and a last shot at the Dutch ships barring the route to Albemarle cut Evertsen in two before ''Henry'' escaped to [[Aldborough, Norfolk|Aldborough]].<ref>Fox,  pp. 215-8</ref>

As the two fleets drew apart and anchored for the night around 10pm, the Dutch could feel satisfied with having survived the attempt to cripple Evertsen's squadron while at anchor or when it was outnumbered by the English fleet, and with having captured three English ships and forced three more out of the battle against a loss of two of their own to fire, although others on both sides were damaged and several Dutch ships had returned to port for repairs. The loss of Evertsen was also greatly mourned.<ref>Fox,  pp. 218-9</ref> However, Tromp had failed to anchor at the same time as the main Dutch fleet, and his squadron consequently lost contact with de Ruyter.<ref>Van Foreest and Weber, p. 11</ref>

===Second day, Albemarle's attack===
The morning of 2 June was sunny and warm, with a light south-westerly breeze. At dawn, de Ruyter had only 53 warships under his direct command, as Tromp with twelve others had been separated when night fell. Tromp came into sight soon after dawn but was some miles astern of the rest of the fleet when fighting started. Another twelve Dutch ships had chased the ''Rainbow'' towards Ostend and were missing for most of the day, and others on both sides had returned to port for repairs, leaving de Ruyter and Tromp with 65 ships to face Albemarle's 48.<ref>Fox,  p. 219</ref>

Albemarle made the understandable mistake of believing that the significant reduction in the size of the Dutch fleet in sight was the result of English gunfire, and attempted to destroy the Dutch fleet by a direct attack starting at 6am, initially sailing south in the hope of isolating Tromp, then to the southeast, with the main Dutch fleet moving northwest. At about 7.30, the two fleets began fighting at close range as they passed each other.<ref>Fox,  pp. 219-21</ref> During the morning, in light winds, the two fleets passed and re-passed several times, with ships from each side sometimes breaking through the other's line during these passes: Tromp able to join the rear of the Dutch line during this period.<ref>Fox,  p. 222</ref> Although the English fleet thought these were a reinforcement of new ships, about the same time Albemarle received a message that Rupert and his squadron were returning and would provide welcome assistance when they arrived<ref>Van Foreest and Weber, pp. 13, 15</ref> 
   
The first two passes went badly for the English fleet, with HMS ''Anne'', HMS ''Bristol'' and the hired ''Baltimore'' forced to return disabled to the Thames. After this, at about 10am, the wind died just as the two fleets had separated and they were becalmed for an hour.<ref>Fox,  pp. 223-4</ref> When fighting resumed, de Ruyter in {{ship|Dutch ship|De Zeven Provinciën|1665|2}} crossed the English line which was sailing to the southeast, and gained the weather gauge. His intention was to abandon line ahead tactics and to make an all-out attack on the English, boarding and capturing their ships, and had ordered the red flag to be raised, to signal this intention.<ref>Fox,  pp. 223-4</ref><ref>Van Foreest and Weber, p. 14</ref>

===Second day, Tromp's difficulties===
Before he could attack the enemy line, it became apparent to de Ruyter that Tromp and seven or eight ships of the rear squadron had not gained the weather gauge and were now isolated to the [[leeward]] side of the English red squadron without support, and under attack from ships of that squadron under vice admiral Sir [[Joseph Jordan (Royal Navy officer)|Joseph Jordan]]. It is unclear whether Tromp had not had seen De Ruyter's signal flags or had decided not to follow his orders, but within minutes six of his major ships, including his replacement flagship ''Provincie Utrecht'' had suffered major damage to their masts and were vulnerable to English fireships, which managed to burn his former flagship ''Liefde''. The ''Spieghel'', on which Vice-Admiral [[Abraham van der Hulst]] was killed by a musket shot, was attacked by three English ships of the red squadron and left disabled.<ref>Fox,  pp. 224-5</ref>

However, the remainder of Tromp's ships were saved by de Ruyter who, with Vice Admiral [[Johan de Liefde]], broke through the English blue squadron and drove off the English ships attacking Tromp while the rest of the Dutch fleet under [[Aert van Nes]] headed south, preventing the English blue squadron and the remainder of the red from joining Jordan in attacking Tromp. De Ruyter's careful planning, keeping the centre and rear of the English fleet occupied while he rescued Tromp was in contrast to Berkeley's impetuosity of the previous day.<ref>Fox, pp. 226-8</ref> However, he had taken a considerable risk, as [[George Ayscue]], seeing the de Ruyter and Tromp in a vulnerable position, had turned his white squadron north to try to isolate them. Ayscue was criticised for not pressing the disordered Dutch more closely,<ref>Van Foreest and Weber, p. 15</ref> although his ships were also vulnerable to van Nes who had begun to turn north and could have joined de Ruyter quite quickly if the latter were attacked.<ref>Fox,  pp. 228-9</ref>

Tromp, switching to his fourth ship already, then visited de Ruyter to thank him for the rescue but found him in a dark mood. De Ruyter had been forced to call off his plan for an all-out attack in the English fleet so that Tromp could be rescued, during which time Vice-Admiral van de Hulst and Rear-Admiral Frederick Stachouwer had both been killed. The list of ships leaving the Dutch fleet was growing: the ''Hollandia'' had been sent home together with the ''Gelderland'', ''Delft'', ''Reiger'' ''Asperen'' and ''Beschermer'' in order to guard the three captured English vessels. Now the damaged ''Pacificatie'', ''Vrijheid'', ''Provincie Utrecht'' and ''Calantsoog'' had also to return to port. The ''Spieghel'' had to be towed by the less damaged ''Vrede'' and, the damaged ''Maagd van Enkhuizen'' left next day for the Netherlands.<ref>Fox,  pp. 229-30</ref>

[[File:Four Day Battle - Episode uit de vierdaagse zeeslag (Willem van de Velde I, 1693).jpg|thumb|Willem van de Velde: ''Episode from the Four Day Battle'']]

De Ruyter's fleet, reduced by its losses to 57 effectives, re-formed its line to face 43 English ships, some hardly effective, and both fleets now passed each other three times on opposite tacks.<ref>Fox,  p. 231</ref> On the second pass ''De Zeven Provinciën'' lost its main [[topmast]] and De Ruyter withdrew from the fight to supervise repairs to his ship, delegating temporary command to Lieutenant-Admiral [[Aert van Nes]]. He was later accused of attempting to pass the responsibility for any defeat in the uncertain contest to van Nes, but there was no established rule at that time about when admirals should change ships: Albemarle had remained on the ''Royal Charles'' the previous day when it anchored to refit during the fighting without his conduct being questioned.<ref>Fox,  pp. 206, 231-2</ref> De Ruyter had strict detailed written orders from the States General to avoid unnecessary risks, to prevent a repeat of the events of the Battle of Lowestoft when the loss of the supreme commander had wrecked the Dutch command structure.

Van Nes commanded the Dutch fleet on its next three passes. As it held a leeward position, its guns had greater range which, with its superior numbers, made it clear by the early afternoon that the day's outcome could be decided by attrition.<ref>Fox, p. 232</ref> Some English ships were dreadfully damaged, the merchantman ''Loyal Subject'' and another ship withdrew for their home ports and HMS ''Black Eagle'' (the former Dutch ''Groningen'') raised the distress flag, but it sank from the many below-water shot holes it had suffered before any ships' boats could take off its crew. By 6pm, Albemarle's fleet, reduced to 41 ships still in action, was near to collapse, with many ships badly damaged and with significant casualties, and some with little powder and shot left.<ref>Fox,  pp. 232-3</ref>

===Second day, Dutch reinforcements===
To add to the English troubles, in the late afternoon or early evening, a new Dutch contingent of twelve ships appeared on the southeast horizon. At the time, Albemarle believed that these were part of a fresh force, the English intelligence network in Holland having reported that the Dutch would retain a fourth squadron as a tactical reserve. Indeed, this option had been discussed but De Ruyter had just before the battle been convinced by the other admirals to use only three squadrons. In fact, the twelve were the ships of Tromp's squadron that had chased the ''Rainbow'' into Ostend in the first day and were now re-joining the fight. Although it was clear this reinforcement could not join the Dutch fleet before dark, there was no question of the English fleet continuing the battle for a third day with only 35 ships, besides six badly damaged ones, when Rupert's whereabouts were still unknown.<ref>Fox,  pp. 233-4</ref>

Albemarle gave the order to retreat. Fortunately, the English fleet was heading northwest and had passed the Dutch fleet heading southeast, so no major change of course was necessary to take the fleet north of the Galloper Sand and into the deep water channel leading into the Thames<ref>Fox, pp. 234-5</ref> Van Nes had given the order for the Dutch fleet to tack in succession to begin another pass against their opponent before he realised that the English fleet were escaping. He decided not to rescind this order and replace it with one for all his ships to tack together, reversing the order of sailing, as this might cause confusion. This gave Albemarle a four or five mile head start, too much for the Dutch to overtake him before nightfall, as the sun had almost set and the wind was dying away. During his retreat, Albemarle placed 15 of his strongest and least damaged ships including his ''Royal Charles'' in line abreast as a rear-guard, and ordered the six most badly damaged to make their own way to port. The ''St Paul'' (the former Dutch ''Sint Paulus'') had taken on too much water to keep with the other ships and was burned to prevent capture after its crew had been taken off.<ref>Fox,  p. 235</ref>

Both sides had missed chances to strike decisive blows on the second day. First, Albemarle's morning attack on the Dutch fleet, reduced by the absence of Tromp's squadron, had been unsuccessful. Then de Ruyter could not have felt entirely satisfied, as had later been unable to launch his desired all-out attack on the English fleet because he had to rescue Tromp.<ref>Van Foreest and Weber, p. 16</ref> Although this rescue prevented Tromp's ships being overwhelmed, it and the failure van Nes to reverse the Dutch fleet quickly, lost the Dutch the chance of capturing many damaged English ships. The outnumbered English fleet had fought well and, although clearly defeated and in retreat, it had not been annihilated. However, it had only 28 ships that could be repaired and refitted for further combat. During the night, the two fleets lay becalmed about five miles apart making repairs.<ref>Fox,  pp. 235-6</ref>

===Third day===
[[File:De verovering van de Royal Prince Rijksmuseum SK-A-438.jpeg|thumb|Surrender of the ''Prince Royal'']]
[[File:The surrender of the Royal Prince during the Four Days' Battle, by Willem van de Velde the Younger.jpg|thumb|right|Surrender of the ''Prince Royal'']]
A light breeze from the northeast replaced the overnight calm before sunrise, and the English fleet decided to continue its retreat, steering slightly north of west. Van Nes called a council of war, as de Ruyter was still far astern: this agreed to pursue the English fleet in line abreast and with the intention of engaging and overwhelming the English fleet, although it remained out of reach through the morning.<ref>Van Foreest and Weber, p. 17</ref> By midday the wind strengthened and became easterly, so the fastest Dutch ships were released to try to overtake the English fleet.<ref>Fox,  p. 236</ref> However, as the 15 ships of the English rearguard were all large and powerful, each with several large guns (32-pounder cannon) mounted in their sterns, whereas even the largest Dutch ships had only two medium-calibre guns that could fire forward, the English fleet was able to keep the Dutch ships at a distance, and continued on their way without difficulty.<ref>Fox,  pp. 236-8</ref>

Shortly before 3pm, Rupert's squadron was sighted to the southwest by the leading English ships, heading north. When van Nes saw this, he tried to bring Albemarle's ships into action before Rupert's squadron could reinforce his fleet. Albemarle's pilots assumed that both his fleet and Rupert's squadron were already north of the Galloper Sand and, at about 5pm, they steered to the west to join Rupert. The leading English ships were small, and their shallow draught allowed them to pass over the Galloper Sand without difficulty, but {{HMS|Royal Charles||6}}, {{HMS|Royal Katherine|1664|6}} and {{HMS|Prince Royal|1660|6}} grounded on the sandbank. The first two managed to get free quickly, but the larger ''Prince Royal'', flagship of the white squadron, was stuck fast.<ref>Fox,  pp. 238-9</ref> It was soon surrounded by several Dutch ships, including two fireships. Vice-Admiral [[George Ayscue]] wished to resist any Dutch attack and begged his men to stay calm and repulse the approaching fireships. However, the crew panicked and a certain Lambeth struck the flag, forcing Ayscue to surrender to Tromp on the ''Gouda'', the only time in history an English admiral of so high a rank was captured at sea.<ref>Fox,  pp. 239-40</ref> Tromp wished to keep the ''Prince Royal'' as a prize, and when de Ruyter finally caught up with his fleet at about 7pm, he initially raised no objection. However, when it floated as the tide rose, its rudder and steering were found to be damaged so it could not steer itself. As the recombined English fleet was preparing to attack, de Ruyter ordered the ''Prince Royal'' to be burned at once, as it was possible that an attempt would be made to recapture it.<ref>Fox, pp. 239-40</ref> De Ruyter had explicit written instructions from the States-General to burn prizes in such situations. Tromp did not dare to make any objections because he had already sent home some prizes against orders; but later he would freely express his discontent, still trying to get compensation for the loss of this valuable prize in 1681.

After Rupert had left the main fleet on 29 May, Albemarle received information that a Dutch fleet which significantly outnumbered his had left its ports and was at sea. When this was passed to the king and his advisers, they sent Rupert an order for his squadron to return on 31 May: this reached him off the [[Isle of Wight]] on 1 June. His squadron reached Dover on 2 June but was delayed by light winds and adverse tides until the next morning.<ref>Fox,  pp. 163-4,-166</ref>

Albemarle had only 27 ships remaining after the loss of the ''Prince Royal'' and sending six badly damaged ships to port. Rupert brought 26 ships, the 20 he had on 29 May together with ''Kent'' and ''Hampshire'' which had been detached from the fleet before 29 May and four fireships. Three more ships from the Thames, the ''Convertine'', ''Sancta Maria'' and ''Centurion'' also joined the fleet at the same time as Rupert. The English fleet therefore consisted of 52 warships, nearly half of them undamaged and with full crews, and six fireships facing some 69 Dutch warships, 57 major ones and the rest frigates, and six or seven fireships.<ref>Fox, p. 248</ref><ref>Van Foreest and Weber, p. 18</ref>

Soon after Rupert's arrival, Albemarle convened a council of war which agreed to resume the battle in the following day, despite being weaker than the Dutch.<ref>Fox, p. 248</ref> Realising this, de Ruyter, who had resumed command from van Nes took his fleet eastward to make repairs and prepare for a fourth day of combat.<ref>Fox, p. 248</ref> De Ruyter considered that, despite the casualties suffered by many of his ships and shortages of ammunition, his superiority in numbers could still be decisive.<ref>Van Foreest and Weber, p. 18</ref>

Albemarle and Rupert reorganised the English fleet. Rupert's squadron of undamaged fast ships with fresh crews took the van as the new white squadron under his own command, with Sir [[Christopher Myngs]] and Sir [[Edward Spragge]] as his vice-admiral and rear-admiral. Sir [[Robert Holmes (Royal Navy officer)|Robert Holmes]] replaced the captured Ayscue in charge of the remains of the former white squadron, now consisting of between eight and ten of its original twenty ships. Holmes' ships probably formed part of the centre under Albemarle, although its exact position is unclear, and a reduced blue squadron under [[Thomas Teddiman]], its vice-admiral, commanding in the absence of its admiral formed the rear.<ref>Fox,  pp. 248-9</ref> Like the Dutch, the English fleet spent much of the evening and night repairing damage as far as possible.<ref>Fox, p. 250</ref>

===Fourth day, first engagements===
The 4 June was cloudy with a brisk south-westerly wind. Both fleets had moved east of the Galloper Sand on divergent courses and were out of sight of each other at dawn, but English scouting ships soon found the Dutch to the south. When the main English fleet following the scouts was sighted, de Ruyter called his flag officers together to discuss a new arrangement for their nine divisions, with his own squadron in the van, de Vries (as successor to Evertsen) in the centre and Tromp in the rear.<ref>Fox, p. 252</ref> His intention was to break the English line in three places simultaneously rather than fight in line ahead.<ref>Van Foreest and Weber, p. 18</ref> When the English fleet approached, sailing in a south-easterly direction, the Dutch had the weather gauge and sailed in line abreast in a northerly direction before forming line rather obliquely to the English fleet, so that only the Dutch rear and English van were initially within range of each other.<ref>Fox, p. 253</ref>

As on previous days, the fleets started by passing each other then reversing course.<ref>Fox, p. 254</ref> De Ruyter waited to exploit any gaps that might arise in the English line to carry out his plan of breaking through it, but about 7.30 on the second pass of the fleets, he was forestalled when Rupert's squadron, sailing west, raced for the weather gauge against the leading Dutch ships under Vice Admiral [[Johan de Liefde]] with the ''Ridderschap van Holland'' as his flagship.<ref>Van Foreest and Weber, p. 19</ref> De Liefde's immediate opponent was Vice Admiral Myngs on {{HMS|Victory|1660|6}}. Myngs' attempt to break the Dutch line was opposed by de Liefde trying to break the English one, but Myngs managed to force his division into the middle of de Liefde's ships<ref>Van Foreest and Weber, pp. 19-20</ref> In close-quarters fighting, Myngs was shot and fatally wounded and the disabled ''Victory'' with three ships protecting it was forced to the north.<ref>Fox, p. 254</ref> The ''Ridderschap van Holland'' was partly dismasted and unmanageable, but Rupert (who was intent on breaking the Dutch line) ordered his warships to stay in line and sent a fireship to burn it, although it only succeeded in setting fire to a Dutch fireship. The ''Ridderschap van Holland'' was then sent to port as being too damaged to continue fighting.<ref>Fox, pp. 254-5</ref> Rupert's attempt to break the Dutch line succeeded as {{HMS|Royal James|1660|6}} was larger and more strongly armed than any of de Liefde's ships, and many others of Rupert's and Albemarle's ships followed through the gap it had created, or forced their own way through. However, Tromp's rear squadron broke through Teddiman's blue squadron, throwing it into confusion.<ref>Fox,  p. 256</ref>

Seeing the danger to Teddiman's squadron, both Albemarle and Rupert acted independently to reverse course and attack Tromp with superior numbers. Tromp could not continue on a south-westerly course, as Teddiman's ships were in that direction: he had at most 12 to 14 ships, several of which were small, and could only withdraw to the north. While doing so, two of his ships collided and one the ''Landman'' was burned by an English fireship, which also damaged the ''Gouda'' severely.<ref>Fox,  pp. 256-8</ref> De Ruyter had achieved his objective of completely disrupting the English line by late morning, but his own fleet was also in disorder and so unable to take advantage of the confused English fleet.<ref>Van Foreest and Weber, p. 20</ref>

After Tromp withdrew, gunfire ceased briefly while the disordered fleets tried to rearrange themselves to continue fighting. In the English fleet, Teddiman's rear squadron had first to be brought into line. However, once the English battle line was completed, de Ruyter had at most 35 ships with him, and possibly fewer, to oppose it. Tromp, van Nes (who had decided to chase the four ships from Myngs' former squadron) and de Vries were all some distance away and the English fleet was between them and de Ruyter. The ''Victory'', now commanded by its lieutenant, [[John Narborough]], and its three consorts were attacked by Tromp and van Nes with around 25 ships but managed to manoeuvre to avoid capture and all survived the battle.<ref>Fox,  pp. 258-9</ref> De Vries ignored this contest, and attempted to rejoin de Ruyter.<ref>Fox,  p. 259</ref>

Despite having possibly as few as 32 and certainly not more than 35 ships to fight as many as 48 English ones, de Ruyter had regained the weather gauge while Albemarle and Rupert were attacking Tromp. During the late morning and early afternoon, the two fleets passed and repassed each other. Albemarle made no attempt to keep de Vries from joining the main Dutch fleet, which he did around noon. During the successive passes, the English fleet with superior numbers and heavier guns attempted to close with the Dutch, but de Ruyter prudently kept his ships at such a distance that, on some passes, the English ships, some with their magazines depleted by the previous days' fighting, withheld their fire.<ref>Fox,  pp. 259-60</ref>

De Ruyter's patience was based on the probability that some or all of van Nes and Tromp's 25 ships would return to the main action, which they began to do on the lee side of the English fleet from around 3pm. In response, Albemarle with some 37 ships including Sprague's division from Rupert's white squadron concentrated on van Nes and Tromp while Rupert with around a dozen ships manoeuvred to hold off de Ruyter. Albemarle's intention was to strike a decisive blow before his ammunition and daylight ran out.<ref>Fox,  pp. 260-1</ref>

===Fourth day, de Ruyter's attack===
[[File:Hallwylska museet 2012, tavelgalleriet by Holger Motzkau 38.jpg|thumb|right|The Four Days' Battle, by [[Abraham Storck]]]]
Albemarle and Rupert gambled that de Ruyter would remain to windward and at a distance, so that Rupert's ships could hold them off for long enough for Albemarle to crush Tromp and van Nes. Albemarle attacked at close range and sent in a fireship, both of which caused confusion among the Dutch. Teddiman's ''Royal Katherine'' so damaged Tromp's ''Wapen van Utrecht'' that Tromp was forced to retire and was unable to return to action; the ''Dom van Utrecht'' was forced to surrender to the ''Royal Charles'' and several other ships were disabled. Albemarle's policy prohibited his larger ships stopping to take possession of these captured or disabled ships, but he later claimed that his frigates should have set fire to them.<ref>Fox,  pp. 261-2</ref> Despite this, Albemarle had put a large proportion of the Dutch fleet out of action and his victory seemed certain.<ref>Fox, p. 262</ref>

De Ruyter, three miles to windward, looked on anxiously. He had been waiting for several hours for Tromp and van Nes to join him, but they had been routed in a few minutes. He later confirmed that he had thought he had lost the battle, but after consulting Vice Admiral [[Adriaen Banckert]], he waited until Rupert's squadron sailing east had passed his fleet sailing west then crossed Rupert's wake sailing northeast towards Albemarle's rear. At first, Albemarle thought that de Ruyter intended to link up with van Nes and escape with as many Dutch ships as possible, and his exhausted forces with little ammunition left did not move to oppose this manoeuvre.<ref>Fox, p. 262</ref>

De Ruyter's unexpected attack, when Albemarle appeared to be on the point of destroying Tromp's squadron, caused some British captains to lose their nerve, and things began to go badly for the English fleet. Rupert in the ''Royal James'' and his squadron at first assumed that de Ruyter was withdrawing and had started to make repairs; the masts and rigging of the ''Royal James'' in particular had been badly shaken. As soon as he realised that the Dutch were attacking Albemarle, Rupert ordered his ships to attack de Ruyter, who would be trapped between them and the main English fleet.<ref>Fox, pp. 263-4</ref> Almost immediately, the ''Royal James'' lost its main [[topmast]], its [[mast (sailing)|mizzen mast]] and several major [[yard (sailing)|yards]]: it was now disabled and the rest of the  squadron, rather than continuing against the Dutch, withdrew to defend their flagship and tow it westward. Rupert later claimed that there was no other ship he could use as a substitute flagship, but eyewitnesses claimed there were.<ref>Fox, pp. 264-5</ref>

Seeing this, de Ruyter realised that he could win the battle and raised the red flag as the signal for an all-out attack, concentrating on the English rear. Albemarle's flagship, the ''Royal Charles'' had a damaged  [[mast (sailing)|foremast]] and main [[topmast]], and had suffered shot holes to windward, so Albemarle was unable to tack to assist the rear for fear of losing masts or flooding. He also believed that his captains, unnerved by the sudden change of fortune, would not tack at his signal unless the ''Royal Charles'' led them.<ref>Fox, p. 265</ref> Those English ships of Teddiman's squadron and others in the rear that stayed in line were able to follow Albemarle westwards, as the Dutch were as short of gunpowder as their opponents, and aimed to board and capture them. The ''Rupert'' lost a mast, but managed to fight off her pursuers, however the Frisian Rear-Admiral Hendrik Brunsvelt captured the merchant ''Convertine'', which was entangled with  {{HMS|Essex|1660|6}} and the former Dutch HMS ''Black Bull'' which' later sank. Brunsvelt's vice admiral, Rudolf Coenders in ''Groningen'' captured HMS ''Clove Tree'' (the former [[Dutch East India Company|VOC]]-ship ''Nagelboom'').<ref>Fox, pp. 265-7</ref>

===Fourth day, English retreat===
Once the English rear had been subdued, de Ruyter led most of his fleet in pursuit of Albemarle and Rupert, hoping to prevent them joining forces. The English fleet maintained a westward course towards the deep water channel leading to the Thames estuary. Albemarle and Rupert later claimed that their initial aim of their withdrawal was to unite and, if necessary renew the fight the next day, but the poor condition of many ships and their lack of ammunition decided them to continue homeward.<ref>Fox, pp. 268-9</ref> However, other English officers said that the Dutch pursued the retreating English fleet for two hours before deciding to retire back to their own harbours.<ref>Fox, p. 270</ref>

De Ruyter later claimed that he had called off the pursuit of the English fleet because of a thick fog which made navigation difficult, otherwise he would have followed the ships as far as their home ports. The deeply religious De Ruyter interpreted the sudden unseasonal fog bank as a sign from God, writing in his logbook "that He merely wanted the enemy humbled for his pride but preserved from utter destruction". However, the fog was only temporary and de Ruyter had only around 40 ships under his immediate command, with others disabled and returning to the Netherlands or dealing with prizes, and Albemarle had almost as many, including several large vessels, which posed a significant risk to the exhausted Dutch fleet.<ref>Fox, p. 270</ref>

By the end of the third day de Ruyter had already secured strategic victory, as the loss of ships and damage to the remainder would have prevented the English fleet interfering with the Dutch East Indies trade or preventing a French fleet joining the Dutch. Even had he retreated on the fourth afternoon, as Albemarle and Rupert thought, he would only have conceded a limited tactical victory to the English fleet and preserved most of his own fleet. The dismasting of ''Royal James'' was an opportunity that de Ruyter seized, but his attack on Albemarle was still a considerable gamble that might not have succeeded if the rest of Rupert's squadron had attacked him rather than withdrawing to the west.<ref>Fox, p. 268</ref>