 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.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.