 However, as the 15 ships of the English rearguard were all large and powerful, each with several large guns 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.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.