 On 15 August 1652, the convoy and its escort were sighted by an English fleet commanded by General at Sea George Ayscue with around 45 ships.Three of these were warships more powerful than any in the Dutch fleet, but like in De Ruyter's fleet many of the others were small armed merchant ships rather than purpose-built warships.On the afternoon of 16 August 1652, Ayscue attempted to attack and capture the Dutch merchant ships with around nine of his strongest and fastest warships, but De Ruyter counter-attacked, leaving the convoy unprotected, and he surrounded those English warships that had attacked.