noon
Orders were at once issued that the Fleet should sail at daybreak , and at three o'clock the next morning they were on their way down the river . At ten o'clock the Dutch Fleet was seen off the North Foreland . According to their own accounts they numbered eighty-eight men-of-war , with twenty-five fire-ships , and were also divided into three squadrons , under De Ruyter , John Evertz , and Van Tromp . The engagement began at noon by an attack by the White Squadron upon that commanded by Evertz . An hour later , Prince Rupert and the Duke , with the Red Squadron , fell upon De Ruyter , while that of Van Tromp , which was at some distance from the others , was engaged by Sir Jeremiah Smith with the Blue Squadron . Sir Thomas Allen completely defeated his opponents , killing Evertz , his vice - and rear-admirals , capturing the vice-admiral of Zeeland , who was with him , and burning a ship of fifty guns . The Red Squadron was evenly matched by that of De Ruyter , and each vessel laid itself alongside an adversary .