about Four in the Morning
The _ Dutch _ seem 'd willing there to expect an Attack from us : But in regard the _ Charles _ Man of War had been lost on those Sands the War before ; and that our Ships drawing more Water than those of the Enemy , an Engagement might be render 'd very disadvantageous ; it was resolv 'd in a Council of War to avoid coming to a Battle for the present , and to sail direftly for _ Solebay _ , which was accordingly put in Execution . We had not been in _ Solebay _ above four or five Days , when _ De Ruyter _ , hearing of it , made his Signal for sailing in order to surprize us ; and he had certainly had his Aim , had there been any Breeze of Wind to favour him . But though they made use of all their Sails , there was so little Air stirring , that we could see their Fleet making towards us long before they came up ; notwithstanding which , our Admirals found difficulty enough to form their Ships into a Line of Battle , so as to be ready to receive the Enemy . It was about Four in the Morning of the 28th of _ May _ , being _ Tuesday _ in _ Whitson Week _ , when we first made the Discovery ; and about Eight the same Morning the Blue Squadron , under the Command of the Earl of _ Sandwich _ , began to engage with Admiral _ Van Ghent _ , who commanded the _ Amsterdam _ Squadron ; and about Nine the whole Fleets were under a general Engagement . The Fight lasted till Ten at Night , and with equal Fury on all Sides , the _ French _ excepted , who appeared stationed there rather as Spectators than Parties ; and as unwilling to be too much upon the Offensive , for fear of offending themselves . During the Fight the _ English _ Admiral had two Ships disabled under him ; and was obliged about Four in the Afternoon to remove himself a third Time into the _ London _ , where he remain 'd all the rest of the Fight , and till next Morning . Nevertheless , on his Entrance upon the _ London _ , which was the Ship I was in , and on our Hoisting the Standard , _ De Ruyter _ and his Squadron seem 'd to double their Fire upon her , as if they resolv 'd to blow her out of the Water .