War and Game

A detail from Storcks painting showing the stern of Admiral de Ruyter's flagship Zeven Provincien on the first day. After four days the Dutch had won an impressive victory, but within the month the English had more than made up for their defeat. Such close and frequent main fleet actions were the main feature of the three Anglo-Dutch wars. The artist was familiar with the Dutch, but not the English, ships. Storck, like his contemporaries, also compressed events in space and time, producing a packed canvas. (Abraham Storck)




Concerned that the French fleet, allied to the Dutch, was about to enter the Channel, the English fleet under Albemarle and Prince Rupert was divided. Despite this Albemarle engaged de Ruyter and fought for two days before Rupert rejoined. Poor discipline cost the English the battle, and a number of ships when impetuous captains rushed into battle without support.



The grounded Royal Prince surrenders to the Dutch on 3 June 1666, the third day of the Four Days battle. This famous old ship had been James 1's prestige vessel, and remained a powerful symbol of the Stuart monarchy. The loss of the ship, which was eventually burnt by the Dutch, was the most serious blow inflicted during the battle. (Van de Velde the Younger)


In early 1666 France declared war on England, complicating the strategic picture. For the new season Charles kept James, the heir to the throne, at Court, leaving Albemarle and Prince Rupert in joint command. They were ordered to divide their fleet following erroneous intelligence that the French Toulon squadron was about to enter the Channel. Rupert took twenty of the most powerful ships to meet this imaginary threat, leaving Albemarle with fifty-six to face ninety-two Dutch ships under de Ruyter.

Albemarle moved into the Thames estuary to wait for the Dutch, and for Rupert. Early on 1 June he found the Dutch anchored off the North Foreland and, during a hasty council of war, persuaded his captains to attack, rather than make for safety in the Swin anchorage, thus opening what became known as the Four Days battle. Surprised by the English attack, the Dutch were unable to exploit their advantage of superior numbers.

Although the impetuous, undisciplined assault of the White Division under Admiral Berkeley led not only to the loss of three ships and the disabling of two more but to Berkeley's death, the Dutch lost Admiral Evertsen and had two ships burned, while two of their admirals were forced to shift their flags into fresh ships when their original vessels were disabled.

On the second day Albemarle's fleet had the better of the fighting, largely driving off the Dutch, before de Ruyter pulled them together and pursued the retiring English. Late on the third day Rupert, who had only belatedly heard of the Dutch advance, came in sight to the west, and as Albemarle manoeuvred to join him the imposing Royal Prince went aground, and was burnt by the Dutch. That evening the English admirals agreed to attack the following day. Although de Ruyter still had sixty-four ships, many were battered and their crews were exhausted. The English had twenty fresh ships. However, Rupert wasted the advantage with an ill co-ordinated and impetuous attack, which left his flagship and her seconds crippled when a more careful approach, relying on the line of battle, would have exploited their superior firepower. Consequently, the English lost another ship that day, and finally retreated when mist began to shroud the area. The English had been beaten, losing prizes and prisoners to the Dutch, but both fleets were too shattered to continue the fight.