Four Days Battle

The English fleet, commanded by George Monck, Duke of Albermarle, was outnumbered by the Dutch. The battle ended only after both fleets had expended all ammunition.

The Netherlands' legendary Admiral Michiel de Ruyter inflicted large damage on the English fleet. The English lost ten ships, thousands of men and two admirals: Sir Christopher Minns and Sir William Berkeley.

It was the largest navy battle in this sea war. However the outcome proved inconclusive: two months later the recuperated English fleet challenged the Dutch fleet again, at North Foreland. This time the Dutch were defeated.

External link:

• Painting of the battle (http://www.artsmia.org/uia-bin/uia_doc.cgi/list/320?ref=/collection/paintings/index.cfm&uf=mia_collection_include.ldb&key=paintings&page_len=1&noframes=x&hr=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.artsmia.org%2F&nd=354#) by Dutch painter Abraham Storck[?].