cue gained
no advantage over him. Night parted them in the greatest heat of the
action. De Ruiter next day sailed off with his convoy. The English fleet
had been so shattered in the fight, that it was not able to pursue.

Near the coast of Kent, Blake, seconded by Bourne and Pen, met a Dutch
squadron, nearly equal in numbers, commanded by De Witte and De Ruiter.
A battle was fought, much to the disadvantage of the Dutch. Their
rear-admiral was boarded and taken. Two other vessels were sunk, and one
blown up. The Dutch next day made sail towards Holland.

The English were not so successful in the Mediterranean. Van Galen,
with much superior force, attacked Captain Badily, and defeated him. He
bought, however, his victory with the loss of his life.

Sea fights are seldom so decisive as to disable the vanquished from
making head in a little time against the victors. Tromp, seconded by De
Ruiter, met near the Goodwins, with Blake; whose fleet was inferior to
the Dutch, but who resolved not to decline the combat. A furious battle
commenced where the admirals on both sides, as well as the inferior
officers and seamen, exerted great bravery. In this action the Dutch had
the advantage. Blake himself was wounded. The Garland and Bonaventure
were taken. Two ships were burned, and one sunk; and night came
opportunely to save the English fleet. After this victory, Tromp, in a
bravado fixed a broom to his mainmast; as if he were resolved to sweep
the sea entirely of all English vessels.

{1653.} Great preparations were made in England, in order to wipe off
this disgrace. A gallant fleet of eighty sail was fitted out. Blake
commanded, and Dean under him, together with Monk, who had been sent for
from Scotland. When the English lay off Portland, they descried, near
break of day, a Dutch fleet of seventy-six vessels, sailing up the
Channel, along with a convoy of three hundred merchantmen, who had
received orders, to wait at the Isle of Rhe, till the fleet should
arrive to escort them. Tromp, and under him De Ruiter, commanded the
Dutch. This battle was the most furious that had yet been fought between
these warlike and rival nations. Three days was the combat continued
with the utmost rage and obstinacy; and Blake, who was victor, gained
not more honor than Tromp, who was vanquished. The Dutch admiral made
a skilful retreat, and saved all the merchant ships, except thirty. He
lost, however, eleven ships of war, had two thousand men