resh at north-east, and the sea smooth. The Dutch, being
to leeward, awaited attack, forming line on the port tack, heading
south-east by east, a point off the wind, under topsails and
foresails, a cable's length apart. There is little room to doubt that
an adversary who thus holds his ground means to make a stand-up fight,
but Parker, although the sun of a midsummer day had scarcely risen,
thought advisable to order a general chase. Of course, no ship
spared her canvas to this, while the worse sailers had to set their
studdingsails to keep up; and the handling of the sails took the men
off from the preparations for battle. Parker, who doubtless was still
sore over Rodney's censure of the year before, and who moreover had
incurred the Admiralty's rebuke, for apparent hesitation to attack the
enemy's islands while temporarily in command in the West Indies, was
determined now to show the fight that was in him. "It is related that,
upon being informed of the force of the Dutch squadron in the morning,
he replied (pulling up his breeches), 'It matters little what their
force is; we must fight them if they are double the number.'" At 6.10
A.M. the signal was made for line abreast, the ships running down
nearly before the wind. This of course introduced more regularity, the
leading ships taking in their lighter sails to permit the others to
reach their places; but the pace still was rapid. At 6.45 the order
was closed to one cable, and at 7.56 the signal for battle was
hoisted. It is said that at that moment the 80-gun ship was still
securing a studding-sail-boom, which indicates how closely action trod
on the heels of preparation.

The Dutch admiral was as deliberate as Parker was headlong. An English
witness writes:--

"They appeared to be in great order; and their hammocks,
quarter-cloths, etc., were spread in as nice order as if for
show in harbour. Their marines also were well drawn up, and
stood with their muskets shouldered, with all the regularity
and exactness of a review. Their politeness ought to be
remembered by every man in our line; for, as if certain
of what happened, we came down almost end-on upon their
broadsides; yet did not the Dutch admiral fire a gun, or
make the signal to engage, till the red flag was at the
_Fortitude's_ masthead, and her shot finding their way into
his ship. This was a manoeuvre which Admiral Zutman should not
be warmly thanked for by