Dover to the number of sixty-seven sail, and having two thousand
troops. Being joined by De Witt with four more ships, Tromp with his
small force made a resolute attack upon the enemy. The fight lasted
till four P.M., when the Spanish admiral took refuge in the Downs.
Tromp determined to engage if they should come out; but Oquendo with
his powerful fleet, many of which carried from sixty to a hundred
guns, suffered himself to be blockaded; and the English admiral told
Tromp he was ordered to join the Spaniards if hostilities began. Tromp
sent home for instructions, and the action of England only served to
call out the vast maritime powers of the Dutch. Tromp was rapidly
reinforced to ninety-six sail and twelve fire-ships, and ordered to
attack. Leaving a detached squadron to observe the English, and to
attack them if they helped the Spaniards, he began the fight
embarrassed by a thick fog, under cover of which the Spaniards cut
their cables to escape. Many running too close to shore went aground,
and most of the remainder attempting to retreat were sunk, captured,
or driven on the French coast. Never was victory more complete." (1)

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1. Davies: History of Holland.
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When a navy submits to such a line of action, all tone and pride must
have departed; but the navy only shared in the general decline which
made Spain henceforward have an ever lessening weight in the policy of
Europe.

"In the midst of the splendors of her court and language," says
Guizot, "the Spanish government felt itself weak, and sought to hide
its weakness under its immobility. Philip IV. and his minister, weary