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CHARLES II.

79

himself extremely on this day. The Dutch ad-miral , Evertz, was killed in engaging him.Darkness parted the combatants.

Th* second day , the wind was somewhatfallen, and the combat became more steady andmore terrible. The Englilli now found , thatthe greatest valor cannot compensate the superiorityof numbers, against an enemy who is well con-ducted , and who is not defective in courage.De Ruyter and Van Tromp, rivals in glory andenemies from faction , exerted themselves inemulation of each other; and de Ruyter had theadvantage of disengaging and saving his antagonist,who had been surrounded by the English, andwas in the most imminent danger. Sixteen freshships joined the Dutch fleet during the action :And the English were so shattered, that theirfighting ships were reduced to twenty - eight ,and they found themselves obliged to retreattowards their own coast. The Dutfch followedthem , and were on the point of renewing thecombat; when a calm, which came a little beforenight, prevented the engagement.

Next morning, the English were obliged tocontinue their retreat; and a proper dispositionwas made for that purpose. The shattered shipswere ordered to stretch a -head; and sixteen ofthe most entire followed them in good order,and kept the enemy in awe. Albemarle himselfclosed the rear , and presented an undauntedcountenance to his victorious foes. The earl ofOstory, son of Ormond , a gallant youth , who

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