Admiral Blake, when off the North Foreland discovered a Dutch fleet commanded by De Ruyter and De Witte. Blake formed his fleet into three devisions, the 1st commanded by himself, 2nd by Vice Admiral Penn and the 3rd by Rear Admiral Bourne. Action commenced at 3pm, the Dutch giving way and sheltering behind the Goodwin Sands where some of the largest vessels of the British fleet ran aground. De Witte, seeing confusion came out again and invited battle and Bourne took him on. The SOVEREIGN sank a Dutch man o'war which had boarded her, two others were sunk and a 4th. blown up. The loss to the English was 300 killed and as many wounded. De Witte was beaten and pulled his fleet back to Holland. Owner: Netherlands Royal Navy Date of Loss Qualifier: R

<1> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.