The Fleet set Sail from the _Buoy of the Nore_ about the beginning of _May_, in order to join the _French_ Fleet, then at Anchor in St. _Hellen's Road_, under the Command of the _Count de Estrée_. But in executing this Design we had a very narrow Escape: For _De Ruyter_, the Admiral of the _Dutch_ Fleet, having Notice of our Intentions, waited to have intercepted us at the Mouth of the River, but by the Assistance of a great Fog we pass'd _Dover_ before he was aware of it; and thus he miscarried, with the poor Advantage of taking only one small Tender. A Day or two after the joining of the _English_ and _French_, we sailed directly towards the _Dutch_ Coast, where we soon got sight of their Fleet; a Sand called the _Galloper_ lying between. The _Dutch_ seem'd willing there to expect an Attack from us: But in regard the _Charles_ Man of War had been lost on those Sands the War before; and that our Ships drawing more Water than those of the Enemy, an Engagement might be render'd very disadvantageous; it was resolv'd in a Council of War to avoid coming to a Battle for the present, and to sail direftly for _Solebay_, which was accordingly put in Execution. We had not been in _Solebay_ above four or five Days, when _De Ruyter_, hearing of it, made his Signal for sailing in order to surprize us; and he had certainly had his Aim, had there been any Breeze of Wind to favour him. But though they made use of all their Sails, there was so little Air stirring, that we could see their Fleet making towards us long before they came up; notwithstanding which, our Admirals found difficulty enough to form their Ships into a Line of Battle, so as to be ready to receive the Enemy. It was about Four in the Morning of the 28th of _May_, being _Tuesday_ in _Whitson Week_, when we first made the Discovery; and about Eight the same Morning the Blue Squadron, under the Command of the Earl of _Sandwich_, began to engage with Admiral _Van Ghent_, who commanded the _Amsterdam_ Squadron; and about Nine the whole Fleets were under a general Engagement. The Fight lasted till Ten at Night, and with equal Fury on all Sides, the _French_ excepted, who appeared stationed there rather as Spectators than Parties; and as unwilling to be too much upon the Offensive, for fear of offending themselves.