Dutch Intentions
After the Dutch had inflicted considerable damage on the English fleet in the Four Days Battle, the leading Dutch politician, Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt, ordered Lieutenant-Admiral Michiel de Ruyter to carry out a plan that had been prepared for over a year: to land in the Medway to destroy the English fleet while it was being repaired in the Chatham dockyards. For this purpose, ten fluyt ships carried 2,700 marines of the newly-created Dutch Marine Corps, one of the first in history to be specialised in amphibious landings. Also, De Ruyter was to combine his fleet with the French one.
The French, however, didn't show up and bad weather prevented the landing. De Ruyter had to limit his actions to a blockade of the Thames. On 1 August, he observed that the English fleet was leaving port - earlier than expected. Then a storm drove the Dutch fleet back to the Flemish coast. On 3 July, De Ruyter again crossed the North Sea, leaving behind the troop ships.
Read more about this topic: St. James's Day Battle
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“The French courage proceeds from vanity—the German from phlegm—the Turkish from fanaticism & opium—the Spanish from pride—the English from coolness—the Dutch from obstinacy—the Russian from insensibility—but the Italian from anger.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
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