The English attacked and in poor visibility a series of encounters left several French and Dutch ships badly damaged.

It encountered heavy weather, and off Dungeness, the fleet came across a larger English force of 25 ships under the command of Admiral Thomas Allin.

The French ships Le Mercœur (32 guns) and L'Oms and the Dutch Prins te Paard and Oosterwijk were forced to abandon the fight.

Le Dragon (42 guns) under captain Préaux-Mercey after having been nearly surrounded by three English ships battered its way out inflicting damage and managed to make port at Dieppe.

[6] Gilles de La Roche-Saint-André, who had fought off Lisbon to help Prince Rupert of the Rhine when he took refuge there in 1650, was treated honourably by his English captors and was immediately released by order of Charles II.