not call his men dogs, devils, or devil's brood; but children, friends, comrades and similar loving and endearing words to address them with. By which he so much endears those serving under him that they, as they say, would go through fire for him and risk their lives, yes, by manner of speech, would not hesitate to fight the devil. If such a loved and respected Head is then kept from the fleet and replaced by those who displease the men, now it is shown what calamity and disaster this brings with it. The same evening of the 12th the States-General learned of the defeat, they sent a letter to both Tromp and Johan Evertsen, asking them to return. The English believed that the Dutch had been all but defeated, and sent twenty ships away to the Mediterranean, a mistake that led to a defeat at the Battle of Dungeness but didn't prevent the defeat of the not yet reinforced English Mediterranean fleet at the Battle of Leghorn. In the former battle the Dutch were led again by Tromp; De With had suffered a mental breakdown and would be officially replaced as supreme commander in May 1653. Ship lists No complete lists exist and especially the order of battle of the English fleet is poorly known. The Dutch list differs in detail from particular lists of ships from late September 1652 from Witte de With's journal and other archival sources. Known ships include: England (Robert Blake) Dutch Republic (Witte de With) Notes References Konstam, Angus (2011), Warships of the Anglo-Dutch Wars 1652–74. Osprey Publishing, Further reading Warnsinck, J.C.M. (1977), Drie 17e-Eeuwse Admiraals – Piet Heyn – Witte de With – Jan Evertsen, Rotterdam Naval battles of the First Anglo-Dutch War 1652 in England Conflicts in 1652 Military history of the North Sea 17th century in Kent