One of the first steps of Charles II was to appoint his brother James, Duke of York, to the post of Lord-High-Admiral; and James was unremitting in his attention to his duties, and a most capable naval administrator and leader, while Charles himself never ceased during his reign to take a keen interest in naval matters.  In his case, as previously in the case of his father, it was lack of the necessary financial means that alone prevented him from creating an English fleet that would be capable of asserting that “sovereignty in the narrow seas,” which was the traditional claim of the English monarchy.

The English were ready before the Dutch, who were hampered in their preparations by having five distinct Boards of Admiralty.  The Duke of York put to sea with a fleet of 100 ships at the end of April and, cruising off the coast of Holland, cut off the main Dutch fleet in the Texel from the Zeeland contingent.  It was unfortunate for Holland that Michael Adriansz de Ruyter, one of the greatest of seamen, was at this time still in the Mediterranean Obdam, to whom the chief command was given, waited until a storm drove the enemy to their harbours.  He then united all the Dutch squadrons and crossing to Southwold Bay found the English fleet ready for battle.  After some manoeuvring the action was joined on June 13, and after a bloody fight ended most disastrously for the Dutch.  The flag-ships in the course of the struggle became closely engaged, with the result that Obdam’s vessel suddenly blew up, while that of the English admiral was seriously damaged and he himself wounded.  The Dutch line had already been broken, and the fate of their commander decided the issue.  The Dutch in great confusion sought the shelter of their shoals, but their habit of firing at the masts and rigging had so crippled their opponents that a vigorous pursuit was impossible.  Nevertheless the English had gained at the first encounter a decided victory.  Sixteen Dutch ships were sunk or destroyed, nine captured, and at least 2000 men were killed, including three admirals, and as many more taken prisoners.  The English had but one vessel sunk, and their casualties did not amount to more than a third of the Dutch losses.  The consternation and anger in Holland was great.  Jan Evertsen, the second-in-command, and a number of the captains were tried by court-martial; and the reorganisation of the fleet was entrusted to Cornells Tromp, who, encouraged and aided by the council-pensionary, set himself with great energy to the task.

The English meanwhile were masters of the sea, though administrative shortcomings, defects of victualling and shortage of men prevented them from taking full advantage of their success.  Early in August, however, a fleet under the Earl of Sandwich attempted to capture a number of Dutch East Indiamen, who had sailed round the north of Scotland.  The East Indiamen took refuge in the neutral port of Bergen.  Here Sandwich ventured to attack them but was driven off by the forts.