Battle of Texel The naval Battle of Texel or Battle of Kijkduin took place on 21 August 1673 ( 11 August O . S . ) between the Dutch and the combined English and French fleets and was the last major battle of the Third Anglo - Dutch War , which was itself part of the Franco - Dutch War ( 1672 - 1678 ) , during which Louis XIV of France invaded the Republic and sought to establish control over the Spanish Netherlands . English involvement came about because of the Treaty of Dover , secretly concluded by Charles II of England , and which was highly unpopular with the English Parliament . The overall commanders of the English and Dutch military forces were Lord High Admiral James , Duke of York , afterwards King James II of England , and Admiral - General William III of Orange , James ' son - in - law and also a future King of England . Neither of them took part in the fight . The Battle of Texel was joined when a Dutch fleet sought to oppose the landing of troops by a combined Anglo - French fleet . Prince Rupert of the Rhine commanded the Allied fleet of about 92 ships and 30 fireships , taking control of the centre himself , with Jean II d ' Estrées commanding the van , and Sir Edward Spragge the rear division . The Dutch fleet of 75 ships and 30 fireships was commanded by Lieutenant - Admiral - General Michiel de Ruyter , with Lieutenant - Admirals Adriaen Banckert in charge of the van and Cornelis Tromp the rear . The Dutch were under an even greater disadvantage than the above numbers show , as Dutch warships were on the average smaller than both their English and French opponents . De Ruyter first decided not to leave his defensive position in the Schooneveld , from which he had successfully engaged the allied fleet in the double Battle of Schooneveld . However the Dutch Spice Fleet was returning from the Indies , filled with precious cargo . With half the country under French occupation for almost a year , the Dutch Republic ' s finances were in disastrous straits . The Dutch could not afford to lose the wealth the Spice Fleet was bringing , let alone allow it to be captured by the enemy . As such stadtholder William ordered De Ruyter to seek to engage the enemy . Although outnumbered , De Ruyter gained the weather gauge and sent his van under Adriaen Banckert in to separate the Allied van ( under D ' Estrées ) from the main fleet . His ploy was effective , and the French ships were unable to play a significant part in the remainder of the battle , which became a gruelling encounter between the bulk of the Dutch fleet and the English centre and rear divisions . Both suffered badly during hours of fierce fighting . Spragge and Tromp , commanding their respective rear divisions , clashed repeatedly — Spragge had publicly sworn an oath in front of King Charles that this time he would either kill or capture his old enemy Tromp — each having their ships so damaged as to need to shift their flags to fresh ships three times . On the third occasion , Spragge drowned when his boat took a shot and sank . Because of Spragge ' s preoccupation with duelling Tromp , the English centre had separated from the rear , clashing with the Dutch centre under De Ruyter and Lieutenant - Admiral Aert Jansse van Nes . The fight raged for hours , due to turnings of the wind each side suddenly gaining or losing the advantage of the weather gauge . Banckert managed to disengage from the French and joined the Dutch centre , upon which Rupert decided to move north to the rear squadron to prevent that he would have to fight a superior Dutch force , followed by De Ruyter with the mass of his ships . The fight then focused on an attempt by the Dutch to capture Spragge ' s isolated flagship , the " Prince " , which in the end failed . With both fleets exhausted , the English eventually abandoned their attempt to land troops ( the landing force was still waiting in England to be shipped ) , and both sides retired . No major ship was sunk ( although several fireships were expended on each side ) , but many were seriously damaged and about 3 , 000 men died : two - thirds of them English or French . After the battle Prince Rupert complained that the French had not done their share of the fighting , but historians ascribe the lack of French impact on the battle to de Ruyter ' s brilliant fleet handling . It ' s true however that Count d ' Estrées had strict orders from Louis XIV not to endanger the French fleet , as he himself admitted after the battle . Despite its inconclusive finish , the battle was a clear strategic victory for the Dutch . The Spice Fleet arrived safely , bringing the much needed financial reprieve . In the months following , the Netherlands formed a formal alliance with Spain and the Holy Roman Empire . The threat posed by German and Spanish invasions from the south and east forced the French to withdraw from the territory of the Republic . The Third Anglo - Dutch War came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Westminster between the English and the Dutch in 1674 . Fourteen years later the Glorious Revolution , which saw Stadtholder William III ascend the throne of England , put an end to the Anglo - Dutch conflicts of the 17th century . Only in 1781 would the Dutch and British fleets fight each other again . Ships involved . England & France . [ cf " Journals and Narratives of the Third Dutch War " , Roger Charles Anderson , Naval Records Society , London . Complete English ship lists are given for the naval battles of this war , but smaller vessels , e . g . fireships , of which there were many present during this action , are not included in Anderson ' s book . ] John Winkler White Squadron ( French ) : 30 SOLs about 1828 guns < br > 27 SOLs from the previous battle , plus 3 new ones : < br > " Royale Therese " 80 - RA Marquis de Martel < br > " Pompeux " 70 < br > " Diamant " 60 < br > Red squadron ( English ) : 29 SOLs ( I - IV rates ) about 1870 guns + 2 - V Blue squadron ( English ) : 27 SOLs ( I - IV rates ) about1690 guns + 2 - V Red Squadron < br > " Sovereign " - A < br > " London " - VA < br > " Charles " - RA < br > " Royal Katherine " < br > " Henry " < br > " Victory " < br > " French Ruby " < br > " Edgar " < br > " Warspite " < br > " Old James " < br > " Triumph " < br > " Resolution " < br > " Rupert " < br > " Monmouth " < br > " Mary " < br > " Crown " < br > " Advice " < br > " Pearl " - fifth rate Blue Squadron < br > " Prince " - A < br > " Royal Charles " < br > " St . Andrew " - VA < br > " Cambridge " < br > " St . George " < br > " Unicorn " < br > " Henrietta " < br > " Dreadnought " < br > " Lion " < br > " Gloucester " < br > " Dunkirk " < br > " Monk " < br > " Bristol " < br > " Bonaventure " < br > " Ruby " < br > " Success " - fifth rate < br > " Guernsey " - fifth rate Division of Rear - Adm . of Blue < br > " St . Michael " - RA < br > " Swiftsure " < br > " Rainbow " < br > " York " < br > " Greenwich " < br > " Hampshire " < br > " Portsmouth " < br > " Foresight " < br > " Sweepstakes " Unknown place ( most of them in Red Sq . ) < br > " Fairfax " < br > " Plymouth " < br > " Anne " < br > " Happy Return " < br > " Princess " < br > " Newcastle " < br > " Yarmouth " < br > " Leopard " < br > " Nonsuch " ( or " Portland " ) < br > " Stavoren " < br > " Mary Rose " < br > " Diamond " < br > " Swallow " < br > " Assurance " < br > " Falcon " < br > " Mermaid " ( probable ) - fifth rate The Netherlands . Admiralty of Amsterdam < br > Ships of the line : < br > " Akerboom " 62 ( Jacob Teding van Berkhout ) < br > " Stad Utrecht " 66 ( Jan Davidszoon Bondt ) < br > " Prince te Paard " 55 ( Adam van Brederode ) < br > " Wakende Kraan " 44 ( Pieter Claesz Dekker < br > " Zeelandia " 44 ( Daniël Elsevier ) < br > " Steenbergen " 68 ( Jan Paulusz van Gelder , killed in battle ) < br > " Hollandia " 80 ( Rear Admiral Jan de Haen ) < br > " Gideon " 62 ( Barend Hals ) < br > " Provincie van Utrecht " 60 ( Jan Janszoon de Jongh ) < br > " Leeuwen " 50 ( Jan Gijsels van Lier ) < br > " Spiegel " 70 ( Commodore Jacob van Meeuwen ) < br > " Komeetstar " 68 ( Pieter Middelandt ) < br > " Essen " 50 ( Philips de Munnik ) < br > " Wapen van Holland " 44 ( Matthijs Dirkszoon Pijl ) < br > " Waesdorp " 68 ( Engel de Ruyter ) < br > " Tijdverdrijf " 56 ( Gilles Schey ) < br > " Agatha " 50 ( Pieter Cornelisz de Sitter ) < br > " Kalantsoog " 68 ( Volkert Hendrickszoon Swart , died from wounds ) < br > " Beschermer " 50 ( David Swerius ( Sweers ) , killed in battle ) < br > " Oliphant " 82 ( Vice - Admiral Isaac Sweers , killed in battle ) < br > " Geloof " 56 ( Cornelis Tijloos ) < br > " Gouden Leeuw " 82 ( Lt - Admiral Cornelis Tromp , captain Thomas Tobiaszoon ) < br > " Zuiderhuis " 45 ( Isaak Uitterwijk ) < br > " Amsterdam " 60 ( Cornelis van der Zaan ) < br > Frigates : < br > " Oudkarspel " 34 ( Jan van Abkoude ) < br > " Bommel " 24 ( Jan Bogaart ) < br > " Edam " 36 ( Willem van Ewijk ) < br > " Haas " 24 ( Hans Hartwich ) < br > " Damiaten " 32 ( Mattheus Megank ) < br > " Popkensburg " 24 ( Jan Noirot ) < br > " Middelburg " 36 ( Hendrik Span ) < br > " Brak " 22 ( Roemer Vlacq ) < br > Advice yachts : < br > " Egmond " 10 ( Jan Kramer ) < br > " Triton " 10 ( Nicolaas Portugaal ) < br > " Kits " 4 ( Gilles Saloy < br > " Kater " 10 ( Abraham Taalman ) < br > Fireships : < br > " Zaaier " 4 ( Wijbrand Barendszoon ) < br > " Jacob en Anna " ( Jan Boomgaard ) < br > " Leidster " 4 ( Pieter van Grootveld ) < br > " Vrede " 4 ( Dirk Klaaszoon Harney ) < br > " Wapen van Velsen " 4 ( Jan van Kampen ) < br > " Zalm " 4 ( Cornelis Jelmertszoon Kok ) < br > " Kasteel van Loon " 4 ( Pieter Hendrikszoon Pop ) < br > " Melkschuit " 4 ( Jacob Schenk ) < br > " Salvador " 4 ( Jacob Vroom ) < br > " Draak " 4 ( Willem Willemszoon ) < br > Admiralty of de Maze < br > Ships of the line : < br > " De Zeven Provinciën " 80 ( fleet flag , Lt - Admiral - General Michiel de Ruyter , flag captains Gerard Callenburgh and Pieter de Liefde ) < br > " Delft " 62 ( Philips van Almonde ) < br > " Ridderschap " 64 ( Eland du Bois ) < br > " Voorzichtigheid " 84 ( Jan van Brakel ) < br > " Gelderland " 63 ( temporary Rear - Admiral Cornelis de Liefde , mortally wounded ) < br > " Vrijheid " 80 ( Vice - Admiral Jan Evertszoon de Liefde , killed in battle ) < br > " Eendracht " 72 ( Lt - Admiral Aert Jansse van Nes ) < br > " Maagd van Dordrecht " 68 ( Vice - Admiral Jan Jansse van Nes ) < br > " Dordrecht " 44 ( Frans van Nijdek ) < br > " Zeelandia " 42 ( Simon van Panhuis ) < br > " Schieland " 58 ( Adriaan Poort ) < br > " Wassenaer " 59 ( Barend Rees ) < br > Frigates : < br > " Schiedam " 20 ( Cornelis van der Hoevensoon < br > " Utrecht " 34 ( Jan Snellensoon ) < br > " Rotterdam " 30 ( Jacob Pieterszoon Swart < br > " Harderwijk " 24 ( Mozes Wichmansoon ) < br > Advice yachts : < br > " Hoop " 6 ( Isaac Anteuniszoon van Anten ) < br > " Rotterdam " 6 ( Wijnand van Meurs ) < br > Fireships : < br > " Sint Pieter " ( Gerrit Halfkaag ) < br > " Jisper Kerk " 4 ( Lens Harmenszoon ) < br > " Blackmoor " 4 ( Abraham van Koperen ) < br > " Maria " 4 ( Dirk de Munnik ) < br > " Eenhoorn " ( Willem de Rave ) < br > " Louise " 4 ( Jan Daniëlszoon van Rijn ) < br > Admiralty of the Northern Quarter < br > Ships of the line : < br > " Pacificatie " 76 ( Cornelis Bakker ) < br > " Jupiter " 42 ( Pieter Bakker ) < br > " Gelderland " 45 ( Maarten de Boer ) < br > " Eenhoorn " 70 ( Rear - Admiral Jan Janszoon Dick ) < br > " Westfriesland " 78 ( Jan Heck ) < br > " Wapen van Nassau " 58 ( Pieter Karseboom ) < br > " Wapen van Alkmaar " 63 ( Jan Krook ) < br > " Wapen van Enkhuizen " 72 ( Leendert Kuiper ) < br > " Justina van Nassau " 66 ( Jan Gerritszoon van Muis ) < br > " Noorderkwartier " 60 ( Jacob Roos ) < br > " Prins van Oranje " 64 ( Claes Corneliszoon Valehaen ) < br > " Wapen van Medemblik " 44 ( Hendrik Visscher , killed in battle ) < br > " Caleb " 50 ( Claes Pietersz Wijnbergen ) < br > Fireships : < br > " Vis " ( Harmen de Boer ) < br > " Catharina " 2 ( Pieter Sievertszoon Bouckertsen ) < br > " Witte Mol " 4 ( Hendrik Munt ) < br > Admiralty of Zealand < br > Ships of the line : < br > " Walcheren " 70 ( Lt - admiral Adriaen van Trappen Banckert ) < br > " Zierikzee " 60 ( Vice - admiral Cornelis Evertsen de Jonge ) < br > " Dordrecht " 50 ( Willem Hendrickszoon ) < br > " Ter Veere " 50 ( Dirk Jobszoon Kiela , killed in battle ) < br > " Utrecht " 50 ( Simon Loncke ) < br > " Domburg " 60 ( Carel van der Putte ) < br > " Vlissingen " 48 ( Salomon Le Sage ) < br > Frigates : < br > " Delft " 34 ( Adriaen van Trappen Banckert de Jonge ) < br > " Ter Goes " 34 ( Anteunis Matthijszoon ) < br > Advice yachts : < br > " Hazewind " 7 ( Tobias Adriaanszoon ) < br > " Goes " 8 ( David van Geerstdale ) < br > " Waterhond " 4 ( Jacob Hamers ) < br > " Zwaluw " 6 ( Matthijs Lauwerens ) < br > " Jonge Maria " 10 ( Arnoud Leunissen ) < br > " Tonijn " 6 ( Pieter de Moor ) < br > " ? " ( Hendrik Pieterszoon ) < br > " Bruinvis " 6 ( Jan Corneliszoon Poot ) < br > " Parel " 6 ( Teunis Post ) < br > " Lapmande " 8 ( Schuyen ) < br > Fireships : < br > " Samuel en Jacob " 4 ( Simon Arendszoon ) < br > " Dadelboom " 2 ( Reinier Dirkszoon ) < br > " Catharina " 4 ( Frederik Konvent ) < br > " Sevellie " 2 ( Anteunis Janszoon Schalje ) < br > " Burg " 2 ( Huibrecht Wolfertszoon ) < br > Admiralty of Frisia < br > Ships of the line : < br > " Elf Steden " 50 ( Witzo Johannes Beima ) < br > " Prins Hendrik Casimir " 70 ( Rear - Admiral Hendrik Bruynsvelt ) < br > " Groningen " 70 ( Vice - Admiral Enno Doedes Star ) < br > " Oostergo " 58 ( Jan Janszoon Vijselaer ) < br > Frigate : < br > " Windhond " 30 ( Jan Pieterszoon Vinckelbos ) < br > Advice yachts : < br > " Hoop " 6 ( Cornelis Reindertszoon Eenarm ) < br > " Liefde " ( Jochem Jansen ) < br > Fireship : < br > " Welkomst " ( IJsbrand Albertszoon )