Second Day, Albemarle's attack
The morning of 2 June was sunny and warm, with a light south-westerly breeze. At dawn, de Ruyter had only 53 warships under his direct command, as Tromp with 12 others had been separated as night fell. Tromp came into sight soon after dawn but was some miles astern of the rest of the fleet when fighting started. Another 12 Dutch ships had chased either the Rainbow towards Ostend and were missing for most of the day and others on both sides had left for repairs, leaving de Ruyter and Tromp with 65 ships to face Albemarle’s 48

Before he could attack the enemy line, it became apparent to de Ruyter that Tromp and seven or eight ships of the rear squadron had not gained the weather gauge and was now isolated to the leeward side of the English red squadron without support, and under attack from red squadron ships under vice admiral Sir Joseph Jordan. It is unclear whether Tromp had not had seen De Ruyter’s signal flags or not followed orders, but within minutes six of his major ships, including his replacement flagship ‘’Provincie Utrecht’,’ had suffered major damage to their masts and were vulnerable to English fireships, which managed to burn his former flagship Liefde. The Spieghel on which Vice-Admiral Abraham van der Hulst was killed by a musket shot was attacked by three English ships of the red squadron and left disabled.

Four Days Battle, The Second Day

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A light breeze from the northeast replaced the overnight calm before sunrise, and the English fleet decided to continue its retreat, steering slightly north of west. Van Nes called a council of war, as de Ruyter was still far astern: this agreed to pursue the English fleet in line abreast and with the intention of engaging and overwhelming the English fleet, although it remained out of reach through the morning.[86] By midday the wind strengthened and became easterly, so the fastest Dutch ships were released to try to overtake the English fleet.[87] However, as the 15 ships of the English rearguard were all large and powerful, each with several large guns mounted in their sterns, whereas even the largest Dutch ships had only two medium-calibre guns that could fire forward, the English fleet was able to keep the Dutch ships at a distance and continue without difficulty.[88]

Albemarle had only 27 ships remaining after the loss of the Prince Royal and sending six badly damaged ships to port. Rupert brought 26 ships, the 20 he had on 29 May together with Kent and Hampshire which had been detached from the fleet before 29 May and four fireships. Three more ships from the Thames, the Convertine, Sancta Maria and Centurion also joined the fleet at the same time as Rupert. The English fleet therefore consisted of 52 warships, nearly half of them undamaged and with full crews, and six fireships facing some 69 Dutch warships, 57 major ones and the rest frigates, and six or seven fireships.[93][94]

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